Big Ten Memories - Indiana

Staying in the Hoosier State takes us south to Bloomington. And a few of my better memories aren't in Memorial Stadium, rather in Assembly Hall. It was here that I saw the last game played by Chris Street prior to his tragic death. My family and I were traveling after the holiday season and wanted to experience the Bob Knight basketball atmosphere. Aside from what could be his 600th victory, it was our first time to see a game in what resembled a theatre setting, more than a basketball court.

The banners hung behind the basket, and we were one of the few wearing colors other than red and white. I opened the program to find a bank ad which placed Coach Knight at the center of the $1 bill, with the caption, "Just a thought." The band played the IU fight song, which sounded much different inside than it did out--fans and students clapped louder and sang stronger than I had ever heard in the football venue.

As in any Big Ten arenas, some of the visiting fans sit near their team's bench while others are sent to other, more remote seats. That would be us. Last row of the second deck, and we couldn't see the raised center court scoreboard. We had one fellow Iowa fan close to the aisle in charge of walking down the stairs with updates on the score and time.

But the excitement wasn't the actual game, which was a very good Big Ten basketball game won by the hometown Hoosiers, but the walk the IU coach would take from the locker room to the bench. All eyes were locked on the doorway which connected the Assembly Hall floor to its locker rooms, and the cheers got louder with every step "The General" took as he emerged from the hallway. And because of him it was an historical night as he won his 600th game, one of many.

But it is football that this column should be about and it is the hotel most teams used to stay is very memorable. A resort on a southern Bloomington's Lake Monroe was miles away from anywhere. We used to joke that you could "hear the banjos" as we drove through narrow two lane roads in our charter coach buses. Our notes from travel coordinator John Streif reminded us to "Not Feed the Bears." The first couple of years I made the trip, the resort had a special feeling as the scenery featured the changing trees, and lobby fireplace was a cozy place to be on a cool November evening. But over time the resort became a little run down, and the fall November evenings were replaced with warmer October nights. We eventually moved into hotels closer to campus, and away from the starved bears.

The Fine Line

Interesting read in today's Cedar Rapids Gazette by Jim Ecker on the placement of, most notably, print media at many of today's sporting venues. His most recent complaint is where they were located for Wednesday night's Iowa - Indiana basketball game at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. In order to report on the game they were forced to watch from the last rows behind the student section and band, located behind the basket. Most of their time was spent standing and watching around the many in red wigs as well as tuba players. Print media has been forced to these remote locations to allow those who donate bigger bucks to sit courtside. Ecker wasn't compaining about being moved, and I believe he understands the move, but his point is that being forced to watch from such an odd location diminishes his opportunity to do a job.

First of all, from personal experience, Indiana tends to do things backwards. Having dealt with similar staff for football games, what Ecker went through was no surprise. On a trip in 2002 we had to deal with a press box going through some renovations. The shooting platform for our cameras did not have a solid floor with dirt, mud and standing water--not conducive to electrical equipment. IU staff members were reluctant to assist until I made a loud point of how "they'd only care if this was the basketball arena."

Then on our most recent trip for football we found the two small elevators were slow and tended to cater to donor, rather than the working people. It was tiresome walking up 9+ flights of stairs to the roof of the Memorial Stadium press box.

However what the IU staff doesn't understand on this recent media flap is that there is a line between being a fan and working at the game.

Fans are there to get away from the office. Screaming, standing and supporting your team while disrupting the visitors are among the qualities of a fan. Many fans become something different than what you would see in their board room earlier in the day. They may have been drinknig and subsequently taken on a new persona.

Typicall the media sits at their seat, watches, takes notes and observes while writing a story in preparation for a deadline. They must concentrate as well write while the action in in progress. These two worlds cannot co-exist.

I must admit I have become spoiled by spending most of my time shooting from a secluded press section at Kinnick Stadium. However our most recent football game found my loaction in the middle of a Hawkeye cheering section at Raymond James Stadium. Beer was being poured non-stop in front of me, and early in the second half an Iowa fan yelled at me and my colleagues from South Carolina to "shut the camera off...the game is over." The first time was mildly humorous, but the second or third was annoying and he struggled to understand why we were ignoring him. The last thing I want to do is summon security. A similar run in with a fan occurred at the Cap One Bowl in 2005. An LSU fan called me Bob Saget, and I in return, once the Tigers scored to cut the lead from 12 to 5, said that I thought he had gone home as I hadn't heard a word from him since the first quarter. It was friendly ribbing between two as I shook his hand following the game, but not every incident ends kindly.

My point is that there is a distinct line between being a fan and being in a working capacity. Very few times do they go together. Placing print media within a student section is ridiculous. I mean seriously, who thinks of this? Ecker in the article goes on to say that many arenas are slowly moving the media further away from the court. In these economic times it is evident to give the closer seats to fans who are willing to pay the high prices. I don't think many would argue that, but if you invite the media to cover the event, you need to give them a place to do their job.

Fans are fans and they pay for a designated seat. That ticket allows some freedoms, but it should be contained to that seat. Media are there to cover the game, and if treated well, can be the best free publicity any school can ask for. But IU needs to understand there is a line. The fans belong in the stands (not on the field post game either), and the news media is allowed a place to work.

Trip to Illinois

Pictures from Iowa's trip to Illinois, starting with the Friday walk-thru.
Waiting for the bus, Iowa Play-by-Play Man, Gary Dolphin, Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his son Steven.

Silvercreek, the dining option for the Iowa Video Staff.

The Illiniois Indoor Practice Facility. A 70 yard permanent structure attached to Memorial Stadium. On game day it is used for Will Call.

The Illini Outdoor practice facility backs up to their Indoor as well as Memorial Stadium.

A few of the tailgators around Memorial Stadium

Tailgating in the parking lots of Assembly Hall

On the field a half hour from Game Time

The Illini take the field

Followed by the Hawkeyes

A sea of Orange at Memorial Stadium on a balmy 70 degree November day in Champaign

Memorial Stadium lies on the most southern part of the Illinois campus

Images from Game Day in Bloomington

Inside Assembly Hall is Indiana's Athletics Hall of Fame. Among those are Dick Enberg, former Iowa Basketball Coach Steve Alford, and current Iowa Softball Coach Gayle Blevins.

Indiana's Mens Basketball Locker Room. Access to the Assembly Hall court was restricted.

Tailgators outside Memorial Stadium
"The Walk" for the football team originates in Assembly Hall, through the parking lots to Memorial Stadium. This was started by former IU Football Coach, Terry Heppner.
Beyond the parking lots of Memorial Stadium is the IU Campus
Contrary to popular belief, this picture was not taken at kick off. There were only a few more fans at that time. Assembly Hall is behind the stadium.
The Iowa Marching Band made the trip to Bloomington. Here they are performing prior to the Big Ten Football game.
The IU Dance Team performs along the IU Marching 100.