Indiana University Athletics
Adam Ahlfeld: A Hoosier at Heart
2/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sophomore Adam Ahlfeld is not the biggest guy on the team nor does he led the team in any statistical categories. What Ahlfeld does provide this year's team with is immeasurable amounts of enthusiasm, dedication and hard work both on and off the court.
This season, the Indianapolis native has seen action in four games. Ahlfeld, who is known for his accurate shooting, hit his first career three-pointer in IU's 100-63 win over Florida A&M and scored the first points of his Hoosier career on a pair of free throws against Nicholls State on Nov.18, 2005.
Having only played 11 minutes in an IU jersey, Ahlfeld provides much-needed motivation and support from the Hoosier bench. Fans have come to love the fiery 6-0 guard as he explodes off the bench at timeouts to provide extra energy at critical junctures in the game, a role Ahlfeld has come to embrace as well.
"That effort and support from the bench is something that I know I can give every time whether I am going to get in the game or not," Ahlfeld said. "I see that enthusiasm and support as my role. I try to keep the guys motivated and fired up. I use my energy to contribute in any way possible to help the team. If I get into the game, great, if not I'm trying to make a contribution in any way I can."
In addition to keeping the team's intensity up, Ahlfeld contributes in other ways. His reserve role for the Hoosiers allows him to pick up important elements of the game and relay those to the five on the floor.
"Being on the court and on the bench allow you to see the game in very different ways," Ahlfeld said. "You can see things that the guys on the court don't, and you are able to recognize those aspects of the game and help each other out. Noticing little things like that help the team out a lot."
The walk-on guard has more connections to IU basketball than most. Ahlfeld is the son of former Indiana guard Steve Ahlfeld, who lettered for the Hoosiers from 1972-75 and has spent the last 20 years as IU's team orthopedic surgeon. From father to son and former to current Hoosier, Ahlfeld has taken a lot of his father's advice to heart.
"My dad, having played here, told me to just enjoy every day I have in this great program," Ahlfeld said. "You never know when something could happen and you might never play basketball again. He told me to have fun but also enjoy all of the tradition and fanfare of IU basketball. Even when I was growing up, my dad told me to always work your butt off and do whatever you can to help the team be successful. Above all else, my father has instilled in me the importance of working hard and having a good attitude."
Becoming a part of his childhood's favorite team and following in his dad's footsteps made the decision to come to Indiana an easy one for the North Central High School product.
"My dad really didn't have too much influence in where I went to college," Ahlfeld said. "I have always loved IU, and he told me I could go wherever I wanted as long as it wasn't Purdue. Growing up an IU fan, Indiana was always the place I wanted to go."
Still a loyal IU fan at heart, Ahlfeld has many great Hoosier basketball memories that he has been apart of.
"There are so many IU basketball memories that I have. It's hard to pick just one of them that has been my favorite," Ahlfeld said. "What sticks out most in my mind as a fan, is watching the 2001-02 team beat Northwestern at home on senior day to clinch a share of the Big Ten. That was really special. I was happy for coach Davis since it was his first conference title. As a player, this year's win over Kentucky has been my most enjoyable moment. They've beat us a few times, and it was a great feeling to go out and get a win over them. It really set the tone for the season.
For Ahlfeld, he is living his childhood dream and basking in every great minute of it.
"Every day is a dream come true because I am playing for the team and the school I grew up loving," Ahlfeld said. "Getting to wear the cream and crimson has always been a dream of mine. I couldn't ask for anything more than to be offered the chance to walk on at IU and be a apart of this team and all the tradition that surrounds Indiana basketball. This is truly one of the great college basketball programs in the country, and I am now apart of that. Each day is fun for me. To experience Indiana basketball first hand is beyond my wildest dreams."
