Indiana University Athletics
Darryl Neher -- The Heart of the IU Fan
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 9, 2007
Indiana Hoosier fans needed this past weekend. IU Soccer secured another Big Ten Conference regular season title; the Hoosier Men's and Women's Basketball teams tipped of the season; IU Rowing finished fifth in the Cal-Sag Collegiate Regatta, only four seconds behind the University of Michigan; and IU Football secured its sixth win and earned bowl eligibility with a victory over Ball State.
Admit it, last weekend was a relief after a roller coaster month for Hoosier Fans. Watching basketball play out off the court, combined with an overwhelming desire to see IU Football seize that sixth victory, as tough. Hoosier Fans are not used to this - and our response is to react emotionally and often seek the support of other IU Hoosier Fans.
And where do many of us turn for support? The internet fan message boards, of course.
I'll admit it - over the past couple of weeks the message boards have been my drug of choice. I'm an IU sports junkie and crave every piece of information I can find about my favorite IU teams. The internet boards are a great resource for IU junkies - we turn to the boards like an addict turns to a pusher to get our fix. And our drug of choice is information.
The information can feel so good. The boards help me track the latest information on IU recruits, find out what the so-called experts have to say about the latest IU matchups, and gain some valuable insights from other Hoosier Fans across the country. Last year I, along with 3000+ other Hoosier fans, was online to learn that Eric Gordon indeed declared he wanted to be an IU Hoosier.
Equally addictive on the internet boards are the arguments between rabid fans. Unfortunately, these arguments can often suck us into a cycle of negativity and misinformation. I've lost count of the number of times I've read calls for the firing of Coach Lynch, Coach Sampson, and Athletic Director Greenspan. I think I even stumbled across messages suggesting we find ways to toss out the IU Trustees and President McRobbie while we're at it. The calls for massive dismissals are incredibly misguided - but those differing fan opinions will always be part of sports and are a major reason fan message boards exist. Occasionally, I'll jump into the fray - against my better judgment - all the while knowing I'm never going to change anyone's opinions.
The biggest danger of the message board addiction arises when the boards lapse into venues for people to make up information so they can appear to as insiders. As recently as this fall, a popular message board became a source for a newspaper blog to report that an IU athlete had been arrested. A complete fabrication posted online gained credibility when a legitimate news source decided to give an anonymous message unwarranted attention.
So I'm not surprised anymore by what I read - even from legitimate news sources and columnists. But I am surprised how easily I, along with Hoosier Fans across the country, can get sucked into the morass the message boards can sometimes become. Once that happens, we manage to lose ourselves in the rumors and meaningless arguments and miss out on the real heart and soul of IU Athletics: the student athletes.
My wife and I have taught hundreds of IU athletes over our combined twenty-seven years in IU classrooms. Each athlete has an inspirational story that takes you beyond the competition of his or her sport. Each student athlete is what makes IU Athletics special.
IU Athletics is Emily Kasavana, a sophomore Co-Captain of the IU Rowing team. Emily is an Honors Student in the Kelley School of Business and represents the student/athlete. She successfully balances the demands of a rigorous academic program with the responsibilities of student government, participating in activities like the Indiana Circle of Life Mini Marathon/5k to support cancer survivors, and serving as a leader on the IU Rowing Team.
IU Athletics is Jammie Kirlew, a red-shirt sophomore starting at defensive end for the IU Football Hoosiers. Most IU Fans would recognize Jammie when he wears his #57 on the football field. But this summer Jammie walked the streets of Europe in anonymity. Last year Jammie made it a priority to study abroad this past summer. While other students were enjoying summer break, he studied in Italian, traveled throughout Europe, and served as an unofficial ambassador for Indiana University. All the while Jammie maintained a workout regimen to keep in shape: sometime curling cases of water or finding a local gym to keep himself football ready.
IU Athletics is Chris Squires, a sophomore pitcher for the Indiana Baseball Hoosiers. Chris is a casual, unassuming guy, patiently working hard to perfect his communication and team skills in the classroom as well as on the baseball diamond. In his Business Presentations class, Chris motivated his colleagues through his strong example and helped his team by taking the extra time to give them helpful feedback and support.
IU Athletics is Sarah Padove, a junior infielder for IU Softball. Sarah was recognized for her academic achievement by being named a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Nominee and Academic All Big Ten. Sarah's humility and eagerness to learn proved her commitment to academic success and reaffirmed her well-deserved recognitions.
These four student athletes are only a small representation of the athletes that make IU sports special. There are hundreds of student-athletes that pass through Indiana University with similar stories. Sometimes we forget that these student-athletes are still kids, yet they balance such busy lives at such a young age. Student-athletes consistently demonstrate a commitment to their sports and to their academics - often forgoing the activities that many of their peers enjoy.
Yet their stories seldom will be the focus of a message board, let alone a sports writer's column. Most of them will go through their IU careers unheralded for what they achieve in the classroom, in the community, and in their sport - nor do they expect it. But their hard work and commitment to excellence continues on and of the field to provide each of us with some of our best IU memories.
It's not about the coaches or the administration. We're in it for the teams, players, the athletes themselves. It's the students that keep us absorbed after the game. That's why we're Hoosier fans.
Darryl Neher is a Senior Lecturer with the Kelley School of Business and the host of The Afternoon Edition on AM1370 WGCL. Born and raised in Indiana, Darryl is a lifelong Hoosier fan and a regular contributor to IUHoosiers.com. You can contact Darryl directly at neherd@gmail.com.
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