I'll Say It: Raise Another Banner, Tommy!

It's kind of old news by now, but we thought we'd remind you that IU basketball is back! The Movement has done exactly what it was supposed to do...it's brought IU back to the levels of RMK and co, right?

-Big wins? No arguing here-  Beating top-10 teams isn't something that's debatable.  IU beat a few of the best teams in America...at home...and when it counted the most: In December and January.

-Atmosphere? Hells yes! The Ass. Hall is nearly as obnoxious of a place as it was when a red sweater used to ride up the most famous gut in all of the land.

In IU's defense though, the die-hards never left...well except those who didn't like the fact that a minority coach or two was hired...but I digress.

The Good Ole Days are back!!!

-Trophies? Kinda.  I know IU fans are clamoring for the good ole days...and why wouldn't they? Players being head-butted, strangled and berated by their beloved coach...students getting physically accosted by the very same big lug.  Secretaries getting things thrown at them, public property being damaged.  *Sigh* those were the days.

I don't like Tom Crean and his nervous antics too much...and while he's no where near the gameday coach that Knight was, the dude is a badass on the recruiting trail (seriously).  I won't argue that.  And IU fans LOVE their players!!*

-Banners? Some say "YES!" A trophy case that commemorates two wins in the tournament just isn't enough...these guys deserve to be alongside undefeated National Championship teams...AmIright??

Pointing out the inconsistencies of this fanbase, especially in this case is easy for a middle-schooler to do. No Purdue fan, myself or anyone else, can argue that IU's National Titles are not noteworthy...not with a straight face anyway. Winning one national title is difficult...winning five is incredible. Sure, It's ancient history by modern sports standards...and no typically-aged undergrad student in Bloomington was even a glimmer in his pappy's eye in 1987.  But they all talk about it as if they had front row seats for Keith Smart's shot (I actually was watching that game live...on my parent's tube television...through a cable box that included an analog rotary dial). No matter- hats off to the King's head coach and former Hawkeye HC!

I'll encourage all of my fellow Purdue fans to do one thing- at minimum bite your tongue when IU fans start talking about the greatness of last year's squad.  They did, after all, sweep our Boilers.  But more-importantly than that, let them wax poetically about a shot taken in December, or almost beating the eventual National Champ by the razor-thin margin of 12 points. Anyone who's not wearing clown pants, and who has ever watched college basketball, will quickly recognize the stupidity and ridiculous nature of their statements.  Encourage the IU fans to talk...cultivate their delusions. And then, maybe when they step off of their soap box, and give you a moment of quiet, you can mention that Purdue's back-to-back Sweet 16s in the last four years, 3-year sweep of IU, February in which they beat three top-12 teams and how getting beaten by eventual FF and National Championship teams tournament multiple didn't get a banner, special case, or even plaque in Mackey Arena...and shouldn't have.

*Until they're rendered useless by the introduction of a newer and shinier model.

This Is IU-U-U

Remember that wonderful We Are Notre Dame video from last summer that, apparently, was not meant ironically? Well, it's possible that IU actually has that beat.

I haven't done any research on this yet to know how such an abomination as this could exist intentionally, but then again...maybe nothing more needs to be said. Let's roll tape, after the jump.

Genius Update: Fred Glass

We've give IU's new AD a hard time for a lot of what he's done in his short time at IU. But finally, he's done it- he's out-awesomed himself!

Glass, in his infinite wisdom, has decided to give up an IU home game in favor of playing Penn State at FedEx Field in 2010. It makes a ton of sense really- IU's fanbase is powerful in the DC area, so selling the 7,000 tickets shouldn't be any problem. Plus, it's a lot easier just playing some place else because finding a neighborhood kid, band booster or parent of a football player to run the concession stand at Memorial Stadium is sometimes difficult in Bloomington.
Glass calls FedEx Field in November a "Bowl-like atmosphere"...DC in November boasts of weather like the Humanitarian, Sun, Motor City or Emerald Nuts Bowl and is just an "afternoon's drive" from most IU fans*.

"The Whores....errrrrrrrr...Hoosiers will make a cool $3 million just for abandoning their fan base for one afternoon. That will come in handy as they will be paying off Lynch's buyout clause at that time...and will help them update the lousy press box that doesn't go along with the beautiful new endzone seats at Memorial Stadium (that clearly they don't want to use).

In a move my brother compares to making IU into the equivalent of the Washington Generals of the Big Ten, Glass continues to innovate and create unique opportunities for the IU fanbase to enjoy their Billy (Lynch) Ball.

Hats off, once again, Mr. Glass.

*An afternoon is defined by Mr. Glass as a 9-hour period

Seems like the right time for this move...

I hope he sees the court...

Forehead making big moves!!

Question of the Day: Do You Root for IU on Friday?

I'm the first to admit that beating a team for a third time in a season is no gimme. That said, let's pretend for a second that it is. Alright, now pretend it's about 9:00 on Friday night. We all want to see a re-match between Purdue and IU, but that means IU must also win. Do you root for the Hoosiers?


It's not like IU will be playing Duke or some other evil entity, it'll be the cuddly Gophers (probably). So, as a Purdue fan, can you bring yourself to root for the Hoosiers, even for just one sultry regretful night? I think I can...Oh, I think I will.

I'm sure, I'll wake up the next morning feeling used, dirty and disgusting, but I want a damned rematch so much that I'll get into bed, at least for a few hours, with the enemy. Let's hope the 6:30 game goes according to plan first and then we have the opportunity to make such a choice.