Your guide to Indiana sports

A beginner’s guide to Indiana sports culture

By Emma Pawlitz

epawlitz@iu.edu | @emmapawlitz

Sports are an incredibly important part of the campus culture and student life at Indiana University, and the Hoosiers boast some of the Big Ten’s best. Having a baseline understanding of Indiana’s sports fandom and recent history before you step foot in Bloomington will help you know how to make the most of your time as part of the Hoosier faithful.

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Football

Football games traditionally take place once every weekend in the fall, either on a Friday or Saturday. Game start times can range anywhere between noon and 8 p.m., but festivities always kick off on the tailgate fields located next to the stadium.

Indiana will play seven home games — beginning against conference opponent Illinois at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 2 — and five away games this season. The Hoosiers’ home turf is Memorial Stadium, located northwest of campus. Student football tickets can be packaged with basketball for $425 or bought on their own for $105.

Football is not the sport for which IU is best known, but students and other fans never fail to have a good time at pregame celebrations, afterparties and the games themselves. Unlike any other sport, football can take up a full day of activities around campus, so be prepared for lots of long, spirited days every weekend this fall.

Basketball

Basketball is one of the most storied pieces of Indiana’s past, and the fanbase’s strong interest and dedication is evident in campus culture. From traditions, like singing of “Indiana, Our Indiana” before every game, to recent fads, like camping out in line for a good seat at the Purdue game in 2022, basketball is an irreplaceable part of IU.

Basketball season begins in late October with exhibition matches and ends in late March during the NCAA Tournament. The Indiana men’s basketball team, led by new head coach and fan favorite Mike Woodson, competed in their first NCAA Tournament since 2016 this past season. Returning senior stars Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson and Xavier Johnson already have fans excited about what is to come in the 2022-2023 season.

Women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren has turned her squad into a top-10 program in the nation over the past few years and coached stars like all-time leading scorer

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Tyra Buss and current fifth-year senior Grace Berger. The Hoosiers have been to two consecutive Sweet 16’s in the NCAA Tournament and have won 20 or more games for seven straight seasons.

There are many more basketball games than football games each year, with every regular season and postseason play total usually exceeding 30 games. Fans don’t normally have the opportunity to tailgate and celebrate after games. Still, the energy present during Indiana basketball games is unmatched and a unique experience, even for casual fans or those unfamiliar with basketball.

Other sports

Although football and men’s basketball are the biggest collegiate sports on a national basis, Indiana boasts many successful teams beyond those two. Fortunately, admission for every athletic event besides football, men’s basketball games and the Little 500 is free for all IU students with a valid student ID.

The men’s soccer squad has been to eight College Cups in its history and recently hosted a slew of All-Americans and Big-Ten honorees, including current professional players Victor Bezerra and Roman Celentano. The swimming and diving programs have consistently taken first place in a competitive conference and have produced national champion after national champion in various events.

The Little 500, coined “The World’s Greatest College Weekend,” has been an Indiana tradition since 1951. The Indy-500 style bike race in late April and the celebrations that ensue during the days leading up to it can be some of the most memorable experiences for any Indiana student.

Indiana University makes it very easy and accessible to attend these sporting events. It is easy to get excited about being a part of a university that lets you be a fan for free when you see the talent and skill of so many athletes in so many different sports.

IDS FILE PHOTO BY ETHAN LEVY Then-senior defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald holds his hands in the shape of a heart prior to Indiana’s football game against Idaho on Sept. 11, 2021, at Memorial Stadium.

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