As a football season ticket holder and basketball for over 55 years I've seen them all. Bernie Crimmins was the football coach from my four years at IU, 1952-1956--a very bad coach and time. Others followed-Phil Dickens good coach but put the program in all sports into probation-impacted all teams including basketball for many years. John Pont-a terrific guy and miracle winner, gotIU into their only 1967 Rose Bowl-greatest IU game I ever saw, beating top three Purdue in Bloomington. My IU wife and I went to Rose Game-still see drop in end zone to end first quarter negating touchdown. OJ Simpson USC star won game for USC.
Bill Mallory was a great choice-a head coach and winner at both Colorado and Northern Illinois before he came to IU- Bob Knight a big factor in his coming to IU.
And when we begin to judge our new coach, Curt Cignetti please remember that Mallory's first team at IU went 0-11 and took three
seasons gradually improving. Unfortunately his last three seasons were complete collapse.
The best choice in my opinion after him was Terry Hoepner. In his brief time he had begun to strongly turn the program forward. He was a winner in the Big Mac as a head coach, but tragically was overcome by a fatal disease.
Cignetti is a very good choice. This is the chance of a lifetime for him. The talk that nobody would want to couch IU is completely wrong-to coach in the Big Ten is an amazing opportunity for almost anyone. He faces challenges though greater than any IU coach in any sport has faced. The admission next season of USC, UCLA,OREGON AND WASHINGTON-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL TEAMS EXPANDS THE CHALLANGE BEYOND MEASURING. And as other schools continue to substantially improving their facilities, including Purdue the need to get on board with a competitive football program is dramatic.
The collapse of the Pac 12 shows that no long term members are safe, leaving Oregon State and Washington State hanging in the wind, if they are weak-which IU is shows what can happen if we aren't competitive.
Go Hoosiers-I don't have too much time left
Bill Mallory was a great choice-a head coach and winner at both Colorado and Northern Illinois before he came to IU- Bob Knight a big factor in his coming to IU.
And when we begin to judge our new coach, Curt Cignetti please remember that Mallory's first team at IU went 0-11 and took three
seasons gradually improving. Unfortunately his last three seasons were complete collapse.
The best choice in my opinion after him was Terry Hoepner. In his brief time he had begun to strongly turn the program forward. He was a winner in the Big Mac as a head coach, but tragically was overcome by a fatal disease.
Cignetti is a very good choice. This is the chance of a lifetime for him. The talk that nobody would want to couch IU is completely wrong-to coach in the Big Ten is an amazing opportunity for almost anyone. He faces challenges though greater than any IU coach in any sport has faced. The admission next season of USC, UCLA,OREGON AND WASHINGTON-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL TEAMS EXPANDS THE CHALLANGE BEYOND MEASURING. And as other schools continue to substantially improving their facilities, including Purdue the need to get on board with a competitive football program is dramatic.
The collapse of the Pac 12 shows that no long term members are safe, leaving Oregon State and Washington State hanging in the wind, if they are weak-which IU is shows what can happen if we aren't competitive.
Go Hoosiers-I don't have too much time left