Interesting Hypothetical

[GR8IUFAN]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

 

[IUNorth]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

Football Natty, without question.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Football 100%

 

[TDr12]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

Not even close. A football natty would make me way happier than a bball final 4 or even bball national championship (although that would be amazing too!). Beyond personal feelings, the impact a football natty would have on the school for years to come far outweighs anything basketball can do.

 

[Tammany Hall]

FB Natty not close.

 

[nugget_release_lever]

Football as well but take into consideration what board you're asking this question to.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

Not even close. A football natty would make me way happier than a bball final 4 or even bball national championship (although that would be amazing too!). Beyond personal feelings, the impact a football natty would have on the school for years to come far outweighs anything basketball can do.

Yes, the more interesting question is BB NC v. FB NC.

The more obvious answer would be, as you state, FB.

For one thing, an IU NC in football would be the most unlikely of any program win since WW2. Dating back before the BCS, which began in '98, there were some claimed championships which look odd today: '52 MSU (1st for MSU); '53 Maryland; '54 UCLA; '58 Iowa; '59 Syracuse; '60 MN and Ole Miss; '64 Arkansas; '76 Pitt; '81 Clemson (1st); '83 Miami (1st); '84 BYU; '90 Colorado & GT; '91 Washington. With the BCS & playoff systems came more clarity and only iconic programs win now. So........an IU football NC would certainly be historic.

But long-term effect?? How long has it been since anyone thought about about Maryland, GT, Syracuse, and Colorado as NC contenders? Similarly, the demographics are just not on IU's side in the long-run. If we DID win a NC in, say '28, would it shock anyone if we were back in the bottom 8 BT programs in '35?

OTOH, it's been 37 years since we won a BB NC........forever, as far as 50% of the population is concerned. BUT, if we DID win another, we'd be back in the top 6 college BB programs in people's minds right away.

 

[Tammany Hall]

CFB is so much bigger than CBB, a CFB title would technically be best for IU.

But it’s down to preference and obviously a hypothetical.

 

[CC Mac]

That’s a no brainer
A football title would easily be the biggest sports story of the decade.

 

[IUNorth]

Yes, the more interesting question is BB NC v. FB NC.

The more obvious answer would be, as you state, FB.

For one thing, an IU NC in football would be the most unlikely of any program win since WW2. Dating back before the BCS, which began in '98, there were some claimed championships which look odd today: '52 MSU (1st for MSU); '53 Maryland; '54 UCLA; '58 Iowa; '59 Syracuse; '60 MN and Ole Miss; '64 Arkansas; '76 Pitt; '81 Clemson (1st); '83 Miami (1st); '84 BYU; '90 Colorado & GT; '91 Washington. With the BCS & playoff systems came more clarity and only iconic programs win now. So........an IU football NC would certainly be historic.

But long-term effect?? How long has it been since anyone thought about about Maryland, GT, Syracuse, and Colorado as NC contenders? Similarly, the demographics are just not on IU's side in the long-run. If we DID win a NC in, say '28, would it shock anyone if we were back in the bottom 8 BT programs in '35?

OTOH, it's been 37 years since we won a BB NC........forever, as far as 50% of the population is concerned. BUT, if we DID win another, we'd be back in the top 6 college BB programs in people's minds right away.

I want to confidently say a Football Natty over a BBall Natty. But I'm not sure my emotions would agree with that in the moment.

 

[mobilehoosier]

Anything Natty is my vote. Football Natty better than hoops final four (final four is sweet too.) Why can't we do both? Go Hoosiers!

 

[Al Bino]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

Is this a serious question?
A national championship trumps a FF every day of the week and twice on Sundays!!

 

[vesuvius13]

FB Natty without question.

 

[Bucket Getter]

That’s a no brainer
A football title would easily be the biggest sports story of the decade century.

FIFY.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Hell IUFB in the playoffs is near head shaking material.

 

[Harry Hondo]

On paper it’s more likely that basketball can make a final four this coming season, but a national title in football wins over. It would establish IU as a national power, which is more important right now. And if it would happen in Cignetti’s first season, Bloomington’s own Angelo Pizzo (writer of Hoosiers & Rudy) would need to pen a new screenplay called, Hoosiers: The College Football Story.

 

[td75]

Indiana winning a national title in football is the ultimate underdog story; a real life Rocky Balboa story!

A football championship carries more prestige, more weight.

 

[Bligedy]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

FB easy.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Basketball can be put on auto pilot with a good coach. You look at the elite 8 round games last year, only 2-3 of those teams would consider themselves. “basketball school.”
The rest of them are big, big into football. And, I know this is hard to fathom for IU fans, it’s not an either or proposition. You are allowed to show up and support both.

Tennessee is likely the best example.

 

[13thman]

That’s a no brainer
A football title would easily be the biggest sports story of the decade.

Just the decade?

 

[Walt542]

Yeah, football natty over a BB final four every day of the week.

 

[IUNorth]

Basketball can be put on auto pilot with a good coach. You look at the elite 8 round games last year, only 2-3 of those teams would consider themselves. “basketball school.”
The rest of them are big, big into football. And, I know this is hard to fathom for IU fans, it’s not an either or proposition. You are allowed to show up and support both.

Tennessee is likely the best example.

Bama is preseason top 5 in bball, and has been really good for a handful of years. Iowa State has quietly built two relevant programs, in terms of often being ranked, and competitive for their conference championships. Baylor has two good programs. Auburn and Texas A&M are both good programs in both right now. Ole Miss, Texas, both solid in both.

There are lots of them. The "funny" thing about all this...if IU football jumps up in to that conversation...basketball would still need to get their crap together for IU to join the group.

 

[IUNorth]

Hell IUFB in the playoffs is near head shaking material.

IU football playoff appearance versus IU BBall Final Four??

I'm going BBall Final Four with this one. Our Football program is already headed in the "right direction". A Final Four for the BBall program is needed SOOOOOOO badly. It would do wonders for IU athletics. IU Football is already doing their part, whether they make the CFP or not.

Gosh dang, either one would be sooo darn fun.

 

[RegionHoosiers]

Fball for sure. I'm not sure Bball can even get to the 2nd weekend anymore.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Bama is preseason top 5 in bball, and has been really good for a handful of years. Iowa State has quietly built two relevant programs, in terms of often being ranked, and competitive for their conference championships. Baylor has two good programs. Auburn and Texas A&M are both good programs in both right now. Ole Miss, Texas, both solid in both.

There are lots of them. The "funny" thing about all this...if IU football jumps up in to that conversation...basketball would still need to get their crap together for IU to join the group.

Baylor football? ooofff Since Art Briles, they've had two really good seasons (out of 9). Nine games under .500 the past 3 years.

Texas A&M? meh Their ceiling is so high, their results are so meh. No double digit wins since 2012 for a program with more money and resources than God.

 

[h20pls]

Was just asked by an ND fan of all people.

Which would you rather have.

1- IUBB to final 4 with no guarantee after that, or

2- IUFB wins national championship.

I don't know how to make this a poll.

Football

Absolutely Football. It isn't even close.

 

[Chriselli]

I'd take a Rose Bowl appearance over a basketball national championship. College basketball is unwatchable and a dying sport. It's the NBA played by crappy players without contracts to actually bind them to teams.

 

[RegionHoosiers]

I'd take a Rose Bowl appearance over a basketball national championship. College basketball is unwatchable and a dying sport. It's the NBA played by crappy players without contracts to actually bind them to teams.

I don't want to admit that but I think you're right. I took interest in the tourney again this year because I couldn't bear PU winning but overall it's been hard to watch in recent years.