Not trying to be rude here, but you just told me that you don't agree with me, but then argued in favor of pretty much the point I was making. So... I agree with you on the Colts, but I think you underestimate the degree that young people have picked up other pastimes.I don't know, other sports and the Pacers have always existed. To me, winning is the key. If anything, CTC has shown that the passion can be reignited and if we were a dominant program and challenging and winning our share of national titles, the support would be at a frenzy level I believe. The one difference I notice is with the Colts. Having an NFL team, and possibly that coinciding with class bball, and single sport focus, has changed the dynamic in IN to me. Now many top athletes are focusing on football, where in prior years bball was the #1 sport. I do think football and specifically the NFL and having a franchise that has had some success have changed the sports culture in IN. Not eliminated it, but changed it noticeably.
Seriously -- there are adults under 28 in Indianapolis right now who can name the starting strikers and midfield for Leicester City Football Club in England, but couldn't tell you where IU finished in the Big Ten this year. It's a totally different, global sporting world, and local allegiances just mean less.