What’s your favorite IU sporting event(s) you’ve attended?

[Eppy99]

I have a couple as a kid and one as an adult.

In 1987 I remember making the two hour drive to Cincinnati for the NCAA regional where IU defeated Duke and went on to beat Shaq’s LSU team. It was an electric environment and a dream come true for a big IU teenage fan. Seeing my favorite players Alford, Smart and Calloway was a memory I’ll never forget.

My second memory is attending the 1988 men’s soccer championship at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Back then the higher ranked team would host the championship game. Some great players on that team with some legendary Indy area players I remember idolizing when I was a kid. Ken Snow, Juergen Sommer, Mike Anhaeuser, and local products Marc Berringer, Simon Katner and Wes Priest.

As an adult this one is pretty easy. With the men’s basketball team in shambles and the football team being the football team, I’m skipping to this years IU Football team. I took my kids and wife to the home Washington game. While the game itself wasn’t a classic the atmosphere was like nothing I’ve ever experienced for an IU football game. The anticipation in the tailgate lots was on point, my kids absolutely loved seeing the marching 100 March on the way to the Rock. Once inside seeing all the Cignetti white towels being waved as AC/DC was playing waiting for the team to take the field. I never thought I’d see such an environment. We had such a good time we put a deposit on season tickets for next year.

 

[Spartans9312]

Senior nights with coach Knight. They were awesome. Something else that some will never know what we had.

“How about one more rendition of give ‘em hell Hoosiers”

 

[Univee2]

I have a couple as a kid and one as an adult.

In 1987 I remember making the two hour drive to Cincinnati for the NCAA regional where IU defeated Duke and went on to beat Shaq’s LSU team. It was an electric environment and a dream come true for a big IU teenage fan. Seeing my favorite players Alford, Smart and Calloway was a memory I’ll never forget.

My second memory is attending the 1988 men’s soccer championship at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Back then the higher ranked team would host the championship game. Some great players on that team with some legendary Indy area players I remember idolizing when I was a kid. Ken Snow, Juergen Sommer, Mike Anhaeuser, and local products Marc Berringer, Simon Katner and Wes Priest.

As an adult this one is pretty easy. With the men’s basketball team in shambles and the football team being the football team, I’m skipping to this years IU Football team. I took my kids and wife to the home Washington game. While the game itself wasn’t a classic the atmosphere was like nothing I’ve ever experienced for an IU football game. The anticipation in the tailgate lots was on point, my kids absolutely loved seeing the marching 100 March on the way to the Rock. Once inside seeing all the Cignetti white towels being waved as AC/DC was playing waiting for the team to take the field. I never thought I’d see such an environment. We had such a good time we put a deposit on season tickets for next year.

I was at that game, against LSU, and I can assure you that you didn’t see Shaq. He was a freshman at LSU in the 89-90 season. This was the game where Knight slammed the phone on press row and broke it. (Shaq later played against IU, when Matt Nover was his nemesis. Shaq was still in high school in 1987.)

Had two seats across from IU’s bench, in the LSU section. Bought them from some guy outside the arena after the Duke game. Lots of people with signs looking for tickets to New Orleans for the Final Four. My bride saw a guy holding up tickets for the regional final and we were able to get two. We had just been able to get tickets for the first games and not the final.

This was also the game where Knight was charged by that little Sports Illustrated twerp, Curry Kirkpatrick, with “abusing” a young LSU fan. The truth was far different. As the teams were leaving the court at the end of the first half, an LSU kid in a purple tiger outfit was thrusting the stick end of a pompom from the stands at IU’s players. He was too far away to reach anybody. Knight, as he always did, was walking towards the area with his head down and didn’t even see or acknowledge the punk. Dr. Bomba, walking next to Knight, looked at the kid as they passed and as the kid was yelling obscenities, Bomba said, “Stop that or Knight will stick that up your ass.” Knight said nothing.

The whole “event” got the section in an uproar and some of the press, notably Kirkpatrick, came running over from press row to get in on the action. It was a classic nothingburger but it was Knight!

Kirkpatrick later wrote in SI about Knight being his traditional bully self. All bullshit.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

1993 we beat the "Fab 5" 93-92. All the press that Michigan team received, beating them was so satisfying.

 

[Eppy99]

I was at that game, against LSU, and I can assure you that you didn’t see Shaq. He was a freshman at LSU in the 89-90 season. This was the game where Knight slammed the phone on press row and broke it. (Shaq later played against IU, when Matt Nover was his nemesis. Shaq was still in high school in 1987.)

Had two seats across from IU’s bench, in the LSU section. Bought them from some guy outside the arena after the Duke game. Lots of people with signs looking for tickets to New Orleans for the Final Four. My bride saw a guy holding up tickets for the regional final and we were able to get two. We had just been able to get tickets for the first games and not the final.

This was also the game where Knight was charged by that little Sports Illustrated twerp, Curry Kirkpatrick, with “abusing” a young LSU fan. The truth was far different. As the teams were leaving the court at the end of the first half, an LSU kid in a purple tiger outfit was thrusting the stick end of a pompom from the stands at IU’s players. He was too far away to reach anybody. Knight, as he always did, was walking towards the area with his head down and didn’t even see or acknowledge the punk. Dr. Bomba, walking next to Knight, looked at the kid as they passed and as the kid was yelling obscenities, Bomba said, “Stop that or Knight will stick that up your ass.” Knight said nothing.

The whole “event” got the section in an uproar and some of the press, notably Kirkpatrick, came running over from press row to get in on the action. It was a classic nothingburger but it was Knight!

Kirkpatrick later wrote in SI about Knight being his traditional bully self. All bullshit.

Crap you turn 50 and your memory turns to Shiite.

 

[Univee2]

Crap you turn 50 and your memory turns to Shiite.

Doesn’t matter. You were there and had a great time. Calloway had the put-back to win it and sent IU to New Orleans to beat UNLV and Syracuse in classic games.

Knight also made the classic comment about Dale Brown, whom he disliked, when asked if he was worried when IU was down to LSU: “. . . I looked down toward the other bench, and I saw Dale Brown standing there. I knew then that we had a chance,”


“To paraphrase Churchill, never has so little been done with so much.” - In reference to Brown’s coaching ability.

 

[Ohio Guy]

Senior nights with coach Knight. They were awesome. Something else that some will never know what we had.

“How about one more rendition of give ‘em hell Hoosiers”

One of my all-time favorite Senior nights was what turned out to be Knight’s last in 2000. They shellacked Purdue which was great, but there were other reasons I loved that game.

 

[Ohio Guy]

I only saw them a handful of times, but those early 90s teams were so fun to watch. I saw them play Louisville, Kentucky (the game where they beat them and Bailey was on the next issue of Sports Illustrated), and Ohio State. Seeing those Jimmy Jackson vs Calbert Cheaney games were epic.

And even though I wasn’t a fan of Mike Davis ever, being in Atlanta for that 2002 final four was pretty amazing.

 

[The Original Happy Goat]

I was courtside when Haston hit the three against MSU. Nothing comes close to that.

 

[WhyisIUBBcursed]

Senior student sitting under the bucket with my future wife when Cheaney broke the all time Big 10 scoring record. Watched IUS win their 8th star in Birmingham in Dec 2012 with my son. Sat in the next to last row of section AA in Dec 1994 when we beat #2 Kansas.

 

[BradStevens]

1993 we beat the "Fab 5" 93-92. All the press that Michigan team received, beating them was so satisfying.

Ditto. So great.

 

[BradStevens]

I wasn't there, but being in the building for the Wat Shot must have been incredible.

 

[mrhighlife]

2007 Oaken Bucket game. Austin Starr hit a game winning field goal. Sent the Hoosiers to their first bowl game in over 10 years. It was the season after Coach Hep passed, so it was very emotional... Then I got brown out drunk. Just hammered. Ended up at Little Z's eating crabs legs with no bib. I was a sloppy butter covered mess. Good times.

 

[zeke4ahs]

Let’s see…. I’ve got quite a few.
NCAA FINALS in New Orleans What a perfect place to win and party on Bourban Street. I missed Smart’s shot, as I was hiding in the hall, too nervous to watch.
Wat Shot: most amazing second of exhilaration with the home crowd and beating the hated Wildcats.
Football : this year both Nebraska and Purdue games. Amazing atmosphere and Nebraska was when I first realized we were really, really good. We played almost a perfect game.
Baseball: went to Omaha for the World Series. The atmosphere with other fans was just really fun. Everyone friendly and not really the intense competition amongst fans as at other sporting events,
Soccer: freezing cold game to send us to the Final Four. Went to PK. We won 5-4 I think. The woman next to me was even more nervous than I was and we bonded during the game. At the end, she told me she was Todd’s wife.
Swimming: seeing the great Lilly King.
I’ve got some devastating losses too.

 

[outside shooter]

Jay Edwards buzzer beater to beat Michigan. So loud! Plus it helped that I had the best seats I ever got in the student lottery ( I was a grad student). I was behind the basket he was shooting at, pretty much even with the backboard, so I knew it was in as soon as he shot it.

 

[UncleMark]

This was the game where Knight slammed the phone on press row and broke it.

My brother was a staff photographer for the Star and worked that game. There was a picture that went out on the wire services of Knight slamming the scorer's table and the handset of the phone was suspended in mid-air. He took that picture.

 

[mcmurtry66]

I was courtside when Haston hit the three against MSU. Nothing comes close to that.

I was courtside when Haston hit the three against MSU. Nothing comes close to that.

Remember they reviewed that shot to make sure it was a 3 so that frenzy just carried on. Unreal

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

2002 vs. Duke at Rupp Arena.

I had a good friend who has sadly passed away now who had a 3rd row seat to the "Wat Shot" game. As much as I'd have loved to have been there in person myself, I was always glad he got to experience that.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

Doesn’t matter. You were there and had a great time. Calloway had the put-back to win it and sent IU to New Orleans to beat UNLV and Syracuse in classic games.

Knight also made the classic comment about Dale Brown, whom he disliked, when asked if he was worried when IU was down to LSU: “. . . I looked down toward the other bench, and I saw Dale Brown standing there. I knew then that we had a chance,”


“To paraphrase Churchill, never has so little been done with so much.” - In reference to Brown’s coaching ability.

I made a crazy straight up bet after 5 games of that season that IU would win the national championship. $50. Never made a stupid bet like that before or since, but it paid off.

 

[Morrison]

My brother was a staff photographer for the Star and worked that game. There was a picture that went out on the wire services of Knight slamming the scorer's table and the handset of the phone was suspended in mid-air. He took that picture.

I remember that photo and it was pretty iconic. Did he win any awards for that?

 

[mcmurtry66]

2002 vs. Duke at Rupp Arena.

I had a good friend who has sadly passed away now who had a 3rd row seat to the "Wat Shot" game. As much as I'd have loved to have been there in person myself, I was always glad he got to experience that.

I was at a sports bar in so fla. Packed. The entire bar was standing and going nuts for iu. The moye block was amazing but when Jeffries started running back and doing the two arm pump getting jacked up it was like a rocky moment

 

[mushroomgod_1]

I have a couple as a kid and one as an adult.

In 1987 I remember making the two hour drive to Cincinnati for the NCAA regional where IU defeated Duke and went on to beat Shaq’s LSU team. It was an electric environment and a dream come true for a big IU teenage fan. Seeing my favorite players Alford, Smart and Calloway was a memory I’ll never forget.

My second memory is attending the 1988 men’s soccer championship at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Back then the higher ranked team would host the championship game. Some great players on that team with some legendary Indy area players I remember idolizing when I was a kid. Ken Snow, Juergen Sommer, Mike Anhaeuser, and local products Marc Berringer, Simon Katner and Wes Priest.

As an adult this one is pretty easy. With the men’s basketball team in shambles and the football team being the football team, I’m skipping to this years IU Football team. I took my kids and wife to the home Washington game. While the game itself wasn’t a classic the atmosphere was like nothing I’ve ever experienced for an IU football game. The anticipation in the tailgate lots was on point, my kids absolutely loved seeing the marching 100 March on the way to the Rock. Once inside seeing all the Cignetti white towels being waved as AC/DC was playing waiting for the team to take the field. I never thought I’d see such an environment. We had such a good time we put a deposit on season tickets for next year.

In no particular order:

--1967 Bucket game v. Purdue
--1976 home BBall game v. Michigan--Benson tip game
--1979 or '80 home bball v. UK when we smoked them by 30 or so--I. Thomas' FR year
--1988(?) home football game v. Michigan, when Bo lost it
--2024 IU home football game v. Nebraska

I really think the 2025 Nebraska football game was the most pure fun--just laughed my ass off that game, especially the int that went back about 70 yards. Washington & Purdue were special games also, but did not equal Nebraska, especially since I froze my ass off that Purdue game.

Hon. Mention---Don't recall the year, but the Bucket game at WL when Dumas ran the int back 98 yards to the 1 yd line.

EDIT--Forgot one--the 2002 game in Louisville v. Duke--Moya's block...."AJ Moya...AJ Moya...." Also, the IU crowd there before the game and on the streets thereafter......maybe the most exciting live event, along with the '67 Bucket game.

 

[dr.jb]

all the home games from the rose bowl season

all the home games from the 75 and 76 bball seasons

clarks walkoff dinger against valpo

michigan fb in 87

pu and nebraska fb this yr

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

I was at a sports bar in so fla. Packed. The entire bar was standing and going nuts for iu. The moye block was amazing but when Jeffries started running back and doing the two arm pump getting jacked up it was like a rocky moment

I actually tried to talk my buddy into leaving at halftime. We’d been having a damn good time at the bar across the street drinking and carrying on. And the game was depressing me at that point.

I’m glad he won that argument. Come to think of it, that was a different buddy who is also no longer with us.

When Moye blocked Boozer’s shot, I almost fell onto the row in front of us.

 

[dr.jb]

all the home games from the rose bowl season

all the home games from the 75 and 76 bball seasons

clarks walkoff dinger against valpo

michigan fb in 87

pu and nebraska fb this yr

non-game moments......

cig getting hired

woodson getting fired

 

[hookyIU1990]

'87 Bone Bo Game
The Edwards shot to beat UM in '88
'88 Bucket game in W Laffy
'90 W over Kentucky at the hall
'19 win over Rutgers to clinch the reg season conf championship at the Bart

 

[mcmurtry66]

I actually tried to talk my buddy into leaving at halftime. We’d been having a damn good time at the bar across the street drinking and carrying on. And the game was depressing me at that point.

I’m glad he won that argument. Come to think of it, that was a different buddy who is also no longer with us.

When Moye blocked Boozer’s shot, I almost fell onto the row in front of us.

I was at the 11 series for freese’s Homer. I was with my dad and my uncle in 85 for Ozzie’s which is probably the most iconic moment in bird’s history. Stanley cup series. World cups. Derby. Racing. I’ve been to basically everything and seen everything and honestly think that game was my favorite. Bc it was like a movie. The momentum just kept growing. And moye. And Jeffries. And all these little events that just kept building with the school and program and student body I hate more than any program college or pro with a coach I cannot stand. It was glorious in that bar on a strip mall which was underneath a lawyer’s office who for years had the largest COLLECTED individual verdict in U.S. history. I absolutely destroyed myself that night.

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be at the game. You would have been SICK had you left at halftime. You’d regret it forever

 

[UncleMark]

I remember that photo and it was pretty iconic. Did he win any awards for that?

Got a lot of attaboys and it was a big deal that it got picked up by the wire services and went national.

He was in NOLA for the championship and says he got blocked from getting a shot of Smart hitting the winner by other photogs under the basket.

He was really good. Gave it all up to go to Montana and work for a residential school on the Northern Cheyenne Rez.

 

[mcmurtry66]

'87 Bone Bo Game
The Edwards shot to beat UM in '88
'88 Bucket game in W Laffy
'90 W over Kentucky at the hall
'19 win over Rutgers to clinch the reg season conf championship at the Bart

I’d say my greatest iu sports event I’ve attended. Summer of 90. Maybe 91. House party south county. Drinking Rolling Rock. Trent Green was putting a full court press on my gf. I was on a top 20 D1 soccer team which didn’t match up with a Big Ten QB. But I was at the peak of my powers Hooky. Looking back now peak of my life. He tried so hard and she had absolutely zero interest. She didn’t want anything other than my big ole beer can that night hooky. Wow wow wow. What a summer. I think I could have fended off Brad Pitt at that time.

That was the two year period in life where I had it all. My god if that young man would have known the hell and misery to come

 

[hookyIU1990]

I’d say my greatest iu sports event I’ve attended. Summer of 90. Maybe 91. House party south county. Drinking Rolling Rock. Trent Green was putting a full court press on my gf. I was on a top 20 D1 soccer team which didn’t match up with a Big Ten QB. But I was at the peak of my powers Hooky. Looking back now peak of my life. He tried so hard and she had absolutely zero interest. She didn’t want anything other than my big ole beer can that night hooky. Wow wow wow. What a summer. I think I could have fended off Brad Pitt at that time.

That was the two year period in life where I had it all. My god if that young man would have known the hell and misery to come

Stack Ws while you can. That's the name of the game.

 

[mcmurtry66]

Stack Ws while you can. That's the name of the game.

The losing streak has to end at some point

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be at the game. You would have been SICK had you left at halftime. You’d regret it forever

You're damn right I would've. I probably thanked him 25 times after that for getting me to stay. He said "Let's just see how it goes for the first 8 or 9 minutes and if it still sucks, we can leave."

It reminds me that I know a guy who's a huge Cardinals fan who left Busch Stadium during Game 6 of the 2011 World Series after the 8th inning. That's the game where the Rangers were up by a couple runs going into the bottom of the 9th -- 2 out, 2 on, 2 strikes...the Rangers literally a strike away from winning the series -- and David Freese tied it up with a triple....then won the game in the 11th with a walk-off homer.

He said he just didn't have the stomach to watch another team celebrate winning the World Series at Busch.

 

[mcmurtry66]

You're damn right I would've. I probably thanked him 25 times after that for getting me to stay. He said "Let's just see how it goes for the first 8 or 9 minutes and if it still sucks, we can leave."

It reminds me that I know a guy who's a huge Cardinals fan who left Busch Stadium during Game 6 of the 2011 World Series after the 8th inning. That's the game where the Rangers were up by a couple runs going into the bottom of the 9th -- 2 out, 2 on, 2 strikes...the Rangers literally a strike away from winning the series -- and David Freese tied it up with a triple....then won the game in the 11th with a walk-off homer.

He said he just didn't have the stomach to watch another team celebrate winning the World Series at Busch.

I was there! I would have traded it to be at that iu game in a heartbeat

 

[IUclover]

I wasn't there, but being in the building for the Wat Shot must have been incredible.

I was there and that’s my answer. Everything was in slow motion after the shot. I walked down to like row 5 and enjoyed the moment.

After the game, I was at Scotty’s and Wat, Oladipo, and I think Zeller walked in. Everyone started chanting “Christian. Watford.” Awesome night.

 

[Mas-sa-suta]

I was there! I would have traded it to be at that iu game in a heartbeat

2007 Bucket Game..the emotion for Hep and his tragic loss too soon...last second winning field goal...
Some of us tailgaters from the football board saved our pennies and traveled to the Insight Bowl game. IU Alumni Assoc leased an indoor/outdoor Mexican Restaurant off campus for the night before the game...Mrs. Hep was there, AT, a number of former players...
A number of us had also roadtripped up to Central Michigan for Hep's first game as HC, when he beat Brian Kelly. James Hardy came up big....
2007 closed the circle, in a way.

 

[Univee2]

My brother was a staff photographer for the Star and worked that game. There was a picture that went out on the wire services of Knight slamming the scorer's table and the handset of the phone was suspended in mid-air. He took that picture.

Wow. That was a great shot. I definitely remember that one. Hope he has it framed and displayed prominently.

 

[Mas-sa-suta]

The losing streak has to end at some point

You need a road trip and a slump buster..