Column: Hoosier Nation, here's to you

This one was for Hoosier Nation.

This one was for the fans who didn’t put Butler blue over cream and crimson while the IU basketball program was dragged through the mud of a 28-66 (8-46) record during the past three years.

This one was for senior Eric Anderson of Munster, Ind., who arrived at Assembly Hall at 6:30 a.m. on game day with a generator, television, Wii and “Mario Kart” to reserve his spot in the general admission line.

“I’ve been watching IU basketball since I was born,” Anderson said about three hours before IU’s eventual 73-72 victory against Kentucky tipped off. “I’m named after an IU basketball player. It’s in my blood. I love IU basketball. I was here for the Duke game in 2005 when Marco (Killingsworth) threw down that dunk, and just being here tonight and knowing that something like that could happen, I’m real amped up.”

Something like that did happen, as junior forward Christian Watford vindicated an entire basketball program with one shot — a shot that began the healing after errant phone calls caused seemingly irreparable damage four years ago.

This one was for the hysterical male student who rushed the court after the Hoosiers’ first home win against a No. 1 ranked opponent since 2001. He tried to fight back tears from his red, bulging eyes as he struggled to put his feelings into words.

“I can’t even describe it to you,” he said. “I’ve sat here for three years and watched us lose, watched us struggle, watched us keep fighting but not have enough talent.

Watched us punch early against teams and not be able to fight back after they punch back. This feels amazing. I can’t even describe it to you right now.”

The voices of jubilation from those on Branch McCracken Court after the win continued to say it better than I ever could:

“We might as well be NCAA Champions right now.”

“It’s been a rough four years, but it’s great to be back.”

“All these fans, all the electricity, the atmosphere. This is IU basketball. This is what we live for.”

“It’s an exorcism of three years of hell.”

But as IU Coach Tom Crean pointed out in his postgame press conference, the Hoosiers’ biggest victory in his tenure touches more than just the students.

“This is one of the most shared moments that I’ve ever been a part of, maybe the most shared moment where you want to share it with everybody who has been a part of this program long before we got here,” Crean said. “The ones that have joined in, in the sense of becoming fans over a period of time, but I think this is the epitome of what Hoosier Nation is all about, and the fans and everybody that supports this program from close and far, young and old. They deserve it because it’s one of those moments that everyone is going to remember.”

From 5:20 to 7:28 p.m. Dec. 10, it was a united fan base “from close and far, young and old” that created an environment that brought out the true potential of a home-court advantage in Assembly Hall.

“It was so loud, my head still hurts,” sophomore guard Victor Oladipo said. “I need ibuprofen or something.”

It was for 53-year-old, lifelong Bloomington resident and Hoosiers fan Jim Fox who watched the game with his son, Logan, an IU senior. The two stood side-by-side in Assembly Hall’s westside seating level, simply staring in disbelief at the court, even after the postgame celebration had
begun to subside.
“We’ve been through a tough four years and a lot of pain through that, but the patience has paid off,” Jim said. “It’s back. It’s back. No doubt about it.”

It was for Booneville, Ind., native Jonathan Weyerbacher, who tried to explain to this out-of-state columnist what Indiana basketball meant to the Hoosier state.

“This means so much to these guys,” Weyerbacher said following the game. “(It) means so much to these fans, who have always stuck with this team and will always stick with this team because this is Indiana and this is Indiana basketball. This is the heart of our state.”

Through coaching changes, player transfers and ridicule, the one thing that stayed constant through this roller coaster ride was the fans. IU averaged the 12th-best
attendance in the country last season, ranked 11th in 2010 and 16th in Crean’s inaugural season.

Now, those who kept with the program are being rewarded for their loyalty.
“It’s time for some excitement in Indiana basketball again,“ senior Stacey Vosters said before the game. The Odon, Ind., native began standing in line for general admission seats at 7 a.m.

It was even for Brian Sanderson.

The soft-spoken freshman from Downers Grove, Ill., slept for two or three hours before waking up at 6 a.m. in his Foster Quad dorm room and making the walk up Fee Lane with nothing more than a coat, notebooks and a box of Frosted Flakes.

When Sanderson, who did not grow up an IU fan, arrived at Assembly Hall for his first general admission game, there was no line. He asked an official if he was in the right place. They assured him it was, and he was the first one.

The humble freshman theorized what the aftermath of an improbable IU upset would be.

“It’s going to be insane,” Sanderson said while waiting in line. “They might have to cancel finals. It’s going to be a rough morning for everyone tomorrow if we win.”

At the time, Sanderson chuckled at the unlikely possibility of the Hoosiers beating a collection of potential NBA players and the equally doubtful prospect of doing away with finals.

If only he, the more than 17,000 in Assembly Hall and more watching from across the globe knew they were about to witness the culmination of their frustration released in a single moment that will forever be frozen in time.

­— azaleon@indiana.edu