Thanks for the ride, Hoosiers

One of the most enjoyable aspects of sports is watching a team that grows into something truly special. The 2001-2002 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball squad has been such a team. \nEven optimistic Hoosier fans would have had trouble predicting it. But this team's impressive march through the NCAA tournament solidified its place in the grand history of IU basketball. \nWinning is the goal. And the Hoosiers achieved that, winning 25 games and earning a spot in the NCAA championship contest. The loss there to a determined Maryland squad did little to remove the luster from the Hoosiers' accomplishments. \nBut while IU's string of victories was exciting, what will remain in my mind when I think about this team is its dedication, its toughness, its teamwork and, yes, the joy that the Hoosiers displayed in playing the game of basketball. Anyone who wonders why basketball is such a popular sport in Indiana could learn a lot just by watching this team play -- and by watching the legions of fans cheer them on.\nWhen you start handing out the credit for the Hoosiers' accomplishments, you must begin with the players themselves. Our basketball student-athletes are expected to maintain their academic standing while devoting hours of time practicing an exacting a pressure-packed sport. They do so admirably. I especially want to thank seniors Dane Fife and Jarrad Odle for their dedication and commitment to IU basketball.\nThe team's on-court successes placed the players in a media spotlight that, at the Final Four, is truly extraordinary. The Hoosiers represented themselves and their university with poise, dignity and good humor.\nThe players respect for each other and for their coaching staff was unmistakable. Coach Mike Davis and his assistants clearly set the proper tone of hard work and cooperation early on. To succeed in the NCAA tournament, coaches must be able to make the right game-to-game adjustments for each new opponent. But it also seemed that the Hoosiers were drawing on something deeper -- outstanding conditioning and a thorough understanding of the game that was built from the first day of practice.\nCoach Davis' ability to create such a team says great things about his skills and about the future of IU basketball. \nThe team's success says the right things about this university, as well. We are dedicated to excellence. We work together. We help one another. We set lofty goals and strive mightily to achieve them.\nI have long believed that intercollegiate athletics, when conducted in the proper way, can increase pride in an institution. It can strengthen a university's connections with alumni, students, faculty and the broader community. It can generate great pride. This season proved those points.\nIt was fantastic to see and hear the Hoosier fans who jammed Rupp Arena and the Georgia Dome. Meanwhile, of course, fans back home were filling every available venue, including Assembly Hall. As the Hoosiers won a share of the Big Ten championship and marched through the tournament, I received countless letters and e-mails from fans reveling in IU's success.\nWhile the team was earning its victories, all of the Hoosier fans in the stands and in front of their television sets and radios felt like we were a part of those great accomplishments. It has been a great thing to share, and we sincerely thank Coach Davis and his team for creating these lasting memories for all of us.