Not bitter at all (well, maybe a little)

Upon learning that IU women's basketball coach Sharon Versyp was heading for Purdue, many of our IDS colleagues were, at first, wishing her (and them) petulance.\nBut, it's not as bad as it sounds. We hate Purdue, but only because we love to hate them.\nWhen it comes right down to it, both schools are from Indiana, and people who know nothing about our fair state think we're about only three things — corn, cars and basketball. And if that's what the state is going to be known for, we might as well do it well. In short, this is a case where regional pride should supersede school spirit.\nLet's face it, IU has historically not had a strong women's basketball program. Given the near-miraculous turn-around the team made in one short season, it was only a matter of time before a Versyp lured away stronger program.\nAfter all, it's better that the program is Purdue than, let's say, Duke, for example. There's no good reason not to hate Duke. \nVersyp had a great season here, but it's time for her to move on. Besides the fact that Purdue has a stronger program, she is at heart more Boilermaker than Hoosier, having spent four years there as a player and student. \nThe IU athletic department found in Versyp a great hire. Now, instead of being angry with the past, we need to look toward the future and find another young gun looking for a challenge.\nWhether or not we Hoosiers want to admit it, the Purdue women are quickly becoming a dynasty. It'll be a while before we're able to cheer on our own women in the Final Four. While we're waiting for that moment to come, we ought to at least be cheering on a home-state team.\nLike Shakespeare said: It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.\n

Dissent

\nI, too, wish Coach Versyp the best of luck. \nBut when we discussed what direction this editorial should take, I was shocked to find that the return of warm weather appears to have left the IDS' normally ferocious editorial board filled with thoughts of sunshine, rainbows, puppies and unicorns. The others refused to indulge in the taking of vengeance upon Purdue. And, thus, it falls to me to dust off the old witch doctor's headdress and lay down this wicked curse.\nTo Purdue, for your underhanded theft of our only winning basketball coach:\nMay your pocket-protectors all spring leaks. May State Street see 40 days and 40 nights of locusts and hail. May your cheerleaders break out in uncontrollable bouts of flatulence. May the Purdue Exponent be riddled with typos. May your calculators start estimating pi as being 3.141592-7-535. May the Undergraduate Library become infested with dingoes. May your greek system be conquered by Persia. And when you drink boilermakers to your Boilermakers, may the beer be flat, the whiskey flavorless and may they always, always go straight to your bladders. \n-Brian J. McFillen