IU athletics kicks off Tailgate Tour

The sounds of music and conversation created a “buzz in the air” Tuesday.

At least that’s how Scott Dolson, IU Varsity Club senior associate athletic director for external operations, described the Varsity Club’s 2009 tailgate.

The two-hour event, which took place behind the DeVault Alumni Center, was the first in a series of seven such events throughout Indiana. The evening included a barbecue buffet, musical entertainment from IU alum Clayton Anderson, speeches from IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass and several marquee coaches and a raffle for prizes.

“We’re really excited,” Dolson said. “It was really exciting to see so many people here (within 10 minutes of starting). We feel a need to reach out to our fans, and we’re going to cover all of Indiana by region to see as many people as we can.”

Glass was the first to address everyone in attendance. Glass said that he wants to maintain IU’s reputation for compliance with NCAA regulations, academic achievements and athletic success and championships.

The IU coaches in attendance included men’s basketball coach Tom Crean, volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar, women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack and football coach Bill Lynch. Each took time to thank Hoosier fans for their support and to provide updates on their respective teams and schedule information for next season.

Crean spoke volumes of the support his team received during the 2008-09 season.

“We tell recruits that we only won one Big Ten game, but we had four sell-outs,” Crean said. “That just doesn’t happen (anywhere). We look forward to being with you for a very long time.”

Crean also bulletined what the men’s basketball team has been doing as well as his hopes for next season.

“The biggest thing we are trying to gain is visibility,” he said. “It’s going to take many more offseasons and preseasons to get to where we eventually want to be, but when you’re around these people who love Indiana, it makes things so much easier.”

Dunbar also expressed appreciation for the support of Hoosier fans and cited the North Endzone Project at Memorial Stadium as a monumental step for IU’s athletic program.

“I look across the street and I see our North Endzone, and that is the ‘wow’ factor for recruits,” she said. “You help us recruit.”

Dunbar also said the growth of the volleyball team has been terrific and she looks to take a major step forward.

“We can develop into a national contender (next year),” she said.

Legette-Jack also praised her players and acknowledged how they kept her up to date as far as organization and the schedule.

“All I knew is that if someone wasn’t wearing an IU uniform, it’s a problem with us,” Legette-Jack added with a laugh.

Lynch, the final speaker of the evening, also expressed his excitement about the North Endzone Project and the new weight facility that will be available to IU student-athletes. Lynch said he sees the completion of the project as a new chapter in the 125-year-old history of IU football.

“We’re celebrating 125 years of Indiana football,” he said. “It’s a new building and a new beginning.”

Lynch said he likes what he sees from the team, citing strong leadership returning to the squad for the 2009 season.

“I think you’re going to like this football team,” Lynch said. “It’s completely different than last year. There’s a lot more experience, and when you talk about intangibles, we’ve got some real leaders. Jammie Kirlew is a real leader. Ben Chappell is homegrown and has really seized this football team.”

Lynch also announced the home schedule for 2009, encouraging Hoosier fans to “keep the Buckeyes out of our stadium” when Ohio State comes to Bloomington on Oct. 3.

The IU Varsity Club will continue its statewide tour with Glass and the coaches May 21 in Evansville and will visit Jeffersonville, Merrillville, Ft. Wayne, Jasper and Indianapolis during the summer.