Column: Fans should appreciate the 2013 Big Ten championship banner

There’s an unfortunate byproduct of any team’s success, whether it be at the high school, college or professional level.

As victories pile up and winning becomes the norm, fan bases tend to develop a rather disgusting sense of entitlement, which often rears its ugly head at inappropriate times.

I never thought the IU basketball fans, known collectively as Hoosier Nation, would replicate that type of unfortunate and, frankly, childish behavior.

But it happened.

While at Assembly Hall covering Hoosier Hysteria last Friday evening, the Hoosiers unveiled a new banner, this one honoring last season’s squad that won the 2013 Big Ten regular season championship.

The banner is the second of its kind, with a sole banner recognizing the 1983 team for the same accomplishment.

One would think the IU fan base would comprehend the meaning behind this new banner, too, but I’m not certain it does. After tweeting about the unveiling of the new banner, that individual tweet was overblown with negative replies.

Also, my Twitter timeline was full of vitriol toward the program for its decision to hang this new banner alongside the legendary NCAA Tournament Championship banners.

Has the complete overhaul and renovation of the program by IU Coach Tom Crean and his staff been completely forgotten by Hoosier fans? It seems as if IU having begun last season as the nation’s No. 1 team pumped an overwhelming amount of ego into Hoosier Nation.

That’s not to say those fans shouldn’t have pride in the IU program — they should.
But going out of your way to bash the new banner isn’t a good look. I’ve been told that winning the Big Ten regular season championship should be expected on an annual basis.

While that’s a legitimate aspiration, think back to where you were Dec. 10, 2011.

Do you remember witnessing an unranked IU team beat then-No. 1 Kentucky, 73-72, at Assembly Hall? Prior to that legendary contest, there wasn’t a single ounce of ego to be found among the fan base, and for good reason.

IU had been relegated to the margins of college basketball, a sleeping giant desperate to be awoken.

There wasn’t any talk of conference championships or national titles.

And here we are, less than two years later, and those same fans are complaining about having a single banner recognizing the countless hours and the blood, sweat and tears invested by both former and current players and coaches to return IU to its rightful place in college basketball.

“We worked for five straight years to hang a banner,” Crean said while speaking to the crowd at Hoosier Hysteria. “This is a hard-nosed, blue-collar program.”

Former Hoosiers and current NBA rookies Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo would tell you the same thing. As would seniors Will Sheehey, Taylor Wayer and Jeff Howard.
So, too, would Verdell Jones III, Tom Pritchard, Jordan Hulls, Derek Elston and Christian Watford.

Each of those players are revered by the fans.

So, can’t you give them the respect they deserve and celebrate the significance of the 2013 Big Ten Championship banner?

­— ckillore@indiana.edu
Follow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @IDS_CGKilloren