It's had to be a tremendous week to be an IU sports fan.
Optimism for the football team is as high as it's been in a while, despite a nearly impossible prospect Saturday at Ohio State. And Kelvin Sampson's charismatically run Hoosier Hysteria - not to mention Eric Gordon Jr.'s commitment to be a Hoosier next year - has IU fans in a state of basketball euphoria.
It looks like both major IU programs will try to keep that jointly created enthusiasm rolling. Immediately after the IU's homecoming game next Saturday vs. Michigan State, Coach Sampson will open the doors to a public scrimmage across the parking lot in Assembly Hall, according to IUHoosiers.com, IU's athletics media relations Web site.
The scrimmage is set for one hour after the conclusion of the football game.
Side note: Hoeppner, according to that press release, wants 50,000 IU fans at the Michigan State game. From his weekly press conference:
The next time we get together at The Rock, we've issued a challenge to Hoosier Nation - 50,000. I won't settle for less than 50,000, I know they won't let me down. Not 49,999, but 50,000 for our next home game, which happens to be Homecoming. The team needs you - crowds help win games. It's not original, but it's true, and everyone will benefit. Don't forget. I'm soliciting all the help I can get. Fifty thousand for Oct. 28, Homecoming against Michigan State. I'm going to personally count them.
I'm sure the crowd will be large, especially by IU's standards ... but 50,000? Hard to imagine, to say the least.
