Column: Embarrassed, exhausted and enlightened

I’m standing at the bottom of the Memorial Stadium seating section on a perfect Wednesday afternoon and staring at a flight of steps.

I’m about to endure an infamous stadium run. And I’m going to go up these steps carrying someone on my back.

The only thought that went through my mind: “What in the world did I get myself into?”
I had many similar notions throughout the day as I joined 24 other media members in the first “Cream and Crimson Media Survival Challenge.”

New IU men’s basketball strength and conditioning coach Je’Ney Jackson put the motley group of journalists, young and old, out-of-shape and in-shape, through a two-hour workout that mirrored what the team is doing this offseason.

It was a day meant to enlighten, embarrass and exhaust media members — and it
definitely worked. I was wiped out after 10 minutes.

And that was just jumping jacks and a stretching routine.

As IU coach Tom Crean, his assistant coaches and several players coordinated our workout, it was clear they were having plenty of fun seeing us fail.

“It was definitely a fun and funny experience for us,” junior guard Verdell Jones said. “I think you guys did well, but it was good to see you get a taste of what we do every day.”

If that was just a taste, well...

Let’s see, the afternoon started with dynamic stretching and was followed by some basic measurements — like the bench press.

I might or might not have successfully completed one rep.

(Note: I have no upper-body strength. However, I did better than my Indiana Daily Student co-reporters, Greg Rosenstein and Ryan Winn, who didn’t even try.)

The day ended with an obstacle course on the football field, including flipping truck tires and pushing way-too-heavy objects as well as  the stadium run.

In between, our day was filled with too many medicine balls, sprints and sore muscles inside Cook Hall.

Believe it or not, I consider myself in decent shape. I ran 500 miles this summer (although Burger King’s close proximity to the IDS newsroom has diminished some of that training) and try to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

So the purpose of the event — to give greater appreciation for what the players endure on a daily basis — worked.

Especially with the team’s recent struggles, I’ve heard plenty of people at the HPER say they could make the IU team.

But a good jump shot and athleticism doesn’t cut it. That’s what Jackson wanted people to know.

“It is fun because a lot of times the average Joe says, ‘I could do that, I can jump in there and do that,’” Jackson said. “You may think that up until you’re thrown into the fold and you have to do it and you have someone like me yelling at you the whole time.”

And Jackson didn’t hold back. He barked instructions and urged us to run from station to station.

I’m guessing he was far more lenient to us than he is to the players. Dogging players are being lazy, but some of the journalists dragging their feet might have been a few exercises away from a heart attack.

“If we’re standing around or if we walk anywhere, we’re definitely re-doing it or doing some sprints or something,” Jones said.

In the spirit of turning the tables, I asked Jackson to write a lead paragraph for this story.

“First thing I’d write is ‘Wow’ and then I’d say, ‘Those guys work really hard,’” Jackson said.

If I wrote the ending, I’d say: I’m glad I’ll never do this again.

I did, in fact, make it up the steps at the stadium, with legs feeling like Jell-O.

But now it’s time for an ice bath.


E-mail: nmhart@indiana.edu