Column: IU Athletics midterm report card

I got to thinking the other day that if we as students are subject to midterms, those in higher powers should be as well. Some of these grades for the IU Athletics Department are given on the basis of effort, but the more crucial ones, such as recruiting, for example, are given by the numbers alone.

Marketing : A+
It’s pretty evident that Athletics Director Fred Glass brought his background in professional sports and its suit-and-tie aspect from Indianapolis’ Capital Improvement Board with him to Bloomington in January 2009.

Assembly Hall’s environment, for better or worse, has been turned into a professional sports venue in some aspects. The big heads, game show sounds after free throws and pregame interactive rituals have spiced the place up. Some may think it’s juvenile, but it all ties in to a concerted effort on the part of Glass in a time where circumstances are anything but normal.

Throughout and around Memorial Stadium, the scene has been livened up. For alumni, younger kids and prospective students the northwest part of campus is a fun place to be on game day now.

Stability: C
Turnover has been the word across a couple of the bigger sports, mainly football, during the last couple of years and really the last couple of months. Since the middle of December, IU football was ditched by four already-hired assistant coaches in Brent Pease, Jerry Montgomery, Corey Raymond and Jemal Singleton.

Men’s basketball saw Steve McClain replace assistant Roshown McLeod after just two seasons on the IU bench. It’s no secret that stability is a major key to success in today’s age of major sports programs and franchises.

A positive, though, is the signing of Wilson to a seven-year deal back in December.

Athletic Mission: A
This is something you don’t see a lot of publicity for, but something for which Glass and the athletics department deserve a round of applause. Last year IU implemented its Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, One Team mantra.

This type of mission statement is something to which all IU athletes can connect.

Earlier this week, in conjunction with the motto, Glass announced IU would begin the annual “Spirit of Indiana Showcase,” highlighted by various awards for academic and athletic achievement. Each year the ceremony will be highlighted by the Spirit of Indiana Director’s Award, an annual accolade given based on nomination from the 24 head coaches and selection from the athletics director.

Yes, there’s a serious effort from a facilities, recruiting and winning standpoint, but this is something that separates IU from many other programs across the collegiate sports landscape.


­— ftherber@indiana.edu