Kirkwood crowds quiet after game

It just wasn’t the same.

The Bloomington Police Department cars were there, the crowds were there, the cream and crimson shirts were there, but it just wasn’t the same.

Four months ago, the last time IU Coach Tom Crean and his Hoosiers took on the Kentucky Wildcats, this street had to be closed to vehicular traffic because an army of Hoosiers had stormed the intersection of Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street.

Four months ago, cars were destroyed, music blared out of apartment windows and fans jumped and sang and danced and shouted.

But this time, after IU fell to Kentucky 90-102 Friday night, fans held their heads low and migrated from Nick’s English Hut and Kilroy’s on Kirkwood to go back home after a long, hard evening.

Fans had been on Kirkwood to get ready for the 9:45 p.m. game in the early afternoon. Hoosier faithful lined up outside bars, IDs in hand, through the rain and hailstorm a few hours before tip-off.

“It’s a sign, man. Kentucky’s gonna lose,” IU junior David Long said while waiting in line at Nick’s. “Hell’s freezing over.”

Some from inside came out to see the hail and call worried parents.
“I’ve never seen a sky like this,” said one fan. “I’m going to go inside and drink some more, then come out and watch.”

Once inside, they watched a replay of junior forward Christian Watford making his buzzer-beater shot, giving the team from the Southeastern Conference its only loss of the regular season.

They cheered for the Hoosiers as they clawed their way through the first half. They yelled and chanted all through the final plays as the boys in red ended their magical NCAA run.

Then they all filed out of the bars, into the street. The Hoosier fans met with friends, gave hugs.

“One helluva run, huh?” one Hoosier said.

Then, as a light rain began to sprinkle onto the homebound crowds, Kirkwood slowly cleared.

And it was quiet once again.