As Indiana football players and coaches walked back to the locker room after Saturday’s 31-7 victory over Florida International University, many Hoosiers acknowledged the fans screaming down at them from a perch in Memorial Stadium’s northwest corner.
But across the stands, in the northeast corner, stood only a handful of students — a stark contrast from the side-to-side, top-to-bottom, packed house that filled the rows just a few hours prior.
Indiana’s student section, as it did in last year’s season opener against Ohio State, started out Saturday’s game in full force. By the end of the first half, the once-formidable group had lightened.
And by the time the clock hit zero in the fourth quarter, the student section bore an astonishingly similar resemblance to how it looked in 2023 — miniscule. But this time, the Hoosiers had a 24-point win to show for their efforts, as opposed to last year’s 20-point defeat.
Some may point to the 80-degree temperature, which was worsened by the student section being directly in the sun’s path. Others could note the Hoosiers held a 21-7 lead at halftime and were up by three possessions entering the fourth quarter, which may have led fans to believe their job had been completed.
But players and coaches don’t often tolerate excuses.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti wasn’t around for any previous instances of premature fan departures. The Hoosiers hired Cignetti on Nov. 30, and palpable buzz has surrounded the program since.
Such buzz was reflected at kickoff. Nearly four hours later, Cignetti, speaking at his postgame press conference, saw such a drop-off in bodies he made note in his opening statement.
“Another thing we're trying to change in tradition is, we’ve got to keep the people in the seats after halftime,” Cignetti said. “We need to create a Power 4 environment in the stadium. But we got to play better, too.”
Indiana Athletics announced an attendance of 44,150 fans. Memorial Stadium has over 52,000 seats, meaning it was close to sold out, and the initial draw proved quite strong.
The student section is basically full for the start of the Curt Cignetti era at Indiana. #iufbpic.twitter.com/5WfOMXZnm5
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) August 31, 2024
Seventh-year senior running back Ty Son Lawton, who had 16 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns in his Indiana debut, said he was impressed by the turnout for Indiana’s arrival to the stadium, known as ‘The Walk.’
Lawton, a transfer from James Madison University who played the first five years of his career at Stony Brook University, added he’d never seen anything like the long line of fans packed tightly, awaiting high-fives from the new-look Indiana roster.
The Hoosiers’ fanbase, from population to tailgating, is a different animal than anything Lawton’s played in before — though with a noticeable asterisk Saturday afternoon.
“It was good ‘til halftime,” Lawton said. “You know, everybody left.”
Two other James Madison transfers in senior tight end Zach Horton and junior linebacker Aiden Fisher shared in Lawton’s sentiments. Fisher, while impressed by the initial atmosphere, made a plea to the Hoosiers’ fanbase.
“We need those fans to stick around the second half of games,” Fisher said. “It was awesome coming out here and seeing them witness this new Indiana and new culture.”
Horton added he hopes Indiana can reach a level where fans stay in their seats. Fisher, following up on his initial plea, wants the fanbase to recognize the Cignetti-led era will differ from years past, starting with the team’s competitiveness.
“Just knowing that the games aren’t going to get lopsided anymore,” Fisher said. “And if they do, we’re going to be on top.”
Indiana returns to the field against Western Illinois University at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 inside Memorial Stadium — and Fisher hopes the fans return, and stay, in their seats.
“The biggest thing I’d say is, ‘stay in these stands,’” Fisher said. “We need the fans to get us going and keep us going. They play a bigger role than they think.”
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
