Give Irish basketball the home court advantage
Mike Coffey
class of '91
Tuesday night, the college basketball world will be introduced to the 10th-ranked Irish Men's Basketball team, as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers in front of a national television audience.
This will be Notre Dame's first national game of the season, and will be a lot of folks' first look at Murph, Hump, Martin, David, Matt and the rest of the guys. The student body should do everything possible to ensure that introduction is a memorable one.
Remember, IU is the team that hung the largest margin of loss ever on ND in '71, and their 122 points against the Irish in '61 is still their school record. The Hoosiers have taken 16 of the last 19 games against ND, and it's the MOB's job to help ensure it doesn't become 17.
Over the past few seasons, there's been a crowd problem at IU games in the Joyce Center. Local ND fans who root for the Irish the other 364 days of the year bring out their red sweaters for this game, creating a Nebraska-esque red tint in the stands.
Offset that sea of red and give the Irish the home court advantage they need and deserve.
Show up early. Be (tastefully) loud. Show the country that the Notre Dame nation is alive and well, and that the Irish are going to be a factor come March.
Mike Coffey
class of '91
Downer's Grove, IL
Dec. 4, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, December 5, 2000
