Can we please end the Crossroads Classic as is...

[lbodel]

And play them on campus?

It'd be one thing if all four of these teams played in different conferences and there was a true rotation, but the flip-flop scheduling, why not just play Notre Dame and Butler home/away? Especially since the years that Purdue/IU only play once in conference play, the teams still aren't allowed to play in the Crossroads Classic.

The goal is to showcase Indiana college basketball and you have three of the best college basketball venues/atmospheres and you don't play the games there?

And specifically to Purdue, I just don't see the benefit to playing the doubleheader in Indy. Our fans suck in Indianapolis and we basically are playing a road-ish neutral game with the IU fans there.

 

[TC4THREE]

The Big Ten Tournament is always played on a neutral court (and sometimes that same neutral court we played on today) not to mention the NCAA tournament. I think having a quality opponent on a neutral court is a pretty good thing. Not to mention that there's no way all four teams would agree to play one another on a rotating home-court basis.

Count me in favor of continuing the CC.

 

[nagemj02]

I'm fine with either way (doing home and home or playing in Indy every year). Indy's about the equal distance for the Boilers and IU, so I understand the decision to have the event there as well.

 

[Dryfly88]

I really don't get all the negative Sh*t about this event. I have gone 3 of the 6 years including yesterday and we have a blast every time. Yes, there are more IU fans there, so what? It makes for a great environment and you get a good opponent on a neutral court for your resume.

Additionally, for the PU fans that get off their butts and actually go to the event they have a great time. Our group was sitting right behind a group of IU fans and we were going back and forth all day (in a good way) and had a blast giving each other crap.

Instead of continuing to bitch about the event, buy tickets and go. There is no reason why there shouldn't be more Black and Gold there. Great venue, reasonable ticket price and easy location to get to.

 

[Cleanface]

I really don't get all the negative Sh*t about this event. I have gone 3 of the 6 years including yesterday and we have a blast every time. Yes, there are more IU fans there, so what? It makes for a great environment and you get a good opponent on a neutral court for your resume.

Additionally, for the PU fans that get off their butts and actually go to the event they have a great time. Our group was sitting right behind a group of IU fans and we were going back and forth all day (in a good way) and had a blast giving each other crap.

Instead of continuing to bitch about the event, buy tickets and go. There is no reason why there shouldn't be more Black and Gold there. Great venue, reasonable ticket price and easy location to get to.

 

[Grover]

Been every year and it's always a great event.

Not sure why anyone believes Butler would give us a home and home now that they're in a conference that they don't need to bulk up their OOC schedule.

And we know NDs 50 year history of being far too big of a pussy to ever play in Mackey so that won't happen.

If this game goes away, our schedule adds Stetson. No thanks

 

[Title_BU]

Been every year and it's always a great event.

Not sure why anyone believes Butler would give us a home and home now that they're in a conference that they don't need to bulk up their OOC schedule.

And we know NDs 50 year history of being far too big of a pussy to ever play in Mackey so that won't happen.

If this game goes away, our schedule adds Stetson. No thanks

Butler would 100% do that. I'm sure Cincinnati will not want to renew the series after getting swept. That could get done today.

 

[BU_Milksteak]

Not sure why anyone believes Butler would give us a home and home now that they're in a conference that they don't need to bulk up their OOC schedule.

I have no doubt that Butler would agree to this hypothetical situation. With recent home-and-homes against Tennessee, Cincinnatti and Utah, I don't think this athletic department would shy away from this. It definitely would be an upgrade.

 

[pig1960]

It's great for us Indy fans and Purdue represents well every year...easily second to the IU support. I go every year and before that the game we had at Market Square and the Wooden deal we had for a bit. Get off your ass and make the one hour drive to Indy.

 

[TC4THREE]

Butler would probably do it. Not sure about IU or Purdue. Notre Dame would 100% not agree to it.

 

[FirstDownB]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one who abhors the term 'Crossroads'? Might as well just call it 'Flyover State'. Maybe I'm just not authentic Indiana, but that term bothers me.. conjures up images of truck stops and Cracker Barrels.

 

[TC4THREE]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one who abhors the term 'Crossroads'? Might as well just call it 'Flyover State'. Maybe I'm just not authentic Indiana, but that term bothers me.. conjures up images of truck stops and Cracker Barrels.

Doesn't bother me at all. Frankly, if the term is looked down on by the coastal elites then I'm all for it.

 

[boilernuke]

It's great for us Indy fans and Purdue represents well every year...easily second to the IU support. I go every year and before that the game we had at Market Square and the Wooden deal we had for a bit. Get off your ass and make the one hour drive to Indy.

I'd prefer an annual event in the Southeast (selfishly...because that's where I live). Plus it may help recruit the next IH. No problem keeping the crossroads classic too.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

And play them on campus?

It'd be one thing if all four of these teams played in different conferences and there was a true rotation, but the flip-flop scheduling, why not just play Notre Dame and Butler home/away? Especially since the years that Purdue/IU only play once in conference play, the teams still aren't allowed to play in the Crossroads Classic.

The goal is to showcase Indiana college basketball and you have three of the best college basketball venues/atmospheres and you don't play the games there?

And specifically to Purdue, I just don't see the benefit to playing the doubleheader in Indy. Our fans suck in Indianapolis and we basically are playing a road-ish neutral game with the IU fans there.

Why can't we play IU in the years we only play them once in conference?

 

[Inspector100]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one who abhors the term 'Crossroads'? Might as well just call it 'Flyover State'. Maybe I'm just not authentic Indiana, but that term bothers me.. conjures up images of truck stops and Cracker Barrels.

So, what is wrong with truck stops and Cracker Barrels? Indianapolis is known as the Crossroads to America. You have the people going north and south through Indy and people going east and west. Nice name that covers all of that. Sort of like St. Louis being known as the Gateway to the West city. Much better than Naptown!

 

[lbodel]

Why can't we play IU in the years we only play them once in conference?

It's part of the contract. Which is why it didn't happen recently...

 

[New Pal Boiler]

It's part of the contract. Which is why it didn't happen recently...

Why would they not want IU and Purdue to play in it?

 

[TC4THREE]

Would Butler and Notre Dame agree to it?

 

[New Pal Boiler]

It's part of the contract. Which is why it didn't happen recently...

I don't know what happened with the contract, but I blame Morgue.

 

[lbodel]

I really don't get all the negative Sh*t about this event. I have gone 3 of the 6 years including yesterday and we have a blast every time. Yes, there are more IU fans there, so what? It makes for a great environment and you get a good opponent on a neutral court for your resume.

Additionally, for the PU fans that get off their butts and actually go to the event they have a great time. Our group was sitting right behind a group of IU fans and we were going back and forth all day (in a good way) and had a blast giving each other crap.

Instead of continuing to bitch about the event, buy tickets and go. There is no reason why there shouldn't be more Black and Gold there. Great venue, reasonable ticket price and easy location to get to.

I totally agree with you. It would be a much better event if Purdue fans showed up. I live on the East Coast - I went to the Jimmy V game in NYC, went to the games in Connecticut last year and have gone to Rutgers one of the two times. How there are tens of thousands of alumni in Indianapolis and an hour from campus yet Purdue brings maybe 4,000 fans is crazy.

But knowing the circumstances with Purdue, and with the best college basketball in the state having some of the best environments to play college basketball, I'd just rather see it played on campus.

Purdue should play neutral site games - like the Jimmy V Classic. But as others pointed out - we can definitely get Butler to agree to something and I'm sure if we tried, we could schedule Notre Dame (both schools have coaches and athletic directors that had nothing to do with the previous issues). Either that or Purdue should put some damn effort into getting people into this game. We know the history of the Blockbuster - then the Wooden Tradition (the Purdue/Louisville games there were fantastic games and fantastic atmospheres). The Crossroads Classic? It's not that great of an atmosphere when most of the people at the game are there for another game. Can you hoot and holler at IU fans? Sure. But we're not even playing them, has nothing to do with the environment of the game being played.

 

[Dryfly88]

I totally agree with you. It would be a much better event if Purdue fans showed up. I live on the East Coast - I went to the Jimmy V game in NYC, went to the games in Connecticut last year and have gone to Rutgers one of the two times. How there are tens of thousands of alumni in Indianapolis and an hour from campus yet Purdue brings maybe 4,000 fans is crazy.

But knowing the circumstances with Purdue, and with the best college basketball in the state having some of the best environments to play college basketball, I'd just rather see it played on campus.

Purdue should play neutral site games - like the Jimmy V Classic. But as others pointed out - we can definitely get Butler to agree to something and I'm sure if we tried, we could schedule Notre Dame (both schools have coaches and athletic directors that had nothing to do with the previous issues). Either that or Purdue should put some damn effort into getting people into this game. We know the history of the Blockbuster - then the Wooden Tradition (the Purdue/Louisville games there were fantastic games and fantastic atmospheres). The Crossroads Classic? It's not that great of an atmosphere when most of the people at the game are there for another game. Can you hoot and holler at IU fans? Sure. But we're not even playing them, has nothing to do with the environment of the game being played.

Where did you get that 4,000 figure? Have you ever attended this event? I have attended 3 of them and I think they are a better atmosphere than the picture you paint. Would I like to see more PU fans there? Yes, of course. But it isn't nearly as bad as you make it sound.

 

[FirstDownB]

So, what is wrong with truck stops and Cracker Barrels? Indianapolis is known as the Crossroads to America. You have the people going north and south through Indy and people going east and west. Nice name that covers all of that. Sort of like St. Louis being known as the Gateway to the West city. Much better than Naptown!

Surely the state has more to be proud of than just being in the way of where people want to go.

 

[TC4THREE]

I'm sure if we tried, we could schedule Notre Dame

Don't bet on it. Tell me the last time Notre Dame played a non-conference road game that wasn't part of the Challenge.

 

[BoilerBiker]

Surely the state has more to be proud of than just being in the way of where people want to go.

The motto is better/more pertinent than many others IMO. (euruka? Friendship? Etc)

 

[TC4THREE]

Surely the state has more to be proud of than just being in the way of where people want to go.

If you don't live in Indiana, why would you care? Sounds like you look down on the state and the Midwest in general.

 

[Cleanface]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one who abhors the term 'Crossroads'? Might as well just call it 'Flyover State'. Maybe I'm just not authentic Indiana, but that term bothers me.. conjures up images of truck stops and Cracker Barrels.

Sounds like you might be. Seriously dude?? "Crossroads of America" is a completely BOSS State catch-phrase. I'd rather be from the IN "Crossroads" than MO, WY, NE, deep south pick em', or some other terrible desolate dust bowl smattering of dirt.

We deal with defending PU 24/7 here, now we have to defend the honor of our entire state??

BTW - what in TF is wrong with Cracker Barrell?? I could eat CB Mama's Pancake Breakfast every meal for the rest of my life. CB pancakes were put on this Earth by our sweet Lord above (along with CB pork sausage patties, all smothered in the Lord's sweet maple nectar), and I'll be damned if you'll disparage the Lord's work on my watch.

You can go straight to HELL!

 

[FirstDownB]

Sounds like you might be. Seriously dude?? "Crossroads of America" is a completely BOSS State catch-phrase. I'd rather be from the IN "Crossroads" than MO, WY, NE, deep south pick em', or some other terrible desolate dust bowl smattering of dirt.

We deal with defending PU 24/7 here, now we have to defend the honor of our entire state??

BTW - what in TF is wrong with Cracker Barrell?? I could eat CB Mama's Pancake Breakfast every meal for the rest of my life. CB pancakes were put on this Earth by our sweet Lord above (along with CB pork sausage patties, all smothered in the Lord's sweet maple nectar), and I'll be damned if you'll disparage the Lord's work on my watch.

You can go straight to HELL!

Wow. It seems I struck a few nerves.. No need to take offense. Just don't care for the term, that's all. At a minimum, it is ubiquitous - there's nothing uniquely Indiana about it. Other states have a lot of intersecting roads, too. Just like there is nothing wrong with truck stops and Cracker Barrels, but they are everywhere. Also, I find it uninspiring. It says "just pass through" instead of "come, stay awhile". I'm actually kind of surprised by the reaction here as most residents I know do not have much love for it. Maybe its a regional thing.

By the way I've lived here most of my life. I love the people, the values, the authenticity, the four seasons, the personal freedoms, the diversity (farms to cities).. I could go on and on. But we reduce our state to an intersection. Can't we do better?

Here's an idea for the name. Since this is a basketball event, how about simply playing on how basketball crazed the state is instead of pushing some lame slogan? Hoosier Hysteria would be perfect if not for the dreaded H word. How about Hoops Hysteria? Ok, that's crap. But I came up with it in like 5 seconds and it has more meaning than Crossroads.

 

[TC4THREE]

Hoops Hysteria is absolutely terrible. They have hoops everywhere.

 

[lbodel]

Where did you get that 4,000 figure? Have you ever attended this event? I have attended 3 of them and I think they are a better atmosphere than the picture you paint. Would I like to see more PU fans there? Yes, of course. But it isn't nearly as bad as you make it sound.

Yes, I've been. The majority of the crowd is IU fans. That means unless Butler and ND has a couple hundred fans, there's no physical way Purdue could have more than 5,000.

We'll always be the warm-up act for this event.

 

[Dryfly88]

Yes, I've been. The majority of the crowd is IU fans. That means unless Butler and ND has a couple hundred fans, there's no physical way Purdue could have more than 5,000.

We'll always be the warm-up act for this event.

I guess you are what you think you are.

On Saturday I promise you we weren't the warm up act for anything. Before, during and after the game there were lots of PU fans in the bars and the arena and in the downtown area.

Yes, IU had the most fans. But looking around the arena it was clearly PU with the second most fans and it wasn't that big of a difference. News flash: There are more IU fans than PU fans in Indiana. So this shouldn't be a big surprise to anyone. I don't know what year you attended, but I can say first hand that the past two years have been great events and I look forward to going again.

I did not attend the Jimmy V event this year against ASU. If I only judged from TV I wasn't impressed with the crowd or the atmosphere. But I'm not going to bad mouth it or whine that we do something different because I wasn't there in person to experience it and it may have been a great time.

Again, I don't get all the angst about this event and the desire to do an on campus instead? We have 17 games at Mackey this year. That is plenty of home games. Having a quality opponent on a neutral court is a good thing. I really don't see the downside.

 

[Inspector100]

Wow. It seems I struck a few nerves.. No need to take offense. Just don't care for the term, that's all. At a minimum, it is ubiquitous - there's nothing uniquely Indiana about it. Other states have a lot of intersecting roads, too. Just like there is nothing wrong with truck stops and Cracker Barrels, but they are everywhere. Also, I find it uninspiring. It says "just pass through" instead of "come, stay awhile". I'm actually kind of surprised by the reaction here as most residents I know do not have much love for it. Maybe its a regional thing.

By the way I've lived here most of my life. I love the people, the values, the authenticity, the four seasons, the personal freedoms, the diversity (farms to cities).. I could go on and on. But we reduce our state to an intersection. Can't we do better?

Here's an idea for the name. Since this is a basketball event, how about simply playing on how basketball crazed the state is instead of pushing some lame slogan? Hoosier Hysteria would be perfect if not for the dreaded H word. How about Hoops Hysteria? Ok, that's crap. But I came up with it in like 5 seconds and it has more meaning than Crossroads.

Hey FD, I appreciate this post. It is ok to feel the name of the event is not very good. To me, anything without the word Hoosiers or Indiana is a plus. I think the organizers are attempting to put a name on it that is politically correct for all schools and fan bases. I want this event to be a big deal in the national scene of men's college basketball. None of the other states, as I can tell, have this opportunity with 4 major universities that have a history in CB. Others have all their schools in the same athletic conference, so an event like this is impossible. This year, with all four teams in the top 25 national rankings, goes a long way to make this nationally important. Much bigger than the game(s) this replaced which was the Ky/IN series.

Now the people that utilize the crossroads at Indianapolis are not necessarily "passing through." Almost every one of them have to stop to eat or get gas. The truckers are paying a fee to use the roads. Our state has recognized this and passed some transportation rules that encourage them to come into Indiana and that results in some revenue for the state that wouldn't be here if they travel I-94 or I-75, for example. Chicago to Florida was a very important route in the past and is very important now that fuel is around $2 per gallon. So, I like the idea that Indianapolis is the "Crossroads of America." America is a pretty big place.

 

[syc70]

Why do you dislike the term "Crossroads?" You do realize that one oft the official nicknames for the state of Indiana is the "Crossroads of America," which incidently is in Terre Haute. The intersection of US 40 & US 41 by Indiana State's campus is the actual point that is considered the "Crossroads of America."

 

[FirstDownB]

Why do your dislike the term "Crossroads?" You do realize that one oft the official nicknames for the state of Indiana is the "Crossroads of America," which incidently is in Terre Haute. The intersection of US 40 & US 41 by Indiana State's campus is the actual point that is considered the "Crossroads of America."

Apparently it's because I'm an elitist hell bound jerk.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

It's great for us Indy fans and Purdue represents well every year...easily second to the IU support. I go every year and before that the game we had at Market Square and the Wooden deal we had for a bit. Get off your ass and make the one hour drive to Indy.

I think you mean third to the IU and IU/ND reversibles, tic.

 

[pharoutengineer]

Apparently it's because I'm an elitist hell bound jerk.

Everyone seems to be awfully sensitive about this for some reason. I don't really have a problem with the name of the event being the crossroads classic. It's not the greatest thing ever, but it makes sense because it's a state motto and 4 schools from the state are meeting at a crossroads to face each other. While I think it is the best name that I've heard offered up, I'm surely not going to disparage you for engaging in a little critical thinking on the topic.

 

[Courthouse Carp]

Wow. It seems I struck a few nerves.. No need to take offense. Just don't care for the term, that's all. At a minimum, it is ubiquitous - there's nothing uniquely Indiana about it. Other states have a lot of intersecting roads, too. Just like there is nothing wrong with truck stops and Cracker Barrels, but they are everywhere. Also, I find it uninspiring. It says "just pass through" instead of "come, stay awhile". I'm actually kind of surprised by the reaction here as most residents I know do not have much love for it. Maybe its a regional thing.

By the way I've lived here most of my life. I love the people, the values, the authenticity, the four seasons, the personal freedoms, the diversity (farms to cities).. I could go on and on. But we reduce our state to an intersection. Can't we do better?

Here's an idea for the name. Since this is a basketball event, how about simply playing on how basketball crazed the state is instead of pushing some lame slogan? Hoosier Hysteria would be perfect if not for the dreaded H word. How about Hoops Hysteria? Ok, that's crap. But I came up with it in like 5 seconds and it has more meaning than Crossroads.

I hear what you are saying about you not caring for the term and I respect your opinion on that; I did get a good laugh out of Cleanface's ridiculously over-the-top response of feigned outrage, so I hope you can appreciate his sense of humor even if his opinion might be contrary to yours.

I feel our state motto "Crossroads of America" is unique to Indiana, as it is of historical significance and relevancy. It's about more than just highways intersecting: it's about roads, railroads and waterways throughout Indiana; it's about geography, topography and where we are located when westward expansion was happening and as our country grew. It's a state motto that fits and works for us on many levels:

http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/in_motto.htm

I think using "Crossroads Classic" as the name of this event is a good move, as it applies to the state (by way of state motto) and is all-inclusive. Notre Dame and IU used to play Louisville and Kentucky in an event this time of year in Indianapolis called "The Big Four Classic"... what do you suppose most Purdue fans thought of that name?

I'm afraid that if they drop this name from the event that the next thing they'll want to do is abolish the breaded pork tenderloin as our state sandwich! And if that happens, then we're just opening the door for our most hated rival to abscond with it:
http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/dec14/highHog.cfm?page=all

COLONEL CLEANFACE -- ARE YOU READY TO RALLY THE TROOPS??!!

 

[FirstDownB]

I hear what you are saying about you not caring for the term and I respect your opinion on that; I did get a good laugh out of Cleanface's ridiculously over-the-top response of feigned outrage, so I hope you can appreciate his sense of humor even if his opinion might be contrary to yours.

I feel our state motto "Crossroads of America" is unique to Indiana, as it is of historical significance and relevancy. It's about more than just highways intersecting: it's about roads, railroads and waterways throughout Indiana; it's about geography, topography and where we are located when westward expansion was happening and as our country grew. It's a state motto that fits and works for us on many levels:

http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/in_motto.htm

I think using "Crossroads Classic" as the name of this event is a good move, as it applies to the state (by way of state motto) and is all-inclusive. Notre Dame and IU used to play Louisville and Kentucky in an event this time of year in Indianapolis called "The Big Four Classic"... what do you suppose most Purdue fans thought of that name?

I'm afraid that if they drop this name from the event that the next thing they'll want to do is abolish the breaded pork tenderloin as our state sandwich! And if that happens, then we're just opening the door for our most hated rival to abscond with it:
http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/dec14/highHog.cfm?page=all

COLONEL CLEANFACE -- ARE YOU READY TO RALLY THE TROOPS??!!

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Solid post. Thanks.

Now, to turn the attention back to the event itself.. Personally, I like it and hope it continues. In my book the more neutral court games against solid competition the better. Good preparation for BTT and NCAAT.

 

[NVBoilerFan]

Just looking at the team records, it may need to be renamed to the Bulldog Classic.

 

[boilernuke]

Perfect solution would be just to combine the names of the schools....like "Purdianalerame Classic"

Rolls right off the tongue.

 

[Dakota Girl]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one who abhors the term 'Crossroads'? Might as well just call it 'Flyover State'. Maybe I'm just not authentic Indiana, but that term bothers me.. conjures up images of truck stops and Cracker Barrels.

That's Indiana

 

[Boiler Wolf]

I think the event is worth keeping. I like the idea that Indiana has 4 teams with some good basketball history that get together every year in Indy. Having all 4 ranked this season was icing on the cake. Would not want to do a home and home with ND or Butler. Rather play them on a neutral court.

I can't think of many states that could pull this off. Michigan has 2 teams with good basketball heritage, but both in the same league. Same with Illinois. Kentucky has 2, or 3 if you count Memphis. Wisconsin only 2, Minnie 1. Ohio could argue 3 (OSU, Cincy, Xavier), 4 if you count Dayton. North Carolina has NC, NC State, Duke and ? What other state has 4 top 50 programs right now?

Pretty unique situation in Indiana as it should be with basketball being king. Football is still king here in Wisky, in spite of the Badgers success. I think this event helps all 4 schools recruit and shines a good light on the state. One of these years I need to get down there for it.