Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "ihsaa"

Attending a high school basketball game in Indiana is a cultural experience. I feel lucky to have known Hoosier Hysteria first-hand. But, as my parents tell me, I just missed out on the real fun.

I entered high school in 1975 and, like almost everyone I knew, made sure to be in attendance at all the home basketball games. And then, at the end of the season, came the much-anticipated state tournament which began with the local Sectional. In those days all schools in Indiana were in the same class which meant a giant school like mine nearly always won the Sectional. Our Vikings' lop-sided, demoralizing victories were greatly celebrated. But, those triumphant feelings were usually short-lived. Even though our Sectional championships regularly earned our school a trip to the Regional, it was there that we played a team of our own size or bigger, which routinely spelled defeat for the mighty Vikings. The Regionals were usually our last games of the season. Now, with class basketball, our team generally doesn't even win the Sectional (how is that even fair?).

However, prior to 1968, there were more than a dozen high schools in the county where I grew up. These small schools, which eventually merged to form my giant high school, played each other during the season and then again at the county seat's Community Gym in the Sectional. Most all the kids knew each other (and their parents) even if they attended a different school, which led to a festive atmosphere that is unequaled today. The Sectional tournament was truly the event of the season.



That was certainly true in Warren. Way back in 1966 I began kindergarten at Salamonie Township School. No one called it that, of course. It was just known as Warren for that was the name of the town where it sat. The Warren Lightning 5, whose name was adopted from a sports writer's description of the team being "as fast as lightning," had a long history of great basketball, including a world record 158 point victory over nearby Converse in 1912. For decades the townsfolk lived for games against neighboring high schools from such great places as Jefferson or Rock Creek Townships. A basketball team from one of these small schools represented not just their school, but the whole community, creating a following most schools would envy today. What fun it would have been to be a part of those fierce rivalries! But, unfortunately, the Lightning 5 and most of their rivals play no more. There is now no high school in Warren and the people there must travel 15 miles to see games. And, even though they support the Vikings, there is still some resentment and even a little animosity. It's a confliction. On one hand they must support their children's school, especially if their child is an athlete. But, on the other, they still aren't over it. Nor am I.



The consolidation of schools was a money-saving idea and I've heard that, in that respect, it has been a success. But, in every other facet, it's been a failure. The consolidation has dealt a serious blow to our sense of community and has been an overall defeat to one of the greatest parts of our once-great Hoosier culture.

If you're not familiar with Indiana high school basketball, check out the Gene Hackman movie, Hoosiers, which, though fictional, is based on the true story of tiny Milan High School's unlikely and never to be repeated state championship in 1954.

Long live the Lightning 5!

Photos courtesy of Hoosier Hardwood.

I've been lucky enough to travel to nearly every corner of America as well as dozens of other countries but this is the place I know best; The great American state of Indiana. What? You've never heard of it?

I love listening to what others think of America. I've learned that those from elsewhere love, among other things, our friendliness, food and music, but hate that we're "obese" and refuse to use the metric system. The fact is that Indiana enjoys the same great American standard of living as is famous around the world, but also suffers from these notorious stereotypes. In other words, Indiana is a microcosm of America. But, if America consisted only of Indiana, it would still be well known as one of the best places on earth. Here are seven reasons why:


Indianapolis

1. Standard of Living

As noted above, Indiana enjoys the great American standard of living. This means that most (but not all) Hoosiers, as Indiana natives are known, lead very comfortable lives.

2. Virtue

Indiana is known as a bastion of conservatism. That's because the notion of doing what has been traditionally right still has value in the state. Unfortunately, outside influences such as Hollywood are eroding this once great way of living.


Spencerville - Photo by Tami Ruble

3. Beauty

Indiana is not Switzerland nor California, but neither are those places Indiana. Having no mountains nor jungles and few beaches, Indiana is not well-known for its natural beauty. But, it is beautiful nonetheless. The rural scenes of barns, cornfields and covered bridges, as well as incredible caverns, wooded hills (especially in autumn) and majestic rivers hold a beauty that most miss while looking for more famous places.


Indianapolis 500 - Photo by The359

4. Entertainment

In addition to the state's major and minor league sports franchises, Indiana is home to the largest single-day sporting event in the world. There are also numerous nationally recognized museums, parks and zoos throughout the state. And, internationally known artists, including the Indiana native who grew up to be the world's most famous pop star, have frequently performed in Indiana as several of the state's venues serve as tour stops.


University of Notre Dame - Photo by Eccekevin

5. Education

One can find in Indiana some of the world's finest educational institutions. Among them are the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University and its well-known medical school and children's hospital, as well as Purdue University, whose engineering and aviation schools have produced 24 astronauts, including the first man to walk on the moon.


Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

6. Food

Nearly every Indiana city and town has that one special locally owned restaurant that locals long for when they're away. It's a place specializing in breakfast all day, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches and sugar cream pie!


Seymour - Photo by IndyNotes

7. High School Basketball

Indiana has great sports including the Indianapolis 500, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with their 11 national football championships, the Indiana Hoosiers with five national basketball championships, the Indiana Pacers and the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. However, none of these compare with Hoosier Hysteria, the aptly named condition which overcomes every small town in the state during the high school basketball tournament (see Long Live the Lightning 5!). If you should come to Indiana during basketball season, go to a small town, especially one with only one high school, and see a game. You'll never forget it. If Indiana is not going to be in your travel plans at this cold and snowy time of year, just watch the Gene Hackman movie Hoosiers.

Not all is perfect in Indiana. Here are a few things about the state that I don't like:


Newburgh

The Weather

Indiana is schizophrenic when it comes to the weather! In May and October, Indiana weather is fabulous! However, the rest of the year is either extremely hot and humid, or unbearably cold. It's not somewhere in between... it's both! Add to that the propensity for tornadoes and this could be a deal breaker. This may be the reason one Indiana city has the lowest cost of living in America, which, by the way, would have been number 8 on my list of things I love about the state.

Travel

While traveling by car is quite easy throughout the "Crossroads of America" with its (mostly) well-maintained and well-marked roads, traveling by public transit is not so great. While in Switzerland recently, I noticed that even the smallest towns were served by intercity buses. I live in a fairly large Indiana city but there is no train service and the nearest bus stop is eight miles from my house.

Reputation

Indiana is known among the states as "fly-over country" because much of the rest of America thinks Indiana only exists in order to separate California from New York. Or, more likely, they don't think of Indiana at all. Undeserved as this is, it is a very real perception.

Brain Drain

As I noted above, the most famous pop star of all time was born in Indiana. But, he and many others left the state for a more exciting lifestyle. The consolation is that most of those who became famous didn't turn out to be very good people so... good riddance. However, there have been many regular folks who have left the state to make more money or to live in a better climate who Indiana would love to have back.


Gary

Gary

Gary was once Indiana's second largest city after having grown rapidly from its 1906 incorporation. However, because its economy was based almost entirely on the steel industry, the city faltered along with the steel mills and is now a dilapidated slum whose name is synonymous with urban decay. Gary looks like the aftermath of a third world apocalypse (think Detroit).

Overall, I think Indiana is worth your visit. As I said at the top, I've been many places and I still think Indiana is one of the best.