FIRST CABIN WEEKEND — The Weekly Opine

A summertime photo of Sample Gates, the unparalleled entrance to Indiana University’s Bloomington campus. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Royal treatment

One of life’s pleasures is visiting a college town on a fall football weekend. It’s even more magical if the college town is home to your alma mater. Such was the case last weekend when we made the trip to Bloomington, Indiana, to soak in one of the most beautiful college campuses in America. Biased? Yes. However, several years ago, USA Today rated Indiana University’s Bloomington campus the second most beautiful campus in America. Going back decades, various publications have consistently ranked IU-Bloomington’s campus in the Top 10. So, facts support my bias!

The primary purpose of the trip was to see Indiana’s football team play Rutgers. The game was anticipated by IU fans as our squad’s best remaining chance to defeat a Big Ten opponent this season. Alas, the Scarlet Knights spanked the Hoosiers by a score of 38-3. The game was every bit as bad as the score indicates.

Regardless, the lousy on-field performance did not take away from what was a fun weekend on the Big Campus. Sitting in the President’s Suite at Memorial Stadium, we had an enjoyable conversation with IU’s new president, Pamela Whitten, and hung out with Disney CEO and IU alum Bob Chapek and his wife, Cindy. You may recall I interviewed Bob last February during an IU College of Arts and Sciences webcast that drew an audience of 1,700 viewers.

Indiana’s athletic director, Scott Dolson, former IU football great Anthony Thompson, and associate AD Kelly Bomba gave us a spectacular, grand tour of the football team’s state-of-the-art facilities. (I hear ya, the football team’s 2-8 won-loss record does not match the fresh, new athletic complex resources at their disposal, but better days lie ahead.)

At the restaurant where we ate breakfast Saturday morning, I briefly chatted with new IU basketball coach Mike Woodson. Woody was a student and All-American player at IU during the same years I attended Indiana. Of course, no trip to B-town is complete without a visit to Nick’s (or in our case two visits).

The weekend concluded after arriving home Sunday afternoon and watching the Indiana women’s hoops team - now ranked #4 in the nation - pummel arch-rival #13 Kentucky 88-67. Coach Teri Moren’s Lady Hoosiers have picked up where they left off last season, when they made a run to the Elite Eight.

As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words so today photos do most of the ‘talking’…

A picturesque cloud shelf accompanied us on southbound I-65 just outside Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo credit Bethanny A.)

Last Friday afternoon the IU drum corps livened things up along Kirkwood Avenue. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

The pregame view from the President’s Suite revealed a fired up Rutgers team and uninspired IU team. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

The official positioning the football pre-snap is a woman who served as back judge during Saturday’s game. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

A tour of the football facility at Memorial Stadium demonstrated that IU is prepared to attract winning talent. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

The IU “Marching Hundred” band hung in until the bitter end on a cold day with listless football played by the home team. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Hopefully, Indiana will find a good groove and retain the Old Oaken Bucket when they meet arch rival Purdue later this month. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

As is often the case this time of year, Hoosier Nation turns its attention to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Will new men’s coach Mike Woodson resurrect the glory days of IU basketball? (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

When visiting B-town a trip to Nick’s is a must. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Snow first thing Sunday morning hastened our departure from Bloomington. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

A reminder, there will not be new content next Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving!