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A Goodbye To A Great Man
2007-06-20 03:22:00
I arrived at Indiana University as an out of state student 5+ years ago, who knew really only about the basketball program and the Little 500 race. Of all the sports at IU, I quickly learned that football was beaten, broken down, and in disarray. I still went to games early on, but it was more of an offbeat thing to do with friends than anything serious, because really, why even bother rooting for a team certain to lose every game?Upon Coach Hep's arrival I was still in that mindset, and his early moves to bring in more student involvement and bolster the program made me skeptical. I vividly recall mocking so many of his ideas. The Walk? Stupid. "Coach Hep Wants You!" Played out. "Defend The Rock" + A Giant Rock - Absurd. But something happened, it was the first game of his career at IU. There were more people in the stands, more enthusiasm, I saw students everywhere wearing those shirts. The change was palpable right from the get go, and I quickly got swept up in it.Wat...
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Hep Hep
2007-06-19 16:34:00
I don't care how cliched or silly any of this sounds...I had so much fun sharing IU football with a few of my friends... going all the way back to my freshman year before most of my friends got to IU... goin with Deborah... and so on... walking with Patrick to the games... running out of gas on the way... watching on tv with Andy... dreaming of driving to a bowl game...but anyway... the thing is... IU always sucked... they haven't been good since I became a fan.... but the last 2 years were sooo much better just because of the positive attitude and hope that one man refused to let go of... I guess I kind of feel like that feeling will continue on without him... or that its owed to him... that I... and others should carry it on... with IU football... and more importantly with other aspects in life...

Coach Hep Won't Coach In 2007
2007-06-16 15:14:00
We here at Defend The Rock and all across Hoosier Nation are saddened to learn that Coach Terry Hoeppner will not be returning to the team this fall due to continuing medical issues. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. Assistant Coach Billy Lynch is taking over head coaching duties for the year, and apparently the top coaching position will be "re-evaluated" at the end of the season - which seems to suggest Coach Hep won't be returning anytime soon.Links:IDS News Story On Coach HepIn Depth Article w/ Q&As w/ Rick Greenspan and Bill Lynch

Hoosier Pride, Common Courtesy, And Let's Say An Illinois Fan
2007-05-21 08:08:00
So there I was, late at night (or early in the morning?) with one of my friends at a beloved Mexican restaurant of mine. A few cute girls were making it clear they went to Kentucky, and to strike up conversation I playfully gave them a tough time, namely citing my Hoosier fandom, and Kentucky's recent troubles.Now we were having a good time chatting it up, but alas their food came, I had a friend waiting, and I'm unemployed, so why even bother? Upon sitting back down a early/mid-twenties guy walked up to my table and said to me "Sports fan are ya?" Naturally I replied affirmatively, kindly stating the great pride I have in my beloved Hoosiers and subsequently my love for the Cardinals. Let's just say that this did not go over well...The stumbling-drunk guy grew agitated and upset with my response. He started talking trash and using some rather unfortunate words of which is Lincoln Park girlfriend promptly mouthed "I'm sorry" to me for. Eventually came the threats of persona...
More About: Illinois , Common , Pride , Comm , Court

Thoughts On Joey Shaw
2007-05-21 02:12:00
It is old news by now, Joey Shaw is transferring to The College of Southern Idaho. It's a smart move on his part, he saw very little playing time this past year and with the ridiculously strong incoming class Indiana has he probably wouldn't see that much next season either.The fact is though, even in limited playing time he put up some decent numbers. 43% FG shooting for 82 points, 41% 3pt FG shooting for 36 points, and 74% FT shooting for 46 points. What's funny is when I look at those numbers I am surprised, I really don't remember doing that well. I guess it's true, he is a "sneaky scorer" a phrase I oft attributed to him during national telecasts of IU games.The main thing is my mind is he could have been more aggressive on the court, he often times seemed to settle, not move around, and not trust himself. In addition, he could use to put on some bulk, he was the lankiest 6'6" I have ever seen, having a few more lbs of muscle could allow him to be more than just an o...
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Defend The Rock Welcomes J.D. Campbell
2007-05-21 02:04:00
All of us here at Defend The Rock would like to give a warm welcome to new Director of Athletic Media Relations at Indiana University. As an alternative media outlet, Defend The Rock is looking forward to the possibility of working with Mr. Campbell to gain more access to Indiana Athletics in order to provide more comprehensive coverage if at all possible. So once again Mr. Campbell, welcome to the great tradition that is Indiana University Athletics!

The One Thing You Can Never Say I Am Is Wrong: A Look At Evan Crawford
2007-05-21 01:13:00
With the baseball (regular) season wrapping up I want to look back at one of my predictions from earlier in the year. It was my belief that Freshmen Evan Crawford was going to be something special at Second Base. Now, I had never seen him play, but from looking at his High School stats and reading interviews with, and about him it really sounded like #7 was going to give Hoosier fans plenty to cheer about this year.So let's take a look at how Evan is doing leading into the Big Ten Tourney:AVG: .333 Runs: 30 Hits: 61 2b: 13 3b: 1 HR: 1 RBI: 30 SB: 18 OPS: .810Now let's look at the stats of the other starting eight averaged out:AVG: .278 Runs: 21 Hits: 40 2b: 6 3b: .75 HR: .6 RBI: 17.6 SB: 7.8 OPS: .672 (yes, really)So basically Evan Crawford is hitting 55 points better than the "average" Hoosier starter, scoring 9 more runs, hitting 21 more hits, numbering 7 more doubles, 12 more RBI, 10 more steals and a significantly higher Onbase+Slugging average.In te...
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Football Schedule
2007-05-18 05:43:00
I'm sure I had already seen this, hell, maybe I even blogged about it, but the IU Foot ball schedule blows my mind. I mean, just look at it:Date Opponent Sep. 1 Indiana St. 8:00pm Sep. 8 at Western Michigan 7:00pm (beat 'em 39-20 last year)Sep. 15 Akron 6:00pm (did not play)Sep. 22 Illinois TBA (beat 'em 34-32 last year)Sep. 29 at Iowa 12:00pm (beat 'em 31-28 last year)Oct. 6 Minnesota TBA (lost 26-63 last year, god I had blocked that out)Oct. 13 at Michigan State 7:00pm (beat 'em 46-21 last year)Oct. 20 Penn State 12:00pm (did not play)Oct. 27 at Wisconsin 12:00pm ...
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Say it ain't so!
2007-05-16 23:14:00
Joey Shaw, the goofiest looking Hoosier Bball player is going Cem Dinc on our asses and transfering to a junior college in Idaho.WTF?

Facebook, a reporter's best friend
2007-04-10 18:38:00
According to my Facebook "news" page current IU Football player Blake Powers has written on former IU OL Isaac Sowells."BIG ISAAC!!! What up?? same old here man, trying out this tight end thing, been doin pretty good...definitely hit me up when you get into town for lil' 5 so we can catch up ma..."Isaac is now a lineman for the Browns. I poked him, and I will keep everyone updated on his response.This all reminds me.... I was planning on writing a lot about the Little 500 here. However, I've not found the time. As a former rider in the race I often start feeling adrenaline this time of year knowing the race is fast approaching. In case you don't know... all of the gossip and inside info on the little 5 can be read at:www.little500.com/ps3This year's racing season has been full of more drama than I've ever seen in my 7 years around the event. The race is a week from this Saturday and I hope to be there! I'm sad to say that my former team failed to qualify for the race for...
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Baseball Spring Trip Wrap Up
2007-03-22 07:54:00
Last time we checked in on the Hoosier baseball team we saw a team sitting even at 4-4. Now that the spring trip is over our Hoosiers are still, well, yeah, they're still at .500, with a record of 8-8. It must be said though that a) The Hoosier baseball team took on #2 ranked Florida State and b) They were playing against Florida teams in general, which are basically quality ballplayer factories, so coming out even is actually fairly respectable.Versus Florida State the Hoosiers were clearly over matched, losing all three games by a combined score of 23-2 (including 2 shutouts). There weren't any real standouts on offense, with Reid Briglia leading the Hoosiers with four hits in the three game series. Defend The Rock favorite Evan Crawford finally met a pitching staff he couldn't destroy, totaling two hits for the series with eight strike outs, but the kid can still hit. The pitching well, let's not go there.The Hoosiers earned a split (any surprise there?) with North Florid...
More About: Baseball , Spring , Trip , Ball , Base

Memorial Stadium Back In The Day
2007-03-22 06:14:00
Many thanks to Defend The Rock reader Paul for sending us this great picture of Memo rial Stadium . The photo was taken prior to October 1960, and is credited to Bloomingtonian Junior Freeman.Thanks again Paul (and thanks to Junior too!) from all of us at Defend The Rock!Right-click here to download the full sized picture (perfect for a desktop background!)
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Blake Powers throws really well on the run according to the 3rd string ESPN
2007-03-21 19:10:00
I'd like to spend some time with some final thoughts on the basketball team this year. But, not today. I wanted to post a few notes on the football team.First of all, Coach Hep will be sitting out the entire spring session of practice to focus on his health. This worries me. I hope that his health truly is getting better. I also hope that Bill Lynch, the assistant coach who is leading the team will do a better job than last year when he lead the team to an 02 record against Western Vermont Tech and Klondike Middle School Nuggets or whoever it was they lost to last year. If IU had won just one of those games, Kellen and I could have had a blast watching IU get thrashed by North Texas in the Music City Bowl.Secondly, Blak e Powers will be getting some play at tight end and on Special Teams. Watch out! I smell trick plays coming out of the wazoo. Perhaps Blake will be the next Randle El. Remember how well things went when Randle El started his senior season at wide receiver? ...
More About: String , Really , Lake , Ally

well.
2007-03-18 05:25:00
shit.
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Don’t MARK my words, or “FEW, I did eat my words!”
2007-03-16 17:47:00
A quick examination of the things “I knew” yesterday... But, before I begin I want to point out that I spent most of the game catching up with an old friend who was in Chicago on Spring Break. So, while I was watching the game... I might not have taken it all in with the same expertise that I usually do She’s on IU’s Volleyball team again this year and gave me an inside scoop, so look for in depth coverage coming up soon!1. D.J. White will do most of his scoring on free throws and offensive rebounding. But the ball will not be fed to him enough and I will be screaming to the television for him to be more involved.WRONGDJ did get his first and only bucket of the first half on an offensive rebound. However, this basket plus 4 ft accounts for 6 of 16 points... so it wasn’t most of his scoring.2. A.J. Ratliff will drill his first three-point attempt and then get into foul trouble.WRONGAJ did indeed come on to the floor and immediately drill a three pointer that was going in al...
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No More Mr. Mustache or My Bracket's Perfect How's Yours Lookin' Tittle500?
2007-03-15 23:32:00
So realizing I hadn't posted for a while I hopped onto Defend The Rock and saw that my friend and respected colleague Tittle500 wrote a post about Indiana's first round game against Gonzaga.I'm not one to put predictions up but I like IU's chances in this one. Why you may ask? Isn't Gonzaga great in the tourney? Didn't Gonzaga have a pretty good year? Why yes, it's true, Gonzaga is no slouch of a team, and it's one of those teams I almost always have pencilled in to go far, but not this year! It's all because Mr. Must ache is gone. I'm not saying that Gonzaga doesn't have some nice playmakers, but they do lack that 70's porn star feel, and that makes all the difference (especially when we've got a player of our own sporting a pretty solid Blaxploitation look going on).So in conclusion, I have no idea what's going to happen, save for that fact that Earl is going to be running around all those Zags so fast they won't know what hit 'em (until he starts bouncing off ...
More About: Perfect , Look , Mustache

I'm not Suhr if IU is going to win
2007-03-15 20:44:00
but I know these things are true...1. D.J. White will do most of his scoring on free throws and offensive rebounding. But the ball will not be fed to him enough and I will be screaming to the television for him to be more involved.2. A.J. Ratliff will drill his first three-point attempt and then get into foul trouble.3. If Xavier Keeling gets many minutes IU will be in trouble. Not that he is bad... but it means key members are in foul trouble.4. If Armon Basset can have his minutes limited (because Suhr, Ratliff, Wilmont, and a little Shaw should each get a few more minutes imo) he'll be much more effective down the stretch.5. Ben Allen sucks. He will never be good.6. Rod Wilmont will score less than 5 points. Or he will score more than 29 points . 7. If IU wins tonight they will beat UCLA. 8. Watching Kellen's tivo'd Real World episode after the game will help me get over a bad loss.9. ok... fuck it... I'm gonna say this...Hoosiers lose by 8 pts. That's my prediction... ...
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Its on little kitties, and kiddos
2007-03-09 19:24:00
This is my first ever post from work. What can I say? Chicago is completely swept up in Big Ten tournament fever. On the el this morning I saw an entire car full of dejected Penn St. fans headed north to O'Hare. They were inspired by the sight of Wrigley on their way, causing them all to say, "Wait til next year!" I was wearing cream and crimson to make it clear to everyone which side of the tracks I'm from and my bus driver kicked me off the bus. I think he was sour about not being able to see Chief Illiniwoiak(or something like that) dance anymore.Well.. actually I don't think most of the city could give 2 shits... and I guess that's why the tournament will be in Indy for the next 4 years after this one. But, who cares? We've got the olympics coming 2016. ha.. If the olympics come to the USA in 2016 I'll be so so so proud of my country. I mean... we deserve another olympics, don't you think? Salt Lake City and Atlanta seem like ancient memories.Anyhow... the poi...
More About: Kittie , Kidd , Litt , Kitties , Ddos

Baseball Recap
2007-03-09 18:58:00
The Hoosier Base ball team starts it's official Spring Trip today (heading down to Florida) and I figured that now would be a good time to recap the early part of the season.The Hoosiers right now are sitting on a .500 record and have shown eerie consistency when it comes to pitching and offense, save for two offensive explosions of 16 and 15 runs respectively (so maybe no consistency, ha). Once we get further into the season it will be fun to use some stats, even simple things like the Pythagorean Theorem to see how the Hoosiers are/should be doing but right now it's a bit pointless. Case on point, after 8 games the Hoosiers Pythagorean record *should* be 7-1, not 4-4. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm taking the Hoosiers runs scored (60) and runs allowed (23) and doing the following forum la:RS^2/(RS^2+RA^2), so 60^2/(60^2+23^2)= .87 - That .87 equals the projected winning percentage when scoring and allowing that # of runs. Simply multiplying the % by ...
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Indiana vs. Illinois
2007-03-09 18:49:00
Tonight our Indiana Hoosiers take on Illinois in the Big Ten Tourney. Illinois dropped Penn State 66-60. IU is basically looking at a road game, as while there are plenty of IU alums in and around Chicago that will be attending the game, there is little doubt in my mind the United Center will be packed with Illini fans. So how has IU done on the road vs Illinois of late (besides being 1-4 all time in Big Ten Tourney play against Illinois)?Date Outcome LocationFeb. 6, 2005 L, 60-47 ChampaignJan. 17, 2006 W, 62-60 BloomingtonFeb. 19, 2006 L, 70-58 ChampaignJan. 23, 2007 L, 51-43 ChampaignFeb. 10, 2007 W, 65-61 BloomingNot surprising, but then again, even though this will be in a (most likely) hostile enviornment, it still isn't Champaign, plus even Penn State gave Illinois a run for its money. The Indiana/Illinois games this year have been messy, hard fought Big Ten games, and we can probably expect more of the same. It's certainly nice to ha...

Awards and Honors For Many A Hoosier
2007-03-07 19:08:00
As what should come as little surprise to anyone, Wilmont, Calloway, and D.J. White earned All-Big Ten Honors. White made the second team, Wilmont third team, and Calloway was an honorable mention. Errek Suhr wasn't left out either, getting to represent IU for Sportsmanship (we can only assume Adam Ahlfeld will carry that torch beginning next year, man we love that guy!).Additionally Wilmont was named the Big Ten player of the week. Of course, Wilmont had been a freak of nature over the past week, breaking an IU record for 3's (9), while recording back to back double-doubles, averaging well over 20 points a game. In fact, that is enough for an Adam Ahlfeld Team Player Award!Roderick Wilmont - This Week's Adam Ahlfeld Team Player Award recipient!
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Third For The Taking
2007-03-03 23:03:00
With a win tonight over lowly Penn State, the Hoosiers can solidify their place in the Big Ten as third in the standings, with a conference record of 10-6. There would be quite the mess below the Hoosiers in this instance, with a handful of 9-7 teams, so let's just get that win!In other news, D.J. White was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District First Team, making him eligible for the All-American Team. He has some pretty damn good company on the district team, with the likes of Landry and Oden on there. Lastly tonight is Senior Night and I'd like to point you to this great article about Suhr, Calloway, and Wilmont. It has some great quotes from the players, along with plenty of information. I'll chime in at some point with my own thoughts.
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Indiana At Northwestern: Fun With Pictures
2007-03-01 07:30:00
So before bed I'm just going to toss up the pictures and one great video Defend The Rock managed to take while up in Evanston tonight.First off, to view the pictures, click here, it'll take you over to a flickr album. Very large sizes are available upon request...Now here is the video, basically, there were the same number of IU fans, if not more, than there were of Northwestern fans. At times the Hoosier faithful really took over the entire arena, it was fantastic. This little clip is from one such instance.
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Wiregrass Baseball Classic Wrap Up
2007-02-28 21:33:00
The Hoosiers finished up their stint in the Wiregrass Base ball Classic in Dothan, Alabama with a 1-2 record. I already covered the first game here, so onto the final two games.In the second game of the series IU took on Southern Mississippi and got hammed 15-4. Senior Keith Haas led the Hoosiers in their losing effort going 3-3 with 2 RBI. Freshmen Danny Rosenbaum (coming to the Hoosiers off a stellar Senior year at Loveland HS) lasted only 2/3 of an inning giving up 5 ER, 3 BB, while striking out one. Rosenbaum was followed by fellow freshmen hurler Billy Kitchen who oversaw the Hoosiers allowing 9 more runs (only 2 earned) on 9 hits in 3 innings. Finishing up the game were two more freshmen, Jarrett Casey and Matt Bashore who combined for 4.1 innings, allowing only 1 run with 4 strikeouts. In the final game of the WBC IU pulled out a win. Sophomore Tyler Tuffts pitched a complete game, and was absolutely stellar in the process. 9IP, 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 3SO. Georgia Southern d...
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Defend The Rock At Northwestern
2007-02-28 21:27:00
Tonight Defend The Rock will be making an appearance at Northwestern University. After watching the Hoosiers lose three of their past four games Defend The Rock has decided to make an appearance at tonight's game in order to help IU get a much needed road victory. As you all know Indiana has been awful on the road this year, and the fact is IU has lost their last two games in Evanston.
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