I had a discussion with a friend yesterday about organizing a reunion trip to Bloomington, Indiana and the hallowed halls of I.U. The last time I was there was five years ago to watch the Hoosiers lose to Nebraska on the court. We did not have time to see anything on campus other than Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, newly named and remodeled at the time. What we thought might be the beginning of great things turned into a nightmare of coaching changes and embarrassing losses. The last I.U. football game that I went to was 17-years ago, an upset win over Minnesota. Back then every gridiron win was an upset!

The last few years Indiana has put together a solid football program under Coach Tom Allen. There are great expectations these next few years, leading to this plan to visit Bloomington on September 3, 2022 for a game against Northwestern. I began to make a list for the Bloomington reunion, including a friend that lives in nearby Tampa. We shared season tickets for many years but have since failed to get together. I began to consider roommates and fellow students that I also haven’t seen since graduation. 

I met my first wife in Bloomington, a marriage that lasted for 27-years. I should probably include my son on the ticket list. We could drive together and pick up my Tampa buddy for the excursion. It would be a convergence of friends from all over the country, including those that I left behind in Oregon and pals in California that I just visited. As the list expanded, I began to look up the whereabouts of those left behind in life. J. B. is still an Evansville attorney, while Buzz lives in the same city. Murph built a political career in Bloomington. My cousins are in that area and normally tailgate for football games, so we could all rendezvous before the kick-off. I’m excited for the opportunity to get together with everyone, see the campus, and maybe venture down to Brown County State Park. 

I was hit with another wave of nostalgia yesterday with thoughts of a Bloomington get together, and began to reminisce about life on campus. It’s where great friendships were built, but also the sight of some of my worst memories. The scars still haunt me, despite taking the time to write the story of getting busted. With this in mind, there are those that I never want to see again – or maybe I do? Going back to Bloomington might help with the healing – so let the game begin. Go Hoosiers!