Julie and I added to the list of Big Ten stadiums I’ve visited on Saturday by seeing the Indiana – Penn State game this weekend in Bloomington. For it being Indiana Football the game was a rather competitive. Indiana made a late rally but still came up short 36-31. Nearly all of the points in the game were scored in the opposite side of the stadium where our seats were. That side of the stadium is a construction zone (literally there’s a bulldozer and re-bar everywhere) and there is no net for behind the goal posts. So everytime a field goal or an extra point is scored the ball just sails into a dirt and then some kid goes and gets it. Classic Indiana.

Five reasons I now know Indiana is known as the Land of Mellencamp:

1. The IU band insisted on playing Mellencamp’s greatest hits between plays.
2. Memorial Stadium is just a stones throw from John Mellencamp Pavilion training facility.
3. I actually heard Jack & Diane on the radio while in Indiana.
4. The open end of the stadium is literally a dirt pile.
5. When I tried to call a cab in downtown Bloomington the operator asked “What town are you in?”

Sucking on a chili dog indeed.

Google Maps: Big Ten Stadiums:

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So far, so good. I only have Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota left on my list. Bloomington was about 4 hours from Chicago (compared to the 2 hours it takes to get to West Lafayette) so we made it into an overnight trip.