March Madness is a term widely accepted when basketball begins to wind its way to the championship season. People begin compiling their all-important brackets and make plans to see the big games. The term "March Madness" was first used in the sports section of the Evansville Press on March 25, 1938, with the headline "Indiana in Grip of Its Annual March Madness." The left column features a schedule and record of the finalists, as well as a story about the odds of the winner. This story appeared one year before Henry V. Porter, the Executive Secretary of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), wrote an essay about "March Madness" in the IHSA publication. These mentions were long before basketball analyst Brent Mussberger made March Madness a popular part of sports vocabulary in the 1980s.
USI has celebrated March Madness since the inception of its first team, the Spartans, who played in the Men's Basketball Industrial League Club from 1968-69. In 1970, Men's Basketball became the University's first intercollegiate sport, and a student vote changed the Spartans to the Screaming Eagles. Women's Basketball became USI's first women's intercollegiate sport in 1975, competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). During this time, there were no NCAA-sponsored events for women.
The Season Ticket Holders
John Schutz — When ISUE Basketball was THE game to watch in town
USI Basketball fans used to make the trip to the former Central High School gymnasium downtown to pack the seats for games. According to season ticket holder, John Schutz '82, it was entertainment for the ISUE students at the time. Groups would pile into cars and drive south on the then two-lane Highway 64 to make the downtown games, jamming up the on-street parking. A member of Sig Tau Gamma, Schutz recalled being a part of the student section for the team, filling up the gym to "cheer not jeer," just another part of Greek culture on campus.
The bitter rivalry between USI and Kentucky Wesleyan is something today's fans don't have the opportunity to enjoy or witness. Schutz can remember being thrown out of one of the games when Kentucky Wesleyan football players came into the USI fan section at the old Owensboro Gymnasium. Schutz stepped in, hoping to cool things off when one of the KWU football players took a swing at him and connected.
Today, Schutz is still able to follow the Screaming Eagle on ESPN+ from his home in Florida. Although he gave up his candy striped red, white and blue pants from his student days, Schutz can still be found courtside at home games; he makes sure to take a trip to southern Indiana to see the Screaming Eagles play in person each season. If there's a big game, he is part of the elite crowd present for the match-up. He was in attendance at both the 1995 National Championship game that was held in Louisville, Kentucky, and the 2023 non-conference game against Duke University.
Bleeding Red, White and Blue
Toby Hunsinger has been attending USI basketball games since 1994. After being medically discharged from the U.S. Army after serving in Operation Desert Storm, the 14-year veteran, who suffers from PTSD, has found basketball games a perfect place to escape and unwind.
When he moved to Nicholasville, Kentucky, just a stones throw from Lexington, a lesser fan would have transferred their allegiance to the Big Blue of the University of Kentucky. Not Hunsinger—he continues to make the three-hour trek to Evansville to support the Women's and Men's teams.
To sit next to Hunsinger at a game is to witness a glorious display of loud commitment and passion for basketball. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, he cajoles the players to do better, encourages them to not hog the ball with calls to "PASS THE BALL" and helpfully points out unseen fouls to the refs. He is a one-man cheering section, showcasing his love for USI basketball proudly and sharing his support equally at both the Men's and Women's games.
"The move to Division I was a big one," said Hunsinger. "It was a bold one. But there are great things to come. I love the fans. I love the atmosphere. I consider it an honor to support the student-athletes and an honor to be a Screaming Eagle."
What's the secret to his unwavering loyalty? He laughs easily, "A supportive wife."
From Volunteer Ticket Takers to Season Ticket Holders
A basketball fan for 30 years, Ingrid Lindy, Manager of Human Resource Information Systems, fondly recalls her sons being ball boys for USI Men's Basketball Head Coaches Lionel Sinn (1988-92) and Bruce Pearl (1992-2001). Watching her sons enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere of USI Athletics made her want to volunteer. She, her husband and mother began giving their time as ticket takers in the Physical Activities Center (PAC) in exchange for bench seats on the basketball court.
She also attended the series of games in Louisville, Kentucky, leading up to USI's National Championship game in 1995. March Madness that year came at a busy time for the USI Human Resources Department, and Lindy arranged to work a half day so she, her mother and a friend could drive to Louisville for the games. "It was just amazing, absolutely amazing," she said. "After that win, you could just feel the electricity."
Lindy and her family also made the treks to Owensboro for the intense rivalry between Kentucky Wesleyan and USI, where the fan atmosphere could be fierce. "They were both very good teams, well-coached and competitive. The passion was palpable. It seemed a little over-the-top for Division II basketball. The Owensboro fans were mean," said Lindy. But she laughingly admits she was "that" fan hanging out the car window, her index finger up and yelling, "We're No. 1!" as they pulled out of the Kentucky Wesleyan parking lot after a big win.
As her sons got older, they joined the Red Zone, reveling in the student fan culture. One of her sons made trading cards for the basketball players to hand out to children. When her sons graduated, Lindy knew it was time to make the jump to "season ticket holder" status.
"Fans are an important part of the success of a game. If the fans are engaged and cheering, it's inspirational to the players," she says. She believes filling the Screaming Eagles Arena is so important that when she is unable to go to a game, she makes sure to pass her tickets on, ensuring the seat is filled.
Ray and Cindy Bippus—Expanding the Family to Include USI Student-Athletes
Being inducted into USI's 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame and being honored by the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2015 for their outstanding service, the Bippuses aren't fans for the glory. They are fans for the friendships and family.
"Would you rather be at a retirement home playing shuffleboard or with the USI students? The students win, hands down!" - Cindy Bippus
Their relationship with USI spans 35 years. For the Bippuses, the relationship between the fans and the athletes goes two ways. "Our students need the support of caring people. We get a lot back from the students; they are grateful and receptive to the warm feelings we share," she says.
Cindy Bippus knew Men's Head Coach Stan Gouard and Women's Assistant Coach Randa Gatling as students and struck up friendships with them during their days as student-athletes. Watching both of them return to their alma maters has been rewarding as fans.
Cindy agrees that the transition to Division I has been exciting and challenging. But what hasn't changed since the move is the feeling of community and the support fans have for their Screaming Eagles. "There's such a sense of family at USI. You just don't get that at bigger schools."
The Bippuses don't limit their love to basketball; you can see them attending nearly all USI sports games, either as spectators or volunteers. "Sometimes we get asked if we have a grandchild on the basketball floor," chuckled Cindy. "I always say we support ALL the athletes in one way or another."
Harold Calloway—his favorite hat is the one with the USI Athletic logo on it
Harold Calloway has worn many hats at USI over the years. His first hat was that of Financial Aid Director for 12 years. He's also worn the hat of Chair of the University Board of Trustees. The one hat that still fits easily atop his head is a basketball fan's ball cap.
Calloway played basketball in high school at George Washington Carver College in Mississippi and went to Mary Holmes College on a basketball scholarship. He appreciates the hard work that goes into being a student-athlete.
Like Schutz, he recalls going to the old Central High School Gynasium to watch players like 7'6" John Hollinden, who played at then ISUE from 1979-81. He recalls how close the players were to the USI community in the early years of basketball at USI. The Calloway family opened their home to a young basketball player during the summer as the student-athlete had to play catch up and attend summer school. "USI Athletics has been a real part of my life since the 70s," said Calloway.
Above all, he has always been a believer in the potential of USI Basketball. At the 1995 National Championship in Louisville, he recalls being impressed by the talent. And when USI was down by 27 points at halftime during the National Championship game, he was undeterred, refusing to lose hope. "I had a feeling we could come back and win," he smirked.
Paula Nurrenbern
Being a Screagle is in the blood of 30-year Varsity Club member Paula Nurrenbern, who has nearly an entire row cheering for the Screaming Eagles at home games. Three years ago, she bought her daughter's family basketball season tickets. They had so much fun, they became season ticket holders on their own. "We are all in it," Nurrenbern says. "We don't assist the coach from the stands, but we do coach amongst ourselves."
Nurrenbern became a true believer in USI Athletics when she brought her son to see the Screaming Eagles in the old PAC. Her son would drift over to the student section while USI Women played and sit among the Men's Basketball players. Soon, he developed a friendship with Scott Taylor '97, who played on the '95 National Championship team. "Scott would look for him in the stands and call him over to sit with them," recalled Nurrenbern. For her family, USI Athletics has always has a family feel. From the coaches recognizing that warm welcoming feeling from the Varsity Club to the players feeling the deep support from the fans. Nurrenbern says she feels the warmth reciprocated between the players and fans as the student-athletes jog past the student section high-fiving students and fans.
The Nurrenbern family spreads their love between the Men's and Women's Basketball teams equally. "The Women are doing phenomenal this season. Coaches Stein and Gatling have a long history with USI, and they deserve their success," said Nurrenbern.
As this year's basketball season wraps up, the Nurrenbern family is getting ready to move onto spring sports—baseball and softball. Being a Screagle is a year-round passion for the Nurrenberns, who embrace many sports. "Following USI has been fun," said Nurrenbern. "Thirty years later, nothing stops our support. We'll be there as fans unless we are out of town. We don't give up. That's not who we are."
The Students
The USI student section has had many names over the years, from the Blue Crew to the Red Zone to Archie's Army. Today, one thing's for certain, the first two rows of the student section are not for the faint of heart. Members of Sigma Tau Gamma occupy these spots and make it their goal to get in the opposing team's head.
"I'm not like this all the time. But when I walk onto the court, I become a Screagle!" - Reggi Pirtle, sophomore biology major
A big part of the fandom resides under the basket of the student section each home game. It's here where members of Sigma Tau Gamma eagerly await, with a headful of stats and random facts gathered from social media, about the opposing players. "We get a little rowdy," admits Owen Ballard, senior kinesiology major. "We are loyal and committed, no matter how the team plays. A fan doesn't necessarily have to be as loud as we are, but you have to be invested in our players. They know we are there. They feel it."
Tamia Smith, junior psychology major, admits to helping coach from the stands. "I like to think of myself as an honorary coach," Smith laughs.
A former high school basketball player herself, Smith never misses a USI home game or a chance to call out advice to the players from the stands. "I'll say 'Get out of your head and focus!' and 'It's okay, everyone makes mistakes!'"
She claims not to taunt the players of the other team, but is not above taunting the refs.
USI Cheer Team
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings in the Screaming Eagles Complex are crazy with cheer and dance team energy. As soon as you open the front doors, you hear the practice chants and music. Walking onto the practice basketball courts, the sound washes over you. Wearing workout clothes, their hair pulled back and without their signature red lipstick, you're aware that you are in the presence of professionals.
A senior on the cheer team for the 2023-24 season, sociology major Catalina Baker has big sister vibes. A busy Screagle, she wedges nine hours of practice in between being an RA and Welcome Leader. She shows up to practice early, pushing the cheer mats onto Court A in the practice gyms on a big rolling cart. As she is unrolling the mats, her fellow cheerleaders trickle onto the court, followed by members of the dance team.
Baker has been a cheerleader for 10 years, having cheered in middle and high school in Carmi, Illinois. Her first year at USI as a member of the cheer team was an uneventful COVID-19 year. Her second year, she cheered in a mask. "It wasn't too hard, but your voice is muffled, and we had to yell extra loud," she confided. "Then after the games, your mask was soaking wet."
As a back spot, Baker supports her fellow cheerleaders with the bases and looks out over the crowd to make sure there's energy flowing. "Out there on the court, my job is to be peppy and happy," she says.
Baker likes the synergy between the student section and the cheer team. "It's a cycle, we work together. Sometimes they start a cheer, and we follow them. And sometimes we start a chant, and they follow us."
Most of all, Baker loves being an ambassador for USI. Whether it's talking to little girls who dream of being a cheerleader at half-time, or as an RA, dragging her residents to a basketball game, she sees participation in fan culture as an important part of student life.
USI Dance Team
Coach Jennifer Parker '06 has been associated with the USI Dance Team since 2002, first as a dance team member and now as a coach. The members have been like sisters to her and as the years have passed by. She now feels like the dance team members are like daughters. With two little girls of her own, these USI student-athletes have now become amazing big sisters. "My four-year-old will tell me, 'Mom, the girls on the dance team are my best friends! Can I go see the Eagles tonight? I want to go see the Eagles!'"
For the dance team, the feeling is mutual. "The girls just love on my daughters," she says.
Parker and the team grow this feeling of family and support through twice-yearly dance clinics hosted on campus, providing an opportunity to raise the next generation of girls Parker hopes will come to USI specifically for the opportunity to dance.
Most members of the dance team have taken lessons for more than 16 years and many have danced competitively. Not all members have been a part of a dance squad that is tasked with keeping up the energy level at a sporting event nor have they danced in an unwieldy mascot costume flawlessly. When you are a member of the USI Dance Team, you keep a smile on your face.
Katie Kuntz, a junior psychology major, danced competitively for 16 years. She wasn't used to interacting with her audience, but it is now something she enjoys. Between the cheer team, the student section and the crowd, she enjoys the charged atmosphere of the game. "Can you imagine how quiet it would be without fans?" she said.
USI Pep Band
In the last 34 years, the USI Pep Band has seen many members play, graduate and come back to continue playing at home basketball games. They've been in the stands of the old PAC, moved up to the balcony of the new Screaming Eagles Arena and now call the space just above the student section home. "The good thing about being so close to the fans is that they come up to us and say how much they enjoy hearing us play," said Thomas Mace, Pep Band Director since 1990. "I say to them, 'We play a little too fast, we play a little too loud. You don't want to get too close!'"
Word of mouth keeps the pep band going. Mace jokes that one of the members told him his little brother at West Terrace played an instrument and asked if he could play with them. "Sure," he told him. That little brother told all his friends he had a side gig in the USI Pep Band, and soon enough, his middle school band friends wanted to come along and play too. "We joke that it was Junior High School Night at that game," said Mace. He points to the left side, "This is the under 35 (year-old) side." He then points to the right, "And here is the over 35 side."
Many members have made the USI Pep Band part of their lives since they played as college students, never quite leaving behind the love of really loud, fast music. "Some move away, but if they know they are coming in town, and there's a game, they bring their instrument. They know there's always a spot for them," said Mace.
A long time band director and life-long basketball fan, Mace looks forward to performing at the Ford Center again for this year's OVC Championship games. Down on the floor, they are in the middle of the action. The cheerleaders, dance team, Archie, the student section and President Rochon are on the periphery of all the Pep Band members. Going to play at the Ford Center once again has the feel of a family reunion, says Mace. Since the tournament is occurring over Spring Break, alumni come back to fill the spots usually occupied by the students. Mace has had entire band-loving families playing on the floor with him.
From the signature laminated red and blue number threes—attached to the bannisters for Pep Band members to flip every time a three-pointer is sunk by a USI player—to the crazy hats, wigs, beads and Elmo stuffed animals the showcase each home game, the Pep Band's first rule is to have fun as fans. They play everything from standard fight songs to Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild." And they play it loud and fast.
As of the publishing of this story, both USI Women's and Men's Basketball teams were seeded to compete in the 2024 OVC Championships, held March 6-9 in the Ford Center. The USI Women were seeded No. 1 for the first time in Division I history, earning an automatic berth to the Championship Semi-Final game at 1 p.m. Friday, March 8. The USI Men were seeded No. 8, appearing for the second time in the OVC Championships, taking on No. 5 seed Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6.