jags win! jags beat oral roberts!

the jungle is jacked up!
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

The Jungle brought this one home tonight.

I've been a part of this program for five seasons now. And I've watched a lot of great games. On Thursday, we beat Valpo in what was considered a coming-of-age game for us.

It was the biggest game in the history of the program, in many ways.

No way did I think you could top that effort from both the players and the fans.

I was wrong.

We worried about a letdown.

Nothing to worry about.

The team was pumped, but most importantly, the fans and students were even more pumped.

I hope they're partying into the wee hours because they deserve it for all their efforts tonight.

It was the loudest, rowdiest, best college crowd I have ever seen in person.

Typically, I'm the loudest voice in the place because I have the luxury of being the guy holding a mic. Tonight, I gave up trying to top the fans. I couldn't. Every time I tried I nearly blew out the system. That's never happened before.

The fans, the team, the cheerleaders, the dancers, the crew, the coaches all brought this one home tonight.

It's not a game you'll find on ESPN Classic 10 years from now, but it is a game that should be a turning point for this program.

No matter what, the fans and the team can take this away tonight: Nobody -- and I mean NOBODY -- in the conference came into the Jungle and left with a W.

The Jags are undefeated at home in the conference.

Indiana won't come and play us.

Purdue? Purdon't! They won't come and play us.

Butler Bulldogs? A bunch of puppies. They won't come and play us.

They all say it's because our gym isn't up to their standards. I think it's because they're all scared to death of losing to this little school in downtown Indianapolis.

And they should be.

Thanks, fans. You made my job tough tonight.

Please keep it up.

Go Jags!