Statue Dedication - What would you do?

[IndyTreeFan]

Alright, ISU has made public their plans for the statue dedication. We have an immensely talented and creative group of people on here, so I thought I'd pose the question - what would you do for the statue dedication? I'm specifically thinking about the Saturday event, but if you have ideas related to the dinner, throw 'em out there.

We all know that this is merely an exercise and will go nowhere, but I'm interested in what you guys think. Have fun with it!!!

 

[IndyTreeFan]

In my mind, the obvious issue with the stated plans of doing the dediction outdoors are twofold - first, weather. At that time of year in Indiana, it could be 80 degrees and sunny, it could be 20 and snowing, or anything in between. Second, the problem of the crowd. Most who attend the statue dedication won't come to the ballgame (it's Terre Haute, that's just a fact of life). The buzz of the ceremony will be lost by the time the game starts, and might even result in a crowd that is a bit "hungover" from standing outside for a big thing like this.

I have some ideas that I'll throw out in a bit, but that's at least where I'm coming from...

 

[Bluethunder]

Without giving out a lot of details (will try to do that later if time permits), got to have a large tent/awning (unless weather report looks good leading up), got to have a limited list of speakers (Prettyman, Bradley, Bird, Student rep who began organizing, Magic (if he shows up)), but please, please, please, don't let some politician or other bureaucrat who really doesn't belong get up and speak. Love the idea of having T-shirts for everyone to wear, it will drum up some excitement for the game. Should have the pep band outside to play, especially at the end in order to get people ready for the game as they walk in, and have the pep band lead all the fans into the Hulman Center after the ceremony as they play Wabash Cannonball and the fight song. Have a spirit table set up for people to buy ISU merchandise. Lansing needs to try and get some targeted recruits at this game as well.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I've been reading on others, like the Magic statue, and they were all done outside. Going to guess the weight of it makes it difficult to move? Plus, the way they all seem to work is they're covered up outside and the player yanks the cover off.

What I'd like to see them do is rope off the area around the statue and only people with tickets can get into that area.

 

[agrinut]

I've been reading on others, like the Magic statue, and they were all done outside. Going to guess the weight of it makes it difficult to move? Plus, the way they all seem to work is they're covered up outside and the player yanks the cover off.

What I'd like to see them do is rope off the area around the statue and only people with tickets can get into that area.

Like the idea of roping off the area for ticket holders only.

 

[agrinut]

Without giving out a lot of details (will try to do that later if time permits), got to have a large tent/awning (unless weather report looks good leading up), got to have a limited list of speakers (Prettyman, Bradley, Bird, Student rep who began organizing, Magic (if he shows up)), but please, please, please, don't let some politician or other bureaucrat who really doesn't belong get up and speak. Love the idea of having T-shirts for everyone to wear, it will drum up some excitement for the game. Should have the pep band outside to play, especially at the end in order to get people ready for the game as they walk in, and have the pep band lead all the fans into the Hulman Center after the ceremony as they play Wabash Cannonball and the fight song. Have a spirit table set up for people to buy ISU merchandise. Lansing needs to try and get some targeted recruits at this game as well.

Usually the first weekend of November starts the dead period so having recruits in might be out but like everything else. The school needs to capitalize on this as well are they selling these tickets as premium?

 

[BankShot]

My 1st thought is to invite EVERY player that was involved in LB's three (3) yrs. @ ISU to play a TEAM role in pulling that cover off the statue, then have them lead the cavalcade into HC for the Ball State game.

During EVERY ISU/Ball State break in action, they should show a clip of LB action on the digital scoreboard...not normal STUFF, but the "behind the back, no look pass" genre...let everyone know WHY the statue is being commissioned! Many have heard but never seen...

Need to have COMMEMORATIVE memorabilia for sale...ISU Pep Band should learn a few hits (TV show themes) from the '77-79 era to resurrect the times.
Get a BIG LEATHER BOOT...recall the dude!

 

[treeman]

i got a few ideas here just off the top of my head. it would be sweet if the copper bar got a beer garden across the street in the parking lot so people could socialize before the dedication. i would want them to close it off during the ceremony and then again when the game started to get the people into the hulman center.
there is also going to be MANY alumni, locals, students, and random people that don't follow Indiana State athletics that closely there. i would love to see multiple booths set up showing off renderings of the new track and field complex being built. a football booth that talks about the program and the football stadium trying to get the funding. a meet and greet with our brand new baseball coach, a "forest" booth that recruits students and talks to alumni about what they are trying to do, etc, etc, etc. it would be a great way to show the people that aren't in the know what Indiana State is doing and the strides that are being made around the university.
it would also be nice if they made signs saying " "like" us on facebook: Indiana State Sycamores" "follow us on twitterindstateathletics" and put them up around the ceremony so those people can get connected and stay connected. it's amazing how many people don't know about the resources that social media provides us. and on a side note Boda (or someone else) it would be a pretty good recruiting tool if a "sycamorepride.com" sign was made and brought to tailgates and events like this. many diehards probably don't know this site and it would be a great way to get more people here, just a thought.

I also copied and pasted what i said in the other thread: would be great if the school or a private vendor made up shirts for the game and events. it could say something like "Larry Legend" across the chest with a silhouette of the statue on the stomach area, and on the back it could say "Bird" with a 33 (like the back of his uniform). sell those babys for 5 bucks and EVERYONE would buy one.

 

[Sackalot]

Side option: I was just looking at some pictures and saw a picture in French Lick of a street sign and remembered that Terre Haute has its own street named after Larry...well its a freakin' alley. In the process of all this dedication, they need to rename the either 8th or 9th street after Larry. They can't rename Cherry Street because they already named that after Bayh, but they could rename 8th or 9th which run on either side of HC after him. The alley is just ridiculous and embarrassing!!! Rename a street too...tie it all in together.

I realize this may take approval from state and city officials and they might not have enough time, but to me it just makes sense! HE IS THE MOST WELL KNOWN ALUMNUS...PERIOD! I would argue that more people know where Larry went to school than know where Magic went to school.

 

[Southgrad07]

I was just vacationing in savannah, GA and had isu gear on multiple days. At least ten random people commented on my clothes. All but one started with something about larry bird. He should have at the very least a street named after him by the hc.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I was just vacationing in savannah, GA and had isu gear on multiple days. At least ten random people commented on my clothes. All but one started with something about larry bird. He should have at the very least a street named after him by the hc.

He technically does. Just not the right one.

 

[Bally #50]

I was just vacationing in savannah, GA and had isu gear on multiple days. At least ten random people commented on my clothes. All but one started with something about larry bird. He should have at the very least a street named after him by the hc.

Ironically, I just wore my new navy visor with ISU on it on the round trip to Boston and back to Indy. Much to my surprise, NINE people asked me about ISU, two commented about Larry Bird (in Boston). I also wore the same hat at a restaurant (Shaw's Lobster Shack) in New Harbor, Maine and within 3 minutes, one of our younger Lambda Chi alumni came up to me and my family and called me by name. I recognized his name but had not met him. That is why I LOVE to wear ISU garb when I travel.