The Crimson and Cream’s rise to the top draws a crowd in Kokomo
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It was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. The Indiana University football team won a national championship. The school with the worst record in collegiate football history was suddenly on top of the sport with a perfect season.
This amazing turn of events wasn’t lost on hundreds of Kokomo area residents as they gathered in IU Kokomo Student and Event Center on April 8 to see the trappings of the Hoosiers’ historic run. The university took the championship trophy on the road, along with several other awards that were garnered during the season.
Fans and alumni gathered around each piece of hardware, getting their photos taken with the National Championship trophy, the Old Oaken Bucket, and even the Heisman Trophy awarded to quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Some stuck the Heisman pose. Others stood, pointing proudly at each trophy and smiling broadly as they experienced a small piece of the historic achievement.
The line of aficionados snaked out of the building and along the frontage of the facility, cordoned in by the trophies’ tour bus, which was festooned in cream and crimson, proclaiming the championship. Most wore their IU gear with pride; slogans plastered across their chests commemorating the 2025 run.
Inside, the fans weren’t limited to face time with the trophies. They also posed for photos with Hoosier the Bison, the university’s Bloomington campus mascot. Some also had an opportunity to mug for pictures with Kingston the Cougar, IU Kokomo’s faithful mascot.
And there was swag to be had. Many lucky visitors went home with championship towels, buttons, and bags.
For more than three hours, the display remained, and the line persisted. But, just like the championship season, the celebration had to end, with the IU faithful trying their best to make it into the student center before the line was cut off at 6 p.m.
Oh, and that perfect season also moved IU out of the NCAA basement. Northwestern University now holds the record for most losses at 718. With any luck, the Hoosiers will continue to widen their distance from the bottom with a successful 2026 campaign.
See additional photos from this event on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.