STF Road Trip: Indianapolis, Part One

I took the redeye from Richmond to Charlotte, and I was pretty tired. Which is probably the reason this photo (taken in the Charlotte airport) appealed to me. It made me wonder: Is pasteurized crab meat something you really want to crow about? Is this something people are demanding?

My first stop, right off the plane, was at Lucas Oil Stadium. I spent some time talking to the staff there about how they'll be converting the monstrous football layout into the Final Four court in March. I won't share any pictures of that - I'm saving them for later.

My next stop was the campus of IUPUI, which is an easy walk from downtown Indianapolis. I had initially planned to attend the Saturday night game there, but decided that the quick turnaround from the Butler game wasn't really worth it since the Jaguars were playing a Non-DI opponent. Maybe next time.

IUPUI is a commuter school with a new-fangled urban campus that abuts the IU Medical Center. I was taking photos of all the modern sculpture that litters the various walkways when I realized that one of them was a bike rack. Oops.

Looking up at the windows of Cavanaugh Hall, I saw these guys, keeping a watch on the frigid street below. Just one of the many things I miss about college.

The IUPUI Bookstore is actually a Barnes & Noble. Even though I decided to nix my journey to The Jungle, I wanted a memento. The merchandise at the bookstore underscores the dichotomy that baffles outsiders like me: Full racks of merchandise with Hoosier and Boilermaker logos greet a visitor, and most of the Jaguar-themed gear comes in crimson-and-cream or gold-and-black variations. I wanted the neutral black cap with white lettering and the Jaguar-head logo, but it tended to perch atop my dome like a yarmulke and look ridiculous, so I went with an alternative choice, seen below.

I adjourned to my CPIA hotel room, where this magazine awaited me. At first I thought Kyle had told them to put it there, but then I realized everybody got one.

In the evening, I met up with Damon, and he showed me the nightlife at Broad Ripple Village, the university district near the Butler campus. Dinner was at Yats, a cajun/creole joint that offered a few hearty selections for a reasonable price. Another thing I miss about college life.

After that, it was off to Plump's Last Shot, an admitted dive a couple of blocks off the main thoroughfare. It was perfect for us, however, since it is owned by none other than Jimmy Chitwood himself. Or, rather, Milan High and Butler legend Bobby Plump, who the fictional character was modeled after. It's no-frills, but the beer is cold, the memorabilia displays are awesome, and everyone was in good spirits on a chilly night.

That's enough photos to clog up your internet connection for today. Tomorrow, I'll start sharing images of my day at Hinkle Fieldhouse.