Indiana athletics finds itself in a rare golden moment, prompting an unscripted celebration of everything going right in Bloomington. This edition of The Assembly Call brings together Coach Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips, and Jerod Morris for a freewheeling conversation about the positive momentum across multiple sports and some exciting new developments in basketball.

Going completely off-script without segments or a formal banner moment, we dive into what feels like the best time for Indiana athletics in decades. Soccer is ranked #1 nationally, football sits at 2-0 with genuine playoff aspirations, volleyball is thriving, and basketball is generating legitimate excitement under the new DeVries regime.

Key Discussion Points Include:

• Hoosier the Bison's successful rollout - From the parachute entrance to Jeremy Gray's "outstanding" acting in promotional videos, the mascot has been a hit with fans young and old
• Crimson Cast Live event recap - Ryan's experience on stage at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater discussing football with Mitchell Paige and Griffin Gonzalez
• Modern basketball philosophy - A deep dive into what "big vs. small ball" really means and how movement, not size, defines modern basketball
• Recruiting challenges and trust in DeVries - Whether Indiana's recent struggles have damaged the brand and why this coaching change feels different
• College sports realignment concerns - Ohio State's potential push for unequal revenue sharing and what it means for programs like Indiana

The conversation's highlight comes with the announcement of Hoops on Kirkwood - replacing traditional Hoosier Hysteria with an outdoor event on Kirkwood Avenue from 8-10 PM on October 2nd. We're unanimously enthusiastic about this creative approach to connecting the basketball program with students and the community.

Unscripted Tangents and Philosophy

The show takes entertaining detours through topics ranging from favorite coaches to listen to (Shaka Smart, Matt Painter, and yes, even Brad Underwood), to speculation about future sports documentaries, to the importance of stepping away from social media when sports stop bringing joy.

Throughout, there's an underlying theme of cautious optimism mixed with genuine excitement about the direction of Indiana athletics under Scott Dolson's leadership.

Plus, as always, plenty of praise for the athletic department's creative thinking, excitement about connecting basketball to campus culture, and the recognition that this feels like the most positive moment for Indiana sports in anyone's recent memory. That's all in this unscripted edition of The Assembly Call.

On the mics: Coach Brian Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips, and Jerod Morris

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