The argument continues over Indiana’s top two spectator sports.

    Are we a basketball state?

   Are we a football state?

Maybe we’re a little bit of both, because football seems to be gaining on basketball popularity.

Basketball has been Our Game since 1911. We just this past year celebrated 100 years of state  championship basketball under the umbrella of the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

Certainly, shelving the one-class system in basketball for Class Basketball, the new four-class system way-of-life since the 1997-98 season, has had a major impact on high school basketball.

Suffice to say, not everyone is still on board with that change.

Here’s something to ponder: Do you think going to Class Basketball might have had an impact on making football even more popular?

Certainly has some merit, you say? Uh-huh, that would be my guess.

Still, I know that weekend night basketball still draws big crowds at certain sites, especially in Class 4A. The tournament atmosphere really has not changed that much among big-class hoops and the fans. But I must say, I’ve seen some games involving smaller classes that have provided some basketball frenzy.

Then there’s football. Friday nights and football, well, that’s what high school sports are all about. In many ways, football has become even more of a social event. It’s where folks want to be. I’m guessing the Indianapolis Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium have contributed to that mindset.

The popularity seemed to increase in the mid-1990s and has reached fever pitch since the Colts started winning behind quarterback Peyton Manning. The addition of mammoth Lucas Oil Stadium has added to the magnitude of the game. Allowing some high school teams to be in the spotlight on the Downtown Indianapolis turf was a great marketing tool, and Colts’ owner Jim Irsay scored a touchdown by sponsoring the state football finals. Such an undertaking has been a major boost for high school football as well as the IHSAA, the folks who govern high school sports.

I don’t think such a move hurts basketball; it just helps football and its popularity.

Yet most fans you talk to like to compare basketball to football or football to basketball. Those are the fan-driven spectator sports and each side may stand out more in some communities than in others.

Most people have an opinion, regardless of the sport.

There’s no question that interest is divided among certain groups. I think you could safely say that interest in high school basketball has dropped a notch or so, though in some communities the smaller schools obviously have embraced Class Basketball.

High school basketball must compete with the Indiana Pacers on some weekend nights, and cable TV pretty much airs an NBA game on a nightly basis. No question that hurts the game. But at least in Central Indiana, a Friday night basketball game still draws a very good crowd. Games played on Saturdays and throughout the week don’t.

Football has an allure to it because it’s played outdoors, played once a week at a consistent time. You can tailgate, smell and taste the hot dogs and burgers on grills, breathe fresh air, toss a football around in a parking lot, and simply make an evening of it.

Basketball to many people means going out for an early dinner, getting to the gymnasium before the opening tip, watching the game, and then going home. There’s not the “experience” or “atmosphere’’ that football provides from a social standpoint. And, because many girls and boys teams play on different nights – not just on Fridays – basketball crowds are spread out quite a bit.
So are we a football state? No. Are we a basketball state? No  . . .  certainly not as passionate as many of us used to be. I personally love both sports. I hope they continue to grow and thrive . . . . and I hope Hamilton County can bring home more championship trophies.

But the fact remains that we are living in a time when football has captured much of our  interest and attention and imagination. So if we’re not a football state, could we be a football country? I think that’s a fair assumption. The NFL, especially the Colts,  and  the college game have had a tremendous impact on most of us. And I think that has filtered down to high school football.

But you know what? It won’t be long until we’ll be hearing the sounds of basketballs and screeching sneakers on gymnasium floors. Those are great sounds. And I still get goose bumps when tournament time takes center stage and all the hoopla unfolds.