Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth wrap up their conversation with IU historian Bill Murphy, exploring the Hurrying Hoosiers era, legendary shooters, early NIL deals, and the dramatic transition from Branch McCracken to Lou Watson that paved the way for Bob Knight.

The Splendid Splinter

Bill shares unforgettable stories about Jimmy Rayl's two 56-point performances, including how Rayl insisted he would've scored 80 against Michigan State if Branch hadn't pulled him with four minutes left—and how 17 of his makes would've been three-pointers.

Mike recounts witnessing an elderly Rayl at a Larry Bird exhibition game, calibrating his first shot then draining seven straight from Steph Curry range, hitting nothing but net each time.

Early NIL and Record-Breaking Rebounds

Bill reveals a forgotten piece of IU history: Walt Bellamy was promised a car by a Bloomington auto dealer if he set the Big Ten rebounding record.

During the final home game, Branch McCracken and Jimmy Rayl sat on the bench with a gum wrapper and golf pencil, tracking every rebound to make sure Bellamy earned his wheels. Bellamy's 33-rebound performance still stands as the Big Ten record.

Watson's Rollercoaster Ride

Lou Watson inherited disaster in 1965—just 120 points returning after seven seniors left—and finished tied for ninth (dead last) in his first year. But he engineered the first last-to-first turnaround in Big Ten history the very next season, winning the 1967 championship.

Bill then reveals the shocking reason Watson's final team collapsed: two players stopped passing to each other because they were dating the same girl, derailing what should've been a championship run with one of IU's greatest recruiting classes.

Branch's Final Stand

When doctors told Branch a heart attack meant retirement, he shocked everyone by celebrating: "How many people know how they're gonna die? I'm still coaching."

Bill also shares his lingering frustration with AD Bill Orwig, who accused Branch of illegal recruiting and forced him to take a lie detector test, and praises Lou Watson's grace in helping Bob Knight transition into the program.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth continue their conversation with IU historian Bill Murphy, shifting from football glory to basketball history.

This installment dives deep into the Branch McCracken era, revealing why Bill's favorite IU coach isn't who most fans would expect.

Branch McCracken: The Sheriff

Bill makes his case for Branch McCracken over Bob Knight, drawing fascinating parallels between the two legendary coaches.

Branch coached 24 years (1938-1965, minus three years serving in WWII), finishing first or second in the Big Ten in 12 of those seasons with two national titles. Knight coached 29 years, finishing first or second in 16 seasons with three titles.

Bill argues that had NCAA tournament rules been different, Branch might have won in 1960 when IU beat Ohio State by 16 in Bloomington after their last 12-game win streak, while Knight's 1987 title came when IU tied for the Big Ten title with three other teams.

Bill recounts meeting Branch as an eighth grader in New Albany, a handshake he didn't want to wash for a week, and describes a six-foot-four presence who earned nicknames like "The Sheriff" and "The Bear" while drinking coffee at every shop on the Bloomington square to keep tabs on his players.

The Van Arsdale Twins' Supernatural Symmetry

The conversation turns to Tom and Dick Van Arsdale, whose three-year careers produced jaw-dropping statistical similarities:

• Separated by just 12 points over 72 games (1,252 to 1,240)
• Only 10 rebounds apart (729 to 719)
• Both hit exactly 15 field goals in their career-high game against Notre Dame
• Constantly pranked Branch by wearing mismatched socks after he tried to distinguish them by color
• Officials sometimes let the wrong twin shoot free throws because they couldn't tell them apart

Mike shares stories from his father, who lived in the SAE house with the twins and John McGlocklin—three of IU's seven all-time NBA All-Stars living in the same room.

Chesty Chips and Television History

Bill reveals how IU became the first university to televise basketball games in 1950 when radio announcer Paul Lennon convinced a Terre Haute potato chip company to sponsor games for $1,500 each.

After one broadcast, Chesty Potato Chips went from one shift to three and sold out across the region, causing the price to jump to $5,000 per game the next year.

Branch's Boys

Bill shares his favorite McCracken moments—from officials threatening a technical for every step back to the bench (so players carried him), to another ref getting him to sit down by saying "your fly is open," to Branch's simple philosophy: if he could only win one game all year, it would be against Purdue. That hatred paid off in 1940 when IU swept Purdue but finished second in the Big Ten, yet still received the NCAA tournament invitation over the conference champs.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth welcome back IU historian Bill Murphy for part two of their deep dive into Indiana football history, perfectly timed as the Hoosiers prepare for their first Rose Bowl appearance in nearly 60 years.

The conversation picks up with the 1967 team's journey to Pasadena and weaves through decades of IU football lore.

The 1967 Rose Bowl Journey

Bill shares fascinating details about how the '67 team learned of their Rose Bowl invitation—John Pont called Harold Morrow around 7:30 PM after the Purdue victory.

The hosts discuss the historic irony that had the Big Ten started sending teams to the Rose Bowl in 1945 instead of 1946, Indiana would've been first rather than last. Bill reveals that IU sent 35 charter jets to Pasadena, the largest airplane migration of any school that year, and recounts how Hoosiers literally founded Pasadena in 1874 as "the Indiana Colony" before T.B. Elliott renamed it with a Chippewa word meaning "Valley Between the Hills."

OJ Simpson, USC, and What Could Have Been

The conversation turns to the Rose Bowl matchup against USC's dominant team featuring OJ Simpson and Ron Yary. B

ill shares player accounts that Simpson was so fierce he bent face masks while being tackled, though multiple players insist OJ didn't actually cross the goal line on the second touchdown. The 14-3 final score was respectable against what Bill calls one of the best teams in the nation—USC had demolished top-five teams Notre Dame and Texas that season, making IU's performance far less embarrassing than the score might suggest.

Deep Cuts: The 1945 Team and Eisenhower

The trio uncovers a remarkable piece of history: in 1945, Army wanted to play undefeated Indiana to determine the national champion, but Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower refused to let the game happen.

Bill discusses his definitive book on the '45 team and shares memories of George Taliaferro, who signed a book for him "To Murph" at a 2007 homecoming signing, recounting Taliaferro's profound impact on both IU and civil rights.

Herman Wells and the NCAA Probation Era

The conversation takes a serious turn as Bill explains the Phil Dickens era and NCAA probation. Dr. Robert Mizon once corrected Bill's understanding: Dickens had proof that Purdue, Michigan, and Ohio State were doing the same recruiting violations but Herman Wells refused to expose them, throwing away the evidence and insisting IU follow the rules regardless of others.

Bob shares personal stories of Wells' presence and character, including how Wells integrated Bloomington restaurants in the late 1940s by threatening to make the Gables off-limits to all students if George Taliaferro couldn't eat there.

1968 Robbery at Purdue

Bill recounts the controversial 1968 game at West Lafayette where Purdue was given a first down after officials measured twice, moving the chains between measurements to give Purdue the yardage they needed—what Bob diplomatically calls "recalibration" but Bill calls what it is: cheating.

This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.

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