Great Weekend Ahead for Indiana

This weekend marks two very historic and significant events in the world of sports for the state of Indiana.

Here in South Bend, the Blue/Gold spring football game will give Irish fans a taste of what the 2007 Fighting Irish will look like. Most of the attention will surround early admitted, freshman phenom, Jimmy Clausen and fellow sophomore quarterback, Demtrius Jones. From what I have been hearing, they have both looked good this spring, but Clausen appears to be the front-runner for the starting job next fall. Clausen has supposedly been connecting with receivers on all types of routes; including the 50-yard bombs where he’s been hitting receivers in stride. I’m sure plenty of Irish fans will also have their eyes on the guys Clausen and Jones will be throwing to. With the losses of Jeff Samardzija and Rhema Mcknight, the new receiving core will need to step up next year.

The other historic event will be taking place about a 3 ½ hour drive from South Bend in Bloomington, IN (which the drive between the two may be the worst ever). This event is none other than the Little 500 bike race. This year’s race will mark the 56^th running of the 200-lap race (that is approximately 51 total miles) that takes place at Armstrong Stadium every April.

The buzz around the Indiana Unveristy campus that surrounds this wonderful week is second to none. Although the race takes place on a Saturday, the students begin preparing weeks in advance. From planning concerts at fraternities to parties get togethers, it is definitely something to look forward to every year. Oh, and the bike riders themselves, well they train year-round for this thing and take it pretty seriously.

As for myself, I will be heading down to the University of Indiana University shortly. However, this year I will not be attending the race as I will be driving back to South Bend early Saturday morning to catch the Blue/Gold game and the festivities that go along with it. I would normally take this time to wish my favorite frat, ATO, good luck this year…but unfortunately for the defending champions, they will not be participating in this year's race because they did not qualify *tear*. (Somewhere HAAANS is crying.)

Check back Monday for my recap of the two events and as always, my fantasy players of the week!