Memorial Stadium had humble beginnings when it opened in 1960. It wasn’t much more than a set of east and west grandstands facing one another, with not much else to speak of in the area.
To be sure, the limestone structure is still not among the biggest venues in college football. But the University has invested significant time and resources into making 64-year-old stadium much more visually appealing.
That now includes noteworthy items of interest at all four main entry points.
At the south end zone, which was enclosed as part of a $48 million project completed in 2018, there is the ‘Spirit of Indiana’ sculpture, the 4,830-pound bronze that was installed in Miller Plaza.
As its name would suggest, the artwork is inspired by “The Spirit of Indiana” creed that was first introduced as Indiana University’s theme in 1925. It served as a tribute to team over self, which is depicted in the artwork with five student-athletes coming together as one.
The sculpture stands just before the massive limestone entryway to the stadium that is meant to serve as “front door” to the Athletics Complex on East 17th Street that features the home of most of Indiana’s teams.
As announced this summer, “The Rock” is the new featured addition to the east side of the stadium.
The three-ton limestone remnant from the original Memorial Stadium construction, was relocated from its north end zone location to the east concourse of Memorial Stadium to make it an even larger part of the IU gameday fan experience.
In 2005, then-first-year head coach Terry Hoeppner brought two great traditions to the Bloomington campus in The Walk and The Rock – which the team touched before every game of his tenure. After his passing in June 2007 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer, the 2007 team dedicated it as Hep’s Rock on its way to the Insight Bowl, its first bowl appearance since 1993.
The Rock sat in the north end zone from 2005 through the 2023 season, and changes to the structure of Memorial Stadium limited fan access over time.
In its new location, Hep’s Rock will now be a formal part of The Walk, with players, coaches, and staff, each interacting with the touchstone prior to entering the stadium. It’s location also makes Hep’s Rock accessible to students, alumni, and fans at any time.
Moving to the north end zone, which was enclosed in 2009 as part of a $38 million project, fans will find the bronze statue of former IU football star George Taliaferro, dedicated in 2019.
Taliaferro, who passed away Oct. 8, 2018, at the age of 91, was a legendary Indiana University football player during the 1940s who shattered racial barriers on campus and in the sport. In doing so, he left an indelible mark on both.
The Gary, Ind., native was a three-time All-American at IU who led the Hoosiers’ unbeaten 1945 Big Ten Championship team in rushing. He’d go on to lead the program in rushing twice and passing once, and following the 1948 season he became the first African-American drafted by an NFL team when the Chicago Bears selected him in the 13th round.
The area where the statue resides is known at the Taliaferro Plaza.
Finally, moving to the west side of the stadium are multiple remnants of a World War II ship.
In 2013 IU secured the original prow from the battleship USS Indiana, which served in the Pacific during World War II and was the last ship to be named for the Hoosier state.
The ship’s prow was reunited with its mainmast and two of its gun mounts, which have been on display outside Memorial Stadium’s west entrance since May 1966.
A plaque there notes the items were a gift from the U.S. Navy and stand “as a memorial to the sons and daughters of the state of Indiana who have so gallantly served in the armed forces of our nation.”
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