Every July, Query & Schultz catch up with former prominent Indianapolis and/or Indiana athletes, coaches, and influential figures in their "Catching Up With" series! Hear those players, coaches, and other luminaries look back on their time in Indiana, share personal stories from inside and outside the locker room, and get you up-to-date on what they're doing now.
Former Ball State & Lawrence North standout Chandler Thompson
The former Ball State standout's career was highlightedby this dunk against eventual National Champion UNLVin the 1990 Sweet 16 (UNLV only won by two, and then beat Duke by 30 in the title game). It is perhaps the most memorable moment of the most memorable game in Cardinals' hoops history. Chandler Thompson looked back on "the dunk" and his successful pro career overseas.
Former Indiana head football coach Bill Mallory
It's no secret that Indiana football does not have a winning tradition. However, there was a brief time in the late 1980s/early 1990s when IU was competing near the top of the Big Ten. We caught up with the head coach that led them to six of their nine all-time Bowl appearances, including a near Rose Bowl berth in 1987. (Sadly, Coach Mallory passed away in June of 2018.)
2001 Indiana Mr. Football James Banks
He was perhaps the best high school football player that the state of Indiana had ever seen, leading Ben Davis to a 42-2 record and two state championshipsen route to becoming the 2001 Indiana Mr. Football. It was with SEC power Tennessee, though, that his once promising career came unhinged. James Banks talked with us about his meteoric rise, catastrophic fall, and everything in-between.
Colts Ring of Honor inductee Bill Brooks
This relative unknown from the heart of New England Patriots' country became one of the most beloved figures of the 'Before Peyton era' in Indianapolis. Still with the organization today, the Colts Ring of Honor inductee discussed the past and present franchise.
Purdue's "Three Amigos": Troy Lewis, Todd Mitchell, Everette Stephens
Glenn Robinson and the 1994 Purdue team get a lot of the praise and attention, but Gene Keady's best squad may have beena group of three all-conference players affectionately referred to as the "Three Amigos". In 1988, the senior trio of Stephens, Lewis, and Mitchell led the Boilers to 29 wins, an outright Big Ten title, a #2 national ranking, and a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. We talked to all three of them at the same time about their memorable tenure in West Lafayette.
Former Indiana guard Tom Coverdale
The 1998 Indiana Mr. Basketball and heart & soul of Indiana's memorable run to the 2002 National Championship Game joined us to look back on that run, the ankle injury heard 'round the world, the current state of IU basketball, and what he's up to now.
Former Purdue head football coach Joe Tiller
The man who led Purdue to ten of their seventeen all-time Bowl appearances, including the 2001 Rose Bowl, talked to us about retired life in Wyoming. He also opened up about his current relationship with the program, and shared some not-so-rosy feelings towards Athletic Director Morgan Burke. (It was our last conversation with Joe, who passed away in the Fall of 2017).
Former Pacers #2 draft pick Steve Stipanovich
The 1983 Big 8 Player of the Year is the highest-drafted player in Pacers history (Wayman Tisdale and Rik Smits were also taken #2). Stipo had five productive seasons in Indianapolis,but knee injuries ended up sinking the 7-footer's NBA career. Over a quarter-century since his retirement, Stipanovich looks back on playing in "Naptown" and life after basketball.
Indianapolis Indians legend Razor Shines
Besides Peyton Manning and Reggie Miller, there may not be another pro athlete that was as beloved in Indianapolis as the great Razor Shines. The Double-A manager, who spent parts of nine seasons with the Tribe in the 1980s, joined the show to share Bush Stadium and "RRRRRRRAZOR" memories.
Former Colt and Super Bowl XLI champion Raheem Brock
The 2000s Colts were star-studded with names like Manning, Harrison, and Wayne, but their core was also solidified by pieces like Raheem Brock. The former defensive lineman re-lived his eight seasons in Indianapolis and who he feels should be part of the Ring of Honor.
Senator Richard Lugar
Fifty years ago, Indianapolis' downtown was mostly barren. There were no Pacers, no Colts, and certainly no Final Fours or Super Bowls. The vision of former mayor and longtime senator Dick Lugarhelped create and cultivate the vibrant downtown and sports scenethat Hoosiers now enjoy in the Capitol city.
Former Butler great Rylan Hainje
In Butler lore, fans routinely talk about Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, A.J. Graves, and Billy Shepherd, but what about Rylan Hainje? The Bulldogs' standout was the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2002 and Indianapolis City Player of the Year as a prep star at Cathedral. He looked back on his career with us.
Basketball Hall of Famer George McGinnis
He was the Indiana Mr. Basketball at George Washington High School, set the single-season scoring record at IU (still stands), and won an MVP and two championships with the Pacers. Oh, and he's also the only player in pro basketball history to average 20 points and 11 rebounds per game who isn't in the Hall of Fame, at least not yet*. The great George McGinnis talks Springfield and looks back on the crazy days of the ABA. (*Obviously, this conversation took place before George's election/induction into the Hall in 2017)
Longtime Pacer Jeff Foster
Spanning thirteen NBA seasons, Jeff Foster's career began with Indiana's lone NBA Finals appearance, was shaken up by The Brawl, and ended with their memorable 2012 playoff run. He joined the show to rehash what was a quite a roller-coaster tenure with the Pacers.
Former Colts All-Pro Jeff Saturday
Saturday will beenshrined in the Colts' Ring of Honor this fall, and one of the team's most beloved players talks with us about that honor as well as what to expect from the 2015 team. Saturday also looks back on the times he also co-hosted shows with Jake (RTV6) and Derek (WXLW) during his playing career.
Purdue fan-favorite Chris Kramer
He was the only player in Big Ten history to ever make the All-Defensive Team in all four of his seasons - he once evenheld Steph Curry to 5-for-26 shooting! We caught up with the Purdue fan-favorite, Chris Kramer, who has since continued his basketball career in Germany.
Former Indiana big man Marco Killingsworth
Of all the players on this list, Marco Killingsworth spent the least amount of time in Indiana. He only had one season as a Hoosier, which included a pinnacle performance against #1 Duke in November, but the 2005-06 campaign ended up being a total soap opera in Bloomington. The big man shares his unbridled and raw thoughts on Mike Davis and his brief tenure at IU.
1987 National Champion Dean Garrett
He may not have hit as memorable a shot as fellow transfer Keith Smart did, but Dean Garrett had just as big of an impact on the program in his two-year stay at Indiana. We talk to one of the heroes of the Hoosiers' 1987 title team, who oddly enough, had the most successful pro career of any of his teammates.
Former Colts #1 pick Jeff George
In our last installment ofCatching Up With... for 2015, we're joined by a former Indiana prep star and #1 overall pick of the NFL Draft - he's also a guy who is terribly misunderstood (part of that, he admits, is his own doing). Jeff George looks back with us at his time on the field and looks ahead in the state he still calls home.