FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Following a seven-week delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Big Ten football season is finally here, and the Indiana University Hoosiers will kick off their season at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday as they host Penn State.
Sounds like it’s time to “ring them bells.”
IU Athletics will team up with the Jacobs School of Music and the Arthur R. Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon to draw on its medieval roots as a public instrument signaling townspeople of breaking news, in this case, IU football scores, according to carillonneur Lynnli Wang, Jacobs associate instructor of carillon.
“The Metz Carillon’s sonic range is a couple of miles, so keep an ear out for good news throughout the upcoming game,” said Wang. “Every time the Hoosiers score, the IU fight song—“Indiana, Our Indiana”—will be played. A short concert will also precede the game, along with celebratory music at the end, if we win.”
Since the general public will not be able to attend games, per conference rules, and no tailgating will be permitted in any IU Athletics parking lots around Memorial Stadium, alternate ways of enabling fans to enjoy the games were sought.
IU Athletics had long considered various game day traditions, including some type of victory bells following home football game wins, since other schools have similar traditions, according to Mark Skirvin, senior assistant athletic director for marketing. “The newly refurbished Metz Carillon provided us with an opportunity to revisit this concept,” he said.
Credit should also go to Teresa Weimann, assistant director of IU’s Division of Student Affairs, who reached out to Athletics and the Jacobs School to see if the two groups could meet to discuss the possibility added Skirvin.
“The Metz Grand Carillon was a wonderful addition to our campus during our bicentennial year, and the opportunity to involve it during our home football games will bring a great deal of excitement throughout campus,” said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson. “We are pleased to partner with the Jacobs School of Music on this and excited that it can now become a great new Indiana football tradition.”
IU’s home opener will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 television and the IU Radio Network.
Various campus watch parties and other activities are planned via IU Spirit Day, and “homegating,” the new tailgating, is encouraged.
IU football, the Jacobs School and the Metz Carillon will huddle again on Nov. 7 when IU welcomes Michigan.
“This is another way for the Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon to be a greater part of our campus life,” said Janette Fishell, chair of the Jacobs Organ Department. “It is truly exciting to have a new associate instructor of carillon, who is able to be an ambassador for the Metz, something that has been missing for decades. As we are all adjusting to the ‘new normal’ that requires social distancing and an increase in outdoor activities, the Metz provides a perfect location for our communal celebrations.”
“I’ll be cheering us on from the tower,” said Wang. “No matter the score, Hoosiers always come out on top!”
The Arthur R. Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon is located in the Cox Arboretum in the heart of the IU Bloomington campus and features physically distanced recitals every Saturday at noon in its fall 2020 “Meet Me at the Metz” concert series. The next event will be Oct. 24, followed by “Bats in the Belfry Halloween Fun” on Oct. 31.
