EDITOR’S NOTE: Purdue-IU rivalry totals were previously reported incorrectly, they have been updated to reflect the current score.
INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers have a long history of having to explain and clarify certain facts about the state, with one of the main controversial topics being the name “Hoosier.”
If you speak with a non-native Hoosier or an out-of-town friend, family, or co-worker, they may try to suggest that Indiana residents can be called Indianans and that’s far from the truth. truth.
According to Indiana Historical Office, residents of the state were called Hoosiers. It is also one of the oldest state nicknames, with wider acceptance than most others.
The name “Hoosier”
It’s one of the state’s biggest debates over the true origin of “Hoosier” since its general usage became regular in the 1830s.
The IHB has listed some popular theories to explain how citizens adopted this nickname:
- When a visitor hailed a pioneer cabin in Indiana or knocked on its door, the settler would respond, “Who’s there?” And from this frequent response, Indiana became the “Who’s There” or Hoosier state. No one ever explained why this was more typical of Indiana than Illinois or Ohio.
- Indiana’s rivermen were so spectacular in defeating or “silencing” their opponents in the then-common brawls that they became known as “hushers,” and eventually Hoosiers.
- Once upon a time, there was a contractor named Hoosier employed on the Louisville and Portland Canal who preferred to hire workers from Indiana. They were called “Hoosier’s men” and eventually all Indians were called Hoosiers.
- A theory attributed to Governor Joseph Wright derived Hoosier from an Indian word for corn, “hoosa.” Flatboat men from Indiana carrying corn or maize to New Orleans became known as “hoosa men” or Hoosiers. Unfortunately for this theory, a search of Indian vocabulary by a careful student of linguistics failed to reveal such a word for corn.
- The facetious explanation offered by “The Hoosier Poet,” James Whitcomb Riley, is just as plausible. He claimed that Hoosier arose from the pugnacious habits of our early settlers. They were enthusiastic and vicious fighters who dug, scratched and bit their noses and ears. It was such a common occurrence that a settler entering a tavern the morning after a fight and seeing an ear on the ground would touch it with his toe and casually ask, “Whose ear?”
The fact is that Hoosiers is the nickname for Indiana residents.
Basketball matters
When it comes to basketball, any Hoosier will tell you that you have to choose a side. There are friend groups, families, and even relationships that can be torn apart by the Indiana-Purdue rivalry.
Some people may even ask you in advance who you are rooting for to avoid any tension in the relationship.
Currently, Purdue is ahead of 2 games in their ongoing rivalry recorded since January 1999. The score is 23-21 with Purdue in the lead. Their last clash took place on February 25, 2023.
This is also true for the movie “Hoosiers.” Many residents enjoy high school basketball as much as they do college.
Indiana Pacers NBA fans can be hit or miss at times depending on the team’s performance in the league, but that doesn’t diminish their importance in the community.
State Fair and Gastronomy
The Indiana State Fair is a must-see annual event for Hoosiers. It is a long tradition that many will participate in each year. Some will even come from out of town to attend the event.
According to IUPUI University LibraryThe State Fair was established in 1850 when the State General Assembly passed an “Act to Encourage Agriculture.”
The board then worked first to create the Indiana State Fair.
While agriculture remains a central and foundational idea for the State Fair, many Hoosiers attend the event for the “Fried Everything” concept. The food became a staple for visitors to state fairs.
Food at the fair can include fried elephant ears, Twinkies, Snickers, Oreos, pork tenderloin sandwiches, chicken, fish and much more. Hoosiers enjoy fried foods and musical guests every year.
How Hoosiers feel about Ski
If you’ve ever talked to a Southern Hoosier, you’ve probably heard of Ski. A local Evansville newspaper called “Ski” the “unofficial soda of the west side of town.”
Ski is owned by the Double Cola company and is a lemon and orange drink launched on August 10, 1956, according to the Mail and Press.
The soda is often compared to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew for comparison purposes, but don’t tell that to a ski-loving Hoosier, they might not appreciate the remark.
Skiing has had an impact on the Midwest and Southeast as a whole over the past few decades.
Weather in Indiana
The weather in Indiana is a touchy subject when speaking with other Hoosiers. For some, they “love” it and others, they “hate” it.
The winter season is a point of contention most of the time due to its notorious fickleness. The Meteorological Authority outlook for the 2023-24 season showed this point.
A Hoosier might put on a thick winter coat one day because it’s below zero and snowing outside, and then the next day it’s a sunny, mild day above zero.
Meteorologists from FOX59 and CBS4 said this year’s winter is expected to bring changes in trends, with warmer weather due to El Niño.
The last El Nino winter in 2018-2019 brought a disappointing amount of snow for central Indiana Hoosiers and that could be a happy spot for those who hate the winter cold.
Impact of the race, aka the 500
With tickets For next year’s annual event that goes on sale just a few months after the current year’s event ends, “The Greatest Show in Racing” is a big deal for Hoosiers.
Some might even call Speedway City the “Racing Capital of the World.” The event brings together thousands upon thousands of racing fans each May for a month of automotive fun, culminating with the Indy 500 race.
Although not all Indiana residents love racing, many do.
The proof is in the pudding: more than 230,000 tickets sold, not including the Snake Pit or the infield for the 2023 event.
Sports news reported that approximately 325,000 total fans were in attendance due to temporary seating and other accommodations. It was said to be one of the greatest races in history.
Indy’s nickname
If you’re a true Hoosier, you won’t use “Indy” as an abbreviation for the state of Indiana. This is reserved for the state capital, Indianapolis.
If you’re from Indy, you can use it as a nickname or as Circle City. If you were describing the state as a whole or someone who lives outside of Indianapolis, you would simply call them a Hoosier.
Unfortunately, this may need to be explained to someone who isn’t from the Midwest or Indiana as a whole, as they might try to abbreviate with a reserved term.
