Indiana has always been known as a basketball school. Whether it's legendary coach Bob Knight, or the historic greats such as Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas. Basketball is what instantly comes to mind when people think of Indiana sports.
However, the Curt Cignetti era is here for their football program. The man himself said it best, "It's pretty simple, I win. Google me."
With Indiana football off to this successful start with Cignetti, there are plenty of eyeballs on the university.
Fans are familiar with the bulldog, wolverine, and buckeye. But what is a Hoosier?
AllSportsPeople explains the origin of the nickname and how long Indiana has used it.
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What is a Hoosier?
While the exact origin has been debated for decades, the best explanation is that "Hoosier" refers to a native or resident of the U.S. State of Indiana.
It is one of the oldest state nicknames, dating back to the 1800s. One of the more popular uses derives from a poet named John Finley. Finley was from Richmond and wrote a poem called "The Hoosier's Nest."
In this poem, the term "Hoosher" is used to describe the qualities of the pioneers of Indiana. These qualities include friendliness, hard work, and self-reliance.
In 1848, Berlett's Dictionary of Americanisms defined the word "Hoosier" as "a nickname given at the west, to natives of Indiana."
Then, 169 years later, in 2017, the U.S. Government Publishing Office updated its style manual (a guide for language usage and publishing), which officially recognized residents of the state of Indiana as Hoosiers.
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When did Indiana adopt the Hoosier nickname?
Indiana Athletics first adopted this nickname during the 1923 football season. This team called themselves the "Scrapping Hoosiers," which was meant to highlight their aggressive play style.
Since that season, Indiana has used the term "Hoosiers" for all of its sports programs.
What is Indiana's mascot?
Indiana's mascot is Hoosier the Bison. In 2025, the mascot was brought back after a nearly 60-year absence from the university.
The bison is meant to connect the university to the state mammal. It also makes a direct link to the state's heritage and a strong connection to conservation.
The mascot was used from 1965 to 1969, then was cut from the university for several decades. After a push from the athletic department, Hoosier the Bison was brought back. The new mascot returned in August 2025.
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