You’re probably familiar with this post from a couple of weeks ago where we passed along word that IU was seeking recommendations to name the student section. A considerable amount of discourse ensued in the comments, so it’s only appropriate that we pass along that the nominees have been selected and the voting process is underway. Here are the details:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - IU Athletics is now in the second phase of the design contest for the official 2009 Basketball Student Section t-shirt, as fans can now cast their online vote for the winning name that will go on the t-shirt. The names that you can choose from are:

• Creaniacs
• Crean Machine
• Crimson Guard
• Crean’s Crew
• Candy Stripers
• The Hall Monitors
• Crean’s Army
• Crean Nation
• Branch’s Bleachers
• McCracken Maniacs

Admittedly, I’m not particularly thrilled with any of these names, but if I voted (which I won’t), I’d go with The Hall Monitors or Candy Stripers. As well as the Izzone has worked out at Michigan State, I’m not sure it’s a great idea to name the student section after any coach. For instance, what if IU had named the student section after Kelvin Sampson? Of course there are no parallels between Tom Crean and Sampson and I’m sure it would work fine, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. (Of the Crean names, Creaniacs is the best. By a landslide.)

Crimson Guard should be thrown out because, well, it’s um, not creative or catchy. And if you’re going to name the student section, which I’m not sure is completely necessary, you might as well attempt to do it right. I know Indiana’s court is named after Branch McCracken, but would using his name resonate with anybody that’s not super familiar with IU hoops? You could probably do a poll of students in the lobby at Assembly Hall and a fair percentage would not be able to tell you who McCracken was.

That leaves us with The Hall Monitors and Candy Stripers. This is the point where I would flip a coin and … tails it is. Okay, The Hall Monitors it is.

J.D. Campbell, Indiana’s Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations, passed along the following release this morning:

The Indiana University Athletics Department is seeking names for the student section in Assembly Hall. The student’s selection will be placed on the front of the Crimson Club Student Basketball Shirt.  These shirts will be handed out to all student basketball season ticket holders.  The student t-shirt is a great way for the students to show their passion and pride for Indiana Basketball at every home game.

The Crimson Club was designed to reward Indiana University students for their support of Hoosier athletic teams and the great game day atmosphere they create. Club members will earn points redeemable for prizes such as retail gift certificates, adidas gift packs, opportunity to be Athletic Director for a day, laptop computers, framed IU athletic jersey’s or 42″ HDTV’s. Students will also receive their official t-shirt when they earn 10 Crimson Club points.

Student section names will be accepted now through November 17th with finalist selections occurring on November 18th. Entries are open to all current Indiana Students. Students will be able to vote for their favorite name from November 18th-November 24th on IUHoosiers.com.

Entries must be emailed to SPTMARKT@indiana.edu no later than November 17th , 2009. We will notify you if your selection is chosen as a finalist.

Get to work, boys and girls.