Published: November 06, 2007 10:06 pm         

Column: Tobacco Road choking Hoosiers, Boilers

ANDERSON, Ind. — When 7-foot Eric Montross announced some 17 years ago that he would be taking his baby hook and bristle cut to Chapel Hill, N.C., basketball fans in this state took offense.

Not all of them, but a lot of them.

“What’s wrong with Indiana?” some wondered. “What, too good to go to Purdue?” others mumbled to themselves.

Montross, who as a junior teamed with senior guard Todd Leary to form an imposing one-two punch for 1989 state champion Lawrence North, went on to help Tar Heels legend Dean Smith win a national championship in 1994.

Yet as decent a person as Montross was and surely continues to be today, he was and is regarded by some as a traitor because he didn’t suit up for Bob Knight or Gene Keady.

Monday afternoon, Tyler Zeller, a 6-11 post player about to begin his senior season for the Washington Hatchets in the state’s southern reaches, announced at a press conference he would be playing collegiately for Roy Williams at North Carolina.

On the outside looking in were Zeller’s other three finalists: Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame.

The more things change ...

Would I have preferred Zeller continue his education closer to home? Certainly. But it wasn’t my decision to make. Wasn’t yours, either. We’re not the ones blessed with a surplus of height and the work ethic required to open doors with it.

It was Tyler Zeller’s choice and he must do what’s best for Tyler Zeller and not IU or Purdue season-ticket holders throughout the state.

Really, though, this shouldn’t have come as a stunning development. The Indiana-to-Tobacco Road pipeline is becoming well-traveled.

Zeller isn’t the first to bolt. He won’t be the last.

In case you’re counting at home, that’s Jon Holmes of Bloomington South (1999) and Sean May of Bloomington North (2002) who signed on to play for UNC. Holmes, a backup guard for the Heels, played for some pretty bad teams (by program standards), while May led North Carolina to a national title in 2005.

Now add Carmel’s Josh McRoberts signing with Duke a few years back and Tobacco Road is beginning to annoy some people around here.

But you can’t condemn a teenage kid for wanting to live out a dream by playing for a program that is on television every time it takes the court. A program that is a conference and national championship contender virtually every season and is a favorite stop of Dick Vitale (OK, poor selling point).

Lest we forget 1999 Mr. Basketball Jason Gardner landed at Arizona. One year later Marion’s Zach Randolph wore a Michigan State uniform and in 2003 another Mr. Basketball, Justin Cage of Pike, opted for Xavier. More recently, Lawrence North, Montross’ alma mater, produced one-year Ohio State superstars Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.

Kids grow up, leave the nest. No law states that nest has to be within Indiana’s boundaries.

North Carolina and Duke are nationally recognized in men’s basketball the way Notre Dame, USC, Florida and a host of others are in football. They belong to everybody.

Don’t believe me, check out your local sporting goods store(s). Maybe it’s hats, maybe it’s jerseys or T-shirts. Rest assured, North Carolina and Duke merchandise replete with trendy Nike swoosh will be priced and ready for purchase.

Conversely, I was in Charlotte last spring and don’t recall even the tiniest trace of Indiana or Purdue. Trust me, I looked.

Therein lies the difference. Purdue men’s basketball is not relevant nationally. It might be someday under coach Matt Painter, but it’s not now. Indiana’s national title drought is now two decades old. Tell me with a straight face that hasn’t diminished the Hoosiers’ reputation outside the Midwest.

Don’t blame Zeller for choosing Chapel Hill as where he would most like to spend the next few years growing as an athlete and, more importantly, human being. Applaud him for doing what makes him the happiest.



Mike Beas writes for The Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Ind.