By Matt Dollinger

Best celebrity to catch at a game

From the east coast, to the west coast ... it doesn't matter where John Mellencamp is, Bloomington is always home. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

You might share a country with him, but he is our celebrity. I'm talking about Bloomington native John Mellencamp, who frequents Hoosier games almost as much as he appears during commercials. The rock legend's seats are located across from the Hoosier's bench.

Best place to tailgate

I don't know what Woodstock looked like after several of thousands people left, but I have an idea. I'm referring to Woodlawn, the popular tailgating home to current Hoosiers and alumni. If you want to fit in, try driving your truck to a nice grassy area, bring a couple of lawn chairs, your favorite case of beer, a grill, plenty of meat, a football, a complete cornhole set, some IU memorabilia and your second favorite case of beer. It'll be one of the best days of your year.

Best place to walk-on to a movie set

We're a long way away from Hollywood, but we have at least one movie set. No, not Hoosiers. I'm talking about Breaking Away, the cycling movie from the '80s starring Dennis Quaid, which was shot in Bloomington and is based on The Little 500.

There is one scene where Quaid and several other characters are at Bloomington's limestone quarries jumping into the water. If you head north of Bloomington, you can still access the same quarry and reenact your favorite scene.

Best new landmark

Some schools have a rich football tradition, with national championships, All-Americans and storied famous coaches. And in the words of Borat, some schools "eh ... not so much."

Although Memorial Stadium had its grand opening in 1960, a large three-ton remnant was saved for over 45 years before it became a landmark. Allegedly. When IU head coach Terry Hoeppner came to Indiana a few years ago, so did "The Rock." The rock claims to be left over from the original stadium construction and can now be found parked in the north end zone. The Hoosier football program has developed the habit of promising to "defend The Rock" during home football games.

Biggest rivalry

If there is one thing you know about the Hoosiers, it might be that they love basketball. But their love is almost exceeded by their despise for the Purdue Boilermakers. The two in-state schools had their rivalry peak during the heydays of Bobby Knight and Gene Keady. You think Knight would throw a chair on the court during any game? Wrong, the Hoosiers were playing Purdue that evening.

The rivalry continues on to the football field, where the two schools play for the Oaken Bucket, an annual tradition during rivalry week.

Best place to get your haircut

Okay, so a lot of people don't get haircuts on road trips, but this is more than a haircut, this is history! Drive north on 3rd Street and get your hair cut by Harold, at The Razor's Image.

Harold's haircuts aren't as famous as he is (which is saying something, even though he is sans two fingers). Harold has been a fixture of IU sports for decades, and is the perfect source for inside IU knowledge. You'll have such a long conversation with him about how the Hoosiers are doing this season that you'll forget he is even cutting your hair.

Best place to hear a local band

Bloomington is famous for its basketball, but is also well known in some circles for its local music circuit. And one of the best places to hear a local band or traveling artist is The Bluebird (downtown off Walnut). The Bird has been around for over thirty years and you can buy your tickets on TicketMaster. They also bring in big names. Earlier this year, The Bluebird was graced by SIOC favorite Method Man.

Best of all, Bloomington's best pizza place is right next door, Rockits. Even better, they serve by the slice and are open well into the morning.

Best way to listen to the game

Don Fischer is known as the "voice of the Hoosiers" and does the radio broadcast for both the Hoosier's football and men's basketball teams. Fischer, whose pleasant voice and old school candid style appeals to the Hoosier faithful, has now been broadcasting Hoosier games for almost 40 years.

People like Fischer so much, in fact, that some prefer him to the real thing. Often you'll see fans at games with headphones on, listening to Fischer's narration.

Want SIOC to road trip to your school? Let us know here.