Bloomington, IN – Fans looking to learn where Indiana University’s iconic candy stripes came from — and which sport launched IU’s 205-year athletic history — can now find answers at Outfitting IU Athletics: Hoosier Champions, a new exhibition open through October 2026 at McCalla in Bloomington.
According to IU University Collections staff, the exhibition highlights more than 150 years of Hoosier sports history, featuring championship memorabilia, archival photographs and equipment spanning multiple eras. The showcase includes football, basketball, baseball, swimming and other Big Ten and national-title programs.
According to Jeremy Hackerd, assistant director of special projects at University Collections, baseball was the first sport played at Indiana University, originating in the mid-1860s when Civil War veterans enrolled as students and formed the school’s earliest team.
Another major highlight answers a question many IU fans have long wondered: Where did the famous candy stripes come from?
According to the exhibit, the pattern started with legendary swimming coach James “Doc” Counsilman, who had his swimmers wear red-and-white striped practice trunks in the 1960s. The stripes made it easier for Counsilman to analyze underwater movement using his pioneering underwater cameras. The basketball program later adopted the design, turning it into one of college sports’ most recognizable looks.
Visitors will also find items such as Kyle Schwarber’s 2013 College World Series bat, a leather helmet from the 1945 Big Ten champion football team, and early women’s championship memorabilia from 1982.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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