Indiana To end storied tradition of playing white noise, soothing whale calls over sound system right before tip-off

BLOOMINGTON—

The Indiana Athletics Director has announced the department’s “incredibly difficult” decision of removing the historic tradition of playing the droning sounds of a standing fan and the hauntingly beautiful calls of the humpback whale before the start of each game in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

“We understand how much [the whale noises] have meant to our fans these past 50-plus years, and trust us when we say this isn’t a decision we took lightly,” said Scott Dolson earlier this week. When asked for the reasoning behind this removal of a decades’ old ritual, Dolson didn’t want to get into specifics.

“There were a lot of factors that contributed to our final verdict,” continued the Hoosier AD of 11 years. “I don’t want to get into the weeds on this, but just know that it’s for the best.”

Indiana Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Woodson was unavailable for comment but was seen wandering about the facility in a candystripe nightgown, a polished brass chamberstick with its candle lit in his hand.