Apparently, if you want to become a second-generation Hoosier football player, it helps if your father played tight end. That's the current trend, at least, in Bloomington as Indiana now counts three sons of former IU tight ends on its roster.

Projected starting quarterback Blake Powers' father, Dan, played football for Indiana from 1975 to 1978. First string right guard Justin Frye's dad, Kevin, saw time at tight end and fullback from 1977 to 1981.

And now true freshman Ty Harangody becomes the latest addition to Indiana's father-son fraternity. He is the son of Dave Harangody, who earned four letters on the gridiron over the course of 1977 to 1980.

Amazingly, Dan Powers, Kevin Frye and Dave Harangody were all teammates and now so are their sons. The Harangodys, however, are the only father-son duo to play similar positions, but it doesn't matter to Ty where he plays as long as he's helping the Hoosiers' cause.

"(The coaches) have told me I would play H-back," says Harangody. "The key is that I will be happy at any position as long as I can get on the field and contribute"

The H-back is a hybrid, combining the role of a tight end and fullback into one position. It's a complex position, but playing Ty at H-back allows first-year coach Terry Hoeppner to maximize Harangody's intelligence and talents as a receiver and a blocker.

Despite his father's history as a Hoosier football player, Ty didn't pick up the sport until high school.

"Ty never played football until his freshman year," Dave recalls. "The varsity coach at the time talked him into coming out for the team. In football, they say you either love it or hate it and Ty immediately fell in love with football."

Well, maybe not immediately. Dad seems to remember Ty taking to the sport a little earlier than his son.

"I was always a basketball player up until sophomore year," says Ty regarding which sport he preferred. "I was actually just going to play basketball my sophomore year and not football, but the head varsity football coach changed my mind, and I have not looked back since."

Even after Ty chose football over basketball, it didn't cross Dave's mind that one day his son would also don the Cream and Crimson.

"I never thought about it when Ty was growing up because he did not play football until he was a freshman," Dave says. "The first time I really gave it much thought was the day he received his first football (recruiting) letter from the IU football program."

However, it didn't take long for the writing to appear on the wall. Following a strong junior season (40 catches for 500 yards and three touchdowns), Ty accepted a scholarship offer from former IU coach Gerry DiNardo.

He followed his junior campaign by leading Andrean High School to the Indiana 3A State Championship while putting up gaudy numbers. Ty finished second in the state with 1,321 yards on 82 catches. He also racked up 11 touchdowns.

Ty credits his father for providing the necessary support to become the player he is today.

"He has influenced me on everything from getting me involved at an early age, to working out with me, to just coming to my games," says Ty. "He is even the one who lets me know when I am getting lazy in the off-season."

But as proud and thankful as Ty is for the positive role Dave has played in his development as a person and a player, he's anxious to make his own mark.

"It feels really good, but it is also very challenging," Ty says in regard to following in his father's footsteps. "When I am in Bloomington now, I am Dave's son. Hopefully, when I am through playing, I will have made a name for myself."

Regardless of Indiana football's three father-son legacy players the occurrence remains uncommon in sports. The Harangodys, however, could have taken their legacy to the next level and chiseled the Harangody name forever into Hoosier lore.

With Ty already signed to Hoosier football, Dave's younger son, Luke, was also offered a scholarship to play at Indiana. Unlike his brother and father, Luke's game is basketball and Mike Davis wanted him to play at Assembly Hall.

The bid for a "Ripley's Believe It or Not" event ended when Luke recently made his college decision and selected Notre Dame. Even the thought of having such an opportunity still shocks Dave.

"Never," says Dave about imagining the possibility. "My wife and I both know how difficult it is to get a scholarship to a Division I football or basketball program. The odds of both kids playing two different sports at a school like Indiana are hard to imagine."

Perhaps, even harder to imagine is his baby boy clad in Blue and Gold, especially after Dave and his wife, Peg, raised two die-hard Hoosier fans.

"With Peg and myself graduating from IU, I didn't think there was any way they could have not been huge IU fans growing up," Dave says.

And both sons confirmed his statement.

"Indiana basketball and football were the only two college teams I would watch and cheer for," says Luke. "I had all the clothes too, especially my Damon Bailey jersey."

Ty agrees, "Definitely, there is IU stuff all over the house. As far back as I can remember, I have always been a Hoosier fan."

Growing up, the two brothers went head-to-head on many occasions and now it appears the sibling rivalry will continue throughout college. Hopefully, however, it will continue without the flying fists.

"We were always competitive in all sports, especially one-on-one basketball," says Luke. "We were no longer allowed to play without my dad being there because the games would usually end in a fist fight."

Ty' recollection of the brotherly brawls is slightly different saying most of the games were called on the account of "a huge argument", but he doesn't rule out an occasional donnybrook.

Luke considers their sparring matches as just the normal tough love of an older brother.

"Ty always would give me the normal big brother treatment," he says. "I knew that if you crossed the line with Ty, you would take a beating. I believe that is why I am tough."

Big brother confirms the appropriately named treatment, but he also watched out for Luke, "I would occasionally give him a hard time, but I would never let anyone else treat him like that."

To this day, even with Luke now technically the bigger brother at 6-feet 7-inches and 250 pounds to Ty's 6-feet 1-inch and 238 pounds, the ground rules remain the same. Luke isn't about to dog Ty on the basketball court.

"I know that if I did that to him he still would be able to have his way with me," says Luke.

Both brothers have always loved sports. They played soccer, baseball and basketball at the age of four, which kept their parents extremely busy driving to practices and attending games. Occasionally, Dave and Peg caught a break and both sons would end up on the same team, but Dave says it was all worthwhile because, "It seemed to keep them busy and out of trouble."

Sports kept Ty and Luke out of trouble with others, but it also begat their competitiveness with each other and in turn the dreaded big brother treatment. Regardless of how much they competed and fought growing up, they remain extremely close and their competition with each other has had benefits as well.

"They were, and still are, loving brothers," Dave says. "You are bound to have a certain amount of competition when you have two boys so close in age. (Peg and I) think this competition has given both of them their will to win."

Before Luke scratched Indiana off his list, Ty was hoping he'd attend college in Bloomington.

"Of course (I'd like him at IU)," Ty says. "I have not been away from him ever. Having him on campus would be great just to stay close with him."

And don't think for an instant it was an easy for Luke to turn down the Hoosiers. In fact, in a way, Luke is giving up what he's always wanted.

"As a little kid I always dreamed about playing for Indiana," Luke says. "The scholarship offer means a lot to me."

So the brothers head their separate ways, but Ty and Luke will remain just as close and just as competitive, as the stakes are even higher. You see, the battle for bragging rights is no longer confined to the Harangody driveway. Now the sibling rivalry spans the entire state of Indiana as another happy home is destined to become a "house divided."

What if you could go to Nike Town and grab all the gear you need to play basketball absolutely free? Well, you can…if the Nike powers that be, deem you worthy of their Nike All-America Camp.

Okay, okay, the selection isn't as broad at Nike Camp, but it's still a far cheaper alternative to having to splurge for the Swoosh. And for the big guys, it may be their only chance to get their basketball-engulfing hands on the sizes they need without special ordering.

Luke Harangody was among those invited, but he opted not to attend this year's Nike Camp. According to his AAU teammate Robbie Hummel, Harangody had some lingering pain in his knees from past injuries and wanted to heal completely. A good move on his part, but Harangody is one of those big guys who can really benefit from having special order clothing and shoes within arms reach. Did I happen to mention they're free?

For a veritable Lilliputian like myself, it is always fun to cover Nike Camp and roam among the young giants for a few days. It can actually be quite tiring. You don't realize how heavy a digital recorder can be. That is until you've stretched your arm to its limits for 15 straight minutes trying to get the microphone in range of picking up a soft-spoken 7-footer's comments.

By the end of the day, hoisting your recorder above your head starts feeling like it weighs 6.7 tons instead of 6.7 ounces. However, years of experience teach you to mix in an occasional interview with a guard and you'll be fine.

Regardless of the perils that exist for those of us who stand less than 6 feet tall, Nike is a can't-miss event if you like watching basketball or if you want to get an idea of what it's like to be a Nike All-American.

Watching basketball is a given, but it's not what you hear in the media room during interviews that tells the true story of Nike Camp. It's what you observe when the recorders are turned off and the television cameras have stopped rolling.

What you see when you pull back the curtain snaps you back to reality. Suddenly you're reminded that these All-Americans – this collection of potential next big things – are really just kids.

Kids smuggling stacks and stacks of cookies back to their rooms from "training table" for a late-night snack. Kids wearing smiles on their faces as they try to prevent the piles of pre-packaged Nike shirts and shorts from slipping through their mitts. Occasionally, they leave a trail of apparel behind them, but always return shortly to cover their tracks.

And let's not forget a couple pairs of fresh waffle-stompers – usually one set strapped to their size 17 feet and the other in a convenient take-home box.

Nike considers the annual camp an educational experience for the next generation of basketball players, as the seminars and media exposure get them ready for the next level. After all is said and done, to me, it's just an all expenses paid trip to Christmas in July.