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Sports TwitterHoosiers see Hoeppner's memory as inspiration
Players say their job is to make this season into the one Terry Hoeppner dreamed possible.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana Hoosiers want to make this Terry Hoeppner's dream season.
After the inspirational poems, the motivational pep talks, the memorable phrases and the credo Hoeppner instilled, the Hoosiers intend to carry out his legacy and preserve his message — and not quit on his quest for a bowl game.
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"Our job is ensuring that Coach Hep's dream comes true for the program," fullback Josiah Sears said. "We want to carry on his dreams, which included bowl games, and at the top of his list, for sure, was the Rose Bowl."
Hoeppner, Indiana's football coach the past two seasons, died Tuesday from complications of a brain tumor. He was 59.
He seemingly had the Hoosiers headed in the right direction with five wins last year, their most since 2001, and one victory short of being able to play in a bowl game for the first time since 1993. They won their first Big Ten road game in five years and pulled off their biggest upset in nearly two decades by beating then-No. 15 Iowa.
With a softer-than-normal nonconference slate, Ohio State and Michigan off the schedule and most of their key offensive players back for another season, expectations at Indiana had risen substantially this year.
But Hoeppner's death raises a new question: How will Indiana's players respond?
"This season will be dedicated to him, of course," defensive back Tracy Porter said. "So we're going to go out and play every day like Coach Hep is still on the sidelines."
School officials have not yet said how they would honor Hoeppner's memory or whether the uniforms or helmets would include a special patch.
Despite the intense win-one-for-the-coach sentiment that exists, it's uncertain how players and coaches will respond after Hoeppner's funeral.
Bill Lynch, Hoeppner's offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, will be the head coach this season. Athletic Director Rick Greenspan said Friday, when announcing the promotion, that the coaching situation would be re-evaluated at season's end.
And after watching Hoeppner come and go for the past 18 months, the result of two brain surgeries and three medical leaves, it's still unclear how the emotional roller coaster has affected players.
Freshmen report to camp Aug. 4, while upperclassmen report Aug. 5 and even Sears acknowledges that first day of practice will be difficult.
"I'm sure there will be some tears as we're taking the field," he said. "But we have an opportunity to not just play for ourselves but to play for him and his family. We have an opportunity to do it for him."
The Hoosiers, who have not had a winning season since 1994, aren't about to scale back expectations. Greenspan is one of the believers, regardless of who leads the team.
"These guys have done a good job and they will continue to do a good job and we will not falter," Greenspan said. "As Hep would say, 'You make the plan, you work the plan and you plan for the unexpected.' This is the unexpected."
So far, players sound like they will use this season to prove a point — that the spirit of Hoeppner, and what he built in two short seasons at Indiana, is alive and well in the locker room.
Service for Hoeppner announced
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University will hold a public service for football coach Terry Hoeppner on Saturday at Assembly Hall.
Hoeppner, who coached the Hoosiers for two seasons, died Tuesday morning from complications of a brain tumor. He was 59.
Doors will open for the "Celebration of Life" at 11:30 a.m. The service is scheduled to begin at noon. All other services will be private.
