Get ready for IU athletics

Welcome back to school everybody, and for all you freshmen out there, welcome to IU. \nSince you now are official Hoosiers, we feel it is your privilege to be in-the-know about Hoosier athletics.\nThis past summer was a productive one both on the playing fields and off.\nLet's start with football.\nThe main thing you'll notice at the Hoosiers first home game on Sept.13 against Indiana State is the new field. AstroPlay, a state of the art turf surface, was laid down this past summer as part of a rebuilding process that will hopefully lead our football team back to greatness. The locker rooms were also renovated -- thanks to the help of former IU player and current Kansas City Chief Trent Green.\nNow that IU has begun to transform the facilities that are comparable to the top-notch programs, maybe the team will transform into a top-notch team.\nWith the arrival of transfer quarterback Matt LeVechio from Notre Dame, the Hoosiers offense will look for a "Return to Glory" with him at the helm. While coach Gerry DiNardo aims to bring IU back to a bowl game for the first time in decade.\nFor all the new students, this season is the last chance to catch a glimpse of one of the greatest coaches in collegiate athletics history. \nSoccer coach Jerry Yeagley is retiring after 30 years, 527 wins and five national championships. This year's squad, ranked No. 7 in the country, is in search of a national title that will put it one up on the men's basketball team. \nBut before basketball season starts, senior Karen Dennison will have the chance to show the Big Ten why she was asked to play in an LPGA event this past summer. The All-American played in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, where she placed well, shooting 11-over-par in her first professional tournament.\nThe off-season success stories of IU athletes don't stop with Dennison. \nHoosiers swimmer and 2000 Olympian Sara Hildebrand placed sixth at the 2003 World Diving Championships where she participated in the three-meter springboard.\nAnd to top off the IU winners of this past summer is IU alum Shaun Micheel, winner of the 2003 PGA Championship. The former All-American led IU to the 1991 Big Ten title.\nWhile all of the above athletes were enjoying their success, men's basketball coach Mike Davis was preparing for his. This past summer was a successful one for Davis as he received four verbal commitments from some of the country's top players, including one recruit, Josh Smith, who is said by many recruiting guru's to be one of the top three players in the country. \nNow take a deep breath and relax. \nBeginning now you will embark on an almost religious journey for the next four years that could take you to a Final Four or two, and maybe even a bowl game. But you can always be assured of a deep NCAA tournament run for the soccer team and near perfect strokes by the swimming and diving team's.\nAs you enter your IU life, don't forget to take in the smaller sports. Heck, we're in the Big Ten, one of the top conferences in America. \nWhat more can you ask for? \nGet ready to bleed crimson and cream for the next four (or five) years.\nWelcome to IU.