IU in the year 2015: Football program

IU head football coach Terry Hoeppner looked in admiration at a large, gold-framed picture on his wall. The\n portrait depicted a game between the New York Giants and Chicago Cardinals in the 1950s.\nHe isn't sure about the details of the game, such as the year, the players involved or who won.\nBut Hoeppner knows one thing for sure -- the game of football hasn't changed much since then.\n"Look at that picture over there," Hoeppner said. "To be at least 40 to 45 years old, it doesn't look that much different. The uniforms and helmets really aren't that much different. The field is a different surface, but look at all the fans there."\nAlhough he said football hasn't changed much in recent history, Hoeppner speculated about the future of the sport, and the future of the Hoosiers.\n"IU could look a lot different in 10 years and maybe it won't," Hoeppner said. "I really don't know. But I know one thing -- you're still going to have to block, tackle, stop the run, be able to pass and play good special teams."\nHoeppner also said he believes uniforms will be updated and improved in the future because of the advanced technology. \n"Uniforms may be one piece and zip-up that you step into," Hoeppner said. "Helmets will probably be made safer. The shoes are probably very light and molded to your foot, just like a mouthpiece. It could be pretty dramatic, I think."\nUpon his arrival at IU, the first-year coach implemented several new traditions to get the school and community more involved with the team. The Hoosier squad now takes part in "The Walk" and touches "The Rock" on its way onto the Memorial Stadium before every home game. Hoeppner hopes both of these traditions, as well as future ones to follow, will continue to bring fans into the stadium for years to come.\n"I think that number one, we needed to have some things that people could identify with and participate in," Hoeppner said. "I see in the very near future the stadium being full every home game. We will continue to try to make (the experience) fun and make people want to be a part of (IU football)."\nFootball ticket sales sky rocketed upon Hoeppner's arrival at IU -- another trend he hopes will continue in the future.\n"Going to a Big Ten school, like IU, part of your experience should be Saturday afternoons at 'The Rock' with your friends," Hoeppner said. "You can come back for Homecoming and remember those times with your friends. I think it's important to see how much that means to the players and their reactions to the students."\nIn addition to his speculations about IU's future, Hoeppner said he knows where he would like to be in 10 years.\n"If I'm not still coaching I'm not going to retire to Florida. I'll retire to Elkhart or Fort Wayne," Hoeppner said. "I won't go far. I'll be coming back to watch the 2009 Rose Bowl Champion Indiana Hoosiers. Or I could be like Joe Paterno and still be marching the sidelines. Who knows"