Coach Hoeppner in the clear after brain surgery

Less than two weeks after undergoing brain surgery, IU football coach Terry Hoeppner revealed Tuesday that surgeons removed scar tissue, not a recurrent tumor. \n"There was an element of unknown with this surgery," Hoeppner said at his press conference Tuesday afternoon. "They told me after the first surgery that there might be an element of scar tissue. Right now, I'm good to go. The scan after the surgery was clear."\nHoeppner's first brain surgery occurred Dec. 27 when doctors removed a tumor from his right temple. \nIn Hoeppner's absence since his second surgery, offensive coordinator Bill Lynch served as head coach. \nIU lost both games under Lynch, falling to Southern Illinois University and the University of Connecticut as Hoeppner watched from the Memorial Stadium press box. \n"It's really hard because you're such a part of a group of guys for such a long period of time," Hoeppner said. "There's no way I could have stayed away week one." \nHoeppner will return to the sidelines for the Big Ten opener this Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. Lynch will return to his duties as offensive coordinator. \nAfter practice Tuesday, players were upbeat about the return of their head coach. \n"It's really exciting ... two weeks has been a tough time without your emotional leader on the field," freshman \nquarterback Kellen Lewis said after practice Tuesday. "With him back in, we can bounce back this week and get a \nbig win"