Just 12 days after having a second round of brain surgery, IU coach Terry Hoeppner rejoined his team Sunday after his Hoosiers fell to University of Connecticut 14-7 Saturday afternoon.\nFollowing the defeat, sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen said Hoeppner's return will re-energize the Hoosiers after two tough home defeats.\n"We get Coach Hep back (Sunday), so there'll be a lot of energy," Thigpen said after Saturday's game. "It's crazy that he's back so soon, but (his return) means a lot to us."\nAfter missing his team's last two games, both losses, Hoeppner will return to the sidelines and resume his head coaching duties for this weekend's Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. During Hoeppner's leave of absence, offensive coordinator Bill Lynch took over head coaching duties.
Quarterback shuffle\nIn Saturday's loss against Connecticut, IU's quarterback position resembled a revolving door as freshman Kellen Lewis replaced starter Blake Powers midway through the first quarter after three unsuccessful drives.\nThe shuffle continued minutes later in the second quarter when Powers came back in for Lewis. The Hoosier quarterbacks would exchange duties four times during the game. \nAnd while interim head coach Lynch followed through on his promise to give both players playing time, the duo was never able to get into a rhythm.\nThe forgotten position in the shuffle was the quarterback's targets -- the wide receivers -- who must adjust with changes on the fly. However, freshman receiver Andrew Means said the receivers don't see a major change when either quarterback comes in because they have practiced with both.\n"You really don't see a difference because in practice we get the same amount of reps with both quarterbacks," Mean said. "We get the same timing either way." \nBut there are differences, Mean said. \n"With Blake, he really gets the ball out there. With Kellen, we've got to be alive and well," he said. "We've got to scramble when he gets out of the pocket, so you just have to be ready for both."\nThe IU coaching staff has not yet determined who will start at quarterback for Saturday's game against Wisconsin, but both quarterbacks realize that whoever is playing well at the time will see more game action.\n"I just know you had to do good when you got your chance," Powers said. "The coaches were going to do what they felt was best."
Opener woes\nWith the four-game nonconference schedule behind them, the Hoosiers can now focus solely on the Big Ten schedule, beginning with Saturday's opener. Historically, IU has struggled in its Big Ten openers, losing its last four dating back to the 2001 campaign.\nIU's last win to open the Big Ten season was Sept. 30, 2000, a 45-33 home victory over Iowa and the Hoosiers know they will have to play a physical game if they hope to reverse the trend.\n"Big Ten football is a physical, hard league that you really have to prepare for and be ready to play that kind of game," Lynch said following Saturday's game.
