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(03/28/05 6:06am)
Three people, including two IU athletes, were injured in a car accident when a dump truck collided with a sport utility vehicle at 2:30 p.m. Thursday on Indiana State Road 45. \nThe accident involved Jamey Chapman, a sophomore forward on the women's basketball team, and James Bailey, a redshirt freshman wide receiver on the football team. Both are still receiving care at Bloomington Hospital.\nAccording to a hospital representative, Chapman is in critical condition and Bailey is in stable condition. A time table for the release is uncertain, and no further information could be released. Director of Athletic Media Relations Pete Rhoda could not add any further details.\nThe other person involved, Clarence Hamm, was treated and released Thursday evening.\nAccording to police reports, the accident occurred as Bailey and Chapman were pulling out of a private driveway onto IN-45 heading west. Chapman's white Chevrolet Blazer was struck by a dump truck carrying 20 tons of gravel heading east on Tenth Street. The truck, driven by Hamm, collided into the SUV, causing it to go into a ravine.\nThe case is still under investigation, and the driver of the SUV is still undetermined. The police report also noted that none of the three people involved in the wreck were wearing their seatbelts.\nThe accident caused traffic delays, closing off Tenth Street between Grandview Drive and Smith Road for nine hours, according to reports. The road was closed for so long because an accident reconstructionist was working on the scene and was trying to remove the vehicles from the ravine.\nChapman, an Omaha, Neb., native was a reserve forward, but came on strong toward the end of the season after missing the first 13 games of the season due to a hip injury.\nBailey was expected to be big contributor to the Hoosier offense this spring after red-shirting this past fall.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(03/25/05 5:51am)
On the basketball court, 6 feet, 7 inches doesn't usually raise eyebrows. However 6 feet, 7 inches on the football field is something that makes red-shirt freshman wide receiver James Hardy stand out amongst crowd. \nAfter red-shirting this past season in football under former IU coach Gerry DiNardo, Hardy switched from the cleats to sneakers and competed for the men's basketball team this winter. As a freshman forward for the Hoosiers, Hardy started three games averaging 1.7 points per game, with a career-high seven points against both Purdue and Vanderbilt University.\nHardy's offseason, which consisted of all of four days, is all a part of the challenge of being a two-sport athlete, he said.\n"It's very tough on my body, my legs are worn out. I have to get treatment every day and I got to get in the whirlpool just so I can run 20 to 30 minutes before and after practice," Hardy said. "It's been a toll, but this is what I chose to do so I have to do deal with it."\nEven though Hardy has only been with the team for three days, he is making an immediate impression upon the coaching staff.\nA roster that is thin at the wide receiver spot after IU's all-time leading Courtney Roby graduated, gives Hardy the opportunity to compete for significant playing time and possibly becoming a starter when the season opens Sept. 2 at Central Michigan University.\nHeight as an obvious advantage, but there is more to why Hardy could become a threat for the Hoosiers this fall, wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said.\n"James is a guy that has great hands, especially for his size," Lynch said. "Obviously being a bigger target he creates mismatches for the defense, and certainly he's done that already running by guys and going up and making big plays. But the thing that has impressed me thus far the most is just how well he catches the ball with his hands."\nDespite Hardy not being up to speed with the rest of the players, he is quickly making up ground on the rest of the team. He's making plays and causing problems for the defensive backfield, a group against which he averages a six- to seven-inch height advantage.\nThough IU coach Terry Hoeppner has had to share the coveted athlete thus far, Hoeppner is glad it is his turn right now, he said.\n"It's not hard on me, the challenge is for him," Hoeppner said. "I'm proud of him for coming out (this week). If he had taken this week off he would have been really behind, so for him to fight through this week even though he went from football to basketball and right back to football again, he's shown us enough today at probably 60 percent what a special player he can be."\nHardy, who is known for his extensive footwear collection -- ranging from 75 to 100 pairs -- knows that there are big shoes to fill with the departure of Roby, with senior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore being the most experience.\n"It is very important, I'm not going to try and fill the shoes, I'm just going to try and make a name for myself and do the best I can do," Hardy said.\nAlong with the other wide receivers that are competing for playing time in the fall, spring practice is an important time for the players to get a grasp of the new spread offense in time for the fall.\nHoeppner is excited about spring football because Hardy has one of the most sought after qualities in a wide receiver -- long arms and legs.\n"You can't coach tall. You can get guys faster and you can get guys bigger, but you can't get them taller," Hoeppner said. "I like tall receivers, especially guys who can run like he can run, athletic and a knack for finding the ball."\nJust because he is a freshman that hasn't seen time in a game since his days at Elmhurst High School in Fort Wayne, doesn't mean he won't be given the chance to make the same name on the football field that he has begun to make on the basketball court.\n"It gives (Hardy) a great opportunity to be an impact player for us right away for us," Hoeppner said. "He'll be a better player because he got out here this week, but we need him to be a player for sure this spring and definitely this fall."\nThough expectations might be high for the skyscraping wideout, Hardy knows that he can make an impact in his first year donning the cream and crimson, he said. \n"No question (I have high expectations for myself)," he said. "I don't have a set goal list, but for the most part I got it inside my head and I know what I'm capable of doing and I just got to go do it."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(03/04/05 6:50am)
IU hopes that colonels are tamer than ducks this fall. \nThe Hoosiers released their 2005 football schedule Wednesday. Originally, IU was scheduled to play the Oregon Ducks at home Sept. 10; instead the Hoosiers will play the Nicholls State University Colonels at 4 p.m. at Memorial Stadium the same day.\nLast season, when the teams met in the first game of the series, IU defeated the No. 24 Ducks 30-24 in Eugene, Ore.\nNSU is a Division I-AA school located in Thibodaux, La., 66 miles southwest of New Orleans. The Colonels participated in the Southland Conference finishing with a 5-5 record in 2004. This will be coach Terry Hoeppner's first home game at IU. \nBecause of the many challenges facing Hoeppner in his first season at the helm in Bloomington, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said it would be better for the Hoosiers to change their previous plans.\n"I thought with a new coaching staff and challenging Big Ten schedule on the road, the change would give us a better chance to build confidence as a team and young guys to get a chance to get some experience that they might not get with Oregon," he said.\nThough other schools were in the mix to fill the hole in the schedule, those options went away quicker than IU anticipated. Greenspan said that further consideration was given to the change to ensure the game would be at home rather than on the road.\nIn addition to the football game, the schedule also calls for NSU to play the men's basketball team Nov. 18 in Assembly Hall.\n"It is going to provide a tremendous amount of exposure for us," said NSU Athletics Director Rob Bernardi. "I appreciate Rick (Greenspan) and the folks at Indiana to allow us to play IU. Especially with basketball, to play a team with the tradition and pageantry at a school like IU is something (the team) is looking forward to."\nHoeppner will officially kick off his career at IU by visiting Central Michigan University Friday Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Last season the Hoosiers knocked off the Chippewas 41-10 in Bloomington.\nIU will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home game against the University of Kentucky at 4 p.m. Sept. 17. Kentucky has already decided to drop the Hoosiers from its 2006 schedule.\nHaving a balance in terms of what the on the field talent is as well as other factors will continue to play a role in who the Hoosiers will play in the future, Greenspan said.\n"I will never schedule a game without the coach having an influence, but it is a decision that rests in my hands," he said. "I will certainly discuss future opponents for a lot of reasons -- what fans want in terms of an opponent, based on television, Big Ten rules and what will soon be changes in NCAA rules that will likely allow for 12 games and a rule that will allow Division I-AA opponents to count towards bowl eligibility."\nIllinois, Ohio State, Minnesota and Purdue will highlight IU's Big Ten schedule at Memorial Stadium. Additionally after a two-year hiatus, Iowa and Wisconsin will return to the schedule, replacing Penn State and Northwestern. Both games will be on the road. \n"This schedule is a solid fit for our program and its fans," Hoeppner said in statement. "The opportunity to play three Big Ten bowl teams at home will provide a great gauge to our team's progress, and it gives our fans the chance to see some of the premier talent in our league. On top of that, we start out the season by hosting Nicholls State, followed by a tough regional rival in Kentucky and then the league home opener against Illinois Oct. 8."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu
(03/04/05 6:44am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The opener to the Big Ten Tournament that pitted IU against Wisconsin showed exactly why March is known for its "madness."\nIn a game that featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes -- all occurring after the 11-minute mark in the second half -- the final lead change proved to be the demise for the Hoosiers as they fell 75-74 to Wisconsin in double overtime.\nEven though IU managed to get to the second overtime, it almost didn't happen. \nTrailing 66-63 with eight seconds left, senior guard LeeAnn Stephenson raced the ball up court, finding junior guard Cyndi Valentin open on the right wing with three seconds left. As quick as Valentin got the ball she launched a three-pointer from 25 feet out, hitting nothing but the bottom of the net, tying things up and putting the Hoosiers in the first double overtime game in IU women's basketball history.\n"I think we did a great job drawing the defense inside and kicking it back towards me and it was an open shot it and it went in," Valentin said.\nIU carried that momentum into the second overtime, but it wouldn't last as the Badgers (12-15) drained back to back threes, going ahead 72-70. \nThe Hoosiers (10-18) continued fighting back as junior center Angela Hawkins hit the team's first free throws since the first half to knot the game at 72.\nAfter a Wisconsin free throw, Valentin continued her heroics sinking a running jumper to give IU a one-point lead with just under a minute remaining. \nAs IU frantically tried to keep the Badgers off the scoreboard, and their slim postseason hopes alive, Valentin was called for the game-changing foul, putting Jordan Wilson at the line. \nWilson would convert both charity shots, and despite Stephenson's two shots at the bucket, IU couldn't get any more bounces to fall its way and left Conseco Fieldhouse with its first loss to the Badgers in the conference tournament in the last three years.\nThe foul on Valentin proved to be big in the game's final seconds, said IU coach Kathi Bennett.\n"I was a little upset about Cyndi fouling out," said Bennett in her final game on the sidelines as coach of IU. "I would like to see that again and I definitely felt it had an impact on the game."\nAfter establishing a lead as large as 12 in the first half, the Hoosiers led 34-30 at the intermission. Throughout much of the season the team has been led by the guards, but during the second half it was all down low. Of the team's 22 points in the second half, 16 came from the post, including eight from sophomore forward Jamey Chapman.\nGoing into the game, the team knew if it could establish a presence inside it would have a chance to win, Hawkins said.\n"I felt the key to this game was the post and the way Wisconsin played us it left open a lot of open lay ins and shots," she said.\nIn addition to Chapman chipping in with 10 points on the evening, Hawkins led the team with 15 points and 16 rebounds.\n"(The inside) was very important and that was the reason that we have been better our last four or five games," Bennett said. "It is because have established and had more consistent play and Jamey Chapman is a huge reason for that. She has come in and stabilized that and Angie has had a really good game today and that is the reason why we have been more successful and competing better."\nAfter a tough game with so many ups and downs, Bennett said it will be tough not to forget this one.\n"I'm very proud of the effort this team put forth," she emotionally said. "It's really difficult to end on a note like this game, because it is so difficult to swallow."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(03/02/05 6:46am)
After three straight losing seasons, IU women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett will step down at the end of the season.\nBennett will remain coach through the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers play Wisconsin at 3 p.m. Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis against Wisconsin.\nBennett, in her fifth season in Bloomington, has compiled a 72-74 record while coaching the Hoosiers.\nAfter struggling through this season, Bennett felt it was time for her to leave the program, she said in statement.\n"First of all, I would like to thank the administration and the University for the opportunity to be a part of such a great program for five years," Bennett said. "It has been truly rewarding, and I appreciate being a part of such a great tradition. While I have found this experience very rewarding, at this time I also feel that it is mutually best for myself and for the women's basketball program to go in a different direction."\nEven though the Hoosiers suffered through a 12-17 record during the 2003-2004 season, optimism was high with the entire roster returning.\nThat optimism was quickly dashed when the returning leader in scoring and rebounding, senior Jenny DeMuth, tore her anterior cruciate ligament, forcing her to miss the entire season.\nPlayers learned of Bennett's decision to step down at a meeting before practice Tuesday, said junior guard Cyndi Valentin.\n"We were all shocked and disappointed," Valentin said. "It is sad to see coach Bennett leave -- she has done a lot to develop us as players."\nBennett's departure marks the second coaching change since Athletics Director Rick Greenspan was hired in September.\nThe first was former football coach Gerry DiNardo.\nGreenspan plans to use similar methods to find the next women's basketball coach as he did for football, he said in statement.\n"We will form a search committee that will represent a broad cross section of constituents involved," Greenspan said. "We'll use the search committee as we have in the past -- to provide wisdom, guidance and support in determining the characteristics and attributes that will be ideal in our next head coach."\nThe team will get together with Greenspan after the conclusion of the season for a more in-depth meeting about the program, Valentin said.\n"I'm sure (Greenspan) will do a great job in finding a new coach and he'll keep us in touch," she said. "I haven't even thought about (the new coach), I was so caught off-guard today. I just want a coach to come in here and work hard and believe in us and help us develop more as players."\nAfter arriving at IU, Bennett had immediate success during her first two seasons, advancing to the postseason both years. \nIn her first season, the Hoosiers made it to the National Invitational Tournament with a 20-11 record in 2001.\n2002 marked more success for IU as the team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995. In making it to the NCAAs, the Hoosiers became the lowest-seeded team, No. 5, to win the Big Ten Tournament. \nWhile at IU, Bennett guided the Hoosiers to wins against two top-10 teams and six wins against top-25 opponents. \nThough there is no timetable set on when a new coach will be announced, Greenspan plans to work quickly to fill the vacancy.\n"We're looking for a coach with proven success, a great academic profile and unquestioned integrity," Greenspan said. "We want someone with a passion for recruiting and building a highly successful program in the classroom and on the court."\nEven though Bennett will be gone next season, all but two players will return to the team, and the Hoosiers have a chance to do well under the new coach, Valentin said.\n"I definitely think (we'll have a chance to be good) with more of our players getting more Big Ten experience this season coming back and only three new players coming in," Valentin said. "We really need to work hard over the summer and great things are bound to happen."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/25/05 6:22am)
As much as IU has tried to get away from nightmarish halves in conference play, the Hoosiers were haunted again last night in the second half.\nIU's most recent episode resulted in a 52-35 loss to No. 15 Minnesota Thursday, only hitting three of their 27 shots after the break. The Hoosiers' 35 points stand as the second fewest allowed by Minnesota in their history.\nAfter a first half that saw the Hoosiers (10-16, Big Ten 3-12) leading most of the way, the Golden Gophers (21-6, Big Ten 11-4) surged ahead with a five unanswered points to end the half with a 27-24 lead.\nTeam confidence was high when the second half started, but it was quickly thwarted as Minnesota threw a zone defense at IU, bewildering the Hoosiers and giving them their third straight loss at home.\n"I thought our inside game in the first half hurt them and so they changed to a zone and that made us take outside shots," said IU coach Kathi Bennett. "That was the difference."\nIn the first half the Hoosiers got all the looks they wanted as All-American center candidate Janel McCarville picked up two quick fouls. McCarville sat out the last nine and half minutes of the game. \nSophomore forward Jamey Chapman took full advantage of McCarville's absence, scoring all of her team-high eight points in the first half. Her last two gave IU a 21-18 lead.\nIt was the second game in a row where Chapman provided a spark off the bench for the Hoosiers, giving the team a much needed inside punch.\nAfter both the team's and her own solid start, she said the game's ending was a letdown.\n"I got some awesome passes and I was really happy with that, because they put me in a position to score," Chapman said. "(It's frustrating), especially after we played two good halves against Purdue and I though we were really ready to come out in the second half and just take it to them."\nBut IU couldn't get an inside or outside game going, as the Hoosiers started the half on a five minute drought and it took them more than 10 minutes before they would hit their second field goal. \nEven with their shooting woes, IU only trailed 38-31, but Minnesota responded with a 12-0 run and ended any of the Hoosiers' hopes of picking up a win.\nOn a night when the team was limited to nearly 20 points below their scoring average, defense was the key, said Gophers coach Pam Borton.\n"I think our defense held down the fort for our team while our offense struggled tonight," Burton said. "We knew it wasn't going to be a pretty game with two very good defensive teams playing each other."\nIU will finish up the regular season against Iowa (18-8, Big Ten 7-8) Sunday at 6 p.m. in Assembly Hall. \nThe Hoosiers know if they can avoid another 20-minute disappearing act, they will have a chance to beat the Hawkeyes and do some damage in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.\n"If we would have played like we did in the first half, I have no doubt that we would have won (tonight)," Chapman said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/21/05 6:33am)
Though IU lost to Purdue 62-58 in overtime, breast cancer research won Sunday as the women's basketball team packed Assembly Hall and broke the all-time single-game attendance record.\nThe goal for "Pack the Hall" was 10,000 fans; the Hoosiers got it -- barely -- as 10,022 was the announced attendance mid-way through the second half.\nBecause IU met the goal, Vera Bradley Designs donated $10,000 to breast cancer research to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis.\nAfter being engulfed in a game that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes, Hoosiers' coach Kathi Bennett was surprised to find out that the crowd had broken the record, she said.\n"We did break it?" Bennett said. "The crowd was great. It makes a difference when they're yelling defense when you need a stop and they're cheering like that. I still wish one of these days we could give them a win."\nIU's two previous "Pack the Hall" events both resulted in losses, despite record-setting attendance numbers.\nIn 2003, the Hoosiers established the attendance record at the time with 7,986, breaking the previous record of 5,503; however, IU fell to Wisconsin 57-48. Bennett donated $5,000 to breast cancer research after the game.\nLast year, despite poor weather and road conditions, the Hoosiers had 7,110 watch as IU lost to Purdue 71-47. Though the attendance goal of 10,000 wasn't reached, Vera Bradley Designs still donated $10,000 because more than 10,000 tickets were sold in advance.\n"It was a big-time environment. It had a tournament feel, and our hopes are for the NCAA tournament," said Purdue coach Kristy Curry. "I just want to thank the Hoosiers and Boilermakers that came out (Sunday) to support a great cause. This state is absolutely special in the fact that they understand and appreciate women's basketball."\nGetting fans in the seats has been a problem for the Hoosiers throughout the season, as the team averaged just 1,142 spectators prior to the Purdue game. After the game, the average jumped to 1,882 per game.\nHaving more people in the seats, especially after the season attendance low of 447 Thursday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, was a good feeling, said sophomore guard Annika Boyd.\n"Just seeing all of (the fans) out there supporting us is just an awesome feeling," Boyd said. "To have a gym that loud for once is unbelievable."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/18/05 5:51am)
When IU hit Branch McCracken court Thursday night the Hoosiers had the chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December. Instead IU will have to start back at square one after a loss to Texas A&M Corpus Christi 59-49.\nThe Islanders (18-5) provided the Hoosiers a break in their Big Ten schedule, but no reprieve from their shooting woes as IU was limited to 30 percent shooting on the night.\nMuch of the problems for the Hoosiers (10-14, Big Ten 3-10) came in the paint as the much smaller Corpus Christi team got to every loose ball and outscored IU 30-12 in the lane.\nA lack of passion proved to be a downfall in the Hoosiers' only non-conference home loss this season, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"I just thought our intensity level and our effort level and the amount of heart that we showed were very poor tonight," Bennett said. "The whole game I didn't think that we played together. There was no togetherness on the floor whatsoever today."\nAfter a close game throughout much of the first half and the beginning part of the second half, the Hoosiers hit a problem that has plagued them all season long -- cold shooting.\nIn a 12-minute span, IU went from leading to 34-32 to trailing 50-40. The Hoosiers only found the basket once in the stretch, missing their other nine attempts.\nEven once IU found the basket it was too late as the Hoosiers would cut the deficit to no lower than five during the final seconds.\nWhile IU became more flustered and searching for answers, the Islanders continued to add to their lead by getting inside and to the line. Corpus Christi outscored the Hoosiers by seven points from the free throw line in the second half. \nEven though Corpus Christi is only in its sixth season at Division I, it wasn't a team that IU took lightly. The Islanders nearly came away with upset at Michigan State earlier this season.\n"I just think we didn't come out and play, we didn't bring it," senior forward Jamie Gathing said. "We have to turn it around. Anything we can get in (the paint) we need to convert, those are easy buckets we need."\nThe main thorn in Hoosiers' side was Jackie Ododa, who grabbed 19 rebounds in addition to her 12 points. She was one of three Corpus Christi players to reach double figures on the evening.\nAs Bennett scoured the bench looking for anyone to step and contribute to the comeback effort, only two players were able to get anything going -- Gathing and junior guard Cyndi Valentin.\nAvoiding falling into the same trap of not playing together will be important in order to knock off Purdue 2 p.m. Sunday, Valentin said.\n"I think that (when we are losing) is when we need to come together the most, and not try to do it all by yourself," said Valentin, IU's leading scorer with 21 points. "I think we'll come together for Purdue and we'll play hard."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/18/05 5:12am)
The annual IU-Purdue match-up always has a lot at stake -- but the stakes are even higher this year.\nFor the third consecutive year, the Hoosiers will "Pack the Hall" in order break the school's attendance record and raise money for breast cancer research 2 p.m. Sunday at Assembly Hall.\nIf IU can bring in 10,000 fans into Assembly Hall, Vera Bradley Designs will donate $10,000 for breast cancer research to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis.\nIn the program's first year trying to break the record, they did, as 7,986 people came. Last year a snow storm prevented the Hoosiers from breaking the record, but despite the weather, the second-largest crowd in the school's history came.\nTo have the opportunity to break the school record and help breast cancer research is a great feeling, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"It is a great honor for us to be able to team up with Vera Bradley for such a great cause," Bennett said. "The research that they are doing and the strides that they are making are phenomenal, and give hope that we are closer to finding a cure."\nIn order to make it a memorable day, the Hoosiers will have their work cut out for them. The last time the two teams met, IU came away setting the schools lowest scoring performance at the time with 30 points.\nPurdue (14-10, Big Ten 7-6) boasts Naismith trophy candidate sophomore Katie Gearlds as well as a full stable of young talent.\nTo be able to beat the Boilermakers for the first time since the 2002 Big Ten Tournament, IU knows they will have to play better than they did Thursday night in a loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, senior forward Jamie Gathing said.\n"Like always Indiana-Purdue game is a big game," Gathing said. "The people are an additional factor. The key is that we have to come out and play better than what we did (Thursday)."\nWith all the struggles that the team has dealt with this year and all that is on the table, a lack of passion for this game shouldn't be an issue, Bennett said.\n"It's our national championship, and we need to prepare like this is the biggest game that we've had all year," Bennett said. "If we can't bring energy for that, something is wrong."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/17/05 5:21am)
To create the perfect homecourt advantage, the recipe calls for equal parts motivated team, large loud crowd and hated opponent.\nFor the women's basketball team, many of the ingredients are in place Sunday to put the pieces together, which has eluded the team for much of the season.\nOne motivated team -- check. \nThis is a team that started the season on a sour note as star Jenny DeMuth was lost with a torn ACL. Despite the lack of their starter, a stifling defense has kept the Hoosiers competitive throughout much of the season while facing eight ranked opponents. \nHated opponent -- check. \nThe opponent isn't just hated; it's the most despised of all the opponents any IU team will face. It's the same neighbor to the north in Tippecanoe County that thrashed the Hoosiers this fall in football -- Purdue.\nLarge loud crowd -- ? \nThis is the only part of the recipe that isn't usually available. The team would like to change that, though, at least for one night.\nIn an effort to get more fans to the games, IU will hold its third annual "Pack the Hall Day." \nThe goal: 10,000 fans. If attendance reaches this number, the reward is $10,000 for breast cancer research donated by Vera Bradley Designs to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis.\nSo, in addition to the first two ingredients, there is an extra incentive.\nAnd in case you don't know the W's of this game: 2 p.m. Sunday and free for students.\nDrawing 10,000 fans may seem like a daunting task considering the numbers 614, 844 and 879. No, those weren't the Pick 3 lotto numbers from the past few days -- those were attendance numbers from three games this season in an arena that seats 17,456.\nIt is debatable how much of an advantage there is when the hall is less than 15 percent full, but what isn't under debate is how much different a home team can be when it has a large and rowdy fan base behind it.\nDespite averaging only 1,211 fans a game, the Hoosiers are sporting a healthy 7-3 record at home. Away from Bloomington, the record is less impressive with an anemic 3-10. Even though the numbers haven't been overly impressive in home games, the loyal fans who show up to the games have made a difference.\nTo see the importance of a home-court advantage in another sport, look no further than the national champion men's soccer team. Granted, six national championships will bring even the most casual soccer fan out, but the team consistently draws large numbers to Bill Armstrong Stadium. \nThere are numerous teams that want the home advantage and nothing more than to pump their fist at you and give props for the applause and support you gave them. \nAlthough the advantage stemming from special events is good, it shouldn't take special days to draw the crowds out to create a home court advantage. Being a Hoosier doesn't mean just cheering for the men's basketball team or football team; it means all teams, and the first way to start is to get out and cheer for them at home.\nThe oven is preheating and will be ready for baking Sunday.\nMaking your own home court advantage is easy and can be done anytime. The dry ingredients are already there. The only thing left is the binding agent -- you and your friends.
(02/14/05 5:38am)
Junior linebacker Paul Szczesny, the third-leading tackler on the team, has decided to leave the IU football program and transfer. Szczesny is the second player in the past month to transfer from the Hoosiers.\nWhen former IU running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis decided to transfer he cited closeness to home as the one of the main reasons. Closeness to home wasn't as much an issue for Szczesny. The changing of regimes in the program, as Terry Hoeppner replaced Gerry DiNardo as head football coach Dec. 17., made a bigger impact on his decision.\n"To me it was just like starting all over again, if I was going to start all over again I might as well go somewhere else" Szczesny said. "Something didn't seem right; especially when the proof was there that we were getting better."\nSzczesny said his loyalty to the coaches that brought him both to Bloomington and the brink of success forced him to feel uneasy about the Hoosiers.\n"One of the reasons I committed here was DiNardo and his staff," the Niles, Ill. native said. "We made a lot of great strides and we were five plays away from going to a bowl game."\nEven though Szczesny will no longer be a part of the Hoosier football program he is still currently enrolled in classes at IU and plans to finish out the semester.\nSzczesny wouldn't comment on specific schools he is looking at, but mentioned that he would like to stay in the Big Ten or go back out West.\nSzczesny didn't rule out going to a program where one of the coaches that recruited him was at. Current University of Arizona linebackers coach Tim Kish recruited Szczesny while he was at Niles Notre Dame High School in Niles, Ill. \nEven though he is a junior and will be forced to sit out until 2006, and will only have a year of eligibility left, he understands the risk, he said.\n"I have been thinking about it for a while and I came to the point I'm not happy here," Szczesny said. "I love the school, and everything about Indiana, but I don't love IU football anymore."\nThe Illinois native came to the Hoosiers via the junior college route from Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. \nAfter earning All-American honors from the Web site www.jcfootball.com his freshman year he became a nationally recruited player.\nIn addition to being recruited by IU, Szczesny was sought by Wisconsin, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Southern California.\nAfter mulling over the decision to remain a part of the football program or not, Szczesny decided it was time to move on, he said.\nSzczesny came in as one of the Hoosiers' highest recruits in 2004 as a three-star player from www.rivals.com and made immediate contributions, notching nine tackles in IU's upset win over then No. 24 Oregon 30-24. His career high in tackles as a Hoosier was 13 at Northwestern.\nAfter contemplating the decision to transfer or not, he told Hoeppner the news Friday.\n"There is a lot of enthusiasm around our program right now, as there should be. We're excited about our recruiting class, and I really like our attitude in winter conditioning," Hoeppner said in statement. "We're disappointed that Paul is leaving, but we wish him the best in his future endeavors."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/14/05 5:36am)
When sophomore center Sarah McKay drained a hook shot at the end of Sunday's game at Northwestern, she sank a season's worth of road woes along with it.\nThe score moved to 54-53 in IU's favor, and it would finish that way.\nEven with time left to counter, Northwestern couldn't muster anything, as they turned the ball over twice, including an errant inbound pass by guard Sara Sutz that went over the head of Samantha McComb with two seconds remaining.\nAfter two missed free throws from junior guard Cyndi Valentine, Northwestern's half-court heave fell well short of the basket and the Hoosiers walked away from Welsh Ryan Arena with the win.\nTo finish off the road portion of the season with a win is good momentum for the four remaining games, all at Assembly Hall, sophomore forward Carrie Smith said.\n"It feels amazing and really great (to win)," Smith said. "We were in need of a win, and it's good for morale and it will be good to come home with a win."\nSmith, who was only averaging seven minutes per game, played 21 against Northwestern, chipped in 15 points, including three of four from three point range. Valentin lead the Hoosiers in scoring with 19 points.\nIn a back and forth game, it took the Hoosiers nearly 30 minutes before they grabbed their first lead of the day 45-44 on an acrobatic layup by Valentin.\nThe remainder of the game would see neither team establish a lead of more than four points, as the Wildcats (5-20, Big Ten 2-10) lead 53-49 with less than three minutes to play.\nThe Hoosiers (10-13, Big Ten 3-10) quickly countered with a three-pointer by Smith to cut the margin down to one.\n"Carrie was phenomenal today," IU coach Kathi Bennett said. "She really stepped up when we needed her most."\nBench play proved to be the difference, as IU outscored the Wildcats 21-20 to get the win, sophomore guard Annika Boyd said.\n"Before (the bench players) haven't really gotten a chance, and they finally got a chance to prove themselves today," Boyd said.\nAfter getting off to a slow start, taking more than four minutes to score, the Hoosiers got on the board with a Valentin jumper, tying the Wildcats at 19 on a McKay hook shot with six minutes left in the first half.\nThe Achilles heel for IU on the road this season has been turnover differential. But Sunday it proved to be a strength as solid defense forced 18 Wildcat turnovers en route to 15 points compared to Northwestern's four.\nThe sweep of Northwestern put the Hoosiers alone in ninth place could be important because the difference of who IU might play come Big Ten Tournament time. The conference tournament starts March 3 in Indianapolis.\n"We showed a lot of heart today. We never stopped playing hard," Bennett said. "It feels good to get this win, and hopefully we can build on it and continue to play like this for the rest of the season." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/07/05 6:08pm)
The mystery is no more, as IU coach Terry Hoeppner announced Saturday that defensive end Matt Lewis was recruit No. 24 and the final member of Hoeppner's first recruiting class at IU.\nWhen Hoeppner said on National Signing Day that Lewis, the "mystery recruit," would be the Hoosiers' top recruit on paper, he didn't exaggerate. On the Web site www.espn.com, Tom Lemming rated Lewis as the 25th-ranked defensive end in the nation, and www.rivals.com had Lewis rated even higher at No. 18 in the country.\nDespite not making an official visit to Bloomington -- which he plans to do next week -- IU just felt right, Lewis said.\n"It feels good (to have signed with IU); I felt like I had great chemistry with the coaches since I talked to them," Lewis said. "It feels real good to be called the 'icing on the cake.' I feel like it's a great honor."\nLewis, a Daytona Beach, Fla., native, dominated throughout his career at Mainland High School. In three years starring for the Buccaneers, Lewis had 61 sacks. In his most recent season, Lewis had 100 tackles and 13 sacks, which led to the award of second-team Florida 5A All-State honors. In 2003, Lewis help lead Mainland to a state championship.\nGetting a player with the type of credentials as Lewis will prove to be big for the future of IU football, Hoeppner said. \n"What a huge addition (Lewis is) to our program," Hoeppner said. "Matt's a big, strong athlete who was just dominate in high school. His motor is always going, so when you combine his physical attributes with his energetic approach, he'll be a great fit in our defense."\nDespite playing fullback, defensive end and defensive tackle, Lewis is expected to play linebacker at IU, his natural position, Lewis said.\nLewis will come in as one of the most recruited players in this class, as there numerous schools in pursuit of Lewis' services. Schools include: the University of North Carolina, University of Kentucky, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue, Clemson University and the University of Florida. Before the start of his junior season, Lewis received a full scholarship offer from Michigan.\nLewis actually was set on going to Florida after taking an official visit, but new Gators coach Urban Meyer was filled at Lewis' position , said John Maronto, Mainland High School football coach.\n"He is definitely the type of guy that can turn a program around," Maronto said. "He is a combination of power and quickness; he is the whole deal."\nEven though he was shut out of playing for the Gators, Lewis got help from Maronto.\nBefore coming to Mainland, Maronto was a coach in Massillon, Ohio, sending a few players Hoeppner's way while he was coach at Miami University of Ohio.\n"This is one of the great things about the coaching profession," Maronto said. "That I had enough respect to call (Hoeppner) and tell him about a recruit at the last minute and he had enough trust to offer without him visiting."\nLewis announced his decision to attend IU at his church Saturday evening. \n"Everybody was elated and wished the best for me and they gave me a really good feedback," he said.\nBeing able to recruit the state of Florida will be a factor in returning IU back to postseason play, said Kevin Noon, Big Ten Editor for www.rivals.com.\n"Going in and getting a great player out of Florida is big, if you can't recruit Florida you are going to have trouble," Noon said.\nNoon noted that the Hoosiers did a good job in not signing players below a Big Ten talent level, as well as at the running back position.\n"I thought (Hoeppner) did a good job to keep as many people as he could. Not only do you have to recruit new players and have to recruit players that have already committed before," Noon said. "This first class will be the cornerstone of the plan to bring IU football back to prominence."\nEven though he likes to have fun off the field, when he hits the field he knows what time it is, Lewis said.\n"I am a loving guy and I like to have fun," Lewis said. "But when I am on the field I am one of the most hyped guys to have ever played the game."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/04/05 6:10am)
Looking to end its five game losing streak and its shooting woes, the schedule-makers gave IU the perfect team -- Wisconsin.\nThe Badgers give up a 73.2-points-per-game average and even though they only gave up 71 Thursday, it was enough for the Hoosiers to notch a 71-66 win over Wisconsin in Assembly Hall. \nDespite building a lead as large as 18 points in the second half, the Hoosiers (9-11, Big Ten 2-8) had to worry about the Badgers in the closing minutes. \nWith just more than a minute remaining, Wisconsin (8-11, Big Ten 2-7) had whittled the IU lead to just six at 66-60.\nInstead of folding under the pressure, the Hoosiers knocked down seven free throws in the final 40 seconds, moving IU out of the cellar in the Big Ten's standings.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said 13 minutes of consistent play during the end of the first half and the second-half start were both significant for the Hoosiers.\n"I thought the start of the second half was the difference in the game," Bennett said. "We came out very ready and got the big lead and extended it."\nTo start the second half, IU was white-hot as they went on a 14-4 run in the first five minutes to extend the lead to 14.\nSophomore guard Annika Boyd contributed five of her 10 points during the run, including a three that gave IU a 59-43 lead that halted the Badgers' run.\nFinding a way to get back to her earlier form in the season was important in the win, she said.\n"It feels really good to comeback and help our team out somewhat on offense," Boyd said. "Because I went on a long draught (for much of the season), hopefully (the draught) is now over."\nAfter struggling throughout much of the conference to establish a post presence, the Hoosiers found it Thursday and went back to it time and time again.\nSophomore center Sarah McKay, who missed five games during conference play with an injury, made her first significant contribution since.\nMcKay used her 6'7" frame to chip in 10 points en route to a 31-27 IU lead at the break.\nEven though she contributed only one point in the second half, having a big first half proved to her team that she was ready to help them during the final stretch of the season, McKay said.\n"It was really nice for me to come out and not play as timid as I had been in the past few games since I've been back." she said. "This game, I think I proved that I am going to go after it."\nAssisting McKay in the post were senior forward Jamie Gathing and junior center Angela Hawkins, chipping in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Junior guard Cyndi Valentin led IU with 14 points.\nIU will need the frontcourt play to continue in its next game against No. 2 Ohio State Sunday at 3 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.\nThe last time they met, it wasn't pretty for the Hoosiers, as they were held to eight points in the first half en route to a 52-30 loss. \nBoyd said getting a win before facing off with one of the best teams in the country provides the team with new hope.\n"It is so nice to come off a win," she said. "It is like a fresh start."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/03/05 6:05am)
After months of traveling around the country and hosting recruits on campus, IU coach Terry Hoeppner celebrated one of the most exciting days in football as the Hoosiers announced the signing of 23 recruits Wednesday in the Football Complex at Memorial Stadium. \nIn addition to the announcement of 23 commitments, one "mystery player" has not been announced. Upon the player's request, Hoeppner will wait until Saturday to announce who recruit No. 24 is, he said. \n"We've honored the family's wishes because he has signed with us, but he wanted to wait and do it when his family was together," Hoeppner said. "In terms of the recruiting services, he will be the highest-rated player on the team. On Saturday, you will say, 'Are you kidding me? How did you get that one?' Kind of the icing on the cake." \nLike many mornings for Hoeppner and his coaching staff, things got off to a quick start. The first letter of intent rolled in at 7:07 a.m. from Andrew Means, a wide receiver from Ohio.\nThe fax machine continued spewing out letters of intent all afternoon as the paper trail finally ended as Chris Banks finished National Signing Day for the Hoosiers.\nBy the end of the day, Hoeppner said he had a lot to be excited about.\nThe staff was able to keep 10 of the original 14 players who committed to former IU coach Gerry DiNardo, in addition to the 13 players the new staff recruited and signed.\nHoeppner's first recruit as coach of the Hoosiers was Tim Sergi from Indianapolis.\nOhio was the most represented state with six. Five players from Indiana signed at IU, as well as four from Florida. The rest of the class was composed with players from Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia and Wisconsin. \nThe Sunshine State proved to be a unique circumstance because of the late scheduling of official visits to campus. Florida will continue to be an integral part of the Hoosier recruiting strategy because of the talent level, Hoeppner said.\n"You can get good kids out of there, there are a lot of players down there and Florida State, Florida and Miami can't get them all," said Troy Douglas, a Jacksonville, Fla., native and IU's recruiting coordinator. "I think that the biggest problem with us last year is that we didn't play in space real good. When we got put in space our lack of athleticism showed up. I think we got some guys that can play in space this class."\nIn terms of recruiting strategy Hoeppner plans to try and recruit an entire team, evident through the multitude of players at different positions, with the possibility of some switching positions when fall rolls around.\nOne position IU didn't sign a player at was quarterback.\n"I am very particular when it comes to that position," Hoeppner said. "I wasn't going to just take any guy at quarterback."\nOne of the most popular positions dominating the signing day roster was running back. The Hoosiers currently have four players listed at running back on the spring roster, including Dennis Underwood, who graduated early and is currently enrolled in classes at IU. In addition to the four already on the team, IU added three more to the squad bringing the number up to seven.\nThe number of running backs could jump up to eight as former IU running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is considering coming back to Bloomington. \n"Whenever BenJarvus was leaving that affected some of the running backs (who came to IU)," Hoeppner said. "Whether or not he comes back ... he has called us and indicated he wants to come back." \nDuring the press conference, Hoeppner took questions from the standing-room-only crowd and showed videos of all the recruits and future plans for the newest Hoosiers.\nAmong the video clips that drew the largest amazement was that of safety Austin Thomas. Thomas, a native of Woodstock, Ga., was shown hitting a player and knocking off his helmet, amongst one-handed interceptions and touchdowns.\nAs IU fought off competition throughout the country trying to swoop in at the last minute to steal potential Hoosiers, it wasn't until the letters came pouring in that Hoeppner could breathe a sigh of relief, he said.\n"It is a lonely, weird life we lead as coaches when one of the highlights of your life is watching the fax machine go off so you can see who just signed with you."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(02/02/05 5:04am)
The Sunshine State continues to smile on football coach Terry Hoeppner and his coaching staff as running back Demetrius McCray is the latest to join the cream and crimson for 2005.\nMcCray, a Seffner, Fla., native, marks the fourth commitment from Florida for the Hoosiers thus far.\nThe six-foot 180-pound running back starred at Armwood High School, leading his team to class 4A back-to-back state championships. In Armwood's most recent state championship, a 49-21 win against Gibson High School, McCray rushed for 40 yards and caught two touchdown passes.\nThough his championship game statistics don't show it, McCray was a menace on the field, rushing for 1,642 yards on the season, averaging 11.6 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns. \nMcCray was part of backfield group that had three 1,500-yard rushers, all of which will be signing football scholarships Thursday.\nDespite being surrounded other talented players, McCray was the best, said Armwood coach Sean Callahan.\n"(McCray) is physically elusive and very strong -- he benches 320 pounds and runs a low 4.5 (second 40-yard time)," Callahan said. "If we had to pick one guy, we would pick Demetrius."\nEven with the gaudy numbers and the state championships, McCray has remained humble. Despite being named by The Tampa Tribune as one of the top 50 recruits in the Sunshine state and first team All-State, it still left the coaching staff upset about the amount of recruiting attention McCray received, Callahan said.\n"We feel like (McCray) was under recruited. We believed he was the best back in the state of Florida and we were all miffed about that," Callahan said. "Whenever (McCray) broke it for a long run, no one ever caught it."\nAccording to the Web site www.rivals.com, McCray is a three-star recruit, the 37th ranked running back in the country and the highest ranked of 22 verbal commitments IU has received. \nMcCray made his official visit to IU this past weekend before making his commitment to the Hoosiers. Among the schools McCray was considering included the University of New Mexico and the University of South Florida.\n"(McCray) had a great experience (on the visit), he was No. 1 on everyone's board that recruited him. Before he left I thought he was going to New Mexico," Callahan said. "I think IU did good job in recruiting and now they got a good ball player."\nNational Signing Day is Thursday, and the football program will hold an announcement at 4 p.m. at the Hoosier Room in Memorial Stadium where the signings will be announced.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/31/05 5:57am)
The first half couldn't have gone better for the Hoosiers. IU made No. 11 Michigan State slow the tempo while limiting them to 18 points, en route to trailing by just one at the break. However, there are 40 minutes in college basketball and MSU outplayed IU in the last 20 to win 52-40.\nMuch like the first half, the Hoosiers (8-11, Big Ten 1-8) stayed with MSU (18-3, Big Ten 7-2) trading baskets for the first five minutes, and trailing 29-27.\nFrom that point on that Spartans took control of the game and showed why they are one of the top teams in the country.\n"We just got our butts kicked in rebounding in the second half," coach Kathi Bennett said. "We fell apart in our defensive rebounding and limiting them to one shot in the second half and that is the reason (we lost)"\nThe Spartans out-rebounded the Hoosiers 31-9 in the first half and 49-25 for the game. Michigan State also controlled the offensive glass, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds to IU's five.\nThough rebounding played a factor in the second half turnaround for the Spartans, the emergence of senior center Kelli Roehrig proved just as big.\nRoehrig was limited to six and half minutes in the first half as she picked up two quick fouls. \nIn the run that put the Hoosiers away, Roehrig scored 11 of her 13 points as Michigan State pushed ahead 46-32.\nStaying motivated despite being in foul trouble was important in picking up her 76th win as a Spartan, a record for a fourth-year MSU player, she said.\n"When you are sitting (on the bench) you have a lot of things to think about," Roehrig said. "It's festering in you and you want to come back in the game -- so I had all that energy and I had to put in the right place."\nAt the start of the game it looked like Michigan State might run away with a victory as they jumped out to an eight-point lead just more than four minutes into the game. IU's defense buckled down and held the Spartans scoreless the next eight minutes, tying the game at 8 with seven minutes remaining in the half.\nThe rest of the half was nip and tuck as both teams traded baskets. IU gained its only lead of the afternoon 17-16 on junior center Angela Hawkins three-point play. \nEven though the Spartans maintained only a one-point lead at the break, the amount of experience from the past two years paid dividends Sunday, said Michigan State coach Joanne P. McCallie.\n"(The team) really had some adversity in the first half, I thought they really focused and came back in the second half," McCallie said. "I thought we really did put together a great 20 minutes in the second half of playing the game the same, regardless of what the score was."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/28/05 7:00am)
All season long IU has been mired in road difficulties, and that didn't change Thursday night as the Hoosiers fell to Illinois 53-43 in Champaign, Ill.\nThe same problems that have been plaguing IU (8-10, Big Ten 1-7) throughout Big Ten play -- scoring droughts and turnovers -- ended any chance the Hoosiers had of picking up their first conference road win.\nDespite sluggish play, IU had many chances to even the score toward the game's end. \nThree times in the second half the Hoosiers came within eight, but that was as close as IU would get to Illinois (12-6, Big Ten 4-4).\nEven though the Hoosiers fought throughout the second half to stay close, their poor first-half performance proved to be their demise, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"Our turnovers and poor ball handling in the first half -- that was the difference in the game," Bennett said. "I thought defensively we played very tough, but they hurt us in transition."\nDealing with another cold shooting night with only 31 percent, the Hoosiers didn't do themselves any favors turning the ball over 19 times. The turnovers resulted in 19 points.\nDespite the porous shooting night from the team, junior guard Cyndi Valentin, who struggled in her last outing against Michigan, kept the Hoosiers within striking distance by scoring 22 points.\nDuring one stretch in the second half, Valentin scored nine points in a row, bringing IU within nine at 49-40.\nAs much as Valentin was hurting Illinois, forward Angelina Williams was putting a hurt on the Hoosiers.\nWhenever the Illini needed a basket, Williams was there. The leading scorer in conference play didn't disappoint, coming away with 21 points. She had four points in a pivotal stretch in the second half, pushing the Illinois lead to 13 points.\nDespite the IU guards scoring 38 points, the Hoosiers' low-post players managed just five points.\nEven with addition of sophomore Sarah McKay back to the lineup, it wasn't enough to get the post game going. Junior center Angela Hawkins, who had two double-doubles last week, was hampered with an illness limiting her three points.\nSenior forward Jamie Gathing didn't fare much better, knocking down a 19-foot jump shot with just more than 12 minutes remaining.\n"We really need to establish a post presence," Bennett said.\nA sluggish first half was a big reason the Hoosiers were playing catch up the entire game. An eight-minute field goal drought saw Illinois' lead grow from 12-10 with just more than 10 minutes remaining to 26-13 as sophomore guard Annika Boyd hit a jump shot.\nIU went into the break trailing 27-13.\nThe Hoosiers get no break in their schedule as they face off against No. 11 Michigan State (17-3, Big Ten 6-2) 2 p.m. Sunday at Assembly Hall. The game will be broadcast on WTIU.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/27/05 5:56am)
After leading IU in the backfield the past two seasons, sophomore running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has decided to transfer.\nThough the University of Mississippi registrar currently lists Green-Ellis as an enrolled student, he said he is still mulling over his options. He has until Jan. 31 to decide.\n"(Transferring) was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make," Green-Ellis said. "I dedicated my blood, sweat and tears. It was very tough, so much of my heart was tied to (IU)."\nGetting back to the south was a high priority for the New Orleans native after spending the past two years more than 800 miles away from home.\n"I wanted to be closer to home, that was the main thing," he said. "It was something that I had been looking at for a while."\nBecause of NCAA rules Green-Ellis will be forced to sit out the 2005 season, and will be eligible to suit up in 2006.\nThe transfer of Green-Ellis comes a little more than one month after football coach Terry Hoeppner arrived in Bloomington.\n"BenJarvus came to me and said that he would like to pursue some other opportunities closer to home," Hoeppner said. "He has been a solid contributor here the last two years, and we wish him the best."\nGreen-Ellis led the Hoosiers in rushing last year with 794 yards and five touchdowns and his best game came against the University of Kentucky rushing for 115-yards.\nThe former IU running back started the season in a three-way race for the starting spot, but he quickly earned the job for the remainder of the year.\nComing into his sophomore season, coaches looked for Green-Ellis to be a big part of the offense after a successful ending to his first year.\nDespite not starting until the final three games of his freshman year, Green-Ellis made the most of his opportunity, rushing for 456 yards including 203-yards against Penn State. Green-Ellis had four 100-yard games in 2003 finishing the season with 938 yards and seven touchdowns. \nBefore coming to IU, Green-Ellis starred at St. Augestine High School playing both running back and fullback. Green-Ellis garnered All-District honors from both The Times-Picayune and the Clarion Herald.\nComing out of high school, Florida State University and Louisiana State University were among the suitors for Green-Ellis' services. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/26/05 4:30am)
Bloomington has long been known as a basketball town, but that is not preventing defensive back Austin Thomas from committing to the football team.\nThe native of Canton, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, played defensive back for Sequoyah High School while leading the Chiefs to an 11-2 record and a top-5 finish in AAAAA, Georgia's highest classification.\nThomas led a defense that limited teams to 13.5 points per game, racking up 139 tackles and seven interceptions -- returning two for touchdowns.\nThose numbers didn't go unnoticed, as he was named Cherokee County defensive player by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as well as region 6AAAAA co-defensive player of the year. He was also a All-State honorable mention in class AAAAA by the newspaper.\nThomas took his official visit this weekend and despite the drastic change in weather from his home state he knew it was the place for him, Thomas said.\n"This past weekend I enjoyed it a lot," Thomas said. "I like (football coach Terry) Hoeppner and I would like to get to know him a lot better. He's a player's coach and will be a fun coach to play for."\nIU wasn't the only school trying to grab Thomas -- he was recruited by Georgia Tech, Miami University of Ohio, the Naval Academy, Kent State University, Georgia Southern University and Gardner-Webb University.\nEven though the Hoosiers weren't actively recruiting Thomas throughout the entire process, they became an option once Hoeppner came to IU in December. At Miami, Hoeppner had recruited Thomas as junior and senior.\nDespite the major transition from high school to college football, Sequoyah football coach Sid Maxwell said he doesn't feel it will be a problem.\n"I think he is fine. Georgia is very competitive in football," Maxwell said. "He is a good-sized defensive back. I think he is a very good cover guy and good open-field tackler -- someone like that can definitely play at that level. He is going to be a good asset."\nThough many players have to change positions when they go to Division I football, Thomas expects to continue playing defensive back and describes himself as a "hard-nosed player that can come up and hit you in the mouth."\nThomas will not be the lone Georgian on campus next season, as IU currently boasts two other players from the Peach state: freshmen cornerbacks Rayshun Calhoun and Chris Phillips.\nAlong with picking up Thomas from Georgia, Hoeppner has landed four other recruits from the South, according to the Web site www.rivals.com. There are currently 18 players who have committed to the Hoosiers with national signing day on Feb. 2. Hoeppner's recruiting class isn't full yet, as multiple scholarships are still available.\nEven though Thomas will be leaving a football state for a basketball state, he said he feels that generalization can be altered after some success.\n"I loved the kids that will be in my recruiting class. We all hung out together and we are forming as a team already," Thomas said. "I think that (perception about IU football) can change, with a new AD and president and new coach, I think we can do that and turn it around."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.