120 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(10/02/06 4:07am)
One offensive touchdown in 120 minutes, two losses.\nIn Saturday's Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, the IU football team struggled to score again, waiting until late in the fourth quarter to score its first offensive touchdown in two weeks.\n"I'm in shock," dejected IU coach Terry Hoeppner said following the game. "After the week of practice we had, I didn't see this coming at all ... They outcoached us and outplayed us in every aspect of the game."\nIU's offense was unable to get into the end zone until only 3:25 remained in the game, when the game was already well out of reach and nearly all of the game's 32,142 attendees were already on their way home. \nLate in the fourth quarter, junior fullback Josiah Sears powered his way in for the score on an 8-yard run.\nSears' touchdown run was the first offensive touchdown for the Hoosiers since Sept. 16, when freshman running back Demetrius McCray scored on a 12-yard run against Southern Illinois University.\nThe Hoosiers started off Saturday's game with an encouraging first drive, with sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen taking advantage of IU's early commitment to the ground game. But three penalties and 30 yards later, the Hoosiers handed the ball over to Wisconsin.\nThe Badgers took advantage of IU's miscues, scoring touchdowns on five consecutive possessions.\nWhile Wisconsin continued to visit the end zone, IU stalled on offense, tallying just six first downs. The Badgers took a 35-0 lead into the half.\nFreshman starting quarterback Kellen Lewis failed to get into a rhythm in the first half, completing five of 12 pass attempts for only 41 yards. He finished the game 13-for-29, passing for 113 yards.\n"I got the nod today, and I have to do a better job to make the best of it," Lewis said. "I can't give myself a grade from one to 10, but I didn't do enough because we only put 10 (offensive) points on the board. So we have to get better offensively."\nSo for the second straight week, the Hoosiers couldn't muster much of an offense. Wisconsin, on the other hand, scored seven offensive touchdowns. \n"I know we're a work in progress, but this was unacceptable today. Period," Hoeppner said following the game.\nSenior defensive back Troy Grosfield did run back a Wisconsin fumble 15 yards for the score while sophomore kicker Austin Starr connected on his fourth field goal of the season to give the Hoosiers their first 10 points of the game.\nLast week in soggy conditions versus Connecticut, the Hoosiers scored just once, a special teams score on an 87-yard kickoff return from Thigpen. With a revolving door at the quarterback position, IU managed just 192 yards against the Huskies.\nSears said the backbreaker for IU this week was its own mistakes more than anything Wisconsin threw at it.\n"Like a lot of the weeks we've been playing, it's more so the mistakes we're making as opposed to what (Wisconsin) was doing to stop us," Sears said. "And they did do a great job of stopping us, but I think a lot of it had to do with the mental errors we made"
(10/01/06 2:50am)
With a disappointing non-conference schedule behind them, the IU football team kicked off the Big Ten season Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers were unable to snap a two-game losing streak, falling to Wisconsin 52-17.\nOn their first drive of the game, the Hoosiers committed early to the run, but the momentum shifted over to the Badgers thanks to three IU penalties for 30 yards. After IU's failed drive, Wisconsin proceeded to score on its next two possessions, giving them the 14-0 lead after the first quarter. \nIn the second quarter, Badgers quarterback John Stocco continued to balance out freshman running back P.J. Hill's running attack, hooking up with receiver Paul Hubbard for his second touchdown of the day, extending Wisconsin's lead to 21-0.\nOn IU's next drive, Badgers cornerback Allen Langford forced a fumble on a Kellen Lewis-Ray Fisher completion and returned it to the IU 23-yard line. Four plays later, Stocco found tight end Andy Crooks in the end zone for yet another touchdown.\nThe Badgers would score once more late in the second quarter on a P.J. Hill one-yard touchdown run, giving Wisconsin the 35-0 lead heading into the break.\nFor the half, the Badgers gained 390 total yards of offense (250 in the air, 140 on the ground) including three touchdown passes from quarterback Stocco.\nWisconsin's offensive onslaught continued in the second half even after starter Stocco was pulled and replaced by junior Tyler Donovan. The Badgers would score three more times in the third quarter on two touchdown runs (P.J. Hill and Lance Smith) and a field goal from Taylor Mehlhaff. \nAfter three quarters, Wisconsin had a 52-0 lead. The Hoosiers finally got on the board with 9:54 remaining in the game when Austin Starr kicked a 21-yard field goal.\nOn the ensuing kickoff, senior defensive back Troy Grosfield recovered a Josh Nettles fumble and ran it in 15 yards for IU's first touchdown of the day.\nJunior fullback Josiah Sears scored IU's first offensive touchdown of the day with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run.\nWisconsin would run out the clock to preserve the 52-17 Big Ten victory. The loss dropped IU to 2-3 overall this season and 0-1 in conference.
(09/29/06 4:00am)
The RS on the roster stands for redshirt, a concept that can be confusing for some sports fans. The roster says the student athlete is a freshman, though the player has actually been at IU for two years.\nFor Hoosier fans, all they need to know is that the IU football team's class of redshirt freshmen is contributing when it counts. As early as last spring, IU coach Terry Hoeppner expected big things from his "rookie" class.\n"Honestly, 17 or 18 of them are going to play (next season)," Hoeppner said last spring. "They're inexperienced, but they're talented. They can play football." \nFour games into the young season, Hoeppner's prediction has come true with his class of redshirt freshmen contributing on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball.\nHeading into the Big Ten this weekend after a disappointing 2-2 nonconference season, IU has come to rely on the efforts of this group of players on a weekly basis. Freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis leads the Hoosiers with 530 passing yards and two touchdowns, while freshman safety Austin Thomas paces IU's defense with 27 tackles, 18 of them solo.\n"We're trying to bring enthusiasm," fellow redshirt freshman Andrew Means said. "Obviously, being young, we try and come out, just bring a lot of energy."\nPlaying in three of IU's four games, Means has developed into one of the team's go-to receivers. The 6-foot receiver has seven catches for 107 yards, including a touchdown in the win against Western Michigan and a key 32-yard reception during IU's second half comeback against Ball State.\nAs true freshmen coming into the 2005 season, it was a difficult transition getting used to standing on the sidelines and being unable to play while the Hoosiers struggled through a tough 4-7 season, but even when they were forced to sit, it was beneficial overall.\n"Before the season (last year), everybody came in wanting to play and expecting to play," freshman Josh Bailey said. "Then, as the season progressed and the teams got bigger, you realize redshirting is nothing but a positive because it gives you another year to get bigger."\nAlong with the difficulty of having to sit out, Means thinks that besides an additional year of getting bigger and stronger, redshirts get the chance to improve in the mental aspects of the game.\n"I think it helps from the aspect that you've gotten your mental reps, just watching the game and knowing what kind of adjustments you've got to make to do well in this league," Means said. "You've just got to be mentally ready because the (Big Ten) is a fast league."\nAfter struggling through their nonconference schedule and after a year of sitting out, the redshirts' hard work continues tomorrow in the Big Ten opener when the Hoosiers host Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast on ESPN2.\n"I've been waiting my whole life to get this game going," Means said. "It's the Big Ten. What else can you say about it? Every kid dreams about playing in the Big Ten"
(09/28/06 4:05am)
After missing IU's last two games, sophomore wide receiver James Hardy will rejoin the Hoosiers this weekend for their Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. \nAt IU coach Terry Hoeppner's weekly press conference Tuesday, Hardy announced that he was just happy to be back with his teammates and looking forward to getting back on the field.\n"I'm just excited to be back," Hardy said. "The two weeks is over, I've dealt with the personal issues, and we're going into the Big Ten, and hopefully we can get these victories to go to a bowl game."\nThe sophomore receiver has practiced with the team this week.\nHoeppner also reiterated that Hardy missing two weeks had nothing to do with his legal troubles in May. Hardy was apprehended by Fort Wayne police officers and charged with two class A misdemeanors, domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a crime. The sophomore avoided future court appearances by agreeing to a pre-trial diversion program in August.\n"There's really nothing to talk about there," Hoeppner said. "It has nothing to do with the incident in May. Sometimes young people in general need to step aside, and in his situation, it was some personal issues."\nPrior to missing the last two weeks, the sophomore receiver had seven receptions for 112 yards with a touchdown in IU's first two games of the season.\nDuring Hardy's absence, freshman Nick Polk and sophomore Brandon Walker-Roby started.
(09/27/06 3:39am)
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.
(09/25/06 4:25pm)
The numbers don't lie. In eight Big Ten games last year, the IU football team gave up an average of 38 points and 442 yards per game. The Hoosiers' 1-7 record in the Big Ten in 2005 backs up the statistics.\nBut the 2006 defense is trying to put the miserable 2005 Big Ten season behind it.\n"I forgot all about last year," said senior defensive end Kenny Kendal. "We just worked hard this summer. We were working out everyday, lifting and running, doing extra, so there's no reason why we shouldn't be better."\nIn the Big Ten season in 2005, the Hoosiers found ways to lose, even in games they stood a good chance of winning. Against Iowa on Oct. 15, IU actually outgained the Hawkeyes by 21 yards -- 446 to 425 -- and held the ball for more than 40 minutes, but the Hoosier defense was never able to shut down Iowa in a 38-21 loss.\nThe low point of the season might have been three weeks later when the cream and crimson hosted Minnesota. Coming into the second half of the game leading 14-7, the Hoosiers allowed the Golden Gophers to score 27 points in the third quarter en route to a 42-21 drubbing. IU gave up six touchdowns and a season-high 572 yards of total offense.\n"Last year, we had a few games that weren't good for us," junior cornerback Tracy Porter said. "We're a lot faster, we've gotten more physical, and overall we have gotten better since last year. That's going to help us a lot when it comes to Big Ten play."\nFor the upcoming Big Ten season, the schedule does not get any easier for IU coach Terry Hoeppner and the Hoosiers.\nMemorial Stadium will host games against nationally ranked Michigan and Iowa, and the Hoosiers face road games against Ohio State and Minnesota -- all teams that can put the ball in the end zone.\nDuring spring practices, Hoeppner compared the Big Ten to the "deep, deep water with the big, big fish who can swim really fast." \n"We had to get faster, more athletic, and we had to do it right now. We couldn't wait," he said.\nThe Hoosiers have shown improvement on the defensive side of the ball during their nonconference schedule, especially in shutting out Ball State in the second half of a 24-23 IU victory.\nGoing up against Big Ten teams with players who might be bigger than they are, the members of the IU defense remain confident that their team speed will make up the difference.\n"We're not the biggest team in the Big Ten, so we have to find the attribute that can assist us," Porter said. "I think our speed is one thing that we look for to get us flying around the ball."\nMembers of the IU defense said the year of experience they have under Hoeppner's system will benefit them once Big Ten season rolls around. The defensive schemes will not change much, but the Hoosiers hope the results are different.\n"I think the defense is much improved because we know (Hep's) system," said sophomore defensive tackle Greg Brown. "We have a year of experience of how coach Hep wants the system, the defense, to play. Our guys have learned to play faster, more physical"
(09/25/06 4:09am)
The IU quarterback controversy changed Saturday afternoon against the University of Connecticut -- and not for the better. Junior Blake Powers and freshman Kellen Lewis struggled to get on track, gaining just 192 total yards of offense in a 14-7 loss to the Huskies.\n"It's a little tough, but we've got to find a way to put points on the board," Lewis said following the game. "We didn't do a good job of that today."\nIn less than favorable weather, Powers started the game after sitting out the previous two games with a leg injury. The junior showed some early signs of rust in his first three drives, all three-and-outs.\nOn IU's fourth drive of the game, Lewis replaced Powers at quarterback but got similar results, throwing an interception that Husky linebacker Danny Lansanah returned 39 yards for a touchdown.\nHeading into the game, interim head coach Bill Lynch informed his quarterbacks they would both play.\n"Blake (Powers) was finally healthy enough to play this week," Lynch said. "But we also thought that Kellen (Lewis) had some things that could help us in a game like this because of the nature of the Connecticut defense."\nThe offensive struggles continued through the first half with Powers once again replacing Lewis, wasting a strong defensive effort on the other side of the ball. Junior cornerback Tracy Porter had two interceptions and blocked a field goal attempt, and senior safety Will Meyers recovered a Connecticut fumble.\nIn the second half after the Huskies rushed for a touchdown on their first possession, sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen fielded the kick-off and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown. Thigpen is the first Hoosier to ever return two kickoffs for a touchdown in a season.\n"It felt like I was untouched," Thipgen said. "I saw the hole, and I took it."\nDown 14-7 midway through the third quarter with Lewis back under center, the Hoosiers gained two first downs but then reverted back to their first half ways with Lewis throwing his second interception of the day. However, the IU defense continued to hold Connecticut in check.\nSince Lewis struggled at quarterback, Powers returned for a second time but still couldn't get the Hoosiers into the end zone heading into the fourth quarter.\nIn the game's final minute on a fourth-and-sixth, Powers attempted to rush for the first down but was tackled short of the marker by Connecticut's Tyvon Branch.\n"It was fourth down, and nobody was open so I tried to get the first down on my feet," Powers said following the game. "I just didn't make the play when I needed to." \nFor the game, IU (2-2) actually had more first downs (10) than the Huskies (9), but the Hoosier offense was never able to get on track, wasting the defense's strong showing.\n"The defense did a great job today, only allowing one touchdown," Lewis said. "The offense knows we can play better. We've just got to put it together, defense and offense as a team."\nLewis would finish the loss 6-for-13 for 64 yards with two interceptions, while Powers completed 14 of 30 passes for 128 yards with an interception.\nLynch was unwilling to commit to either quarterback for this weekend's Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.\n"The (quarterback situation) is of great interest to people, but there are some other things that we have to do offensively to help that position out," Lynch said.\nIU coach Terry Hoeppner is expected to be back on the sidelines when the Hoosiers take on Wisconsin Saturday. Hoeppner has been out for the past two weeks after undergoing brain surgery Sept. 13.
(09/23/06 12:26am)
The loss is in the past. \nHeading into Saturday's non-conference game against the University of Connecticut, the IU football team is focused on defeating the Huskies and putting the Southern Illinois University loss behind it.\n"Every game is important," freshman running back Demetrius McCray said. "That game is over, so we go into this week looking for a win, looking to play a great game and have a good result."\nIt has been a long week and a half for the Hoosiers. From coach Terry Hoeppner's Sept. 19 announcement that he would undergo a second brain surgery, all the way up to last Saturday's 35-28 loss to Southern Illinois, things have been rough for IU.\nFor interim head coach Bill Lynch and the coaching staff, Saturday's contest with the Huskies gives them a chance to put aside the drama of the last two weeks and focus on winning a football game.\n"I'm ready to get the team back out there and start anew with Connecticut," Lynch said.\nAgainst the Huskies Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the Hoosiers will be looking to put together a consistent offensive effort through four quarters, something that has been missing in IU's last two games.\n"We didn't do enough offensively to keep their (SIU) offense off the field," Lynch said during his weekly press conference. "We didn't score enough points. That sounds very obvious, but there is a lot of truth to that."\nIn Saturday's loss, the Hoosier offense put up 14 points in each half, but that was the only thing the two halves had in common. In the first half, freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis led IU to two early scores. In the second half, the Hoosiers played catch-up with a Southern Illinois offense that scored touchdowns on four straight possessions.\n"When we get a team down like we did against Southern Illinois, we've got to put the pedal to the metal," Sears said. "We can't just say, 'This is easy.' You've got to keep that in mind and keep playing hard every down and not let them come back."\nA week before taking on Ball State University, the IU offense went through a similar drought, mustering only seven points on 77 offensive yards in the first half, falling behind 23-7 at halftime. However, Lewis went on to lead the second-half comeback that erased the 16-point halftime deficit.\n"We've got to get a better tempo in practice," McCray said. "If you practice with a good tempo, you get used to playing like that, working hard every play, not taking plays off. So if we keep it up like that, it will help us in game situations."\nThis weekend, the Hoosiers will face a Connecticut team that is also coming off its first loss of the season, a 24-13 home defeat to Wake Forest.\n"It's a great game leading up to the Big Ten," Lynch said. "We have got to be prepared for a team that is going to come at us."\nWith the Big Ten opener just a week away Sept. 30 against Wisconsin, Sears and the Hoosiers realize how important this week's game against Connecticut is to their season.\n"This is a big one," Sears said. "We have to go into the Big Ten 3-1"
(09/18/06 3:30am)
Down seven points in the final five minutes of Saturday's game, the IU football team had two chances to tie the game against Southern Illinois. Despite those chances, the Hoosiers came up empty in their 35-28 loss to the Salukis.\n"We had our chances. We really did," interim head coach Bill Lynch said. "We just didn't play well enough to take advantage when we did have field position."\nLynch is serving as the interim coach while IU coach Terry Hoeppner recovers from the brain surgery he underwent last week.\nWith less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Salukis' senior running back Arkee Whitlock scored on a 9-yard touchdown run, giving Southern Illinois the 35-28 lead.\nFreshman quarterback Kellen Lewis, in his first collegiate start, led the Hoosiers down the field with a flurry of completed passes before the offense sputtered.\nOn a fourth-and-17, Lewis scrambled out of the pocket but was sacked by SIU defensive end Lorenzo Wims before he could get rid of the ball.\nGiving the ball over to Southern Illinois on downs, the Hoosier defense held the Salukis in check, giving the offense one more chance to tie up the game. With less than two minutes left, Lewis completed several passes but on a fourth-and-five play was unable to find senior receiver Jahkeen Gilmore, giving the Salukis the victory.\n"We just weren't able to execute like we did in the first half," sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen said.\nThigpen provided one of the few bright spots for the Hoosiers, running in two touchdowns and pulling down four receptions for 36 yards.\nThrough most of the first half, IU seemed to have the game in hand, even when Southern Illinois scored its first touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in the half, cutting the Hoosier lead to 14-7.\nContinuing their momentum, the Salukis scored touchdowns on four straight possessions in the second half while the Hoosiers struggled to keep pace. For IU, the defeat stung more since it held the early 14-0 lead.\n"Those are the things we need to capitalize on," junior linebacker Adam McClurg said. "Once you lose momentum in football, sometimes it can go downhill like it did (Saturday)."\nThe driving force for Southern Illinois in the second half was its power running game. Whitlock -- one of five Salukis who totaled at least 32 yards in the game -- led the way with 103 yards and a rushing touchdown.\n"They're a good team," senior safety Will Meyers said. "Their running back (Whitlock) ran well. They did some things to get him the ball, and their offensive line blocked well ... So they did a good job."\nBalancing out the running attack, junior quarterback Nick Hill completed 10 passes for 142 yards and four touchdowns.\nIn his first start after replacing injured senior quarterback Graeme McFarland, who was replacing starting quarterback junior Blake Powers, Lewis held his own but was unable to lead the Hoosiers to victory. The freshman completed 20 of 40 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown but was held in check on the ground with a net gain of one yard on 13 carries.\nLynch threw away all the possible distractions that could have contributed to the disappointing defeat.\n"We didn't play well enough as a football team to win the game, and that's the bottom line," he said.
(09/17/06 7:22pm)
With freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis getting the start Saturday against Southern Illinois University, the Hoosiers wasted no time putting points on the board.\nAfter a three-and-out for the Salukis, Lewis led IU down the field on a 10-play, 67-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard run by sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen. \nLate in the first quarter after two pass plays totaling 34 yards, Lewis threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Nick Polk to give the Hoosiers the early 14-0 lead.\nFor much of the second quarter, both teams sputtered offensively until Southern Illinois regained possession with less than two minutes to go in the half. With only 27 seconds remaining, Saluki quarterback Nick Hill connected with tight end Braden Jones on a 5-yard touchdown pass, cutting IU's lead to seven points heading into the half.\nIn the third quarter, the Hoosiers and the Salukis exchanged possession of the ball. Following a three-and-out from Southern Illinois, Lewis orchestrated a drive with both a running and a passing attack. Thigpen finished off the drive with his second 2-yard touchdown run of the day, extending the lead to 21-7 Hoosiers.\nNot letting IU pull too far ahead, the Salukis responded with their own score, a 7-yard pass from Hill to tight end Ryan Kernes.\nAfter a Lewis fumble, which the Salukis recovered on the IU 21-yard line, Hill threw his third touchdown of the day, tying the game at 21 point each.\nEarly in the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-one, the Hoosiers failed to advance the ball when a Lewis pass was just beyond the outstretched hand of Thigpen. Taking advantage, the Salukis scored on their third straight possession, Hill's fourth touchdown.\nDown for the first time in the game, Lewis completed four passes for 54 yards in leading IU to the end zone. Sophomore running back Demetrius McCray tied the game with a 12-yard touchdown run.\nThe scoring burst continued minutes later when Southern Illinois running back Arkee Whitlock punched into the end zone after a 9-yard run, giving the Salukis the 35-28 lead with just less than six minutes remaining.\nWith one last chance to tie up the game on a fourth-and-seventeen, Lewis was sacked by Salukis defensive end Lorenzo Wims, giving the ball to Southern Illinois on downs. \nAfter regaining possession, the Hoosiers were unable to score, preserving the 35-28 Southern Illinois victory. The loss dropped IU to 2-1 on the season.
(09/15/06 6:29pm)
With news that IU coach Terry Hoeppner was recovering with his family following brain surgery, the dark cloud hovering over the Hoosier football program faded away some Wednesday. And with its third game of the season coming up Saturday against Southern Illinois University, the IU football team (2-0) is not letting its coach's surgery be a distraction.\n"We're putting our full focus on this game, and we're not going to let what's happened here distract us at all," said senior safety and co-captain Will Meyers. "(Hoeppner's) made that clear, and we owe it to him to do everything we can." \nHoeppner's announcement Tuesday of his impending surgery, which took place Wednesday morning, offered a unique look into the second-year coach's relationship with his team. Earlier Tuesday, Hoeppner held his weekly press conference with the media but chose not to make the statement concerning his surgery until after he had addressed his team.\nThe Hoosiers did not take the gesture lightly.\n"That just shows how much of a family we are," Meyers said. "It means a lot to us as players that he wanted us to find it out from him."\nThough the meeting was a difficult one for Hoeppner and his team, senior offensive lineman Justin Frye -- one of four team captains -- said it was the usual Hep attitude.\n"He was in there joking around a little, enthusiastic," Frye said. "He came in with a smile on his face, and we wouldn't expect anything less from him."\nWith the news of Hoeppner's surgery going well and his recovering at home, the Hoosiers returned to practice Wednesday under interim head coach Bill Lynch with the focus of preparing for the Salukis' visit to Memorial Stadium.\nLost in the shuffle of the busy week is a possible quarterback controversy following last weekend's 24-23 win against Ball State. In the victory, freshman Kellen Lewis led the team back from a 23-7 halftime deficit to claim the win while racking up 316 total yards and two touchdowns.\nAt Wednesday's practice, Lewis and junior quarterback Blake Powers both took snaps with the first-team offense. Powers sat out Saturday's game against the Cardinals after not being "100 percent" healthy in warmups, Hoeppner said.\n"We're trying to develop quality depth at every position," Hoeppner said during his weekly press conference. "The fact that we have another quarterback that can play well in a game is good. We need to be fair, and that will sort itself out at practice."\nThe Salukis have not played since their Aug. 31 trouncing of Lock Haven University 49-0. Hoeppner said he did not want a let-down against the NCAA Division I-AA team.\n"I think an upper-echelon team in I-AA can play with anybody," Hoeppner said. "I-AA is just a label. Any given Saturday, it can be anyone's game."\nFor the players, it will be a difficult couple of weeks while their coach recovers, but they remain focused on the task at hand.\n"We'll carry on without him," Meyers said. "We're ready, and we've got a lot to prove this weekend"
(09/11/06 4:07am)
MUNCIE -- Kellen Lewis didn't look nervous.\nBefore Saturday's game at Ball State University, IU coach Terry Hoeppner told the freshman quarterback to be ready to play against the Cardinals.\n"I told Kellen at the hotel, 'Hey, you better be ready to play tonight,'" Hoeppner said. "I said 'What do you think about that?' He said he was nervous."\nWith junior quarterback Blake Powers unable to start because of injuries sustained in last week's game and senior Graeme McFarland knocked out early in the first quarter with an apparent shoulder injury, the Hoosiers turned to third-string quarterback Lewis.\n"I wanted to make as little mistakes as possible," Lewis said. "Me and (quarterbacks) coach (Matt) Canada went over tactics this week to make sure I was ready for the game."\nWith IU already down 14-0 in the first quarter, Lewis replaced McFarland. He racked up 21 rushing yards and 44 passing yards in the first half, but the Hoosiers entered the locker room at halftime down 23-7. \n"We had a team meeting at halftime and looked each other in the eye and said 'We are going to win this game, and if you don't believe we're going to win, then just stay here,'" Hoeppner said.\nThe Hoosiers took Hoeppner's message to heart. Lewis led IU down the field the first possession of the half. Facing a third-and-seven, he threw a pass to sophomore receiver James Hardy in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Ball State 23, IU 14.\nAfter Ball State missed a field goal, Lewis took over the game as the Hoosiers edged closer to the end zone. With five minutes remaining in the third quarter and IU on the Ball State 23-yard line, Lewis scrambled out of the pocket running for the left sideline. Behind several key blocks, Lewis reversed and scampered in for the touchdown. Ball State 23, IU 21.\nWith the rejuvenated Hoosier defense shutting down Ball State quarterback Joey Lynch, IU gained possession with a chance to take its first lead of the game. Seeing receiver Andrew Means streaking across the middle downfield, Lewis threw a pass to his fellow freshman. Means was able to hold on to the ball even after Ball State defender Chris Clancy delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit.\n"We needed a big gain," Means said. "It was a perfect pass by Kellen."\nAdding the 15-yard penalty to the 32-yard gain, the Hoosiers went all the way to the Ball State 36-yard line. Unable to get into the end zone after several incomplete passes and short gains, IU settled for a 27-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Austin Starr, giving the Hoosiers the 24-23 lead.\nThe Cream and Crimson defense continued its strong play in the second half, preventing a Ball State score. On a game-breaking fourth-and-one after regaining possession, the Hoosiers were able to draw an offsides call and run the clock down to preserve the victory and improve to 2-0. \nIn his first collegiate game, Lewis racked up 319 yards of total offense, 91 rushing and 228 passing, with one rushing and one passing touchdown.\n"People think all I can do is run and can't pass, so I'm trying to prove that I can throw the ball," Lewis said.\nWith Lewis' strong play Saturday against Ball State, Hoeppner must now decide who his starting quarterback is: Lewis, McFarland or Powers. Following the game, Hoeppner was not willing to commit to any of the three.\n"We'll watch the tape, but I'm not going to make any pronouncements," Hoeppner said. "I will say (Lewis is) a heck of a player, and I'm glad he's on our side"
(09/03/06 2:27am)
The IU football team kicked off the 2006 season on a positive note Saturday night, defeating Western Michigan University 39-20 behind strong efforts from both the offense and defense.\nThe Hoosiers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, marching down the field on a seven play, 73-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. Junior quarterback Blake Powers capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Andrew Means, giving IU the 7-0 lead. \nAfter a Western Michigan field goal, both teams went cold offensively. Sophomore cornerback Chris Phillips ended the scoring drought with a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown that extended IU's lead to 14-3 with a little over ten minutes remaining in the second quarter.\nIU's defense came up big in the second quarter, stopping several Bronco drives thanks to a Geno Johnson fumble recovery and a Will Meyer interception return for 37 yards that led to a Josiah Sears 2-yard touchdown run.\nBroncos kicker Nick Meyers hit a second field goal late in the half to cut IU's lead 20-6 going into halftime.\nIU stymied the Broncos coming out of the locker room on the Broncos' first possession. Junior cornerback Tracy Porter returned a punt 86 yards for another Hoosier touchdown, giving IU the 26-6 lead after Austin Starr had a second PAT blocked.\nThe Hoosiers scored three more times in the second half, including two Austin Starr field goals and a Graeme McFarland to Marcus Thigpen 30-yard touchdown reception, to clinch the season-opening victory.
(09/01/06 2:53am)
Welcome to the Terry Hoeppner Experience, season two. \nFor Saturday's home opener against Western Michigan, fans are advised to buy a program -- because the 2006 IU football team bears little resemblance to the 2005 squad that finished 4-7.\n"I'd say there are two words to describe the team at present -- fast and fit," Hoeppner said during his weekly press conference. "As of today, 18 of the top 22 in our two-deep have not played in a college game or have not played in a college game at their new position."\nPositions such as quarterback, wide receiver and defensive line are identified as strong points for IU, but several other key positions were up for grabs during spring and summer practices.\nTo balance out the potent passing attack, the Hoosiers will need their running back corps to develop and produce quickly. Converted wide receiver Marcus Thigpen will start Saturday, with freshman Demetrius McCray backing him up. Both backs have experience from high school, but neither has collegiate experience at the position.\nThigpen and McCray battled freshman Bryan Payton and junior Josiah Sears for the starting job.\n"The four of us have been working hard to get that No. 1 spot," McCray said. "We're always pushing each other, helping each other to be the best that we can be. We've got four people who can start and that makes us better."\nClearing the way for the quartet of running backs will be an inexperienced offensive line led by senior left tackle Justin Frye and senior center Chris Mangiero. The Hoosier line will be going up against an undersized Western Michigan defensive line.\nHoeppner has identified the offensive line as the "most important position on the team" and is prepared to play as many as 10 linemen in Saturday's opener.\nOn the other side of the ball, IU will try to improve a defense that gave up an average of 33 points per contest. The linebacking group lost its two top tacklers in Kyle Killion and John Panozzo from last year's team, but junior linebacker Adam McClurg is confident that the young players will make an impact this season.\n"Our more experienced players really need to step up, but more importantly our inexperienced players need to step up and show everybody they can play," McClurg said. "I think they will."\nOf the 105 players on the roster, 72 are underclassmen, while 49 are true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. While many preseason rankings and polls are worried about IU's youth and inexperience, the Hoosiers aren't concerned. This influx of new players gives IU something they have not had in the past -- depth.\n"We have a good group this year," McClurg said. "It's hard to be a freshman and come straight in and play in the Big Ten, but this year we've got some freshmen who are really physically ready to play."\nSo while the Hoosiers are being counted out because of their youth and inexperience, Hoeppner is excited to start the season. \n"We are approaching the first game of the season, and for me, today is one of the three most exciting days of a college football coach's life," Hoeppner said. "After all the build up, off-season and all of the recruiting, we finally get to play against someone else"
(04/20/06 4:15am)
IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan introduced Felisha Legette-Jack as the new IU's women's basketball coach Wednesday, less than two weeks after the position opened up. Legette-Jack signed a five-year deal with the University, with a first-year base salary of $175,000 plus incentives.\n"Everyone I talked to said she is one of the rising superstars (in college basketball)," Greenspan said. "She took over a Hofstra program that historically struggled mightily -- the record will indicate that. She'll be a great recruiter for us, a great representative, and I think she can coach pretty dang well too."\nLegette-Jack comes to IU after spending the last four years as the head coach at Hofstra University. This past season, she led the Pride to the WNIT where they lost to Villanova. The postseason tourney was the first in school history for the women's basketball program.\nOn April 7, Sharon Versyp resigned as head coach of the Hoosiers to take a similar position at Purdue, forcing Greenspan to start another nationwide search for a new head coach.\nThe process began last Tuesday, April 11, when Hofstra's Athletics Director Jack Hayes gave Greenspan permission to talk to Legette-Jack about the possibility of taking the IU coaching job.\n"Rick put the full-court press on me, just like we're going to run here," she said jokingly during the press conference. "I thought he had moved in at some point."\nAfter a whirlwind week, Legette-Jack told Hofstra Tuesday of her decision to resign and take the IU job. \n"Indiana is where basketball rocks," Legette-Jack said. "I didn't have dreams this big. Rick (Greenspan) gave me an opportunity to coach in the Mecca of basketball."\nIn Legette-Jack, IU gets a coach with 15 years of Division I college coaching experience, including stints as an assistant at Michigan State, Syracuse and Boston College, as well as the last four years at Hofstra.\nThe newly-named coach will bring a fast-paced style of offense and a "slap the court" type defense to the Hoosier squad. Legette-Jack's Hofstra team averaged 69.5 points per game in the 2005-06 season in the Colonial Athletic Association, good for third in conference. \nShe realizes, though, that her style may need to be adjusted for her new team.\n"I want to run the floor, score 80 points a game, slap the floor," Legette-Jack said. "But I have to find out what style these girls want to play and how hard they're willing to work. I want to run and score a lot of points, but the bottom line is winning games."\nThe returning players from this year's team are looking forward to playing a new, faster style of offense.\n"I think (the style) is going to be a lot different than what IU has had in the past," said freshman forward Whitney Thomas. "I think it will be a good different. With a different tempo, I think it will be a good change."\nFor some members of the IU squad, this will be their third head coach in as many years. After going through two tough weeks after Versyp's resignation, the Hoosiers are excited to have a coach again.\n"From what I've talked to her, she's extremely excited to be here," said sophomore guard Nikki Smith. "(She is) very dedicated, passionate, everything you'd want in a coach. Coach Jack is such a breath of fresh air for us. It was rough for a couple weeks, but that's in the past. We've got to move on. I think things are going to be really great with her"
(04/17/06 4:35am)
IU coach Terry Hoeppner asked for execution in Saturday's spring game. What he got was eight touchdowns and more than 700 yards of total offense. \nThe Cream squad fought back from a ten-point deficit going into the fourth quarter to claim the 31-27 victory.\n"I wanted execution on both sides of the ball," Hoeppner said. "It wasn't necessarily horrible plays by the defense. I think it was just some really great throws and catches from the (first string) and the (second string)."\nIn the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, junior quarterback Blake Powers hooked up with freshman receiver Andrew Means on a 76-yard touchdown pass to bring the Cream within three points.\nAfter the Cream defense prevented the Crimson squad from scoring, Powers and company took the field hoping to reclaim the lead. With just more than three minutes remaining, Powers found sophomore receiver James Bailey streaking down the sideline for an 84-yard touchdown pass, Powers' third touchdown pass of the day and Bailey's second scoring reception.\nWith star sophomore receiver James Hardy sitting out with a groin injury, the other receivers had a chance to step into the spotlight.\n"(Hardy)'s definitely our go-to-guy so we had to have somebody step up," Powers said. "Jahkeen Gilmore and James Bailey played a real nice game, and that's what they're both capable of. The receivers are definitely getting a lot better."\nThe Cream defense was able to shut down the Crimson offense again and hold on for the 31-27 victory.\nIn temperatures normally associated with July than April, the two squads got off to a fast start Saturday afternoon, including two touchdown passes of more than 60 yards, one each from Powers and senior Graeme McFarland, respectively.\nNot to be left out of the quarterback discussion was Kellen Lewis. The redshirt freshman showed off his versatility, leading the Crimson squad while showing off his ability to throw and run.\n"Kellen (Lewis) is a special player, a special talent," Hoeppner said. "When he's on the field, the defense has to be careful because you'd better capture him. \nAlthough their play might be overshadowed by their counterparts on the other side of the ball, the IU defense for the Cream and the Crimson had their moments Saturday afternoon. Senior defensive end Kenny Kendal had two sacks -- the spring game equivalent of "two-hand touch" on the quarterback -- while junior defensive lineman Charlie Emerson picked up a McFarland fumble and ran it back 23 yards for the score late in the second quarter.\nPowers finished the game with seven completions for just under 300 yards passing -- 289 on the day -- to go with his three touchdown passes. McFarland started for the Crimson but ended up seeing time on both squads during the scrimmage, throwing a touchdown for both sides.\nWhen asked if he would take some credit for the win even though he started for Crimson, McFarland joked.\n"If I didn't fumble that one and negate it, I would," he said. "I felt like I had to redeem myself a bit so they didn't pin it on me that I was shaving points."\nSaturday's game wrapped up the spring schedule for the Hoosiers, but Hoeppner is excited to see where this team will go this summer and in the upcoming season.\n"(We had) a productive spring," Hoeppner said "We are a much faster football team, but we need to have a good summer. We've laid the foundation for a great 2006"
(04/14/06 5:18am)
IU coach Terry Hoeppner stood at the 30-yard line at the north end of Memorial Stadium during Tuesday's practice and pointed up to the vacant seats as his team departed the field.\n"The field is 100 yards long and 57 yards wide," Hoeppner said. "The surface is pretty neutral, so the advantage has to be there," he continued as he pointed. "We need home-field advantage. We've got seven opportunities to make that home-field advantage ours, and that's my request, my challenge (to fans): Help us defend The Rock."\nIt might be a familiar message for IU football fans, but last season's 4-7 record is all behind the Hoosier team that will take the field for Saturday's spring football game.\nFor Hoeppner, it is a chance to start a brand new season after a whirlwind off-season for the second-year coach.\nAmid a busy recruiting season, Hoeppner had surgery Dec. 26, 2005 to remove a tumor from the right side of his brain, but the operation didn't slow him down much. He is able to joke about it, calling it his "elective cosmetic surgery" although he realizes the surgery had to be done.\n"I don't want to make light of it," he said. "I've been positive about it, and it turned out so far, so good. It was the best thing that ever happened to me."\nWith the surgery behind him, Hoeppner was able to return to his football team and continue on the recruiting trail to National Signing Day where he inked 20 players from around the country. Maybe more importantly, many are from the Midwest, including six players from Indiana, five from Ohio and three from Illinois.\nThe real fun began March 21 when spring football \nofficially started. Sophomore wide receiver James Hardy said this spring's practices have been different from last year.\n"Last year, he was coming in, and he really didn't know anybody," Hardy said. "He was still learning names and their positions. This year, he knows what he wants. Either you're going to be able to do the job or you're not."\nFor Hoeppner, it is like coaching a different team this spring. The Hoosiers return 17 starters from a year ago and are welcoming 19 redshirt freshmen who sat out last season.\n"Honestly, 17 or 18 of them (redshirts) are going to play," Hoeppner said. "They're inexperienced, but they're talented. They can play football."\nSophomore offensive lineman Chauncey Incarnato transferred to IU from the University of Notre Dame last year and was recently named a top 30 transfer by www.collegefootballnews.com. The sophomore said Hoeppner and his coaching staff have made his transfer an easy one.\n"Coach Hep has been great for my transition," Incarnato said. "He's made it really easy for me. I've been here less than a year, and I feel like I've been here my whole college career."\nWhile Saturday's game will wrap up the spring season for the Hoosiers, Hoeppner is as excited as ever to be back on the field and is ready to show the cream and crimson fans what the 2006 team is capable of.\n"I want a really well-executed game, a lot of 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the crowd, and big plays on both sides of the ball," Hoeppner said. "We want guys playing the 2006 version of IU football that hopefully we'll see a lot more of. The potential is there. There's a lot of reason for hope and optimism"
(04/14/06 5:14am)
To close out the 2005 season, the IU football team lost six straight Big Ten games by an average of 25 points. In doing so, the Hoosiers struggled on both sides of the ball.\nIU coach Terry Hoeppner knew he had to upgrade his team if his program was going to improve.\n"The Big Ten is the deep, deep water with the big, big fish who can swim really fast, so we had to get faster, more athletic, and we had to do it right now," Hoeppner said. "We couldn't wait. We had a very good winter, and it shows."\nSaturday's spring game will be the first chance for Hoosier fans to see Hoeppner's revamped offense. Maybe the biggest difference for this year's squad compared to last year's is familiarity.\nLast spring, Hoeppner was feeling out his team while the Hoosiers got to know their new coach. This spring, the offense knows the system better and has a year of experience. Junior quarterback Blake Powers has noticed the difference.\n"It's been a lot easier (this spring)," Powers said. "When you have everyone clicking and everyone's on the same page, the offense will really start to excel. We're head over heels better than we were last spring."\nPowers, who broke IU's single-season touchdown record by throwing 22 last season and completing 56.4 percent of his passes, said he sees room for improvement. He threw 19 interceptions while playing in all 11 games for the Hoosiers.\n"I just have to get better with my mistakes," Powers said. "I've got to cut down on my interceptions and raise my completion percentage and just be a better quarterback, and that's going to help us win games."\nOne of the key developments over the course of the season was the chemistry between Powers and sophomore wide receiver James Hardy. As one of the conference's best receivers, Hardy caught 61 passes for 893 yards with 10 touchdowns.\nHardy says the development of that on-field chemistry between quarterback and receiver is a work in progress.\n"We just have to get our timing down right and get the chemistry going," Hardy said. "It carried over from the fall, that if we run our routes exactly the way he thinks we're going to run them, then he'll put the ball right there."\nHardy is part of a receiving corps that may be the team's deepest position. The Hoosiers are returning six players who each had at least 10 catches last year, while also welcoming a talented group of incoming freshmen and players who redshirted last season.\nOpposing teams may try to shut down the receiving corps since the Hoosiers are losing their two top rushers, but Hoeppner has several players he is counting on in the backfield. Sophomore Marcus Thigpen is moving back to his natural position at runningback after playing as a receiver last year. Redshirt freshman Demetrius McCray is moving from the scout team up to the game squad.\n"This is (McCray's) opportunity to go out and play football as opposed to being one of the scout guys," Hoeppner said. "He has a chance to be a very special player. (Thigpen) is 190 pounds, and he's real fast. If he breaks out, look out."\nFor Hoeppner, the 2006 squad is like a whole new team.\n"The team is so different than it was last year. We're further along. From day one, we were light-years ahead"
(04/10/06 5:21am)
Sharon Versyp, IU fans hardly knew you. \nAlmost a year to date since she took the job, Versyp resigned Friday as the head coach of the IU women's basketball team to take the head coaching job at her alma mater, Purdue.\nLast week, Purdue coach Kristy Curry resigned to take the head coaching job at Texas Tech University, leaving a vacancy for the Boilermakers. Purdue lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16 during the women's NCAA Tournament.\nAccording to an April 8 article in The Indianapolis Star, the IU women's basketball players were not aware of Versyp's resignation until IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan told them Friday morning. Versyp was unable to tell her team because she has been on vacation this past week.\n"We all heard rumors, but were shocked," freshman guard Kim Roberson said in the article. "We were also a little hurt because we weren't personally told by her."\nAlso in the article, freshman forward Whitney Thomas said, "(Versyp) is a good coach who helped me get better, and I'm glad for that one year. I wish it could have been longer, but what happens, happens, and we have to move on."\nVersyp's resignation comes just two weeks after the Hoosiers' season-ending WNIT Elite Eight loss to Marquette \nUniversity.\nIn her first season with the Hoosiers, Versyp led IU to a 19-14 overall record, with a 9-7 mark in the Big Ten. The 19 wins were the most for the Hoosiers since the 2000-01 squad that went 20-11 and lost in the second round of the WNIT. The 2006 WNIT was the first postseason action IU had seen since the 2002 NCAA Tournament, where the cream and crimson fell at the hands of Texas Christian University in the first round.\nVersyp is returning to Purdue where she was a four-year starter from 1984 to 1988. In 113 career games, she averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds \nper game.\nHer 1,565 career points ranks ninth in the Purdue women's basketball record books while her 418 career assists stands in seventh place all-time.\nOn April 8, 2005, Versyp was introduced as the head coach of the IU after former head coach Kathi Bennett resigned March 1, 2005. She quickly turned around a program coming off three straight losing seasons.\nOn the season, IU made it to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis before losing to Purdue and also earned a bid to the WNIT Tournament. After two victories against Rice University and Indiana State University, the Hoosiers traveled to Milwaukee for an Elite Eight matchup with Marquette, where they lost 57-54.\n"We appreciate Sharon's efforts at IU and wish her well in her future endeavors," Greenspan said in a statement.\nAccording to Purdue's athletics Web site, www.purduesports.com, Versyp is scheduled to be in West Lafayette today to meet with the administration and team to "finalize a few remaining administrative details."\n"Sharon is our choice, and she is excited about returning to her alma mater," Purdue Athletics Director Morgan Burke said in a statement.\nGreenspan will now begin a national search to find Versyp's replacement as the head coach of the IU women's basketball team, just weeks after he finalized a similar search for the men's head coach replacement.
(04/06/06 12:02am)
Marcus Thigpen is in a transition phase. Not a difficult phase, the sophomore said, but a transition nonetheless. \nAfter finishing the 2005 season as IU's second-leading receiver, the coaching staff asked Thigpen how he felt about moving back to his natural position -- running back.\n"It's been pretty easy because it's just something I'm used to doing," said Thigpen, who played running back in high school. "Just learning the plays, that's the hardest part. Receivers are a little fancier. As a running back, you've got to be a bruiser, be able to hit and take hits so I work harder, I lift harder."\nAfter redshirting as a freshman in 2004, Thigpen had a breakout year last season. He pulled down 32 receptions for 432 yards with two touchdowns, even though he originally signed with IU as a running back.\nFor the upcoming 2006 season, the Hoosiers will need to replace their two leading rushers, Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington, who combined for 1,271 rushing yards. But that was only part of the reason for Thigpen's switch from wide receiver to running back, the coaching staff said.\n"We made the move knowing Marcus is an explosive player," said IU assistant coach Gerald Brown, the running backs and special teams assistant. "We feel like if he gets enough touches, that with his speed and explosive play, he can make big plays for us. That was a lot of it, to get the ball in his hands."\nAs a senior at Mumford High in Detroit, Thigpen rushed for 1,785 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading the Detroit Public School League in both categories. The sophomore said knows he can help IU's offense and is looking forward to his move back to the backfield.\n"My preference is running back," Thigpen said. "Being a receiver was a big change for me because I've been a running back since I was 8."\nThough Thigpen is expected to start, he will have to earn his position among a slew of other young Hoosier running backs. \n"The position is still wide open," Brown said. "Everybody's fighting for their job. I feel really good about the guys in the backfield. We don't have a lot of experience, but I think we're a talented bunch."\nThigpen is leaving behind another talented bunch in the receiving corps that returns six players who each caught at least 10 receptions last season. One of those returning receivers is senior Jahkeen Gilmore, IU's third-leading receiver behind sophomore James Hardy and Thigpen.\n"We've got a lot of talented young guys that redshirted last year that without a doubt are stepping up their games," Gilmore said. "We (the offense) can definitely be a lot better than we were last year. We're going to bring some more consistency and speed to the game."\nWith two weeks of spring practice under their belts, Thigpen and the Hoosiers realize the offense might not have much experience, but they say they are pleased with the progress the team has made so far.\n"We have a young offense, but we can be lethal next year," he said.