When successful coaches take the helm at new schools they are generally given a grace period during which they are considered undeserving of criticism, and are met with the lowest of expectations until their first recruiting class has had a chance to mature. The idea behind this is that coaches are not responsible for the aspects of the program (such as players, other coaches and any existing NCAA penalties) that they have inherited and cannot immediately remove.
First-year Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner does not see any reason to wait.
\I like the team; I think that they fit with what we are trying to do,"" Hoeppner said. ""This is not going to be my team in three or four years-this is my team now.""
Hoeppner possesses a refreshing coaching mentality that seems to stem from an emphasis on personal responsibility. If he can teach his players to be the same way-personally responsible for their performance and its effect on the team-they will have taken a huge step up from their annual descent to the Big Ten's basement.
Hoeppner already has the Hoosiers off to a 3-0 start, which comes as no surprise to his employers who watched him win back-to-back Mid-American Conference East Division titles at Miami (Ohio) University, as well as win 14 straight games in 2003-'04 with future first-round pick, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Even with his overwhelming success at Miami (Ohio), he had his work cut out for him when he took over at Indiana-a basketball-dominanted athletic program whose football team has yet to give its fans any reason to avert their eyes from Assembly Hall. The hype that comes with Hoeppner's track record has already given the players reason to believe their time to start a winning tradition is just around the corner.
""Coach 'Hoepp' brings a lot of energy, not only to the team, but to the city of Bloomington,"" senior linebacker John Pannozzo said. ""We know we have enough talent and the ability to win games, but Coach 'Hoepp' just brings a whole new attitude-more confidence and more feeling of being a champion to our program. He's got everybody believing-not only us, but the entire city of Bloomington.""
""When you start losing and you have a couple losing seasons, it's like winning-it's a habit. It's hard to get out of that mode,"" Pannozzo said. ""I think once that cycle has started, it's real tough to turn a team around.""
That is, until a catalyst like Hoeppner starts moving the program in the right direction-even if it starts with only the slightest bit of momentum. It can eventually build into an expectation of continued prominence, which is something nobody would have previously expected in Bloomington.
""I think that winning tradition is going to start this year, and I don't think it's going to ever stop,"" senior running back Chris Taylor said. ""[Hoeppner] just brings that winning attitude to the program. He'll get good recruits in, and I just feel like it's going to be a great tradition here at Indiana.""
Wisconsin hasn't played the Hoosiers in two years and during that span one can only imagine the Badgers would have liked to trade a Michigan State game or two for a crack at lowly Indiana. This year, while UW lucked out in avoiding the two best Big Ten teams, the Badgers are not exactly salivating at the idea of facing the revamped Hoosier squad.
As the prophet Jay-Z says, ""I put my hand on my heart / That means I feel ya / Real recognize real / And you lookin' familiar."" The same could be said for UW head coach Barry Alvarez-perhaps one of the greatest coaches in conference history-who has nothing but respect for the Big Ten's newest coach. If a 3-0 record doesn't turn any heads, Alvarez's praise of Hoeppner just might.
""He's coached, he's worked his way up through the ranks. He's been a successful Division I coach at Miami (Ohio). He knows how to win,"" Alvarez said. ""His enthusiasm is infectious around the state. They've increased season tickets; there's much more interest because it's a legitimate and sincere attitude that he's bringing. When you watch the team on film, you see a group of kids that have bought in. They really believe in themselves, they believe in the system, they play very hard. I'm impressed with what he's done with that football team in a short amount of time.""
""I have a book on my desk at home called 'From Redding to the Rose Bowl.' ... it is a tribute to Barry Alvarez and what he did at Wisconsin, and I believe that we can do the same thing at Indiana,"" said Hoeppner. ""If we can be ranked 10th in the nation at Miami (Ohio), then I believe we can certainly achieve those things at Indiana University.""
It sure is hard not to root for a guy with such a positive attitude. At some point-hopefully not this Saturday-it will be even harder to beat him.
