Balance key for new season

New coaches and a senior-laden roster highlight the Hoosiers' upcoming 2004 football season as IU coach Gerry DiNardo opens his third spring practice at IU. While there is a large number of returning players, this spring is the first time IU has the maximum number of scholarships. \n"Our roster is balanced. We are in a position where we can continue to build the program, and this is a significant step," DiNardo said. "We are better than we have been in the previous two years, especially when it comes to depth. That's something we're excited about."\nDiNardo welcomes three new faces to the coaching staff, in addition to promoting offensive line coach Steve Addazio to offensive coordinator and former defensive line coach Joe Cullen to defensive coordinator. \nDiNardo also will bring several familiar faces from his past to join the Hoosier team. The new director of football operations, Don Wnek, worked for DiNardo in the XFL as a defensive line coach. Troy Douglas enters his first season at IU as cornerback's coach, while former Bloomington South High School head coach Bob McConnell, who served on DiNardo's coaching staff at both Vanderbilt and LSU, reunites with DiNardo on the IU sidelines. \n"Guys fitting into a staff and a system are important. The average assistant stays on campus 3.1 years, so this is going to happen again," DiNardo said. "We have a little bit more contact with the players during the offseason than we used to by rule. We're allowed to meet with them in the offseason, so we're probably a little further along in that regard than we used to be."\nUnlike last year's squad, which started eight true freshmen, the 2004 Hoosiers boast 21 upperclassmen, including senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio. \n"I would say to you the fact we have a big senior group, the fact we have finally balanced our roster by class," DiNardo said, "the fact we have experience at every position going into spring practice makes the makeup of this team drastically different than the previous two."\nDiNardo wasn't the only Hoosier praising the team's strength in numbers. Senior defensive lineman Jodie Clemons said the greater number of players lowers the physical strain of playing snap after snap during practices and scrimmages. \n"It's nice to not have to rely on our starters to do everything," Clemons said. "On special teams, especially, we now have guys who can step up and fill in whenever we need it. It is also nice for me because playing defensive line, you have to have depth at that position because it is so physical."\nThe Hoosiers are also optimistic about the conditioning work they have done since the end of last season. Senior wide receiver Courtney Roby said the added football conditioning and his decision to participate on the IU track team as a sprinter have benefitted his game greatly. \n"I think it was more difficult for me because I had to go straight from track practice to football conditioning. I was running four hours a day, non-stop," Roby said. "It's definitely going to benefit the team. One thing Coach has emphasized is we're going to be the best-conditioned team out there. If guys just buy into it and do what they have to do, we'll definitely be alright."\nWhile strength and conditioning are quite useful on the football field, senior safety Herana-Daze Jones said one of the team's goals is to play with more intelligence on the field. \n"Other than being healthy, my goal is that we will be a smarter football team," Jones said. "Everybody gets stronger, everybody gets faster, but where we can improve the most is knowing what we are supposed to do and where we are supposed to be. I hope we will play smarter and be better students of the game, and if we do so, we will be a much better team."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu and senior writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.