Solid fan base needed for football program success

New IU football coach Terry Hoeppner spoke at halftime of Saturday's basketball game at Assembly Hall. His message was short and simple as the former Miami of Ohio coach looked straight into the student section and made a simple request.\n"I've got to have you," Hoeppner said. He was greeted by applause.\nCreating a home-field advantage at Memorial Stadium has been one of his main initiatives since being hired Dec. 17 after former coach Gerry DiNardo was fired after three seasons.\nAfter his remarks to the crowd, Hoeppner addressed the media at halftime and said his recruiting efforts have gone well as he and his staff have retained all of the verbal commitments DiNardo's staff had received.\nHoeppner used one word to describe the reaction he's getting when visiting with prep prospects: excited.\n"We have guys here that are re-committing to me," Hoeppner said. "They committed to Indiana University and Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan sent out a letter saying we would honor that commitment from Indiana to them. That was absolutely the right thing to do. What they have done is get a chance to meet me and meet the coaches on the staff and recommit."\nIU currently has 13 verbal commitments -- with 10 of those offensive players, two defensive and one kicker, Joe Kleinsmith, who was ranked as the No. 22 kicker in the nation by www.rivals.com.\nOn his wish list for recruits, Hoeppner listed a quarterback, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers for his 22 scholarships to give. He pointed out that his recruiting efforts were an "across the board" effort as he and his staff are recruiting Florida, Texas and all across Indiana.\nRegardless of the improvement, Hoeppner said the Hoosiers have "some real needs."\n"Now how we fix those, either through recruiting or by personnel moves," Hoeppner said. "This defensive end goes to offensive tackle. This wide receiver goes to corner. Those are things you have to do. Putting people in the right place on the field is really what you do as a coach. The formula we have had for that, I keep using that. I have a basic plan for that and we will start working it here soon."\n-- Contact Staff Writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.