Football reporter Dan Click recently sat down with new IU football coach Terry Hoeppner. Here's what Hoeppner had to say about players, scheduling and getting to a bowl game.
Q: Today is February 17th, exactly two months since you've been hired, is IU everything that you expected it to be?\nA: I think almost across the board. If you enumerated all of the various things that I've been exposed to at Indiana University, I had pretty high expectations and they've been exceeded. \nPeople demonstrate to me on a daily basis how much they want to help. I can't use all the help right now; I can't use all the help that people want to give me to help the program. \nSeason tickets sales. We've sold more season tickets than we have ever sold to at this point. I don't even know if we've tried to sell them in the past this early, but people are excited and we have season ticket promotion going on through the end of this month. So I would expect it was more than ever in January and I would expect February even more.\nI know I got my season tickets. I say that jokingly, but I buy season tickets. If I am going to ask people to buy season tickets do it. As part of my package is I get tickets, but I buy season tickets. I give them to my family or other people, but we're going to have somebody sitting in those seats. My wife will get out in the community, we might have people that are elementary school kids... you know. It's been great, the reception the enthusiasm all of its been what I've hoped for and more.
Q: You talked about your enthusiasm; you always have a lot of energy, where did you get that from?\nA: That is just my personality and my nature. I don't have to try and do that. I don't have to say 'you need to get excited today.' I really enjoy what I'm doing. I say jokingly that I never have to get a real job. Its part of the deal, being around student athletes, I'm on a daily basis. I'm really excited today because I get to be around the players as a team we have another one of our conditioning days our off-season workout days. I don't get to be around them very much.\n'How many hours are there in a week?' 168 hours. I get to be with them during the season 20 hours. In the off-season this time of year eight hours and I don't get to be around them all of that time. We lift Monday, Wednesday, and Friday around their class schedule. I get to be around them for couple hours today. \nI'm responsible for them 100 percent of the time, but I'm actually physically with them a small part of the time. A little over 10 percent and almost 12 during the season and I'm not with them all those 20 hours, and even less during the off-season.
Q: IU's struggled in the past, how do you plain to raise the profile of the program?\nA: You know if you're ignorant of history you are destined to repeat it. So there has to be that awareness of history, that also we've got to be positive and the future is now. I need to be aware of the past, but I'm not going to dwell on the past and I'm not going to say 'woe is us.' If we say we can't because we haven't in the past -- we can't. It is pretty simplistic. I know I said that in press conference, and I've said it different times. 'If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.' A TV lady showed that clip and said 'wow that's deep.' It is really. Probably a little too deep for her to comprehend. We're coaching technique, but we're also coaching attitude on a daily basis. Everyday is attitude adjustment time.
Q: I know you have high expectations for the program, how fast do you feel you can get IU back to a bowl game?\nA: I think it's a fine line. I don't think it's a long process. I think it's a tap-in if we do things the right way. We got a formula. I like the player's attitude so far. I like their work ethic. To say that we are going to Rose Bowl, (we're not) going to make any guarantees on that. Here is our goal, initially in terms of winning games: First there are 11 games guaranteed this year. Two things we want to do: win six, and I learned that a long time ago. When you play 11 one of your initial goals is to win six, then worry about seven and eight. But if you win six in the Big Ten, you're going to a bowl game, so that is realistic goal. You got short term, intermediate and long term goals and in terms of winning one of our short terms goals is this season is we want to win six. I think we'll be able to announce our schedule here pretty shortly. We want to win at home and take business in our house, and use the momentum that we've been able to generate up to this point in time. I was in Florida speaking to alumni group this past weekend. It's a retired group. They're the ambassadors they need to go out across the country and help me spread the word, because I was preaching to the choir, because these guys are all big supporters. In terms of how soon, as soon as possible.
Q: How important is it to get the students to get them behind you guys and to go to the games?\nA: It is hard to quantify. It is of the utmost importance. The equation won't be complete without the students. Winning won't be as much fun without the students to help celebrate. We need the crimson crew and the students, because we want to sing the fight song with them after we win. They got to be there, so I'm reaching out to them. I'm trying to recruit them on a daily basis I really think that college students miss out on a big part of their college experience if they don't participate. Game day Saturdays is college football. That should be something they remember after their college days are gone. I hope they appreciate how important I think they are, so I'm gonna try and recruit them on a daily a basis and make them feel like they are huge part of the whole process and an integral part of the formula.
Q: Have you gotten a request to meet with many of the student body?\nA: Some, I've been gone a lot. Of those two months I've been on the job I would like to figure out how many days I've physically been in Bloomington. I've not been out in Bloomington with the sun shining in the day light hours. Its dark when I come in and dark when I leave. I got a note from the president of the student body (IU Student Association), for an opportunity if I wanted to speak to the student body. I don't know what kind of forum. The only question was how? How can I do that. Do I need to call a meeting? Are the students going to show up and I'm going to do it. I don't understand the forum, but I said 'yes, lets do it. However we can do it, lets do it.' I'll show you the letter if you want to see it before you leave
Q: You've said that since you have only been in Bloomington when its dark how are you adjusting to being in Bloomington and how do you like it?\nA: I can't drive anyplace. My wife and I just bought a new house but I'm not sure how to get there. I can get close, but I got to speak at a luncheon today (Feb. 17). I couldn't get there right now. I've been to Nick's many times and I could stumble around and find it. Everyone else knows there way around, I'm sure my wife and my family know their way around better than I do.
Q: Even though you only been in Bloomington for a short time, do you have any favorite things thus far?\nA: That part of it too has been phenomenal, the reception, of the times I have been out. I've always liked coming to Bloomington and IU, I've been here many times. I think there are 197 restaurants and I've been to three or four. It's a great college community. We're leaving a great college community in Oxford, Ohio. It's not the real world. Bloomington is just little bigger version of Oxford, Ohio. That is part of the reason I do what I do, getting to live in college community and be around college aged student athletes. It's a pretty good deal a pretty good perk.
Q: Before you talked about wanting to get to golf a lot, have you gotten a chance to do that?\nA: You can use the term loosely. I was swinging a club and trying to hit a white ball. It got better by day two. That's my hobby. I already got a bunch of outings and getting the golf tour rolling again. It's a great way to meet alums. I met some really good ones this past weekend (Feb. 12-13) and that was a working vacation kind of thing. I don't even know if you can call it a vacation, because I was working, but it was an enjoyable time down there. Meeting people that I hadn't met before and spent a few hours with them on the golf course and chance to see them in a social setting, I spoke with a group of a couple of hundred alumni at the Club Rich. It's where Varsity Club board meets. I spoke to the board and spoke to the group that night. The only reason I coach football is because they won't pay me to play golf. I'm not that good.
Q: What do you think their (alumni) general opinion is about IU football?\nA: They want it to do well, they want a winner. I think they are cautiously optimistic right now, they think that this is maybe a time that we can get this going. They've also been disappointed over the years.\n(Phone rings with IU ringer). \nThis is from California. That was the head coach at San Jose State and there is a function I can involve some IU alums out in California. I thought that might have been Ben's agent. (Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback) Ben Roethlisberger is the recipient of the Dapper Dan award in Pittsburgh which is a pretty prestigious award. A big fund-raiser in the city of Pittsburgh and he was the recipient this year. People like (former Steelers' quarterback Terry) Bradshaw, (Miami Dolphins' quarterback Dan) Marino and (Penguins' hockey player) Mario Lemieux have received that award in the past. (Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver) Larry Fitzgerald received that award last year. This year they are giving a lifetime achievement award to (pro golfer) Arnold Palmer, so I'm going to be his presenter and (pro golfer) Greg Norman is going to be the presenter for Arnold Palmer. The headline is supposed to read, Hoeppner and Norman to be presenters. I've arrived if I'm getting headlines with 'the Shark' -- my favorite golfer. (Editor's Note: That event will take place April 17, the Sunday after the spring game.)
Q: To you keep a good relationship with the players after they graduate?\nA: Ben (Roethlisberger) is a little unusual, you can't have same the relationship with all 100 something players as you do others. Ben I had a unique relationship. I do try and stay in touch with them as best I can. We are developing a database, and e-mailing the alumni and keeping them alumni informed. We need to keep them informed and we need to recruit the alumni and get the former players, not only the students now but the players in the past. I talked to (former IU quarterback and current Steelers' wide receiver) Antwaan Randle-El several times during the season and (former IU player and current Chiefs' quarterback) Trent Green at Kansas City. That is part of developing the whole Hoosier nation and getting it in sync again. We have echoes here, and we need to wake up our echoes.\nWe need to wake up our echoes, get those Rose Bowl guys and some of (former IU football) coach (Bill) Mallory's bowl guys. I was at practices and at bowl games when Coach Mallory was coaching, I went to Birmingham, Ala. to the All-American bowl game. I'm aware of that, there is some great history here too, its not all bad.
Q: What do you mean all about waking up the echoes?\nA: What I mean about waking up the echoes is going to those guys in the past that have had success from those winning teams and those bowl teams. Its not just bowl game wins, it is other accomplishments and achievements and former players that have had success beyond the football field. They are apart of this football program and they'll always be apart and I want them to feel apart. I know I want them to be back and to feel like they are welcome anytime. My door policy is always open. The only time it is closed is when a player comes right now to see me. The only thing I'll interrupt meetings for is a coach calling or a player.
Q: Exciting new changes?\nA: I think in general, I'm hoping there are some dramatic changes. Evidence for one with our performance on the field. \nI think if we can plug in the formula we used at Oxford. Be careful what you wish for, Brad Bates (Miami University of Ohio athletics director) and I were trying to schedule as many Big Ten teams as possible, I got them now -- don't I?\nI'm confident we can plug in the formula and be successful. We are going to recruit this state hard. I've got a recruiting base in Ohio and contacts in Florida and Georgia.
Q: Did you always have a desire to come back to the state of Indiana?\nA: Yeah, I say that, but I didn't sit around and think about it. I was asked by a panel what were my thoughts when I found out the job was open, I said 'surprised and disappointed.'\nSurprised, because of the start they started off the season pretty well, and I never want to see a coach get fired, so I was disappointed. I had nothing to do with it, and someone is going to be the next head coach, so why not me? It is one of the things, I tell my assistant coaches do the best job you can where you are, try and plant the roots where you are, that next job will take care of itself. Don't spend all your time networking on the phone trying to get the next job all the time, you'll do a disservice where you are.\nI stayed at Miami, Ohio for 19 years. I tried to do the best job I could there. I didn't worry about trying to get the next job. \nI'm not a network guy. I'm not a phone guy. I don't try to keep my contacts alive on a regular basis to get the next job. My approach is to do the best job you can where you are. \nI have a great job, and I'm excited about where I am.
Q: How was the process like trying to become the next coach at IU?\nA: It happened pretty quickly. I had to be one of the last interviews. I had an initial meeting with (IU athletics director Rick) Greenspan. Within the next week met with this group in Indianapolis, met with the (IU) president (Adam Herbert) that night, and I was offered the job in a place between Bloomington and Oxford and then announced on Friday. It was a 7-10 day period at the most between the initial contact. At one point, I was so busy coaching Miami that I didn't really have a lot of time to think about it, at one time I thought I probably thought that I wasn't going to be a candidate. So when I did I didn't have a lot of time to do a lot to do much preparation. I didn't have a lot of time to prepare for an interview, but I have been preparing for this job my whole life.
How tough was it to sell players on IU, when you hadn't been here very long?\nA: Yeah, but I have a passion for the place and I think that came across. The hardest part was not knowing the team I was recruiting for. We had already basically finished the recruiting class there at Miami in December. I knew that team and I knew what we needed and how we could plug people in. I didn't have that frame of reference, I had no idea really. We had three weeks, and I think the staff did a phenomenal job and were tireless in their efforts. For example, the last week of recruiting I flew from Bloomington to Washington D.C. to Liberty, Va, to Detroit, to Chicago, to Tampa, to Orlando, to Cleveland and then to Bloomington in one week. Did some recruiting and made some home visits and I think all of those guys committed. It was hectic, you didn't know what day it was. We came up with the theory that sleep was obviously overrated, because none of us got much. I'm satisfied; I didn't want a mulligan out of this class. We got a couple guys out of this state and out of Florida that are special players and very special people.
Q: Do you have any interesting stories from the recruiting period?\nA: I think the President's involvement was unique and special and he was in our staff meeting this morning. How many university presidents would be willing to do that? He was down lifting weights with us and I asked if he would stop by and he did and we watched some tape together and our fourth quarter drill.
Q: Do you feel it helps to have such great support from the University?\nA: There is no doubt. Parents commented and recruits commented, 'Wow! The president of the University!' You can say you may have the opportunity to meet, but to actually have him speak to the recruits and what he had to say. Football is important to the president, that message was very clear so they parents feel like they have his support. So, in terms of selling, I don't like to use the term because I don't feel like I'm selling anything, but in terms of recruiting parents and players and student athletes to Indiana I thought was relatively easy. Its not a good school -- it's a great school. You want to be a part of my first recruiting class to get this thing turned around to and headed back to where it ought to be, as an integral part of the whole University. Rick (Greenspan) said it best it best down there, he thinks that we should be the heart of the athletics department. Basketball is part of our DNA. It's our soul. So, if we're the heart and basketball is the soul we got to be successful for the rest of the athletics department and it will have a positive effect on the University when football, not if, but when football becomes successful as is measured by wins on the field, support from the students and the alumni base from the season ticket base, that ripple effect will be felt in admissions, in marketing. I know it will be because that is what happened at Miami.
Q: Being an Indiana guy, do you put more pressure on yourself at all?\nA: You can't really put more pressure on yourself than you already do. I put a lot of pressure on the players. I put a lot of pressure on the coaches, and a lot of pressure on myself that is the nature of the business. That is why we will be successful. I put a lot of pressure on them last Tuesday and I'm going to put a lot of pressure on them again today.
Q: What can be expected in terms of non-conference scheduling, what can be expected?\nA: I don't worry about that (scheduling too tough) that will take care of itself. We respect all and fear none. We have been trying to get Kentucky to play us at Miami for years, now we get to play them. I would like to see that series continued. Apparently, that series is in jeopardy. As you heard me say in the radio thing, be careful what you wish for. I've been trying to get as many Big Ten schools for years.
Q: Talk of Notre Dame on schedule?\nA: Wouldn't be opposed to playing Notre Dame on a neutral site, maybe the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. \nQ: How do you describe yourself as a coach?\nA: If they want to describe me as a player's coach that is fine, because what I'm trying to do on a daily basis is help them as student athletes help them to accomplish their goals. Hopefully, their goals are in line with my goals for them. I gave them already a player's manual that has something for them to write their goals in. I want them to write their goals down, if you write them down it is more meaningful to you. I said that for years, but I didn't write them down, and I said we need to set goals. When I finally started writing my goals down. It was amazing how I started to accomplish things. I'm very goal oriented with that goal line. Football players are very goal-oriented. If you say 'You're going to run,' and they say 'How much?' and you say 'Until I'm tired of seeing you run.' That kills them.
Q: If you could play one team right now, who would it be and why?\nA: Central Michigan, We ought to be able to get ready for one game, because we only play one game a weekend. Whoever we play is going to get a 100 percent each time.
How similar is your personality on the field to off the field?\nA: I'm enthusiastic, I've mellowed some over the years as a coach I'm not nearly as demonstrative on the field as I used to be, but I get excited when we score. This is my favorite thing to do on the field, (holds one finger in the air). Means we just scored. Kick it as opposed to going for two. Kick it, were going for one.
Q: How great is it to be back in Indiana after growing up watching Indiana?\nA: I would say it's a dream come true, but I don't know that I actually allowed myself to dream it, so its probably beyond that. It is really neat, because I was a high school coach in the state and I was loyal then and then for my friends to see me here, makes me feel like they're being represented here, for my family and friends in the state its pretty exciting, I know that a lot of them have bought the season tickets that we've sold already, so its truly special. I'm excited to be here and look forward to going to a bowl game with the Hoosiers.
-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
