Former receiver Thigpen chosen for backfield duties

After a 4-7 finish last season -- which included a six-game losing streak to close out the campaign -- IU coach Terry Hoeppner is just ready to move on to the 2006 season. \n"Unless they start penalizing you and start subtracting points or giving the other team more points for your past records over the years, then hey, the future is now," Hoeppner said during the Big Ten coaches' teleconference Tuesday. \nThe Hoosiers' "future" begins Saturday at home against Western Michigan and provides a chance for the team to snap that losing streak and answer some early-season questions on both sides of the ball.\nIU must replace the 1,183 rushing yards that departed running backs Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington gained last season with a new group of backs that is relatively inexperienced. \nFormer wide receiver Marcus Thigpen and freshman Demetrius McCray will share most of the carries at tailback. Both players were running backs in high school, but neither has had a carry in the backfield since coming to Bloomington. The only player returning with carries from the backfield last year is junior fullback Josiah Sears, who had 24 carries for 103 yards. \n"We feel like we're prepared. Our coaches have put a lot of work in. I feel like we're ready," Thigpen said. "We have to get the running game going so the receivers will be open."\nMaking the switch to running back, Thigpen leaves behind an already deep group of wide receivers. Three players who caught 25 or more balls a year ago return, led by sophomore James Hardy with 61 catches for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. \nJunior quarterback Blake Powers will also be throwing to returning starters sophomore James Bailey and senior Jahkeen Gilmore. Both players racked up three touchdowns and more than 300 yards receiving last season. Despite a 7-4 record last season, the Broncos have questions of their own -- namely how it will replace former standout wide receiver and current Green Bay Packer Greg Jennings, who caught 94 balls for 1,259 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. \nTim Hiller, last year's starting quarterback and Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, will be replaced under center by sixth-year senior Ryan Cubit, who returns after missing most of 2005 with a leg injury. \nThe Broncos improved vastly last season, winning seven games after winning only one in 2004. \n"They're a good team. Their quarterback is a smart sixth-year guy, and their running back is a good size," senior safety Will Meyers said. "We haven't even talked about taking them lightly." \nMeyers and the rest of the IU defense will try to replace multiple positions left vacant by graduation, including multiple spots on the defensive line and at linebacker, and improve on last season's average of 33 points allowed per game.\nThe Hoosier defense surrendered 30 or more points eight times last season, winning just one of those games -- a 35-31 victory against Nicholls State at home. It allowed 40 or more points six times last season and lost all of those games, including the last five of the year. \nThe Hoosiers will take the field at 6 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium after a long summer of off-season workouts, ready to erase the 2005 season and start fresh in 2006.\n"Being a football player, it's tough not always seeing what you work for," Meyers said. "But now it's here, and we're pretty hungry"