IU football ready for next season

CHICAGO – Over the summer, IU wide receiver James Hardy did two things – watch videotape footage of former Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and go to Disney World with sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis.\nThe latter activity in Hardy’s summer schedule was part of a bonding process between the two meant to improve on their chemistry from last season, which resulted in 10 touchdowns and 722 yards. Though Lewis didn’t attend Big Ten media week in Chicago, the videotape managed to come along.\n“I’ve got Calvin Johnson tape upstairs in my room,” Hardy said. “I mean, Calvin Johnson was the No. 1 receiver in the country, and that’s where I want to be, so I have to watch the No. 1 to get there.”\nTuesday and Wednesday at Chicago’s Hyatt Regency, IU coach Bill Lynch, Hardy, junior running back Marcus Thigpen and senior cornerback Tracy Porter represented the Hoosiers for the annual conference. The Hoosiers in attendance constantly found themselves answering questions about the recent passing of IU coach Terry Hoeppner, who died of a brain tumor June 19. The players were visibly emotional when speaking of him Wednesday morning. \n“He was sort of like a father figure to me, helping me on and off the field,” Hardy said. “He was someone who believed in a person who didn’t really expect this to happen in football. I mean, when you have people believing in you, it’s hard not to give up. I just feel like it’s my job to make sure that his legacy continues on.”\nThroughout the summer, by NCAA rule, the Hoosier coaching staff had little to no contact with its players. For this reason, Lynch said they are looking forward to their first fall practice Sunday, when they will have the chance to discuss and cope with Hoeppner’s death in detail and move on.\nThough the season could be overshadowed with the loss of the team’s beloved coach, Lynch and his players were quick to point out the excitement level and the potential of this year’s squad.\n“The book hadn’t been written on how you handle these situations, and we’re learning as we go,” Lynch said. “But it is a great group, and it is a group that I believe over this past spring became a pretty good football team.”\nAfter finishing the season with a record of 5-7 last year, the Hoosiers are looking to capitalize on their first bowl berth since the 1993 Independence Bowl. Returning weapons such as Hardy at wideout, Lewis at the helm and Thigpen returning kickoffs, all the Hoosiers’ representatives said they felt there was a chance the team could still be playing after Thanksgiving. In addition, the Hoosiers boast a schedule that features eight teams that finished the 2006 campaign with a sub-.500 record.\n“I’m so excited to get back because it feels like this has been the longest spring, the longest summer ever,” Thigpen said. “We were so close to a bowl game last year, and this year we’re even more hungry and so excited to get back together.”\nBut in order to make the offense more whole, Lynch put a strong emphasis on the running game when he took over as head coach during spring practice and hopes that effort will carry into the fall.\n“We feel that we’ve got the guys who can run it; some of it is just emphasis,” Lynch said. “We’ve spent a lot of time on the passing game (last year), and now we feel we are in a position where we can be pretty balanced.”\nLynch admitted, however, that offensive weapons and a favorable schedule can only take a team so far. The team currently does not have a punter and will start a young, unproven offensive line. Porter also said that in order to get over the hump and reach a bowl game, team play needs to start up front with the defense and stopping the run game.\n“But I think it’s about the whole defense, not just one particular position,” he added. “I think we’ve made huge strides in doing that, and we’re going to be just fine this year.”