It is hard to keep my mind off the poetry of Whitman and Yeates. I don't want to be dramatic about the situattion, but that is where my mind rests. Leadership is such a precious commodity today, as generations of Americans live their quiet lives of desperation, the comfort of our existence prevents us from receiving the depth of experience that it takes to lead and makes it a challenge to cultivate the drive it takes to accomplish difficult goals. Everyone thinks that they have what it takes to be a good leader, but so few do. I believe Terry Hoeppner is a great leader, and my fear that his career in coaching is now over is nothing short of devastating. In a big city, where the crush of humanity makes it difficult for one person to stand out vividly, it might be hard to identify with the way people in southern Indiana feel about Terry Hoeppner. In a small town the influence and weight one person can carry is much greater. One good leader, in the right place at the right time with the right attitude, can turn the tide. natural born leaders never ask for anyone to follow them, they radiate inspiration like a well spring and by the bearing of their personality, people follow. With Hep's return to IU the community, both local and the broader IU family, was convinced that Hoosier football would come around. In Bloomington, the university can often represent the division of wealth and class as often as it represents cultural unity and learning, but Hep was nowhere near that. Cutters (locals) who never attended the university love him and cityslickers who have never cut stone love him. He has truly united the football prgram's fans. Thanks to him, I believe Hoosiers can look to thenew falconer of Indiana Footballand rally. There are stories to follow in the program that are brighter and fans must get behind them and keep their heads up.
As Bill Lynch takes over at IU, there is excitement in the program that IU fans should keep an eye out for. Here are five keys to look out for during the season.
Key 1. A versatile quarterback can find success anywhere.
As Kellen Lewis begins his sophomore campaign, his potential seems limitless. He was a little above average as a freshman, and was capable of greatness at times. His game against Iowa was a Big Ten classic. If he can discover consistency in the passing game he can be an All Big-Ten candidate as a sophomore. He needs to raise his completion percentage above 60% and keep his interceptions down to six or eight and get his touchdowns up around 20. He can do that by working on his out routes (keeping the pass sharp and down) and by making quicker decisions on reading the deep passes. He often puts his recievers in jump-ball situations because his late read births a late throw and he can't lead his receivers enough to let them catch in stride. His only real problem is discipline. He has gotten into trouble because of marijuana use before and the team is keeping him on a short leash. Still, if you attend many college parties north of 10th street and east of Walnut you may find that continues to be a problem.
Key 2. James Hardy will look to entrench himself as
a high draft pick with a solid senior season at IU. Following a year that solidified him as Kellen Lewis' prime target (51 receptions for over 700 yards and ten touchdowns), Hardy must look to build upon his strengths. Hardy biggest plus is his freakish 6'7" frame that makes him a big, long-armed target, but he has to produce beyond the red-zone and jump-balls. The improvement of Lewis will be a big plus in both categories, but to be truly effective in the NFL he must prove that he can seperate at the line of scrimmage. Too often he relies on his size to win him balls down field, which he brought in often enough. Late in the year, though, better Big Ten corners played him tight and forced him against the sideline or into safeties. to escel he must srive harder off scrimmage and learn how to seperate from corners and get them on his shoulder sooner so that Lewis has a place to lead him. If he starts catching the ball in stride against the sideline corners will start getting a healthy dose of stiffarm as Hardy fights them down the sideline.
Key 3.
The young offensive line must take advantage of a little senior leadership and improve. For the Hoosiers to be successful late in games they must be able to run between the tackles.
For the spread offense to move the ball the running game has to make hay in the middle of the field, otherwise it will be fruitless. If you spread out the defense the open field is the middle so there they must go. Tailbacks Marcus Thigpen and Demetrius McCray have shown the speed to take the outside ball (Thigpen runs on the track team as well in the 4x100 relay) but they must improve at following the guard to the point of attack and breaking off clean. Both backs must up their yards-per-carry in order to find success or take over the backfield from the other.
Key 4. After a few years of brain pounding scheduling, the Hoosiers have a favorable schedule within a conference that graduated a lot of talent. This season the Hoosiers will only face two oppentents from last year that handed them losses as Michigan and Ohio State aren't around. Minnesota thumped IU handily but Purdue was only 9 points better and they won't be as good this year having lost their defensive juggernaught in Anthony Spencer and with Joe Tiller still trying to fix the offense after the loss (two years ago) of their offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney. Both Minnesota and Purdue come into Memorial Stadium this year when both IU losses last year were away. IU beat Michigan State and Iowa last year in Bloomington and Iowa was ranked 14th at the time. Both games are on the road this year but Michigan State seems vulnerable after the loss of QB Drew Stanton. When State comes in they will have lost at Notre Dame and Wisconsin and just won at home against Northwestern. They will be fighting hard to get that win having just come off of two losses away and might be tired when the Hoosiers come to town. Mark my words, the Hoosiers are going to get a huge road win on October 13th. The squad starts a conference schedule with a grudge match against the Illini. Last year the Hoosiers took a close win out of Champaign in a high-scoring affair (34-32) and this year both teams look to be better. When it is time for the Hoosiers to take a shot at the Oaken Bucket, look for both teams to be 6-5 or 7-4 with the fourth or fifth spot in the Big Ten up for grabs. (God forbid a shot at a bowl game would be on the line. That could represent an epic shift in the rivalry with the success of Purdue starting to wane and the Hoosiers starting to get things turned around. If the Hoosiers win that game...)
Key 5. Perhaps Coach Hoeppner's biggest unfinished business was getting students into the stadium. Bloomington's reputation as a party campus is never more appearent than during a football game when there are more kids accross the street in the woods than watching the game in the stands. It would be easy to blame the massive number of out-of-state students who flock to IU, not for the academics, but to escape the eye of their parents and party through a trust fund on their way to a Kelley School of Business degree, but that isn't always the case. Fans must be convinced that the stories I mentioned above are the real deal and exciting to watch. It is my hope that the birth of the Big Ten Network will aid in providing the team with early exposure in prime time. Hopefully the fans across the street will be just tired enough that when kickoff comes around they would rather sit down at the stadium for a spell that walk home. It is also my hope that Hep's dream of packing the stadium can be realized, if not for a fan's love of the team, then for their support of Coach Hoeppner and his family.
The health of Terry Hoeppner is a tremendous concern for the IU family right now, and IU will have plenty of distractions when its time for the Hoosiers to face Indiana State later this year. I would remind the faithful Cobra Brigade readers, who were so effusive with their praise for our last column on the topic, that the serious nature of his illness is very personal and you find people close to this situation who are very weary and tired. Our prayers and support are far more useful than our sympathy. Hoosiers stand at the crossroads with their football team. Anyone could use this trial as an excuse to turn away from the difficulty of the road ahead, and blame would be tough to lay upon them. But there is a better road. Fans I tell you, we don't have to quit. We can follow this team and they WILL respond. They have the talent and the pattern, but they are young and inexperienced. If they have good support from the fans they WILL start to learn how to win. GO TO THE STADIUM. If you can't make it to the games take every advantage of the increased television coverage. Start following them on the radio and in the papers. Get on your favorite websites and talk trash to Boilermaker fans. Ask yourself every morning, "What can IU do to beat Purdue today?" It is time, now more than ever, for the Cream and Crimson to march together.
You can contact Bruce Paine by emailing him at brucelikespaine@yahoo.com
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2008 Cubs Preview
Hard news on this front-porch afternoon in southern Indiana. This morning, 
I don't think that the program will lose as big a step as people are letting on. Coach Hep hired his staff knowing their strengths and weaknesses. He wouldn't have given the control to Coach Lynch if he didn't think he was capable of manning the ship. Don't forget the D should be much improved. My boy B Faires holding it down on the D-Line.
On Key #5. You write >Hopefully the fans across the street will be just tired enough that when kickoff comes around they would rather sit down at the stadium for a spell that walk home.
Substitute the word "sober" for "tired" and you make a legitimate point.
In all seriousness, thanks for a football post. The season is moving forward. Today brought the question that many have wondered about for some time yet were fearful (or moderated) from muttering out loud.
Pray for the best and get to work.
Realism tells me that we pack it in to Nov 15th. Just my $0.02 ...