Coach Hep and Hoosier football

[Shine]

The story of Coach Hep's death and the Hoosiers realizing his goal of playing a 13th game has already received a fair amount of media attention and as the Insight game nears kickoff I'm sure it'll get even more coverage. I just felt like sharing a personal view of the story with you all who I've followed the sport with for the past 8-9 years.

When I logged on my computer the morning Hep passed away and saw the news I cried. It's the only time in my life I've ever cried for someone dying other than a family member. THAT'S the type of impact Terry Hoeppner had in such a short amount of time.

Indiana has been playing football for a long time but Indiana did not have a football program when Terry Hoeppner was hired. Sure there had been some high points, the 68 Rose Bowl and the bulk of the Mallory era come to mind, but for the most part Indiana football was simply an activity to pass the time until basketball season started. For a large portion of the fanbase, myself included, acceptance of mediocrity was the norm. The day Hep was hired that all changed.

Two things really illustrate his mindset in taking the job. The first was that as a joke the IU AD had placed a rose in a crystal bowl in front of the podium Hep would be speaking at to be introduced as the coach. When he went to take it out Hep told him to leave it where it was. He said that if you play in the Big 10 and your goal isn't to play in the Rose Bowl then what was the point. The second was that he moved the post-season banquet to January from its traditional mid-December timeframe. He said that mid-December is the time to prepare for your bowl game not to be holding any banquets. From day 1 Coach Hep had a vision of building a legit football program at IU.

He noted the lack of tradition with the program, so he started new ones. He had a chunk of limestone rock placed in Memorial Stadium, nicknamed the stadium 'The Rock' and came up the slogan to defend the rock. He started a pregame walk with the team to interact with the fans. He had billboards all over town replicating the famous Uncle Sam wants you campaign with Coach Hep wants you. He would go into the classrooms at IU and speak to the students to encourage them to come to the games. He had radio ads touting that "fans help win games". For fans of programs like OU, USC, FSU, etc it may seem crazy that a coach would essentially have to plead with people to come to games but that is/was the reality for Indiana. Despite that coaching at IU was Hep's dream job, which is why he was a once in a lifetime find/fit for IU.

Hep was in the process of truly building a program at IU. He had connected with the HS coaches in the state and was starting to have the top in-state talent take a look at IU again. He was landing the overlooked kids from the hotbed states like Florida and selling them on the idea of starting and buidling something at IU versus being just another guy at a place like UF or FSU. He was connecting with the fans and alumni and getting them re-engaged with the football team. And he was getting the facilities upgraded to be more on par with what a legit Big 10 program should have.

And now he's gone. I had been hearing whispers that his health wasn't doing too well for a while, and of course when they announced in March he'd be sitting out the season those rumors were confirmed to be true. There was quite a lot of talk about him never making it back to the sidelines but I had never heard that he may not even survive. So when I found out he had died it hit me hard. This man was the absolute PERFECT fit for IU. He loved the school and believed he could make it a winner and his passion and vision were so strong that in only 2 years he was starting to win over the non-believers, again myself included.

As fate would have it, the day Hep died the ceremony to commence the facilities upgrades was scheduled. True to the spirit of the man who made that day a reality the ceremony proceeded as planned with Jane Hoeppner, his wife, taking his place. It was a very sad and bittersweet moment to see the dream becoming a reality without the man responsible being present.

When IU made the kick to beat Purdue and ensure that a 13th game would happen the cameras panned to Jane Hoeppner on the sidelines and once again I found myself crying. This isn't simply just another bowl game for IU and it isn't just a relief to finally end the 14 year bowl drought. No playing in this game is the only fitting tribute to honor the man who made it all possible. With minimal exceptions the core of this Hoosiers team are guys that Hep brought into the program. He laid the foundation for success and made playing this game possible. I'm not sure what the future holds for IU football because as good of a guy as Bill Lynch is, I'm not sure how good of a coach/recruiter he is. Winning at IU requires a passion and a little something extra that not everyone has.

Terry Hoeppner was the ideal coach and ideal man for the job of head football coach at Indiana. His legacy and impact on the program in 2 years of holding that position will last forever. So when I sit down to watch IU play Oklahoma State on NYE, a large part of me won't even care if IU wins or loses that game because as much as I'd like to see IU win the game, the fact that they're playing in it honors the memory of Coach Hep.

[PSUFAN]

Thanks for that good read, Shine.

[MiketheangrydrunkenCUfan]

Shine,
Great post, man. Even though I'd have liked to see the Buffs play their bowl game here in my backyard, I'm actually kind of glad they didn't go to the Insight Bowl, simply because I don't think anyone really wants to root against Indiana this year. I'd wager that even the most die-hard Okie St. fans are in a bit of a quandary. Stories like this transcend allegiances to individual teams. Any fan of college football would be elated to see Indiana win this game for Coach Hep.

I will be at the game and rooting hard for your Hoosiers (I'd even buy a shirt or something, but I have a personal rule about wearing red during football season). Best of luck to Indiana. I hope Lynch ultimately does lead them to a Rose Bowl. Hey, if Illinois can do it, why can't you guys?