Indiana University Athletics
Big Ten Media Day One Recap
8/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2005
CHICAGO - The 2005 Indiana football season got underway Monday afternoon and will continue on Tuesday at the annual Big Ten Media Days at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago. Head coach Terry Hoeppner and offensive guard Adam Hines, middle linebacker John Pannozzo and running back Chris Taylor met and addressed local, regional and national media on Monday afternoon.
Hoeppner opened the morning taping a public service announcement for the Big Ten before addressing the media in a 15-minute question-and-answer segment. As Hoeppner spoke with the media, the players sat down for interviews with ESPN Plus and later joined their coach for one-on-one sessions with the television media.
The quartet moved onto interviews with ESPN GameDay before Hoeppner concluded the afternoon with an interview for ESPN Plus.
On Tuesday, the Hoosiers will wrap up the two days with the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon. The luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. with ABC Sports' Gary Danielson serving as the master of ceremonies.
The Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon annually draws some of the most interesting and talented names in college sports. The list of former Kickoff Luncheon attendees includes coaching legends like Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes along with each of the Big Ten's Heisman Trophy winners in the last 25 years - Archie Griffin, Desmond Howard, Eddie George, Charles Woodson and Ron Dayne. In all, over 500 of the Conference's finest players, more than 50 head coaches and 30,000 supporters have made the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon a yearly stop in their preseason college football schedule.
Below are some highlights from head coach Terry Hoeppner's media sessions:
"I really feel strongly about the senior class. They have shown tremendous leadership and enthusiasm. Some of those seniors are playing for their third head coach, but they have worked hard, and I give them an `A' for attitude. My hope is that we are successful and can get them `bowling" (going to a bowl game) in their final season."
"When I took the job, I was challenged to reach out to the students, alumni, the Hoosier nation. I did that. I have attended a total of 49 official IU functions. I have a sign in my office - `recruit em every day.' And it starts with the players - I told them from day one that they needed to walk, talk and think like champions in every thing they do. They are living up to that approach, and with the tremendous support that we have received from our fans, we'll be ready to go Aug. 8 (the first day of practice)."
"I am in favor of a 12-game schedule, because I feel that we do not get to play in enough games. Even in the spring, we have just a few scrimmages. We're always preparing to play. I am also in favor of keeping the bowl system the way it is. Bowl games are what makes college football unique."
