Indiana University Athletics
First and Ten With Don Fischer
8/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2005
Don Fischer enters his 33rd year as the "voice" of the Indiana football and has reason to believe that this year's team something special. Fischer recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about IU football and the excitement surrounding Coach Hoeppner's first season.
On the biggest change between this year and past years:
"I think the biggest change is in the attitude of the players. These guys seem to be having more fun, they are more focused and they are learning. I think this is a team that has to learn because they are in a whole new system. They have to really concentrate on what's going on out there because it's new terminology and a new way of going about things. Granted, they worked on it in the spring, but the fact that it is still very new to these guys and they haven't played a game yet, other than the Cream and Crimson game, they still have quite a bit to learn."
What do you like so far:
"I like the defense. I am surprised at how much better we are defensively. A lot of that has to do with the one position change of John Pannozzo. He (Pannozzo) is a natural born defensive player who made the switch from the offensive side of the football and has really taken to it like a duck takes to water. The defense seems to have more of an attitude, and we haven't seen the Indiana defense have an attitude in a long time."
On the atmosphere in comparison to other years:
"I think it's a little more like a Bill Mallory camp. It definitely has more of that feel to it. I would say, up to this point, that they haven't hit as much as Coach Mallory used to hit, but they do hit. Since they've been in pads, they'll get 10 point plays in a day and that's a big part of what you have to do at this level. I don't think you need to overdo it, but what I have seen over the years you have to hit some because these guys still have to learn technique and be able to develop that technique and do it before they go into a game.
On Coach Hoeppner:
"I've said this from the time I saw him in the spring until now and I've said it to virtually everyone I've come in contact with, I think he's a combination of Lee Corso and Bill Mallory. I think from the Corso side, he has the energy, enthusiasm and the PR skills Corso had, and the fiery competitiveness I saw in Bill Mallory since the day he arrived on campus. He's trying to institute the feeling that this team can win, because they can. I think the first three games are going to be very important to Indiana's success this year, no questions about it."
On his excitement for the upcoming season:
"I haven't looked forward to a football season at Indiana like I've been looking forward to this one in a long time. I am looking forward to seeing our new offense and I think it's going to be a fun offense to watch. I am looking forward to this defense making dramatic improvements because we haven't been a very good defensive team in the last eight years. I am looking forward to seeing Coach Hoeppner coach because we have not had that opportunity yet either. He's got me jacked and fired up, and I'm sure he's going to have this football team ready to go, too.
