Indiana University Athletics
IU Football Hosts Fan Appreciation Day
8/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 5, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University football fans will have an opportunity to meet and greet head coach Terry Hoeppner, Hoosier players and coaching staff, personally select their own season ticket seat, purchase lunch and watch IU's only fall camp public intrasquad scrimmage at Indiana Football Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 20 at Memorial Stadium.
For the last four months, posters, and local newspaper advertisements have proclaimed that "Coach Hep Wants You." Hoosier fans have responded to the first-year head coach's request, purchasing a record number of season tickets that has helped create a statewide buzz about Indiana football. Thus, Hoeppner relishes the opportunity for his program to express its gratitude for the support.
"I have made 50 official public appearances since I have been at Indiana, and the response from fans is incredible," Hoeppner said. "But we are just scratching the surface of what we can do here. Everything is in place. I give my guys an `A' for the effort in offseason conditioning and spring practice, and my staff is doing an outstanding job recruiting. Season tickets are going fast, and we can't wait to get Memorial Stadium rocking this fall!"
Fan Appreciation Day activities begin at 11 a.m., with players available for autographs until 12 p.m. Kids Zone activities will be available for young Hoosier fans. Fans who have not purchased season tickets will have the opportunity to select their own seat at the stadium until 2 p.m. The IU ticket office staff will be on hand to escort fans to available seats and answer any questions. Concession stands will be open at 11 a.m.
Indiana will take the field at 1 p.m. for a practice session that will include the Hoosiers' lone scrimmage of fall camp. Hoeppner, his staff and the players will be available for autographs after the scrimmage.
Coach Hoeppner enters the 2005 season ranked eighth nationally in winning percentage (48-25, .657) for all active head coaches, and he has a wealth of veteran talent for his IU debut. Senior and three-year starter John Pannozzo moved from fullback to middle linebacker in the spring, allowing All-Big Ten selection Kyle Killion to return to his natural outside linebacker slot. Sophomore cornerback Tracy Porter was a first team preseason all-league selection by Street&Smith's, while seniors Victor Adeyanju and Russ Richardson headline a steady IU defensive line.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Indiana offensive line collectively has 98 career starts among them. In the backfield, Hoeppner will counter the experienced running of Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington with 242-pound Josiah Sears. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Blake Powers will throw to an impressive receiving corp that includes veteran Jahkeen Gilmore, young speedsters Ryan Skelton and Marcus Thigpen and 6-7 James Hardy.
Among special teams, Indiana boasts steady junior punter Tyson Beattie and All-American return specialist Lance Bennett. In addition to average a nation's best 28.07 yards per return, Bennett is an accomplished songwriter, composing several songs for Will Smith, including his latest hit, "Switch."
For more information on Indiana football tickets, please call the IU ticket office at 866-IUSPORTS.
