Indiana University Athletics
Women's Clinic A Huge Success
8/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The IU football coaching staff hosted the first women's clinic under head coach Terry Hoeppner today at Memorial Stadium, welcoming over 130 ladies to a behind-the-scenes look at the game of football. The clinic, organized by assistant coach Troy Douglas along with Hoeppner, donated the proceeds to benefit Jill's House, a local charity that provides residence for cancer patients and their caregivers near the Indiana University Cyclotron.
"We wanted to have fun with the ladies," Douglas said. "It was a day for them to learn the game and have a better understanding of it. It gave us a chance to divert the focus from the tailgating before a game, to more of the football aspect."
The women were exposed to everything from a first-hand look at the IU offensive and defensive playbook to a fashion show featuring the jerseys the Hoosiers will sport this season.
"We got a ladies' perspective from the women in the football office, so we could make sure the clinic appealed and was beneficial to the women," Douglas said.
Clinic attendee Lori Aiken and her daughter Kelly were not only here to learn more about the game, but said they were using the event as a mother-daughter outing.
"I am a huge IU football fan," Lori Aiken said. "My husband and I thought this would be a great birthday present for our daughter, so we came out here to have a good time. As far as coming to the clinic, I am interested about the game from a coaching aspect and wanted to get a look from their perspective."
"I was raised on football growing up in Bloomington," Kelly Aiken said. "I was just ready to see and meet the coaches, see how well they have brought the team together and got them prepared for the season."
Lori Aiken has lived in Bloomington the last 22 years and is a graduate of IU with a B.A. in sociology, while her daughter is a student at Edgewood High School.
Dolores Coleman, an IU graduate with a B.A. in library science, came to the clinic to get a greater knowledge of the game, even though she brings quite a resume of previous experience.
"Well, I played fullback," Coleman joked. "I was in the fan section back in the 50s, and I have always enjoyed following the Hoosiers."
Long-time IU football fans Bonnie Clendening, a life-long Bloomington resident, and Debbie Lorton, IU alumni, used the event as a way to get closer to the game that they have been exposed to all these years.
"I like football, my husband likes football, and I just wanted to know more about it," Clendening said. "I enjoy football to the point that I understand it a lot, but there is more that I wanted to know."
"I thought it sounded like a really interesting concept," Lorton said. "I had not made a commitment to come until I met some of the coaches at a IU alumni function, and once I met them I realized it would be a lot of fun."
Clendening, a long-time season ticket holder, has a family of IU graduates that includes her daughters Tammy (B.A. in education), Angie (nursing) and son Rob, who was in the Marching Hundred (IU's marching band) and graduated with a B.A. in political science and a master's in business. Clendening also is an IU employee, working in the communications and culture department.
Also on hand for the event was senior IU softball player Lauren Hines, who already is an avid Hoosier athletics supporter, but saw this as a chance to get people excited about the season.
"This is just a great idea," Hines said. "It is a great way to get people involved and excited about the upcoming season, and it was a lot of fun."
The day began with a welcome from Hoeppner, who could not be anything but pleased with the event's attendance and support.
"This is a good first for us to host this type of event," Hoeppner said. "I have had women come up to me today and say that these things are always for the men, so finally we are providing something for them too."
Following coach Hoeppner's welcome, the ladies got a chance to meet the rest of the coaching staff. The ladies then took a group picture on the field before kicking off the day's activities in the Hoosier Room, located at Memorial Stadium.
The women went through a rules session with a professional official followed by an opportunity to meet and chat with the coaches' wives and current IU players.
Leading the wives' contingent was Jane Hoeppner, who discussed everything from family life to pre- and post-game rituals. The women were able to hear from the wives throughout the session followed by a question-and-answer segment with the women behind the coaches.
"Life in my family has been like a continual football clinic," Jane Hoeppner said. "But we love the game, and most of all, my children and I love the coach."
The players' panel featured seniors Adam Hines (offensive line), Buster Larkins (cornerback), John Pannozzo (linebacker), Isaac Sowells (offensive line) and junior Lance Bennett (wide receiver).
While the players were bombarded with questions about the upcoming season, they assured the clinic attendees that this season will be exciting, and they should come out and watch.
"While we are excited about the season to start, we are fired up for training camp," Bennett said, "We have been working hard and want more than anything to do well and win some games."
IU alumnus Helen Butler enjoyed the chance to get an inside look at the lives of coaches' wives, and was excited about the Hoosiers chances this season as she met with the players.
"I think I can speak for everyone here," Butler said. "We are here today because we believe. But now after meeting you guys (IU football players), we really believe!"
Butler, a resident of Bloomington the last 39 years, attended IU for her masters in music education, and is now a retired teacher and avid IU football fan.
The ladies also got the chance to see the new uniforms the Hoosiers will feature this season along with a breakdown of all the Hoosier game-day equipment and uniforms. IU football players Victor Adeyanju (senior defensive end), Jahkeen Gilmore (junior wide receiver), Blake Powers (sophomore quarterback) and Kyle Killion (senior linebacker) were on hand to model the gear.
The women were provided a catered lunch by Chick-fil-A and got a look into the offensive and defensive setup the Hoosiers will employ this season.
Wrapping up the day, the attendees took tours of the Hoosier football facilities, including the lockeroom, weight room and practice fields, before being dismissed with closing remarks from IU football staff.
The attendees did not walk away empty-handed. While the women were armed with their newfound knowledge of the game, eventgoers received the opportunity to enter a raffle that featured everything from IU gear and apparel, to gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses.
A motto Hoeppner lives by that was made evident today is, "Recruit them everyday".
"Anything we can do to reach out is a plus for us," Hoeppner said. "This also is going to a good cause, with all the benefits going to Jill's House. Yet it comes down to this: today was geared toward recruiting them everyday."
All in all, Douglas was pleased with the outcome and knows Hoeppner's goal of recruiting all types of fans continued with this event.
"We feel if the wives have a better understanding of the game, the mothers and the daughters and their significant others will be more likely to purchase tickets, and vice-versa," Douglas said. "It has been the whole plan of coach Hoeppner all along to recruit the fans, and he has done a great job of bringing the community together and getting them excited about this football team."
