Indiana University Athletics
Coach Hoeppner Quotes
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 17, 2005
On dedicating this game to his mentor, Coach Stewart "Red" Faught:
TH: This game is for coach Faught. He was a great man, great coach, and I wouldn't be where I am today without him and all that he did for me. I always told him that he had forgotten more about football than I will ever know. He passed away (Friday), and his influence is still around, and will be for a long, long time.
On the well-rounded performance of the team:
TH: I am very proud of this football team. We said we need to get the running game going, and we got it going the way we needed to. I have been high on our defense since spring practice and they came to play tonight. Kentucky is a very talented football team and we did what we needed to. Special teams played well, Lance Bennett almost had a touchdown on a return. It was a total team effort and a total team win and a great win for this program.
On the atmosphere during the game:
TH: The students were great. "The Walk" number two was better than "The Walk" number one. The feeling we got when we came down 17th street and then walked in front of Assembly Hall and turned toward Memorial Stadium was special. I've said that crowds help win games, and this crowd helped us win this game. The fight song with the fans at the end of the game was great. The atmosphere at the stadium is just like our team, it just keeps getting better.
On the progress of the team:
TH: It is a work in progress right now. We have improved from week to week. The running game is getting better. Blake Powers has shown improvement from one week to the next and is turning into a good quarterback. It is encouraging for the coaches because we make adjustments and the guys keep executing.
On the team's scrappy play late in the game
TH: Late in the game I asked the guys a rhetorical question. `The score is 38-14. How do you play the rest of the game?' I said that, and this group of guys just don't quit. We lost Jahkeen (Gilmore) early in the game and we just kept fighting. We have a bye week this week but nobody is taking a vacation. We will give the team a couple of days off and then hit the practice field hard next week.
