Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Open Hoeppner Era Against Central Michigan
9/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2005
Central Michigan Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana Hoosiers open up the Terry Hoeppner era against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Friday night. IU faces the Mount Pleasant squad at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU with Craig Coshun and Gene Stallings doing play-by-play and color. The game can also be heard on the IU Radio Network with Don Fischer (p-b-p), Joe Smith (pre game, post game, halftime) and Pete Compise (analysis) on the call.
Setting the Scene
On Dec. 17, 2004, Terry Hoeppner was named the 26th head football coach in Indiana history. In the past nine months. Hoeppner has assembled a quality coaching staff, and collectively, they signed 24 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent and enjoyed a productive spring and fall camp. Furthermore, Hoeppner made more than 50 public appearances statewide, resulting in a 26 percent increase in overall season ticket sales and a buzz about the Hoosier football program that IU has not seen in more than a decade.
Nine months of eager anticipation culminates on Sept. 2, when Hoeppner and the Hoosiers open the 2005 season at Central Michigan (ESPNU and the IU Radio Network).
You will not find anyone more ready than IU's first-year head coach.
"Three of my most favorite days are Signing Day, the first day of spring practice and the season opener," Hoeppner said. "Not only do I give my guys an `A' for effort and enthusiasm throughout camp, but we have made a lot of progress on both sides of the ball."
The Central Michigan Series
Indiana heads to Mount Pleasant looking for its third straight series win against Central Michigan. The Hoosiers have prevailed in the first two meetings of the series. IU posted a 39-29 victory on Sept. 21, 2002, and followed that with a 41-10 victory on Sept. 4, 2004. Terry Hoeppner is making his Indiana head coaching debut in familiar territory - Kelly-Shorts Stadium. As a head coach,
Returning Statistical Leaders
Here is a look at Indiana's returning stat leaders:
Rushing - Chris Taylor, 329 yards, 4.0 avg.
Passing -Blake Powers, 9-22-2-98 yards
Receiving - Jahkeen Gilmore, 23-308 yards
Tackles - Kyle Killion 107, 16.5 TFL
Scouting Central Michigan
Central Michigan returns 37 letterwinners and 16 starters from a 2004 club that finished 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference West Division. Head coach Brian Kelly is in his second season in Mount Pleasant after 13 seasons at the helm of NCAA Division II Grand Valley State.
The Chippewas return six starters each on offense and defense. The defense is anchored by 6-3, 257-pound defensive end Daniel Bazuin, a first team all-league pick who is also on the Watch List for the Lombardi and Nagurski Awards.
Offensively, senior quarterback Kent Smith directs the CMU attack. The 6-5, 215-pound Smith threw for 2,284 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for another 351 yards in 2004. The 2,635yards ranks as the second-best single-season offense total in school history.
IU vs. MAC
Indiana owns a 26-4-1 (.855) mark against Mid-American Conference programs. In addition to a 2-0 record against Central Michigan, the Hoosiers are 2-0 against Ball State, 1 0against Eastern Michigan, 10-3-1 against Miami (Ohio), 4-1 against Ohio, 3-0 against Toledo and 2-0 against Central Michigan.
Hoosier Openers
This marks the second time in three years that Indiana opens the season on the road. Ironically, the Hoosiers' last road lid-lifter marked the earliest season opener in school history - Aug. 30, 2003 at Connecticut.
Indiana is looking to win its fifth season opener in the last eight years.
Sept. 4, 2004 - Indiana 41, CMU 10
Aug. 30, 2003 - Connecticut 34, Indiana 10
Aug. 31, 2002 - Indiana 25, William & Mary 17
Sept. 6, 2001 - N.C. State 35, Indiana 14
Sept. 9, 2000 - N.C. State 41, Indiana 38
Sept. 4, 1999 - Indiana 21, Ball State 9
Sept. 12, 1998 - Indiana 45, WMU30
