Indiana University Athletics
Head Coach Terry Hoeppner's Weekly Press Conference
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2006
Head coach Terry Hoeppner met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 7, for his weekly press conference in preparation for the upcoming game with Michigan at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 11. He was joined by senior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore and redshirt freshman running back Demetrius McCray.
Opening Statement
"As I was asked on the Big Ten teleconference, are we the same team that got the attention of the Big Ten with our performance against Michigan State, or are we the team that got beat at Minnesota. I told them, if I knew the answer to that, I would be able to patent it and sell it. The self-examination of the team actually started as soon as we got back. We had a team meeting when we got back on Saturday, then I kept the seniors after that and asked `what am I missing?' I wanted to know what was going on that I didn't see. My job was to get you ready to play, and obviously, I didn't do a very good job. They had some thoughts. They weren't making excuses. We had a couple of guys making their first flight. We decided to go in early and go to the Metrodome on Friday. We don't usually don't go to the stadium on Friday and do the walk through. In speaking with the people in Minnesota and teams that played there, having no experience playing in a dome and it was so close to our hotel, we decided to go in there. Was that a mistake? I was looking for anything. They say the lights are the biggest adjustment we had to make, but we were catching punts, catching kickoffs. We were only in there 45 minutes, so it wasn't an extensive workout, but it got us over the initial wow. Those of you who were there know, it's kind of interesting how you actually get to your locker room. At the time, we thought it was good that we did that (Friday walk-though). What that Friday experience did for us was get us used to the noise and the crowd. Our silent count and stuff was ready for the noise.
"The way the game started really got their team and the crowd into the game. It's not a judged competition and Minnesota had a lot to do with how we played. They played very well. They were an inspired team who played well and played hard. Bryan Cupito was at our camp when I was at Miami. He is a fifth-year senior who runs that offense very well. He is one of the best play-action passers. He is perfect for what they want to do. Some of their execution early on and our lack of execution especially, hurt us. Defense was the obvious. We spent hours trying to patch up and repair individuals.
"At this point in the season, we have our normal bumps and bruises. I was reminded of another reason why I want to start a more organized off-season campaign. With two of three games left, you don't want to play a real freshman, but we could. They have been in the weight room and practicing and they understand. I sat down with the seniors. They had some thoughts. We didn't put too much emphasis on what that game meant. I never verbalized anything close to that. It was unspoken. That game is over. We need to play well this week. It was truly a home field advantage for them. I told the seniors if they have thoughts, get them to me. I got some emails saying that they felt the same way they did after the Wisconsin game. That came from a special teams guy. He's not playing at his position, but he takes pride in his role and he embraces his role and knows it's important. It's a great group of seniors. They are going to graduate and meet that 100 percent graduation goal. This is very important to them. We have never been this close. There is that unspoken pressure. I told them there is no pressure. Pressure is going out and doing something you aren't prepared to do. The team was prepared. We didn't play with the same energy and enthusiasm we had been playing with. We need to do that this week. It's Senior Day. The seniors' parents have been invited to join them to walk in their sons' last Walk to the Rock. That's kind of an emotional thing. Then, they will be introduced prior to kickoff."
On the defense against Minnesota:
"Of the 60 plays they ran, we gave up the majority of those yards in 14 plays. The other 46 plays they averaged right at 2.9 yards per play. I do this on a regular basis. Let's tear the engine apart and see where exactly where the problems are. Part of it was the execution on the field and part of it is that we have to put them in better coverages, that's our responsibility as coaches. Of those 14 plays, they scored seven touchdowns. We didn't get stops when we needed it. They out kicked us. Their special teams out performed our special teams. I can't tolerate it. In a performance like that, that's my approach. I wanted to practice Saturday night rather than have a meeting. We are better than that. We have to execute with energy and enthusiasm, and we didn't do that."
On the mistakes:
"It was across the board. We were equal opportunity offenders. I'm not pointing fingers, because it starts with me. As Coach Walker would say, any time you point a finger, there are three pointing right back at you, so be a thumb pointer not a finger pointer. It starts with me, but I like already what we have done in terms of shoring it up. We've got to do some things in coverage. Some of the same calls what worked really well against Illinois, didn't work so well against Minnesota...It's my job as a coach to help them on the field. You don't enjoy a game like that, but it's something that I needed to know what really happened and what really went wrong and how we are going to get it fixed....Respect all, fear none. They are going to give their best shot, so we need to make sure they get our best shot. That was one of the last things I told the team before we took the field."
On the insight gained from last week's Ball State-Michigan game:
"Ball State just played very well. They had the ball and the opportunity to score the tying touchdown late in the game. I know our players have already watched that game. We pointed it out. With Ohio State and Illinois playing as close as they did. Anything can happen on any given Saturday. That's really true. Other good news is, the goal we set at the beginning of the season is still attainable. It's November and we are playing meaningful games. I think it was also reassuring for the seniors. Never lose hope."
On the Michigan defense:
"They are the No. 1 rush defense. They are very similar to the Chicago Bears defense. Their front seven are good, big, fast and strong players who play hard. I think the success of their team has a lot to do with the continuity on the coaching staff. It's a formidable defense. The team is kind of built around them. Their offense is playing very well."
Redshirt running back Demetrius McCray
On Michigan's defense:
"We are going to work against our defense and try to do what we can do. Our coaches are going to have a good plan for us, and we have to believe in the plan."
On Michigan:
"No one can hide the fact that they are a very good team. But they are human. People make mistakes, and we need to go out and play the best game we can and execute."
On the attitude of the team:
"We didn't play up to how we are capable of playing. We can't dwell on that game. We still have two more and our goal for the end the season is still capable of being reached. We can't give up on that. I know we have to win one of these two games."
Senior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore
On quarterback Kellen Lewis:
"Kellen is different from most freshmen. From the first game he started playing, we saw a lot of poise in him. As a quarterback you have to play with poise and take control. You are pretty much the head coach of the offense. When he came in and took charge and started making plays, we knew he was going to step up and make those plays."
On playing the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country this season:
"I think it's better to play them now to get the exposure. It's a great feeling and a great test. It's one of those games that everyone wants to play. A lot of kids don't get to play the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, but we have the opportunity. It's good to see how we fit in with the No. 1 and No. 2 teams."
On Senior Day:
"It has been a roller coaster ride since I have been here with the switching of coaches and getting used to other schemes. It's going to be very emotional for me. It's whether you go all out or don't go at all. I have to make a statement, and I am going to play my hardest and my best game, not just this game, but the next one too."
