Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Announces 2006 Football Schedule
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 8, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The 2006 football season marks the fourth time in the 46-year history of Memorial Stadium that Indiana will play seven home games, Hoosier head coach Terry Hoeppner announced on Feb. 8. IU will kick off the 2006 campaign on Sept. 2 against Western Michigan, as the Hoosiers open with three of their first four contests at "The Rock."
Hoeppner made an immediate impact in his first year at the helm of the Hoosier program. In addition to leading Indiana to its first 4-1 start since 1994, Hoeppner rejuvenated an IU fan base that enjoyed a 39-percent increase in per game attendance, a 46-percent increase in overall season ticket sales and a 110-percent increase in student season ticket sales.
While the debut success is great, Hoeppner said that the program is just scratching the surface of its potential both on and off the field.
"It's easy to say that we are going to schedule 12 games in a season, but (Athletics Director) Rick (Greenspan) and (Associate Athletics Director for External Operations) Tim (Fitzpatrick) deserve the credit for making this happen," Hoeppner said. "It is a privilege to have seven home games. It is special for IU fans, for the campus and the city of Bloomington. We were fortunate to start some great Hoosier traditions last fall - `The Rock' and `The Walk to the Rock.' Just as we have great expectations for progress on the field, we're counting on our fans in `The Rock' to continue picking up momentum seven times a year."
IU season ticket holders can seize the momentum and save 10 percent off the regular adult season ticket price by renewing their seven-game package by April 17. After April 17, adult season tickets will be $210 each, youth season tickets will be $77 each and student season tickets will be $56 each.
Indiana opens with a Mid-American Conference opponent for the third straight season. The Western Michigan Broncos capped their 2005 season with a 7-4 record. IU has a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs, and when Hoeppner was head coach at Miami (Ohio) from 1999-2004, his team won both games against the Broncos. The Hoosiers have won 13 of their last 15 home season openers since 1980.
"(WMU head coach) Bill Cubit is doing a nice job with that program," Hoeppner said of the Broncos' second-year mentor. "He was the MAC Coach of the Year last season, and they had one of the best one-year turnarounds in the nation."
Indiana travels to Ball State on Sept. 9. This year's Western Michigan and Ball State games mark the first of respective three-year deals in which the Broncos and Cardinals will make two trips to Bloomington, and in turn, the Hoosiers will travel once each to Kalamazoo and Muncie.
Indiana returns home to host Southern Illinois on Sept. 16, for the first gridiron meeting between the two schools. The Salukis posted a 9-4 ledger in 2005, advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals before falling to eventual national champion Appalachian State, 38-24.
The Hoosiers continue their September home stand when Connecticut visits Bloomington on Sept. 23. The Huskies are one of the nation's top up-and-coming Division I-A programs, posting winning seasons in three of their first four Division I-A campaigns. Connecticut led the Big East Conference and ranked seventh nationally in total defense at 298.27 yards per game.
IU opens Big Ten play on Sept. 30 against Wisconsin. The Hoosiers are shooting for their third victory in the last four games against Wisconsin. On Oct. 12, 2002, Indiana overcame a 29-10 third quarter deficit to upend the then-No. 23 and eventual Alamo Bowl champion Badgers, 32-29 at Memorial Stadium.
Following an Oct. 7 visit to Illinois, Indiana entertains 2006 Outback Bowl participant Iowa on Oct. 14. The Hoosiers have beaten Iowa in two of the Hawkeyes' last three visits to Memorial Stadium.
Indiana hits the road again on Oct. 21 at Ohio State before returning to Bloomington against Michigan State on Oct. 28. IU is looking for its fourth Homecoming triumph in the last five years.
Indiana heads to Minnesota on Nov. 4 and closes out the home portion of the 2006 ledger on Nov. 11 against Michigan followed by the regular-season finale Nov. 18 at Purdue.
The Hoosiers are in the midst of their winter conditioning program and have their sights set on spring practice March 21 and the annual Cream and Crimson intrasquad game on April 15. Kickoff against Western Michigan may be six months away, but the tone is already in place.
"We call it `The Winning Edge.' It is winter ball. It is running around, changing direction and agility," Hoeppner said of the Hoosiers' off-season program. "It is something we have done in the past that is a team-building thing. They are competing, but doing it in a way that is unique and will certainly pay dividends this fall."
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2006 INDIANA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
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| Sept. 2 | Western Michigan |
| Sept. 9 | at Ball State |
| Sept. 16 | Southern Illinois |
| Sept. 23 | Connecticut |
| Sept. 30 | Wisconsin |
| Oct. 7 | at Illinois |
| Oct. 14 | Iowa |
| Oct. 21 | at Ohio State |
| Oct. 28 | Michigan State |
| Nov. 4 | at Minnesota |
| Nov. 11 | Michigan |
| Nov. 18 | at Purdue |
• Schedule is subject to change • Game times are predicated on Big Ten Conference television agreement with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Plus. Big Ten game times are often not announced until 12 days before kickoff.
