Indiana University Athletics
1st and 10 with Don Fischer
8/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2006
Don Fischer enters his 34th season as the "voice" of the Indiana football team and is excited for the 2006 campaign. Fischer recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about the team and head coach Terry Hoeppner as he enters his second season at the helm of the Indiana football program.
On the differences between camp this year and last:
"What strikes me the most is that the team has been in the system for a year and there are no questions about what they should be doing or where they should be going. They have an understanding of what is expected of them. The coaches are more comfortable with the way the team is performing. The expectations are still high, but the adjustments have been made because the system isn't so new."
On preseason camp:
"This team has a confidence that I didn't sense last year. Last year, I think the team was excited to have a new coach, a new staff and a new system. This group seems to understand what it's going to take to be successful and that breeds a little confidence. The person I look to that has to perform for IU to do well this season is Blake Powers. He looks like a totally different player to me in the way he goes about his business on the field. This year, he knows exactly what is expected and understands the system better. It's really early in camp, but he looks to be the most improved in the sense of how he conducts himself. The group that looks the best to me is without a doubt the wide receivers. This is the most talented group of receivers that I have seen at Indiana in the 34 years I have been covering the Hoosiers. There is little doubt in my mind that this group has the talent and the depth to be the strongest part of this team's offense."
On the defense:
"Defensively, Tracey Porter has had a tremendous spring, and he has just added to that in the fall. He is as much of a leader of the defense as anyone. The defensive line and the linebackers are young. It's hard to make a judgment on the defense right now, but if they can perform like the coaches think they can, they will be pretty good."
On the coaching staff:
"The one thing that Coach Hoeppner has talked about when referring to his staff is that they have a terrific cohesiveness. These coaches all get along, all know what's going on and all like one another. They know what the head coach expects of them. They are in a similar spot as the team in that they are more comfortable with the system. The thing that the coaching staff has done that will make this team better is that they have a better feel for the personnel, therefore they have designed a better system to fit that personnel and that can lead to nothing but positives."
On the freshmen:
"There is no question there is a lot of talent there. The big offensive linemen are very good looking kids. I don't know if we have ever had an incoming class that looks as physically imposing as this group. These guys are all tall, big and look like they are ready to play. Mentally, they have never played in a college game. I think that the toughest position to learn is the offensive line. Essentially, those guys have to be doing their job every play or the offense breaks down. The question is how many of the new offensive linemen can fit in and help us. Camp will tell. I have to like this freshmen class, especially the seven blocks of limestone."
On the seven-game home schedule:
"Any time you get to play seven games at home you get a huge advantage. This team has to win six games to be bowl eligible. The Hoosiers are certainly capable of winning six games and that excites me."
