Indiana Football: Remembering coach Terry Hoeppner

Terry Hoeppner brought hope and enthusiasm to a football program that was struggling. Twelve years later we look at how his memory remains throughout the football program.

In 2004 the Indiana football program was stuck in a rut. They hadn’t been to a bowl game since 1993 and had just fired head coach Gary DiNardo who had won eight total games in three years. They needed to rejuvenate a dormant program. They needed someone with enthusiasm and thought Indiana was a dream job. They turned to Terry Hoeppner to try and do that and it paid off.

Hoeppner was two years removed from a 13-1 record at Miami (OH) and a number 10 ranking in the final AP polls. He helped Ben Roethlisberger get on the map and drafted and had the Redhawks going in the right direction.

He was an Indiana native who graduated from Franklin College, a small school just south of Indianapolis. He had strong ties to the state and had a great family (although I may be a little biased as he was my mom’s cousin).

He had worked his way up the ranks to head coach and his dream was to be the Hoosier head coach. The strong family he grew up in was evidenced by the type of coach he was. The Hoosier football players were his family. He treated them like his own and wanted the best for them.

Hoeppner fought to bring better facilities for not just the football program but the Hoosier athletic department as a whole. He was vital in bringing a new workout facility for the football and basketball program, which led to new baseball and softball fields. The north end zone of the football field was also closed off to make it feel more like a stadium. What he helped bring has reached so much further than just the football program.

There is a rock in the north end zone called Hep’s Rock that the players and coaches touch before every game. It gave the Hoosiers a tradition that they had never had. When Hoeppner introduced it, it gave them something to defend. The Hoosiers had life and the fans started to show up.

He breathed life into a program that was missing an identity. He brought that to the Hoosiers and began the mantra “Play 13”. He wanted so badly to take his beloved Hoosiers to a bowl game, but unfortunately, he didn’t get to witness it. He passed away before the 2007 season due to brain cancer, but his memory lived on.

The Hoosiers played inspired in 2007 and needing a win against rival Purdue in the last game, they kicked a game-winning field goal with Hoeppner’s wife, Jane, looking on. It was a fairy tale ending and a great tribute to Hoeppner. Even though he wasn’t able to see it, his fingerprints were all over the bowl season.

Since the 2007 season, the Hoosiers have made it to two more bowl games and while they have struggled at times, they have been more competitive. They have some upsets and played other teams very tough. They may have not completely got over the hump but they have more of an identity because of Hoeppner.

His time was cut way too short as Indiana football coach and on this Earth but what he left behind is still being felt today. Indiana is better off because of his time at the school.

Terry Hoeppner may be gone, but he will never be forgotten and for the IU football team, that is a good thing.