How do you turn around a hellish football program?
The answer, as we have learned the last two years, is to love the hell out of it.
Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner lost his fight with brain cancer Tuesday. He was 59. (image courtesy of usatoday.com)
Rest easy, Coach.
Yeah, I saw that on Sportcenter last night. Very Sad indeed. Even as a life-long Boiler fan, I have to appreciate the re-vitalization Hep brought to IU… gonna miss that guy.
Amen.
It occurs to me that all those goofy-but-entertaining fake “traditions” that Hep installed in the IU football program have now suddenly become real traditions. There will be genuine pride and emotion when the players “Defend the Rock” this fall.
He’s gone much too soon, though.
LaFollette: Yup, I was just thinking that on Saturday. Those traditions are going to take on a whole new, and very real, meaning. If the Hoosiers can get off to a good start and channel the emotions early they might just make a minor bowl, which would be the best tribute to Hep that there could be.
As Matt said, I too have bee a life long Purdue fan but loved the excitement that Hoeppner brought to IU football. And as far as new traditions go, “The Walk” has to be one of my favorites in a long time.
