First Look '09: Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana has tried, and come painfully close to, but just can't seem to beat Penn State. Penn State is 12-0 against the Hoosiers, even with some close calls like 2000, 2004 and 2007, all decided by four points or less. Unfortunately for Indiana, 2009 doesn't look like the year its luck changes in this series.

The Hoosiers probably won't make a bowl game this year. Yet, there is no doubt that this year's squad could pull a few surprises along the way. With talent up front to go along with the lingering optimism from the 2007 bowl season, Indiana might be the best worst BCS conference team in 2009.

Lynch Pin - Head Coach Bill Lynch took on a tough situation when Terry Hoeppner lost his battle with brain cancer in 2007. It was Hoeppner's dream for Indiana to reach a bowl game, "Play 13." Indiana did just that under Lynch's guidance that year. Lynch was the head man at Ball State, taking the Cardinals a MAC title and bowl game in 1996, before joining Hoeppner in 2005.

Most of the rest of Indiana's staff is from Hoeppner's group. OC Matt Canada was the QB coach, developing Kellen Lewis into one of the league's best playmakers before his departure this summer. The co-DCs are Brian George and Joe Palcic. The Hoosiers' defense has shown improvement and a talent upgrade under their watch, but injuries masked any progress in 2008.

Tough Trenches - Indiana enters 2008 as the only Big Ten team with two First Team All-Big Ten defensive ends in the starting lineup. Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew return this season, having traded the conference honors in 2007 (Middleton) and 2008 (Kirlew). With the return of linebackers Will Patterson and Matt Mayberry, Indiana boasts one of the best front-sevens in the Big Ten. 2007 All-Big Ten safety Austin Thomas also leads a secondary that welcomes back three starters from 2008. This could be Indiana's best defense in years, if not decades.

On offense, it will be up to QB Ben Chappell to use last year's starting experience (replaced an injured Lewis) to keep the offense functional. The Hoosiers return five of their top seven receivers, and 4/5 of the offensive line.

No Backing Down - Usually, teams that aren't very good, or are in a construction stage, tend to schedule easy opponents to rack up confidence-building wins. Not Indiana. When faced with an open date to fill on Oct. 10, the Hoosiers locked up BCS opponent Virginia for a game in Charlottesville.

Indiana should have a nice warm up opener hosting Eastern Kentucky (FCS), because it doesn't get easier. Western Michigan comes to Bloomington, followed by the Hoosiers traveling to Akron. September ends with a nice trip to Michigan. Then comes the October gauntlet: Ohio State, at Virginia, Illinois (Homecoming), at Northwestern and at Iowa. The Hoosiers are usually good for one mammoth upset each October, but this time the situation looks pretty dire.

If Indiana can't pull one off in October, it could be until the finale against Purdue that the Hoosiers can win again. After the brutal October stretch, Indiana hosts Wisconsin, then travels to Penn State before wrapping it up battling for the Old Oaken Bucket. Indiana might be a better team in 2009, but the record may not show it.

From enemy territory: This week, John from the Crimson Quarry was kind enough to talk a bit about Indiana.

What's one positive about this year's Hoosiers?

CC: Experience on the defensive side. Defensive ends Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew, linebackers Will Patterson and Matt Mayberry, and safeties Nick Polk and Austin Thomas have multi-year starting experience. Last's year's defense was horrid, at least in part because of injuries, but it's now or never for these guys.

What's one negative about this year's Hoosiers?

CC: Loads of question marks on the offensive side of the ball at the skill positions. QB Ben Chappell has been good at times, including in IU's upset of Northwestern last year, but overall he was a 52 percent passer. RBs Bryan Payton and Demetrius McCray have been good backups, but neither has ever been "the man." Redshirt freshman RB Darius Willis was Indiana's 2007 Mr. Football and played very well in the spring game, but has never seen college game action. Receivers Damarlo Belcher, Tandon Doss, and Terrence Turner have shown glimmers, but IU's top two receivers from 2008 are gone. To be any good, IU's offense has to get substantial contributions from guys who have never been in that position.

Tell us something most casual fans might not know about this year's Hoosiers.

CC: While the casual Hoosier fan knows it, Penn State fans might not be aware that IU recently completed a substantial end zone addition to the football stadium. Because of the demolotion of the rickety old end zone bleachers, the addition will increase the capacity only by only a few hundred seats, but the program facilities for players and coaches, including the NCAA's largest weight room, and the general appearance of the stadium will make IU an easier sell to recruits--not an easy sell, certainly, but easier.

For more on Indiana:

Indiana 2009 Schedule
Complete Spring Game Coverage
Memorial Stadium Renovations
First Look '08: Indiana

More from First Look '09:
Ohio State Buckeyes
Northwestern Wildcats
Michigan Wolverines
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Illinois Fighting Illini
Iowa Hawkeyes
Temple Owls
Syracuse Orange
Akron Zips