Indiana Hoosiers Football Tickets

From 1986-1993 under the tutelage of Bill Mallory, the Hoosiers participated in six bowl games but they have now gone through 11 straight losing seasons and are on their 3rd HC in that span. When Gerry DiNardo took over in 2002, the team suffered heavy attrition due to the coaching change and had just 65 scholarship players and a 3-9 season. In 2003 they upped that to 69 scholarship players and were 2-10. In 2004 they lost 3 close games in what could have been a winning season but turned out to be just 3-8 despite 17 returning starters. They did get their first win vs a ranked non-conf team on the road since 1973 when they knocked off Oregon and also beat #24 Minnesota but it came in front of the smallest home crowd in 40 years (22,282). The Hoosiers were outgained in conf play by 119.8 ypg. Terry Hoeppner inherited 13 returning starters from a team that could have been 7-4 and got the team off to its first 3-0 start since 1994. He renamed Memorial Stadium "The Rock" adding emphasis on their home games. They were fortunate to get past Nicholls St needing a TD pass with :47 left for the win. In the Big 10 opener, they were done in by 4 turnovers and a PR TD as they were only outgained vs Wisconsin by 8 yards. When they beat Illinois 36-13, they moved to 4-1 needing just two wins to get to theirfirstbowl since 1993. Trailing Iowa 24-14 they were int'd in the EZ but finished with a 446-425 yard edge. Indy did lead Minnesota 14-7 at the half and surprisingly that game was played in front of just 30,656. They lost their last six games and allowed 40+ points in each of their last five for the first time in school history. The defense had allowed just 355.8 ypg in the first five but 469 over the last six. The Hoosiers were outgained in B10 play by 115.4 ypg which was actually a better mark than Wisconsin (3rd worst). They also have 14 returning starters including QB Blake Powers, star WR James Hardy and are in the second year of Hoeppner's systems. Despite losing their top two rushers, with 8 starters back on offense, the Hoosiers should easily top last year's 22.5 ppg.

Indiana Hoosiers Football 2006 Schedule