Terry Hoeppner Makes the Right Call

Below is the text of an email that I sent to Matt Hayes, the The Sporting News college football reporter. It is regarding a head coach that I admire quite a bit, Terry Hoeppner.

Mr. Hayes:

I have to respectfully disagree with you regarding Terry Hoeppner. You chararcterized him as a hot mid-major head coach who jumped
at the first big-program job offer that he received, Indiana. Your implication,
I believe, was that taking the Indiana job was a big mistake, and that he could
have held out for a better job.

I am a Miami grad and love MAC football. In the past three years, when a job opened at a major program, I had never heard Hoeppner's name mentioned once. Maybe you can let on as to which jobs those were. Most of the hot coaches from the mid-majors, it seems to me, are late 30-somethings or 40-somethings who have head coached in the lower ranks and who are offensive-minded coaches. Hoeppner was a career defensive coordinator who was a 50-something solid guy. He wasn't Urban
Meyer.

Hoeppner grew up in Indiana, went to college in Indiana (though not AT Indiana), and I take him at his word that he really wanted to coach the Hoosiers. I'm sure it was the best decision he could have made. It is a good BCS job near his home.

I am sure that he will run the Hoosiers the right way, building them with solid kids who work hard. It is going to take some time. Looks to me like the cupboard is a little barren at the present time.

Of course, the administration and the fans at IU may not give him the time he needs. But they fire coaches in the MAC, too. All you have to do is look at the rise and the fall of Gary Darnell at Western Michigan to realize that staying put at Miami has its risks, too. One injury to, say, Josh Betts, and you're looking at a 3-8 record . . . . I appreciate your time.

thankyouverymuch,

Old Cleat

Below is the link to the article (really a sidebar to an article) discussing head coaching prospects at mid-majors who will be prospects for BCS jobs. I pulled the quote concerning Gregg Brandon, which discusses Hoeppner's decision to move to Indiana.

http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/20050616/626096.html

Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green. The architect of Urban Meyer's offense at Bowling
Green, Brandon has further developed the system and has other MAC teams lifting
his schemes and pass sets. He has 20 wins in two seasons and has proved he can
develop a young, raw quarterback into a big-time talent (Omar Jacobs). Brandon
won't make the same mistake Terry Hoeppner made by diving into the first BCS job
that's offered. A MAC rising star at Miami (Ohio), Hoeppner is the new coach at
Indiana

Well, that's all for now.

thankyouverymuch,

Old Cleat