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IU Coach Terry Hoeppner

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Wishing for a complete and speedy recovery for Terry Hoeppner. Indiana's Head Coach Terry Hoeppner will undergo brain surgery for the second time in less than a year for a "possible recurrent tumor" according to neurosurgeon Dr. Marshall Poor. Asst. Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Bill Lynch will serve as Head Coach in Hoeppner's absence.

IUHOOSIERS.COM
 
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Get well Coach..

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Hoeppner leaving Hoosiers for second brain surgery

9/12/2006, 6:57 p.m. PTBy MICHAEL MAROT
The Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) ? Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner is facing brain surgery for the second time in less than nine months, but still hopes to be back on the football field soon.
Hoeppner, who is in his second season as Hoosiers coach since leaving Miami of Ohio, was to have brain surgery Wednesday morning in Bloomington to remove a possible tumor from the right side of his head. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, during which assistant head coach Bill Lynch will fill in.
Doctors fear it's a recurrence of the tumor they removed in December from Hoeppner's right temple, he said. But nobody's sure whether the growth, detected in a routine scan Friday, is cancerous.Doctors got the results over the weekend but waited to meet with Hoeppner until Monday ? after the Hoosiers erased a 17-0 first half deficit to beat Ball State 24-23, their biggest comeback since 2002, he said.
"We're hoping it's scar tissue, that's what our prayer is," Hoeppner, 59, said during a Tuesday evening news conference.
"I said 'Can we do this in January or February?' And they said that's probably not a smart thing. So I'm deferring to their expertise."
Hoeppner told his players before their afternoon practice. Afterward, receiver Lance Bennett, one of the team's captains, gathered the team in prayer on the field.
"When we got in there and heard that news, it was shocking. ... But he's upbeat, so it doesn't make it as depressing," Bennett said.
Hoeppner spent 19 seasons at Miami, the last six as head coach. He was 48-25 overall and led the RedHawks six straight winning seasons and their first bowl appearance in 30 years.
Jim Tressel, coach of top-ranked Ohio State, said Tuesday that Hoeppner appeared well during a coaches meeting in May and seemed better when they met again in July at the funeral for Northwestern coach Randy Walker, one of Hoeppner's close friends and his predecessor at Miami. Walker died of a heart attack at 52.
"He's real positive, upbeat, he's a player's coach, highly competitive," Tressel said of Hoeppner. "When the game starts, he's as excited as anyone in the stadium."
Even Hoeppner said he felt well Tuesday ? a vast difference from the headaches that prompted him to seek medical treatment in December. The headaches began on a trip to Cleveland to watch his prized pupil, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and Miami alumnus Ben Roethlisberger.
After returning to Bloomington on Dec. 26, Hoeppner underwent tests and had surgery the next day.Roethlisberger suffered a mild concussion and multiple facial fractures in a motorcycle accident in June and recently had an appendectomy.
"Ben is the only person I called outside the family," Hoeppner said Tuesday, his voice quivering slightly. "He first said congratulations on the win and get another win this week. And call me when you get out of the hospital."
The Hoosiers' were 4-7 in Hoeppner's first season and are 2-0 for the third straight year. It's the first time Indiana has opened three straight seasons with back-to-back wins in 100 years. Hoeppner is 54-32 in seven-plus seasons as a head coach.
Lynch promised to keep Hoeppner's rebuilding project going until Hoeppner can return.
"He told me that, one, he didn't want this to be an excuse, and, two, he didn't want this to be a distraction, so that will be our challenge," Lynch said. "We appreciate all he's done as staff and we're going to do everything to keep it going."
 
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Hoeppner is resting following his brain surgery.

si.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- Interim coach Bill Lynch told his Indiana players Wednesday afternoon that head coach Terry Hoeppner was resting after undergoing about two hours of brain surgery.

The Hoosiers honored Hoeppner with a spirited practice as they prepare to face Southern Illinois at home Saturday.

"We tried to focus on football, that's what coach Hep wanted us to do," quarterback Blake Powers said. "As a team we had to come together."
Hoeppner was expected to miss two to four weeks after having surgery to remove a possible tumor from the right side of his brain Wednesday morning. Doctors were uncertain what caused the growth that was found during a routine MRI exam Friday.

It was the second time in less than nine months that Hoeppner had the procedure. In December, he had surgery to remove a tumor from his right temple.

About 15 minutes before the team's meeting, Lynch got the news Indiana's coaches and players were waiting for.

"Coach Hoeppner came through this morning's surgery well and is resting comfortably with his family at his side," IU athletic director Rick Greenspan said at the Hoosiers' practice Wednesday. "We are eager to assist the Hoeppners in any way we can and look forward to having Terry back on the Indiana sidelines."

Before and after Tuesday's practice, Hoeppner had urged his players not to get distracted by the surgery, which he had termed elective and
outpatient.

Some said that wouldn't be easy.

"I'm not going to put it in the back of my mind. I'm going to use it to get excited, to play for coach Hep," defensive end Kenny Kendal said. "We're going to keep it up and use it to get excited because he's going to be watching, he's going to want us to win."

On Wednesday they responded with what Lynch described as a spirited effort.

Those outside the program also kept Hoeppner in their thoughts.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played for Hoeppner at Miami of Ohio and is a close friend, said the two had talked before Wednesday's surgery.

"He's like a father to me. I love him to death," Roethlisberger said. "I know he'll be OK because he's a fighter and a competitor. The way he made it out to me, it's not as serious as everyone's making it out to be. He'll be OK. He's a fighter."

If Hoeppner had his way, he might do more than watch.

When asked whether he would coach from his bed, Hoeppner smiled and responded, jokingly, that he would keep reporters apprised of the situation.
Lynch didn't brush it off so quickly.

"One of the things we talked about was there would be a guy watching tape Saturday or Sunday, whenever he gets it, and he'll be grading them," Lynch said. "He might call during the game, too, I don't know."
Players expressed confidence in Lynch, who has 14 years of head coaching experience.

"He (Hoeppner) is our team captain, and we've got coach Lynch stepping in, who is also a head coach coaching next to a head coach," receiver Lance Bennett said. "I feel everybody has to step their role up."

Greenspan took on the role of supporter at Tuesday's news conference announcing the surgery. He offered prayers for Hoeppner and his family and urged Hoosiers fans to do the same. Afterward, Greenspan, who often cites the importance of rebuilding an Indiana program that hasn't been to a bowl game since 1993, made his priorities clear.

"Football is a huge part of what we do, but it's not who we are," he said.
"We talk about dealing with adversity and that varies in significance. Really, what we want to do first and foremost, is what we can for Terry and his family."
 
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Good news for Coach Hoeppner.

usatoday

Hoeppner plans to rejoin IU football team SundayPosted 9/20/2006 3:54 PM ET

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) ? Indiana University football coach Terry Hoeppner said he plans to rejoin his football team on Sunday, less than two weeks after brain surgery.

That would be in time for the Sept. 30 game against Wisconsin.

"Right now, my target is Sunday," the 59-year-old said Wednesday. "I'll be back with the team Sunday and be ready for the Big Ten season."
Hoeppner had surgery Sept. 13 in Bloomington and expected to miss the next two to four weeks. He had considered waiting until the end of the season for the surgery but decided to proceed immediately. He made a special appearance at the board of trustees meeting Wednesday to share his views on proposed improvements to the football stadium.

"I'm honored to be here," he said. "168 hours ago I was in surgery. I'm honored to be anywhere today."

A day after the surgery, Indiana athletic Director Rick Greenspan asked Hoeppner to attend the trustees meeting, and the coach said he wouldn't miss it.

"I told him don't count me out," Hoeppner said. "I'm going to make this meeting. This is how strongly I feel about the facility, and also my passion not only for football, but for the athletic department and the university."
It was the second time in less than nine months Hoeppner has needed the procedure, although doctors were uncertain whether the new growth is a recurrence of the tumor that was removed in December. He said he feels better.

"I feel great," he said. "The nurses are taking care of me."

Assistant head coach Bill Lynch replaced Hoeppner on an interim basis and lost 35-28 to Division I-AA Southern Illinois last Saturday. The Hoosiers host Connecticut this Saturday.
 
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si.com

Hoeppner returns to IU
Coach says doctors removed scar tissue, not a tumor

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- Indiana's Terry Hoeppner walked into his weekly news conference and got right back to business.

He took off his trademark hat and tried to talk about football Tuesday, even if everyone else wanted to know about his health.

"I love coaching football games," he said. "I enjoy the preparation, I enjoy the recruiting, but my passion is coaching football games, so it's good to be back."

Hoeppner said doctors removed scar tissue, not another tumor from his brain on Sept. 13.

He said he wasn't taking pain medication, had no restrictions and that doctors gave him, his wife, Jane, and his family the best possible news.

"The surgery happened to be on Jane's birthday, and so she got scar tissue for her birthday," he said. "Right now, I'm good to go, and I'm ready to go."

Hoeppner temporarily turned over the reins of the Hoosiers to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Bill Lynch two weeks ago after announcing he would undergo his second brain surgery since December. Doctors said then they would remove a possibly recurrent tumor, which turned out to be scar tissue, according to Hoeppner.

The prognosis: Hoeppner would miss two to four weeks.
But the amazingly resilient 59-year-old coach made sure his absence was on the shorter end, and he's to coach them against Wisconsin on Saturday.
Aside from the new scar on the right side of his head, it appeared as if little had changed.

The major issues confronting Indiana -- a quarterback controversy, questions about the Hoosiers' top player, James Hardy, and a beleaguered ground game -- were still front and center when Hoeppner returned Tuesday.

Even consecutive losses to Southern Illinois and Connecticut didn't faze the usually optimistic coach.

"I came up with this great plan for this week," Hoeppner said. "I told the guys 'We're going to coach better this week and you're going to play better this week. We're in the Big Ten now, so let's go do it."'

Players welcomed the message but were more impressed by the messenger.

"It's amazing to see him come back in two weeks," said receiver James Hardy, who is also returning to the team this week after a two-game suspension. "Mine was minor compared to his. But I wanted to make sure my coach was all right. He's more than a coach to me, he's a friend."
While doctors told Hoeppner to spend at least two weeks recovering, Hoeppner couldn't stay away from his passion even that long.

Three days after surgery, he attended the Southern Illinois game in one of the school's luxury suites.

Last Wednesday, he advised the board of trustees about a proposed $55 million upgrade of athletic facilities -- something he called essential to the program. The trustees approved the project Friday.

On Saturday, Hoeppner again attended the game at Memorial Stadium, and the next day, he resumed coaching duties.

Clearly, though, this was no typical news conference.

Hoeppner opened by thanking the hundreds of coaches in the high school, college and professional ranks who sent him notes offering support. He also thanked his family, coaching staff, players and the Indiana administration for aiding his recovery.

"I challenged them (the players) with the plan," he said of Sunday's team meeting. "I didn't talk to them real long, but I had some personal things to say. ... You know they've got a lot going on as a college student and a college player and any outside distractions are probably not the best thing I could have done. But if I had it to do all over again, I would."

Players believe Hoeppner's return has already provided an emotional boost to a team that seemed dispirited after a second straight poor performance in Hoeppner's absence.

"We're excited to get him back," safety Will Meyers said. "Any time your leader goes away for a little bit of time and then comes back, there's a lift."
But Hoeppner won't have much of a grace period.

The first decision will be what to do at quarterback when the Hoosiers (2-2) face Wisconsin this Saturday. Indiana rotated Blake Powers and Kellen Lewis throughout last Saturday's game against Connecticut, a strategy that didn't work well as the offense never really got in sync.

Indiana's poor rushing game also has caused consternation. UConn held the Hoosiers to zero rushing yards Saturday, and Indiana is the only Big Ten team averaging fewer than 139 yards per game on the ground. The Hoosiers are at 73.5.

It's not what Indiana players had in mind when Hoeppner instructed them before the surgery not to use his absence as a distraction or an excuse.

But now the Hoosiers have an opportunity to give Hoeppner a more meaningful welcome back gift.

"It's great to see him back," Meyers said. "It's great to have our leader back, especially after losing two in a row."
 
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Dispatch

Focused Hoosiers staring at bowl bid
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS

An October surprise has set up Indiana for what could be its most meaningful November in more than a decade.
One more victory would help the Hoosiers end the Big Ten?s longest bowl drought. All coach Terry Hoeppner wants his players to do now is keep things in perspective in the final three games.
"It?s one of those where you?re almost there, so you don?t slow down," he said yesterday. "You sprint, you turn up the juice, turn up the heat. I?ve had kids come in and say they?ve looked at extra tape. We are truly hungry, and we?re not satisfied."
Hoeppner could not have asked for a better response to the 46-21 rout of Michigan State on Saturday that put Indiana on the cusp of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1993.
On Sunday, Hoeppner said his players ran quicker times in drills than they have all season and that the Hoosiers (5-4, 3-2) seemed willing to work overtime in the film room.
The rallying cry for the Hoosiers all season has been to play 13, a not-so-subtle reference to making a bowl game after finishing their 12-game schedule. After winning three of their past four games, Indiana has a chance.
A month ago, the prospects seemed bleak.
When Hoeppner took a two-week break to undergo his second brain surgery in less than nine months, the Hoosiers reacted with consecutive losses to Southern Illinois, Connecticut and Wisconsin, which led 52-0 before pulling its starters midway through the third quarter. Even Hoeppner was speechless after that blowout.
One month later, Indiana could be the nation?s most implausible bowl candidate.
 
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Hoep could have Indiana in a bowl game for the first time in 13 years and kicked a tumors ass in his spare time. If he doesn't win every single Coach of the Year honor available, it would be a crime.

He had TWO brain surgeries in one year, refused pain meds the second time, and went right back to work. Remember that next time you call in sick. :tongue2:
 
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