BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Bill Lynch tried to do everything Terry
Hoeppner would have at the Indiana Hoosiers' first spring practice
Tuesday.
He met with reporters, discussed position moves and talked about
turning around a program that has not been to a bowl game since
1993.
Yet all the hope that usually springs up at the first sign of
warm weather was tempered by what was missing -- Hoeppner himself.
School officials announced Sunday that Hoeppner would skip the
spring workouts for health reasons, marking the third time in 15
months that the 59-year-old coach has temporarily left the team.
"It's not like the first time, that was quite a shock," said
Lynch, the associate head coach who is in charge while Hoeppner is
gone. "But knowing that he's not taken any time off from coaching
football through the season, and the recruiting season is quite a
grind, he needed a break.''
Hoeppner has undergone brain surgery twice -- in December 2005
and again last September. He had a tumor removed during the first
procedure, limiting his recruiting activities and ability to lead
offseason workouts.
Hoeppner also missed two games last season when doctors
conducted a follow up procedure for what was described as a
possible recurrent tumor. Test results, Hoeppner said later, showed
the best possible results, implying that doctors removed scar
tissue.
There was speculation late last season that Hoeppner may step
down because of his health, but he instead signed a two-year
contract extension. Indiana went finished 5-7 last year.
University officials have declined to give details about
Hoeppner's health, citing privacy concerns, except to say he has
not had any additional surgery since last year.
"My faith, my family and the Indiana football program are the
most important things in my life," Hoeppner said on Sunday. "In order to
serve them best and make a full recovery, I need to take some time
away to regain my strength and energy."
On Sunday night, when players returned from spring break,
Hoeppner met with his players to tell them he would use his time
off to regain his strength and energy before coaching again this
fall.
Some players remained hopeful that Hoeppner might return before
the Hoosiers' annual spring game April 14.
"There's no telling with coach Hep," receiver James Hardy
said. "He's not going to sit still unless he has to. You know last
year he was supposed to be out a month and he was back in 10 days.
Hopefully, we'll see him soon."
Tight end Blake Powers said Hoeppner looked fine at Sunday's
team meeting but acknowledged that it was difficult not having him
on the field Tuesday.
"It's hard because you're concerned about him," Powers said.
"All you can do is pray for him and hope everything turns out
OK."
Although Hoeppner is not expected to attend practice in person,
Lynch said coaches plan to regularly shuttle practice videos to
Hoeppner's house. The first drop-off was scheduled for Tuesday
night and included a personal request from the coach for film of
freshman punter Chris Hagerup from field level. Hoeppner usually
works with the punters himself.
"There's not a definite plan set, but you know how Hep is,"
Lynch said. "He'll know what's going on."