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Updated: August 18, 5:47 PM ET LoVecchio may spark Indiana offense By Herb Gould Special to ESPN.com |
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Indiana Hoosiers
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Coach: Gerry DiNardo (3-9, 2nd season) 2002 overall record: 3-9 Conference record: 1-7 Returning starters Offense: 7, Defense: 7, Kicker/Punter: 1 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Yamar Washington* (688 yds) Passing: Gibran Hamdan (2,115 yds) Receiving: Courtney Roby* (1,039 yds) Tackles: Herana-Daze Jones* (108) Sacks: Kris Dielman (5) Interceptions: Damien Jones* (3) Outlook: This shapes up as another trying year for the Hoosiers. They still only have 65 scholarship players, and the arrival of Notre Dame transfer Matt LoVecchio at quarterback should be tempered by offensive line issues. On the positive side, the Hoosiers had some encouraging moments in DiNardo's first season, notably a 32-29 win that stunned Wisconsin. They also return all of their running backs, a group led by junior Yamar Washington. Keep an eye on: QB Matt LoVecchio. His predecessor at QB, Gibran Hamdan, came out of nowhere to give IU hope. LoVecchio will be under the gun to do the same for this depleted program. Key game: The Hoosiers travel on Oct. 4 to Michigan State, another Big Ten program that's in a rebuilding mode. A good performance in East Lansing could help the Hoosiers the following week against Northwestern, which also should be one of IU's most promising conference matchups. It's a good year if. . .: Indiana finds a way to remain reasonably competitive. DiNardo, a savvy coach who can recruit, expects to have the Hoosiers closer to Big Ten strength next season. But this year could be troublesome, especially because IU plays its first two games on the road, at Connecticut and Washington, a situation that's good for frequent-flier miles but little else. Herb Gould covers the Big Ten for the Chicago Sun-Times.
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