After a successful run at Miami (Ohio), Terry Hoeppner is graduating to what is the football coaching equivalent of an oral final in quantum physics.

Trying to turn the Hoosiers around has been one of the most difficult tasks in college football. After Bill Mallory had some success with the Hoosiers in the 90s, Cam Cameron and Gerry DiNardo have fallen flat on their faces.

Hoeppner has to completely rebuild the offense - as well as the attitude - on this beleaguered team. QB Matt LoVecchio, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and WR Courtney Roby have all moved on and it will take some time for the offense to become a legitimate Big Ten threat.

Hoeppner had a 48-24 record in six seasons at Miami and he had particular success at the QB position, where he helped develop Ben Roethlisberger into an NFL first-round draft choice and a rookie sensation. Hoosier fans are silently praying that he can work a similar miracle with QB Blake Powers or redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Vlahogeorge.

Chris Taylor will have the inside track on the RB spot since Green-Ellis announced he was leaving the program in January. Taylor ran for 329 yards and three touchdowns and showed a few flashes, but has not proven that he can be a consistent force running the ball.

Roby was clearly the man at the WR spot last year and the Hoosiers have to find a legitimate replacement at the No. 1 spot. Jahkeen Gilmore seems to have a decent chance of filling that role. He comes into his senior season after catching 23 passes for 308 yards with two touchdowns. Those aren't huge numbers, but he did catch an 80-yard TD pass last year and that shows he has the ability to break the huge play.

Even though the Hoosiers have lost FS Herana-Daze Jones to graduation, the return of MLB Kyle Killion, DE Kenny Kendal and CB Buster Larkins means the Hoosiers should be stronger on the defensive side of the ball than they are on offense. Killion has great range in the middle and the instincts to become a star this year. He had 107 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks a year ago.

Give credit to Hoeppner for taking this job. It shows he's not the least bit afraid of a challenge - and this is a major one.

BUILDING BLOCKS: LB Kyle Killion is a legitimate stud anchoring the defense. He was second on the team in tackles behind FS Herana-Daze Jones. Killion is a very solid tackler who closes well when he comes in on the blitz. He could be a double-digit sacker this year. CB Buster Larkins had 45 tackles and nine passes defensed a year ago. If the Hoosiers are going to do anything this year it will be the result of their defense. The LB core and the secondary appear to be the leading areas.

COACHING CAROUSEL: Athletic director Rick Greenspan couldn't take any more after Purdue obliterated the Hoosiers 63-24 in the season finale and he fired Gerry DiNardo. He brought in Terry Hoeppner to turn the situation around after his six-year run at Miami (Ohio) -- long known as a cradle of coaches. Matt Canada, a holdover from the DiNardo era, will serve as the passing game coordinator. Brian George and Joe Palcic will serve as the team's co-defensive coordinators.

SCHEDULE SITUATION: This is a minefield for Hoeppner. While there are winnable games in the first half of the season - Central Michigan, Kentucky and Northwestern - the second half is without pity. Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue could all issue fearful beatings. Hoeppner is clearly a man who is not afraid of a challenge.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I talked to Randy Walker at Northwestern and John Peterson at Ohio State, about if I could win at Indiana. To a man, they all said you've got to be kidding. I talked to Randy Walker and it was double overtime with them. He said that we have great material here and Indiana can win. The other good thing is that we don't play you for two years. Walk and I go way back. I appreciate him. The other coaches said the same thing." - Head coach Terry Hoeppner on the prospects for winning at Indiana. He was encouraged by Big Ten coaches and decided to come to Indiana and turn things around for the Hoosiers.

STARS OF 2005: LB Kyle Killion - Not only is he the best player on the defensive side of the ball, he is also a leader. His 16.5 tackles for loss demonstrate that he has the kind of instincts needed to create big plays.

CB Buster Larkins - He understands the nuance of one-on-one coverage and is a good hitter for his size (5-11 and 185 pounds). While he has demonstrated the ability to break up passes (9 in 2004), he needs work on holding on to the ball. He had just two interceptions last year.

TOP NEWCOMERS: The biggest impact could come from freshman RB Demetrius McCray, who rushed for 1,642 yards and 29 touchdowns as a Hillsborough (Fla.) County high school star. He is also a legitimate receiver. If he can handle the adjustment to college, look for Terry Hoeppner to give him a major opportunity to play a big role in the Indiana offense.

ROSTER REPORT: Two of the team's best players from last year have left the program. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (794 yards and 5 TDs) and LB Paul Szczesny (71 tackles, 5 passes broken up) have moved on and that can't help the development of the Hoosiers. While neither one is a star, both made legitimate contributions last year.