BLOOMINGTON - No, Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell has not let the euphoria over moving into what is, in essence, a brand-new Memorial Stadium affect his judgment.

Yes, he really did mention the Rose Bowl while talking about this season, negative prognosticators be darned.

“The Rose Bowl is our goal, as always,” he said.

And then he offered perspective.

“The Rose Bowl is the goal of every (Big Ten) team,” he said.

Goals are fine, but reality shows that IU returns 16 starters from a 3-9 team decimated by injuries. That includes sophomore receiver Damarlo Belcher, the former North Side standout who caught 25 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns in his Cream ‘n Crimson debut.

None of that impresses the experts or deflates the Hoosiers. In these anything-is-possible August days, who knows where college's biggest turnaround will come?

“It was a humbling season,” Chappell said, “so we're taking it one game at a time. As of right now, our (season-opening) Thursday night game against Eastern Kentucky is our main focus.”

Last year's return-to-bad-football form (losing records in 13 of the last 14 years) following an Insight Bowl appearance stung, and if you could blame it on overwhelming injuries to the offensive line and defensive secondary, well, nobody wants to hear excuses.

In fact, an optimist could see the silver lining that it's time for the Hoosiers to get a break.

“The atmosphere feels great right now,” defensive end Jammie Kirlew said. “Most of the worst things that can happen happened last year. This year has to be better.”

Last year's adversity only toughened IU's resolve, Kirlew added.

“We did a great job in the offseason. We're more resilient so if anything bad does happen, we're more prepared for it. We have better depth, better attitudes, a better atmosphere. No matter what happens, we'll be all right.”

The Hoosiers have tweaked the spread offense with a pistol formation that offers power running. That's good news for senior tailback Bryan Payton, a former Concordia standout, as well as the other running backs, including highly touted redshirt freshman Darius Willis.

Chappell is the starting quarterback now that Kellen Lewis is no longer on the team for disciplinary reasons. His career stats aren't overwhelming (he's completed 81 of 155 passes for 1,015 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions), but his leadership and enthusiasm are contagious.

The key is the offensive line. Last year seven lineups and nine linemen were used as injuries mounted. Seven of those linemen totaling 84 starts are back, giving IU one of the nation's most experienced offensive lines.

Add a veteran defense that includes one of the nation's most potent pass-rushing defensive end combinations in Kirlew and Greg Middleton (36.5 career sacks between them) and no wonder Hoosiers bristle at the mention of last-place predictions.

“It's definitely a motivator,” Kirklew said. “That's almost expected, though. I don't think they (the experts) looked into the talent we have coming back. It's our job to show them why they made a mistake.

“Things will change for the positive. It's up to us.”

Added Chappell: “We don't pay attention to (preseason polls) that much. We see them. They don't make us happy, but we know where we're at. We know have a team able to compete. We'll do that.”