National Championship Game Lessons

[finpxz1]

I sure hope RC is paying close attention to Coach Cignetti’s offensive play calling tonight. Just some brilliant use of the run to mix things up in what appear to be obvious passing downs. Really keeping the talented Miami defensive line off balance. The mix of run and pass play calling by IU is super impressive. Really hope they hold on for the win!

[UD '01 grad]

Would say shoring up special teams is critical as well.

How many years has the punt protection been an adventure?

Ask Miami how critical special teams is (blocked punt for TD, missed FG).

[Caldwell Chicken]

If I were a special teams coach, I would be studying Indiana's punt coverage. They blocked 4 (if my google search is correct) this season which is remarkably high.

Perhaps we could swap notes with them - punt coverage for onside kicks.

[Cluck U]

Hoosier Daddy?

Good article(s).

Money and a vision.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ampionship

"School president Pamela Whitten had laid the groundwork.

When she was hired two years earlier, Whitten was tasked with a long to-do list, including elevating Indiana athletics. This was during a revolutionary time for collegiate sports, with the transfer portal and NIL evening the playing field in a way that would allow more than the same handful of programs to compete for championships.

"We had to raise a lot of money to have the resources, both financial as well as the physical infrastructure," Whitten said. "So, when we were ready to bring in a coach, he needed that ecosystem to be successful as well."

She and athletic director Scott Dolson -- an Indiana lifer who worked as a student manager for Bobby Knight -- talked about what they wanted in their next coach. When they met with Cignetti, Whitten said, "It wasn't so much like an interview as it was a melding of the approach and values and goals that we had. It's almost like merging successfully on a highway."

Though Cignetti did not guarantee a national title in two years, he refused to put any limitations on what he thought Indiana could do.

Dolson thought back to a conversation he once had with his brother-in-law, who played football at Indiana in the 1980s under Bill Mallory, who led the Hoosiers to six bowl appearances during his tenure.

"He said to me, 'Why don't we ever think big enough? We should think about championships. We shouldn't just think about bowl games,'" Dolson recalled. "He instilled that in me. It is important to have a plan to build a winning program across the board. Don't put any limitations there. It's what Coach Cig said from the minute I talked to him."'

From the second article:

'"I know Indiana's football history has been pretty poor with some good years sprinkled in there," Cignetti said. "It was because it wasn't an emphasis on football, plain and simple. Basketball school. Coach [Bob] Knight had great teams. The emphasis is on football. It's on basketball, too. But you've got to be good in football nowadays. We've got a president that comes from the South that loves football. We've got an AD that is a tremendous fundraiser, people person. We've got a fan base, the largest alumni base in the country, Indiana University. They're all-in."



Congrats to the Hoosiers!

[hoopster]

Would love to have 1/10 of their defense next year! Hoping we make the necessary improvements on that side of the ball. At the same time, it couldn’t be any worse!

[finpxz1]

Hoosier Daddy?

Good article(s).

Money and a vision.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ampionship

"School president Pamela Whitten had laid the groundwork.

When she was hired two years earlier, Whitten was tasked with a long to-do list, including elevating Indiana athletics. This was during a revolutionary time for collegiate sports, with the transfer portal and NIL evening the playing field in a way that would allow more than the same handful of programs to compete for championships.

"We had to raise a lot of money to have the resources, both financial as well as the physical infrastructure," Whitten said. "So, when we were ready to bring in a coach, he needed that ecosystem to be successful as well."

She and athletic director Scott Dolson -- an Indiana lifer who worked as a student manager for Bobby Knight -- talked about what they wanted in their next coach. When they met with Cignetti, Whitten said, "It wasn't so much like an interview as it was a melding of the approach and values and goals that we had. It's almost like merging successfully on a highway."

Though Cignetti did not guarantee a national title in two years, he refused to put any limitations on what he thought Indiana could do.

Dolson thought back to a conversation he once had with his brother-in-law, who played football at Indiana in the 1980s under Bill Mallory, who led the Hoosiers to six bowl appearances during his tenure.

"He said to me, 'Why don't we ever think big enough? We should think about championships. We shouldn't just think about bowl games,'" Dolson recalled. "He instilled that in me. It is important to have a plan to build a winning program across the board. Don't put any limitations there. It's what Coach Cig said from the minute I talked to him."'

From the second article:

'"I know Indiana's football history has been pretty poor with some good years sprinkled in there," Cignetti said. "It was because it wasn't an emphasis on football, plain and simple. Basketball school. Coach [Bob] Knight had great teams. The emphasis is on football. It's on basketball, too. But you've got to be good in football nowadays. We've got a president that comes from the South that loves football. We've got an AD that is a tremendous fundraiser, people person. We've got a fan base, the largest alumni base in the country, Indiana University. They're all-in."



Congrats to the Hoosiers!

Amazing what some leadership and ambition can actually deliver. Feels like something UD should be saying about our basketball program.

[BlueHenBill]

I am surprised to confirm that Indiana U has the largest number of living alums at 805,000!

[Caribbean Hen]

“It was because it wasn't an emphasis on football, plain and simple. Basketball school. Coach [Bob] Knight had great teams. The emphasis is on football. It's on basketball, too. But you've got to be good in football nowadays“

When you mention the word defense in sports and specifically basketball, you probably think of Indiana and Bobby Knight. If you don’t, don’t worry about it because that means you’re a young person.

You think defense today and you’re still thinking Indiana but now it’s the football team. I never thought I would see the day.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Indiana basketball now that they have figured out where the money is.

[frmrbluehen]

Not that it will ever come out, but it would be interesting to hear how much Mark Cuban gave to IU athletics this year. Pretty sure I read he had never donated, but Cignetti convinced him to.

[BlueHenBill]

Not that it will ever come out, but it would be interesting to hear how much Mark Cuban gave to IU athletics this year. Pretty sure I read he had never donated, but Cignetti convinced him to.

frmrbluehen, What is the connection between Mark Cuban and Indiana/Cignetti?

[UD '01 grad]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cuban

[frmrbluehen]

Cuban is an IU alumni.

https://heavy.com/sports/college-footba ... c-cfp-run/

[bluehenbillk]

Cuban is an IU alumni.

https://heavy.com/sports/college-footba ... c-cfp-run/

This is why the Big 10 now runs college football. NIL moved college football’s power base north. The traditional SEC school power has shifted - Texas, A&M and Oklahoma will be best positioned to consistently compete. Penn St needs Pegula to assist - otherwise how do they keep up with Knight money in Oregon, Ellison money in Michigan and so on….

[Hen78]

Cuban is an IU alumni.

https://heavy.com/sports/college-footba ... c-cfp-run/

And fellow Yinzer.