Monday, January 1, 2024
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Curt Cignetti
Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson named Curt Cignetti the 30th head football coach in program history.
Cignetti posted an 11-1 record in 2023, his fifth season as James Madison head coach. He had an overall mark of 52-9 (.853), including a 19-4 run over 2022 and 2023, JMU's first two years as an FBS program.
Prior to his stint at James Madison, Cignetti amassed a 14-9 record in two years at Elon, a program that went 12-45 in the previous five campaigns. The Phoenix qualified for the FCS Playoffs in both seasons, just the second and third playoff berths in program history (2009).
Cignetti led Elon to a six-win improvement in 2017, going 8-4 and finishing second in the CAA at 6-2. He was named Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year as the Phoenix reached the postseason and finished 20th in the national rankings.
Cignetti's inaugural head-coaching opportunity came at IUP, where his father, Frank Cignetti Sr., patrolled the sidelines for 20 years. He went 53-17 with three playoff appearances and four Top 25s in six campaigns.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
James Madison University
2019-23: Head Coach
Elon University
2017-18: Head Coach
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
2011-16: Head Coach
University of Alabama
2007-10: Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers
North Carolina State University
2000-06: Recruiting Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Tight Ends
University of Pittsburgh
1993-99: Quarterbacks/Tight Ends
Temple University
1989-92: Quarterbacks
Rice University
1986-88: Quarterbacks
Davidson College
1985: Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
University of Pittsburgh
1983-84: Graduate Assistant
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Tome Allen gone after seven seasons
The inevasible happen. Tom Allen was relieved of his contract with close to $20 million as part of the University’s obligation to buy him out before his contract came due.
Allen had a 33-49 overall record (18-43 in the Big Ten) with two bowl appearances in seven seasons.
The athletic department will have to pay a $20.8 million buyout to Allen, among the highest ever recorded for a college football coach, but the growing concern behind the scenes was that it was hard to see a scenario where Allen regained the momentum he had coming off two straight bowl appearances in 2019 and 2020.
Indiana is one of only four Power Five programs with fewer than 10 wins since 2021 (Vanderbilt, Colorado and Stanford).
The Hoosiers had a 3-25 record in the Big Ten the last three seasons, the worst among member schools. Vanderbilt is the only Power Five school with fewer conference wins (two) and wins against Power Five opponents (two) than the Hoosiers during that stretch.
Former Indiana coach Kevin Wilson originally hired Allen to be his defensive coordinator in 2016. Allen spearheaded a remarkable turnaround for a group that gave up 509.5 yards (ranked No. 121 out of 128 FBS teams) and 37.6 points per game (No. 117) the year before he arrived.
The Hoosiers allowed 380.1 yards and 27.2 points in Allen’s lone season as coordinator.
Update
In early January Allen was hired by Penn State University signing a three year contract as their Defensive Coordinator.
Sources
Bloomington Herald Times
Getty Images
IU @ Purdue
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photo © The B1G Network
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums
Saturday, November 25, 2023
2023 Bucket Game
The 2023 Bucket Game
The #125 meeting
Indiana v Purdue
The battle for the Old Oaken Bucket for the #98 time
Bring it!
Sunday, November 19, 2023
IU v Michigan State
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photo © The B1G Network
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums
Sunday, November 12, 2023
IU @ Illinois