Media Day

 

The Big Ten Media Day was held in Las Vegas July 22-24 Indiana coach Curt Cignetti's brash nature was on display. After leading the Hoosiers to an 11-1 regular season record and the most surprising College Football Playoff berth on record. 

Humble and Hungry

Cignetti had a clear message. "I get questions, how are you going to sustain it? We're not looking to sustain it. We're looking to improve it...Consistency is huge so that we can play fast, physical, smart, disciplined, poised, not affected by success, not affected by failure, and never ever satisfied until the game is over."

"The theme of this year really is humble and hungry versus noise and clutter. If you are humble and you are hungry and you got that fire burning inside your belly, and you're committed to high standards then you're going to reach your full potential." Said Cignetti, "I'm really good at keeping the main things the main thing and being a watchdog for complacency and stomping it out." 

SEC scheduling philosophy

Cignetti was asked about the Hoosiers canceling a home-and-home series with Virginia in 2027 and 2028 in favor of adding an extra home game against a lower-level opponent.  The coach pointed out that 12 of the SEC's 16 teams play three games against Group of Five or lower-level FCS teams each season. "We figured we would just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy, you know." Cignetti said. "Some people don't like it. I' more focused in on those nine conference games."

Purdue's Barry Odom

The Hoosiers' scheduling philosophy recently became fodder in their rivalry with Purdue. On a radio show last week, new Boilermakers coach Barry Odom took a jab at his foe to the south. "It's so important to have games that fans are excited about." said Odom, whose team faces Notre Dame in nonconference play this season. "I could take the approach of one of the other schools in the state, cancel games and do some of those things, but the schedule is what it is." Cignetti shrugged it off. "Did I think about it Not much. That would be an overstatement." he said, before winking. "I saw it. It was a flicker in my brain, and it was over." 

Representing the Hoosiers for media interviews were Aiden Fisher (Linebacker) Mikail Kamara (Defensive end) and Elijah Sarratt (Wide receiver). 

Indiana put a pair of players on the 15-man preseason All-Big Ten team in cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and defensive lineman Mikail Kamara. 

This season, IU faces three teams in the top 11 ESPN's early rankings in Oregon, Penn State, and Illinois. The media picked the Hoosiers to finish sixth in the Big Ten with a 9-3 overall record 6-3 in the Big Ten. 

sources

Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette's Dylan Sinn

Image The Big Ten Network