‘You build it, and they will come’

Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington on Dec. 1, 2023. He immediately noticed many people didn’t think Indiana football could win.

Historically, it’s a program that has always found a way to lose. Any glimmer of hope was typically shot down by a heartbreaking loss. But athletic director Scott Dolson thought it was a “sleeping giant.”

Cignetti awoke it.

The first-year Hoosiers head coach proved that Indiana football winning — and winning big — is possible. He led his squad to an 11-2 overall record, including their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

On Tuesday, Cignetti became the first Indiana Athletics head coach since former men’s basketball coach Bob Knight to speak at a student-only lecture as the Union Board hosted “A Conversation with Coach Cignetti” at the IU Auditorium in Bloomington. IU junior Joe Cronin and IU sophomore Reid Sprenkle moderated the event.

From the Hoosiers’ Week 1 victory over Florida International University to their season-ending loss to the University of Notre Dame, Cignetti discussed numerous topics at the event.

Game 1 vs. FIU and Game 2 vs. Western Illinois

The Hoosiers took to the field inside Memorial Stadium to open the Cignetti-era. They eventually cruised to a dominant victory; however, two things stood out to Cignetti when recalling the win.

“What I remember about the first game was number one, it was really hot,” Cignetti said. “But number two, when we came out for the second half, like half the people had already left. And I couldn’t just quit dwelling on how many people had left in my mind.”

Cignetti addressed the fans’ exodus in his post-game press conference. He said he knew about the tradition of fans leaving early.

“I knew that was something that had to change, but it was only going to change if we won,” Cignetti said. “You build it, and they will come.”

The next week, the Hoosiers defeated Western Illinois University by 74 points.

Indiana’s trip to the Rose Bowl Stadium

The Hoosiers made their first appearance inside the historic Rose Bowl Stadium since 1968 when they faced off against UCLA on Sept. 14. There was sentimental fanfare heading into the matchup. Not for Cignetti.

“I’m like, ‘We’re going out there, this is a business trip. We’re going out there to kick some ass,’” Cignetti said. “You know what I mean? And that’s what we did. I mean, we dominated their ass.”

The 29-point drubbing instilled and increased the level of belief and confidence in the Hoosiers, Cignetti said.

“We had everybody’s attention after that,” Cignetti said.

Game 4 vs. Charlotte

The Hoosiers cruised to a 38-point victory over the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but they began the game flat, Cignetti said.

“Eventually, we exerted our will and dominated them and won decisively, which is what good teams do,” he said. “You have to be able to get the job done when you don’t have your ‘A’ game.”

Game 5 vs. Maryland

Prior to Cignetti arriving in Bloomington, Indiana faced off with Maryland on Sept. 30, 2023. The Hoosiers lost by 27 points after trailing 27-3 at halftime.

So, when the Terrapins traveled to Bloomington on Sept. 28, 2024, Cignetti had the blowout loss in mind. His squad won by 14 points to improve to 5-0.

“That was a game I had circled all year long,” he said. “To get that one done I thought was really important.”

Game 6 at Northwestern

Indiana hit the road to take on Northwestern at its temporary lakefront stadium Oct. 5, 2024. Although the Hoosiers didn’t play their best, they pulled away in the fourth quarter to improve to 6-0 with their 17-point victory.

“Surprisingly, we had not beaten Northwestern at Northwestern in 32 years,” Cignetti said. “Can you believe that? 32 years since we beat Northwestern at Northwestern.”

As Cignetti walked off the field toward the Hoosiers’ locker room, he noticed the sea of Hoosier fans in the north endzone bleachers. Their excitement, he said, was way over the top, and he felt it.

“So I felt like I’d join them and show the appreciation and make them part of the team even more,” he said. “And we did our little ‘Go IU’ chant, which I guess is new around here. I don’t know. I mean we got IU on our helmets so ‘Go IU’ kind of makes sense. I like to keep it simple you know.”

Indiana’s home-field advantage in wins over Nebraska and Washington

When Indiana returned home to face off against Nebraska on Oct. 19, 2024, Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff was in town. Memorial Stadium was sold out as the Hoosiers cruised to a 56-7 victory over the Cornhuskers.

“That’s such a winning edge,” Cignetti said about the sold-out crowd. “I can’t tell you how it touches me to see people so excited about what our players and our staff are doing. Those guys really deserve all the credit.”

A week later, ESPN’s College GameDay came to Bloomington for the Hoosiers’ matchup against Washington. That contest was also sold out.

“It’s at least 10, 14, 17 points,” Cignetti said about the home-field advantage. “When we play at home and that place is packed and people are going crazy, it's two scores or more difference.”

It very well may have been the difference against the Huskies as the Hoosiers trotted backup quarterback Tayven Jackson onto the field in place of the injured Kurtis Rourke. Indiana still won by 14.

Game 9 vs. Michigan State

Indiana trailed for the first time all season when it allowed Michigan State to score the first 10 points of the Nov. 2, 2024, contest.

The Hoosiers responded with 47 unanswered points to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2022. They also notched their 10th victory of the season to mark the first-ever double digit win season in program history.

Rourke returned from his thumb injury and picked apart the Spartans’ defense, going 19-for-29 with 263 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Game 10 vs. Michigan

The Hoosiers got out to a quick start against the Wolverines, leading 17-3 at halftime. However, Indiana could have led by even more if it would not have been flagged for a “bullshit” pass interference, Cignetti said.

Although Michigan outscored Indiana 12-3 in the second half, the Hoosiers still held on to secure a 20-15 victory.

“That’s the mark of a good team, when your back is against the wall you persevere and you’re resilient, which means being able to overcome the unexpected and find a way to get it done,” Cignetti said. “And we did, which put us at 10-0.”

Game 11 at Ohio State

Indiana traveled to Ohio Stadium for a bout with then-No. 2 Ohio State. Despite scoring first and leading midway through the second quarter, the Hoosiers allowed the Buckeyes to score 31 unanswered points en route to handing the visitors their first loss of the season .

“We made some uncharacteristic mistakes in that game, but we also played a great football team and sometimes you make those mistakes when you play against great competition,” Cignetti said. “Any time you have a setback — not a defeat, a setback — you got to learn the lessons and come back stronger.”

The Hoosiers “filed away” the lessons, Cignetti said, ahead of their final regular season game against their in-state rival.

Game 12 vs. Purdue

Indiana returned to Memorial Stadium to play its final home game of the season Nov. 30, 2024, against Purdue. The Old Oaken Bucket, which the Hoosiers had not won since 2019, was at stake.

“It was cold, it was snowy, we had a Canadian quarterback; he plays good in cold weather,” Cignetti said. “We jumped up on them, stayed on them and it was a dominant, decisive win.”

The Hoosiers cruised to a 66-0 victory over the Boilermakers, who fired their head coach Ryan Walters the following day.

Before the season, Cignetti overheard what he described as a long-time starter saying, “As long as we beat Purdue.”

The first-year Hoosiers head coach was confused that Purdue was the standard for some of his players, so he delivered a message at halftime of the Indiana men’s basketball game Dec. 1, 2023, just hours after his introductory press conference.

“I’m super fired up about this opportunity,” Cignetti yelled. “I've never taken a backseat to anybody and don't plan on starting now. Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State.”

When asked if that long-time starter was offensive lineman Mike Katic, Cignetti didn’t say yes or no.

“I know nothing,” he said, which was met with laughter from those in attendance.

College Football Playoff First Round at Notre Dame

After becoming a feel-good story in which fans across the country were rooting for Indiana because of their historical lack of success, some fans in the south weren’t supportive of the Hoosiers making the CFP.

Cignetti felt he had to politic for his team to make the playoff, which goes against what he preaches to his team about being humble, hungry, preparing and living in the moment.

The Hoosiers traveled to take on the University of Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. The Hoosiers fell 27-17 to end their season.

“I felt really confident going up there into that game,” Cignetti said. “We didn't play as well as we wanted to play, and I take responsibility for that. I thought we matched up well against Notre Dame, and we just didn’t make it happen, so it was disappointing.”

Staying in Bloomington

With Indiana’s historic season, rumors floated of Cignetti leaving the Hoosiers for a different head coaching job.

Instead, he signed a new contract Nov. 16, 2024, during Indiana’s second bye week of the regular season.

“There wasn't any job in America that could’ve opened once we were 10-0 that I’d have considered worth taking,” he said. “My wife and I, we went through that what-if game. I’ve been in this business a long time — 43 years — you know there’s things out there.”

But being at the helm of Indiana football is where Cignetti wants to be long-term.

“There’s nothing that could’ve taken me from Indiana because I just felt a special bond; I felt like it was something that we had started and created, and it was ours and yours,” Cignetti said toward the students in attendance. “You can’t put a value on that. So, I’m excited about the future and where we can take this program.”

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