Kurt “The Coward” Cignetti

[Sea Turtle]

It pains me to say this but Cignetti is clearly a good coach. With that said, he's an insufferable arrogant loudmouth, his 2024 team was a total fraud, and we would've beaten them this last year too.

I thought he toned things way down last season. His first season was about shocking people and changing the mindset and culture of the program.
It would have been a great game. ND was playing great at the end of the season. Obviously, so was Indiana.

There is a poll and you can even bet who will win the natty next year. The SEC or the state of Indiana.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

“We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest,” Cignetti said. “We believe everything’s earned, not given. And when we fall short, we say we fell short. We don’t cry a river, whine and complain. And that’s why we’re the best.”

Later, at a side podium, Cignetti said: “Since the NIL era has kicked in, the numbers speak for themselves.”

Took aim at the SEC.

I have to say I like this.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Wasn't he the same guy running his own hype machine 2 years ago? "Google me I win. We beat plenty of ranked teams" etc etc

 

[Son of Kenmare]

Wasn't he the same guy running his own hype machine 2 years ago? "Google me I win. We beat plenty of ranked teams" etc etc

He did back it up though so as much as I don't like him, gotta give him props.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He did back it up though so as much as I don't like him, gotta give him props.

I would contend he did not in 2024 and that still doesn't negate the fact that Cignetti was running his own hype machine that year. There are plenty of ways to criticize the SEC's moaning and whinging but Ciggy should have been more careful with his wording lol

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I will say, Big Ten has a lot of it's own baggage. Michigan alone. They may want to speak carefully.

 

[RudyVerse]

Alpha. And earned.

 

[pumpdog20]

I mean dude took Indiana of all places to the promise land. I for one will be giving him a life time pass on the stuff he says (unless he ever directs hate towards ND). Guy is legit.

 

[OKCDomer23]

Took aim at the SEC.

I have to say I like this.

Agree. Love the brashness and fearlessness. Incredible what he did at IU. They put a lot of kids in the draft this year pretty high rounds also not just Mendoza. He says what he means and backs it up. I don't think IU is as good as last year but still a threat.

 

[MPClinton22]

I mean dude took Indiana of all places to the promise land. I for one will be giving him a life time pass on the stuff he says (unless he ever directs hate towards ND). Guy is legit.

Dude is definitely legit, and completely turned CFB on its head with what he's done at IU. I'm also curious to see Cig's hit rate with the portal though. He's obviously an incredible talent evaluator, but a lot has to go right for that roster building method to work consistently. And having a heisman winning #1 overall pick at QB helps too

 

[DillonHall]

I’d say what he did in 2025 and even 2024 was unprecedented. You can rationalize the turnaround at IU however you want, but he’s an elite coach. Unless there’s some cheating scandal that comes out, there’s no other conclusion that you can reach

 

[MPClinton22]

I’d say what he did in 2025 and even 2024 was unprecedented. You can rationalize the turnaround at IU however you want, but he’s an elite coach. Unless there’s some cheating scandal that comes out, there’s no other conclusion that you can reach

Yeah he's definitely elite, and nothing moving forward will change that. Just curious where his median result ends up falling - is it genuinely challenging for a championship every year? Or is it regular 10 win seasons with a truly elite team every now and then? It'll be interesting to see!

 

[Irish#1]

You can’t deny what he’s done. IMO this is the year we find out how good he is with all of his original transfers gone.

 

[SarasotaJoe]

Took aim at the SEC.

I have to say I like this.

He’s elite, don’t get me wrong, but indiana’s scheduling has been fortunate

 

[Irish du Nord]

I will say, Big Ten has a lot of it's own baggage. Michigan alone. They may want to speak carefully.

Asterisks abound.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yeah, Indiana only had to get up for a few games, and the average age of the team was 25. Not only that, but everyone got to dodge us, Vegas gave us like 3rd best odds to win the whole thing. Indiana wouldn't have gotten through us, we were a much better team than the one that lost to Miami, while Miami struggled twice late in the season.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Some of y’all in this thread

 

[DillonHall]

Yeah, Indiana only had to get up for a few games, and the average age of the team was 25. Not only that, but everyone got to dodge us, Vegas gave us like 3rd best odds to win the whole thing. Indiana wouldn't have gotten through us, we were a much better team than the one that lost to Miami, while Miami struggled twice late in the season.

And if ND wins the 2026 national championship, some idiot fan out there will say it was because the schedule was easy, we didn't have to play a conference championship game, we got a bye that we didn't deserve, and we have a good roster because we can outspend everyone

Just give credit where it's due. I would've never imagined that IU would win a football national championship in my lifetime, but Cignetti showed up and did it in two years. I laughed when he said "Google me." Well, two years later, there are no college football fans who have to Google who he is

 

[notredomer23]

 

[irishjim]

I’m sure it is connected to picking up USC for those years

 

[zelezo vlk]

Unsurprising

ETA: Indiana has been canceling their home & homes with P4 teams for a year or so now. Greg and Jamie at ISD have mentioned for quite a while that this series was not gonna happen

 

[pumpdog20]

These games gonna keep getting canceled, and we're going to keep putting our head in the sand for the almighty independence.

 

[Dale]

These games gonna keep getting canceled, and we're going to keep putting our head in the sand for the almighty independence.

Indiana has cancelled series with quite literally every single P4 pre-existing scheduling agreement since Cignetti took over

 

[stlnd01]

I’m sure it is connected to picking up USC for those years

There's no particular reason we couldn't play USC and Indiana in the same season. This is Indiana backing out instead of risking a loss.

 

[Irish du Nord]

These games gonna keep getting canceled, and we're going to keep putting our head in the sand for the almighty independence.

Yeah blame independence not the cowardly behavior by IU

 

[Dale]

I think a lot of things can be true here that I don’t think there is an easy blame to go around

- Indiana has cancelled every single P4 pre-existing scheduling agreement since Cignetti took over

- USC refusing to play after Week 3 means we need to move around our schedule

- ND would rather play USC than Indiana

- ND would also likely rather play Alabama and Florida than Indiana

So if you wanna call it mutual, I don’t think it’s unfair from either fan bases perspective

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think a lot of things can be true here that I don’t think there is an easy blame to go around

- Indiana has cancelled every single P4 pre-existing scheduling agreement since Cignetti took over

- USC refusing to play after Week 3 means we need to move around our schedule

- ND would rather play USC than Indiana

- ND would also likely rather play Alabama and Florida than Indiana

So if you wanna call it mutual, I don’t think it’s unfair from either fan bases perspective

IU did ask out of the series, per Pat Forde. Not sure however how much of a fight Pete B put up though

 

[greyhammer90]

I think a lot of things can be true here that I don’t think there is an easy blame to go around

- Indiana has cancelled every single P4 pre-existing scheduling agreement since Cignetti took over

- USC refusing to play after Week 3 means we need to move around our schedule

- ND would rather play USC than Indiana

- ND would also likely rather play Alabama and Florida than Indiana

So if you wanna call it mutual, I don’t think it’s unfair from either fan bases perspective

I'm gonna call Cignetti a pussy because it conforms to my preexisting worldview.

 

[NDFAN2008]

i’d rather play Indiana than USC

 

[IrishLax]

Cignetti has been very clear since the moment he took over that he wants to play ZERO P4 teams OOC

Indiana and I think PSU are the only Big Ten teams currently operating this way. Would not be surprised to see the conference mandate 1x P4 game OOC