IU football coaches, players ‘could feel the fans out there’ in Saturday’s win

On Friday morning, IU football head coach Curt Cignetti made one thing known ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Maryland — he needed the students to show up and stay.

It was an open letter to students that got people talking. Indiana had the chance to start 5-0 for the first time in 57 years and Cignetti knew that the students would be a major part in making that happen.

What happened? The students showed up in force, making sure the student section was filled for the entire game. Despite the weather, Indiana’s fans packed the stands.

”You could feel the fans out there,” Cignetti said postgame. “I’m glad that they keep improving in the attendance area. I thought that was a good turnout, and good is the enemy of great, so let’s have a great turnout. Let’s sell it out next week or next time we’re at home and figure out how to make it even louder because that’s what we want to do; we want to be the best in everything we do.”

And then just a few hours after the game, Cignetti made sure to thank them again.

“On behalf of the entire IU Football program, I have two words for the IU student body,” Cignetti wrote in another letter. “Thank you.

“Yesterday, I asked you to come out and deal with the elements and to put your weekend events on hold and be there for us for four quarters. You did it. We felt your energy, and you had a big impact on us winning this football game”

Indiana’s 42-28 win lifted the Hoosiers into the AP Top 25 — for the first time since opening week in 2021.

The crowd was noticeably different. And the players — who have also been consistent with their messaging to the IU fans — noticed it as well.

“Shoutout to our fans. They showed out,” IU wideout Elijah Sarratt said. “I think Coach Cig (Cignetti) sent a message out to them and they responded, so shout out to them. It’s all love with them and we wouldn’t have been able to pull out that win without them.”

“It was huge today,” Linebacker Aiden Fisher added. “You can feel them on every big third down and fourth down, coming down to that last possession. That felt really good today.”

“It was just awesome having our fans there being able to support us. We love that, we all were energetic and happy that they came to support us and stayed the whole game,” Did receiver Omar Cooper said. “Going over there and celebrating with the fans and students and getting to thank them for coming. It was good just showing them that we care and that we are happy they’re supporting us.”

Indiana’s 5-0 start is just the third time in program history the Hoosiers have started with five straight wins.

Next up? Northwestern on Saturday.

“We’re 5-0, and in 57 years — I’m older than that, by the way. But this isn’t the end for us. I’m proud of the team and everything they’ve accomplished,” Cignetti added. ” … Even when we’re good, even when we perform good, we’re not satisfied. But it was a good turnout.”

SEE ALSO: ‘You’ve got to prove it every day’: Culture around the IU football program has changed — thanks to ‘blueprint’ leading IU to best start in 57 years

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