‘The tailgates can wait. The parties can wait’: Curt Cignetti sends strong message to Indiana students ahead of Maryland game

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has not been shy about his feelings towards the fans, students, program and what his expectations and standards are in his debut season in Bloomington.

From day one, he’s been open and honest about what he expects — and changing the culture and narrative around the program.

Friday’s message only intensified and emphasized that.

Why? Because he addressed the students head on and didn’t mince his words about what he wanted.

“We’re trying to do something special Saturday, and I want our IU students there to experience it,” Cignetti wrote in an email to students. “It’s been 57 years since IU Football started a season 5-0, but we have a chance to do it Saturday with a win over a very good Maryland team. We have every intention of making it happen, and I’m asking for your support. We need you there for the opening kick. We need you there in the stands being loud in the first quarter. And the second quarter. And in the third. And, most importantly, in the fourth. When the clock hits zero and we’re 5-0, I want you there to be able to celebrate a historic win with us.

“The tailgates can wait. The parties can wait. If you need to study, that can wait too. There are good things happening with IU Football, and you’re a big part of it. I look forward to seeing you for four quarters on Saturday.”

This comes after a seemingly continuous pledge to Hoosier fans and students about staying past halftime.

That was a notable comment he made after the season opener as well.

“Another thing we’re trying to change in tradition is we gotta keep the people in the seats after halftime,” Cignetti said. “We need to create a power four environment in the stadium.”

Indiana’s attendance inside Memorial Stadium sits at 52,626. We’ll see if the Hoosiers get there on Saturday against the 3-1 Maryland Terrapins. But, Curt Cignetti’s pledge to make Indiana football a real power continues.

Kick is set for Noon ET on Big Ten Network.

SEE ALSO: IU football is off to a record start in many ways. Yet, Curt Cignetti stressing ‘not taking the rat poison’ and avoiding the ‘warm fuzzies’ with arrival of Big Ten play

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