‘There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember’: Anonymous Big Ten Coaches talk about Curt Cignetti and Indiana football

Since Curt Cignetti first touched down in Bloomington, there has been a buzz surrounding Indiana football that is not only new for the program but the entire Big Ten.

Athlon Sports spoke with Big Ten coaches who anonymously gave their thoughts on Cignetti, Indiana football, and the rest of the conference.

Those conversations revealed the true thoughts and opinions of the opponents that Indiana football will see in the fall.

“Cig is a really good hire; it shows that the school wants to be competitive and respectable in football. They’re taking football seriously in NIL, too,” one coach said.

The Cignetti hiring has generated a lot of buzz locally as well as nationally. That combined with the support he has received from the university has helped generate a lot of excitement.

Cignetti recently shared in an interview with Adam Breneman that the NIL support is even greater than he was promised.

Related How good has the NIL support been for Indiana football? ‘A lot more’ than promised says Curt Cignetti.

Cignetti has made sure to make the most of his NIL support and it can be seen with his transfer portal acquisitions.

“They brought in a few studs from James Madison, and they’ve worked the portal well,” one coach said.

Cignetti has completely revamped the roster since he took over.

Coaches around the league have started to take notice as a newfound enthusiasm follows the program.

“There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember,” another coach said.

Cignetti has never lacked confidence. Whether he is calling out Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue at a basketball game, or just simply stating that he is going to turn Indiana football around, he bleeds a belief that has become infectious.

While expectations are high, some coaches think it is important to manage those expectations and keep them reasonable.

“The competition level in this league is still above them, but they should look more talented, especially on offense. The MAC quarterback [Kurtis Rourke] is pretty solid,” a coach said.

Rourke was one of the biggest acquisitions made in the transfer portal last offseason. While he will only be with Indiana football for one season, he will have the chance to set the foundation for the offense moving forward.

Another coach reiterated a similar point about managing expectations as it is only year one for the new era of Indiana football.

“If you’re setting reasonable Year 1 expectations, I’d look for them to build an offensive identity to help recruiting,” another coach said.

Curt Cignetti has instilled a belief that he is the guy to turn the page and build Indiana football into a competitive program. The idea of an immediate turnaround might be a bit overzealous, but that is not going to stop him from trying.

He continues to earn the respect of his opponents and national media as he works to rebuild a program that has been dormant for many years.

“We’re going to change the culture, the mindset, the expectation level, and improve the brand of Indiana Hoosier football,” Cignetti said when he was introduced as head coach. “There will be no self-imposed limitations on what we can accomplish. It will be a day-by-day process that is hinged on being focused on the present moment and improving as much daily as possible to put yourself in the best position tomorrow.”

SEE ALSO: ‘Something’s got to give and it wasn’t going to be me’: Curt Cignetti has won at every stop. He doesn’t expect that to change with Indiana football

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