Love him or hate him, Curt Cignetti has changed the way fans, coaches, players, and athletic directors look at college football. With the addition of NIL, the world changed. There are those that have struggled with it, Dabo Swinney, and there are those that have excelled with it. The ones who excelled like Cignetti are the predators, cutting through the water like a Barracuda and striking fast before others knew what was happening.
Cigs, a long-time coach who has worked with the best, climbed his way up the ranks. To say he’s been around the block would be a cliche, even laughable. But while building a championship caliber team at James Madison he sat back, saw the holes in the new system, recognized a way to take advantage of it and waited for the right phone call. And being at JMU, there weren’t a lot of phone calls. So, when the call finally came from Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson, Cigs knew it was time. The first piece of the puzzle had found him.
Cignetti used three simple rules to accomplish the unthinkable. Go someplace unsuspecting and known for losing. Then take a lower-level championship caliber team who believed in him and strip it of twenty-three next level players. And finally, utilize your two best talents and hit the transfer portal. Cignetti’s talents? Identifying players like Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza who could make a difference. And his ability to convince people they are capable of the unimaginable.
It’s clear that Cignetti can identify talent and motivate both players and coaches. He had the plan, but he didn’t execute it alone. He took a perennial loser and made them National Champions in just two seasons. In 29 games he went 27-2. He beat Big Ten powerhouses, Ohio State and Oregon. He made believers first out of Indiana, and then the rest of the college football world.
The result, he has made things miserable for people across the country. You can bet his name comes up quickly and often in meetings between alumni, donors, athletic directors, and coaches. He has prompted the single biggest questioned being asked, “Why can’t we do that?”
After a disappointing season at Nebraska even head coach Matt Rhule used Cignetti as an example, trying to explain he was doing things differently, it wasn’t something he could do quickly. It was going to take time and patience. In other words, Rhule gave the same old tired boiler plate answer.
But in Rhule’s defense. He’s somewhat right. It’s too late for Rhule to pull a Cigs out of his hat. The process at Nebraska has already started, and now we must ride it out and see what happens. Until then, it’s doubtful we’ll see another Curt Cignetti and Indiana anytime soon. At least, not until the movie comes out.
So, my answer for Matt Rhule. I’ve always been told, if you don’t like the story you’re reading, then write your own damn story. Let’s all hope Matt Rhule can write as well as he talks.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
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