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Agree. Personally, I wish he brought in more multi-year players that could develop and improve into a solid foundation for the next two to three seasons. I was willing to think longer-term with the program building. Maybe I'm wrong in wanting that approach. But, like you noted we're going to have a pretty new team next season. And if it doesn't work this season, I don't know why next season would be much better. Ugh. But we'll see if he can get this thing to work, it's still early blah blah blah.

IU gave CDD $10M for players. Where was more money going to come from? Sure as hell not football. Maybe we could have cut some non-rev sports... I don't disagree with the critiques and the results have clearly been not great to start out. My view on this has always been how good is CDD as a coach and less about how much money he got for players. $10M is not chump change. If CDD can't make the tourney with $10M, it's hard to make a case to give him more. Money won't fix what's limiting him and he'll keep underachieving. I can't control IUBB, so I've got to hope CDD figures it out. While that's looking less likely than I would prefer, it is still early and it's not impossible. But yea, I'm worried.

Two things: 1) If anyone can find a video of this let me know. I can't find one. 2) Very cool!

Like Scott or not: - IUFB went from one of the worst programs ever to really good, which no one thought was possible. #1 ranked, B1G champs, and a Heisman winner. The value of this is immense. It results in materially more athletic dept revenue, way more TV exposure ("earned media") that's easily worth tens of millions of $ to Indiana University, and more negotiating leverage when the next B1G media rights and grant of rights come up. And that last part is important because the media rights may not be split evenly next time around. The above is the biggest accomplishment by any AD at IU. And Scott did it. Even if you want to make a case he got lucky with Cig, which there is no basis for, Scott identified Cig, got him to come here, got him the resources to win in terms of NIL and staff budget (IU had never supported football before), and kept him at IU's still relatively small program despite several huge and prestigious football programs wanting him. That is flat out fantastic work. So, no, Scott is not incompetent or weak. - I know we like basketball here, but in the world of college athletics, CFB is really all that matters. It drives the billion $ media deals, almost all the athletic dept revenue, and 100% of the influence in college athletics. CBB? It doesn't really move the needle on revenue and TV ratings, it's a comparative sideshow. - We can argue the Woody hire, people who cover IU will tell you Scott wasn't supported and there were serious outside influences, but whatever. Now CDD is clearly a Scott hire and he will own the results. We're 11 games in and it's not off to a great start, several red flags have emerged. I'm disappointed. We'll see how it goes over the next probably three years at least. It's not yet over for CDD. But yea, I'm worried. Nothing I can do about it though. If CDD doesn't work out, this will be on Scott and it's a demerit for him. Though IUBB not working wouldn't be a departure from the previous 25 years. But Scott won't be going anywhere as long as Cig is here and IUFB is winning seven or more games per year (seems likely we'll exceed that by quite a bit). In college sports, CFB is king, even at IU.

Reaction in Bloomington. https://x.com/chickenmanatiu/status/2000012338598948958?s=46

Jamie Jordan notes he may be using us as leverage to up his market value.

WHAT A SPEECH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m getting teary eyed…

OFFICIALLY HEIS-MENDOZA!!! CONGRATS FERNANDO!!! What a program Cig has built.

Willis Reed.

Kinda odd he noted how young Sayin was, which while true is an excuse. Could have just sold his accomplishments.

Fernando and Cig were so good in that interview. Class!

Hour long show they really drag this out lol. Also, Fernando has the best highlights!

There was a shot of Cig in the crowd looking proud…

JMO I think we’ll add a few seats but I’d guess we add premium seating and max out at 60K. Perhaps that’s a self-imposed limitation on my part! For shame! Memorial Stadium has some fairly steep stands, but yea it’s not Ben Hill Griff. I kinda think most of it is down to our fans who can probably get a little more wild than they are — like in AH when we were good or the Illinois game this year. Memorial could be a little more Autzen-like over time I would hope. To be clear I’m not complaining just observing. We’ve come a long way baby and more is possible.

I’m not really seeing any funding issues with IUFB and IUBB. Whatever IUFB is getting Cig views as sufficient given he is staying here, which is all that matters (#20-25 resources in my guesstimation). To start, CDD gets a huge operating budget and 10-20th ranked payroll for players. In my opinion, the big question with IUBB isn’t money, it’s how good is CDD? That said, IUFB is pretty clearly the priority and it should be. It makes basically all the money and we’ve got an incredible staff operating at an elite level. Cig will eventually retire, etc. You’ve got to make hay while the sun shines.

Well, the Crossroads of America should probably have some Buc-ee’s. I imagine they’ll do well.

Personally, I find the Chuckster to be hilarious and I doubt he can make me mad. Even if he doesn’t know much about us or is critical I just don’t care, I like his humor and I don’t need super sharp game analysis.

Wiltfong just provided his Crystal Ball prediction here and it's IU. Would be a very nice commitment.

Scott continues to deliver on the commitment to football. Excellent!!! What a program.

Some of you may follow Sam and/or BuffedInPrime (a scout, posts on X, works with Ponds and interacts with some of our other players and staff). Here is a very insightful and interesting interview on why IUFB is doing so well.

If Fernando even entertained staying, I suspect Cig would tell him I’d love to have you here another year but ya gotta go and seize this opportunity.

Once this four game series with UK is done (Rupp, Lucas Oil, Rupp, AH), I would love this to be at Lucas Oil ever year with the 50/50 red/blue split at midcourt. This should be one of the best non-con games every year and the Red River Rivalry of CBB. IIRC the Yum Center isn’t able to host this game like Freedom Hall used to, so if that’s true I’d just do Lucas Oil every year. If Yum Center can we could alternate down there again like the old days. Do it Scott. Edit: I had three games series but it’s four games series, thanks @TheWatShot.

Ha. And I agree, this may be a so-so hire for them. I’m looking at the betting odds for the UM job. About 25 candidates listed. Cig isn’t one, not even on the board right now.

Right. DeBoer is hyper competitive and he's got a good team and recruits coming in and his whole system setup at a top-5 program. I doubt he's overwhelmed by the message board posters and media down there such that's he's gonna run away to UM and all the uncertainty up there. I'm sure Kalen's agent doesn't mind his name being out there, I'd guess that plus UM targeting him is what creates this story. But like you I don't think Kalen will be interested. Also UM has never pulled a big program coach before -- Rich Rod and Hoke were not, and Jim was puttering out in the NFL. Sherrone was obviously an internal hire. UM is a very good job, but something is a little off up there, sans Jim's very good three years (which they got caught cheating which cost like $30M), they've generally been disappointing given their resources for like 20 years.

Casual Gay Marie!