IUFB vs Minnesota - Saturday, 10.31.26 @ 3:30 on CBS-TV -- GAME THREAD

[Home Jersey]

1 minute ago, cthomas said:

Never going to happen. For better or worse, I think better, Cignetti is in control of everything that touches the program. He even said without a hint of regret that the staff wanted to go for it on fourth down rather than attempt a field goal, and he over ruled them. He is not letting anyone else make game management decisions.

And it's undoubtedly for the better.

Cig is playing chess and everyone wants him to play frogger lol.

"Just be aggressive! So conservative!" ... yawn. I will trust the guy who is 35-3 at IU and brought a title to Bloomington last year, TYVM. 

[TheWatShot]

Once upon a time, we lost a game to Minnesota when all we needed was a field goal to tie, and our genius coaching staff called for this play: (skip to 1:38) 

 

 

I'd much rather be questioning Cig's use of timeouts than wondering why we employ people who would call for a play like this in that situation. 

[Aaron]

23 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

Once upon a time, we lost a game to Minnesota when all we needed was a field goal to tie, and our genius coaching staff called for this play: (skip to 1:38) 

 

 

I'd much rather be questioning Cig's use of timeouts than wondering why we employ people who would call for a play like this in that situation. 

I would argue Cig's mistakes were equally brutal yesterday and he got away with them which is difference between culture he has installed with winning mentality and everyone before him where you were waiting for things to go badly.

Thats a huge compliment to this staff. Its not a random accident this worked out better given where he has program. However, equal danger from that fatal day was flirted with that had different result which was predictable, even if lead up to final result got frustrating and some questionable things happened.

[Golfman25]

2 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

Evidently he did not, because we won the game. People can disagree with the decision, doesn't mean it was wrong. And even if it is... BFD. We won.

Yeah, don’t confuse results with proper game management.  There was a 50% chance we lose it.  Nobody writes it up that way.   It’s like coaches letting teams score on the 1 yard line so they can get the game winning drive , a la Tom Brady.   

[Hoosier987]

Not calling a timeout was almost a game costly blunder. We got lucky. 95 out of 100 times, we don't win that game in the exact scenario (down 3 with 19 seconds left). We got the 5 times out of 100 this time around.

If Cig calls a timeout, Fleck likely punts the ball  because he doesn't want to risk missing the FG kick and IU getting the ball at near midfield with nearly a minute left...and even if Fleck did decide to go for it (like he did) and the FG kicker makes...we still have nearly a minute left to w/1 time out to get into fg range as opposed to 19 seconds with 2 timeouts left. 

It really made no sense...and it would've made national headlines had we lost.

What would you rather have... 19 seconds with 2 timeouts or 55 seconds with 1 timeout? That's what it would've come down to. We won, it was great...but I sincerely hope coach Cig doesn't do the same thing if the a similar situation presents itself in the CFP because chances are, we're not winning again. 

[Stuhoo]

Possible that Cig was expecting Minny to go for it on fourth down if he gave them time on the clock? (He was mistaken)

[rcbowla]

Why isn't the anger more directed at coach Cain anyhow? His ST units have been bad all year and had maybe the worst overall ST performances I've ever seen from a team in a single game (HS not included....woof). I mean we changed PR like 5 weeks ago and still haven't coached Becker or anyone else how to handle punt returns? Routinely give up 10-15 yards of field position. Then add all of the other ST crap and he's not earning his $ imo.

[BtownStrength]

11 minutes ago, rcbowla said:

Why isn't the anger more directed at coach Cain anyhow? His ST units have been bad all year and had maybe the worst overall ST performances I've ever seen from a team in a single game (HS not included....woof). I mean we changed PR like 5 weeks ago and still haven't coached Becker or anyone else how to handle punt returns? Routinely give up 10-15 yards of field position. Then add all of the other ST crap and he's not earning his $ imo.

Head coach will always get disproportionately more credit for good and blame for bad, outside of the exceptionally great or horrid coordinator. In reality, Cain deserves more flack than Shanahan and easily more thank Cig. Cain and Tino have been the biggest coaching disappointments this year. 

[Stuhoo]

For me?

Critical analysis of staff decisions is great conversation.

But summary negative assessment of any member of the staff of an 8-1 B1G team is a bridge too far.

[Brass Cannon]

13 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

For me?

Critical analysis of staff decisions is great conversation.

But summary negative assessment of any member of the staff of an 8-1 B1G team is a bridge too far.

Yep.  Plus it’s a more nuanced approach too. I keep seeing people say “I trust Cig”. As if somehow thinking he’s less than perfect means people don’t trust him. 
 

He plays the odds and is human. Which means sometimes he chooses wrong. 
 

One thing though I think a lot of us expected to see a transfer portal class once again being smaller than the year prior.  I think we actually see a portal class bigger than last year. And I think that’s a sign that the coaches have assessed they missed on some guys.  

[Golfman25]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

For me?

Critical analysis of staff decisions is great conversation.

But summary negative assessment of any member of the staff of an 8-1 B1G team is a bridge too far.

So are you saying it's too early to start the "fire" thread?  :]  

[AH1971]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Possible that Cig was expecting Minny to go for it on fourth down if he gave them time on the clock? (He was mistaken)

On 4th and 8? I doubt it, would have been better off attempting the FG given their (good) kicking situation. Guessing Fleck would have taken a delay penalty to give their punter more room to pin us deep. With 1 TO, pinned deep and playing a backup QB, guessing Cig kills the clock and plays for OT. 

[Home Jersey]

1 hour ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yep.  Plus it’s a more nuanced approach too. I keep seeing people say “I trust Cig”. As if somehow thinking he’s less than perfect means people don’t trust him. 
 

He plays the odds and is human. Which means sometimes he chooses wrong. 
 

One thing though I think a lot of us expected to see a transfer portal class once again being smaller than the year prior.  I think we actually see a portal class bigger than last year. And I think that’s a sign that the coaches have assessed they missed on some guys.  

Nobody is saying he is infallible. Most just don't ***** repeatedly about a guy who obviously knows what he is doing the one time things don't go perfectly on his end. Second guessing the staff is certainly a choice for some. 

Definitely not convinced Wilson starts the rest of the season. Doubt the staff thinks Hoover is a miss considering how much leash they have been giving him. We will see who starts coming out of the bye. I'm good either way because I trust the staff. Lol 

[Brass Cannon]

1 hour ago, AH1971 said:

On 4th and 8? I doubt it, would have been better off attempting the FG given their (good) kicking situation. Guessing Fleck would have taken a delay penalty to give their punter more room to pin us deep. With 1 TO, pinned deep and playing a backup QB, guessing Cig kills the clock and plays for OT. 

A 60 yard fg was gutsy call.  I actually wonder what advanced analytics say you should do as an offense in that situation.  Wouldn’t be shocked to see analytics say go for it as the optimal decision 

[TheWatShot]

3 hours ago, rcbowla said:

Why isn't the anger more directed at coach Cain anyhow? His ST units have been bad all year and had maybe the worst overall ST performances I've ever seen from a team in a single game (HS not included....woof). I mean we changed PR like 5 weeks ago and still haven't coached Becker or anyone else how to handle punt returns? Routinely give up 10-15 yards of field position. Then add all of the other ST crap and he's not earning his $ imo.

I think it's because everyone is so focused on the offense being light years behind what we've gotten used to seeing. 

 

If we were an SEC program and had lost this game, Cain would be cleaning out his office tomorrow.