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. 

[Artie86]

20 hours ago, TheWatShot said:

Seeing Hoover side-arming throws yesterday has me thinking his shoulder is more injured than we're being led to believe. 

 

I'm having flashbacks to when Andrew Luck injured his shoulder during a game, continued to play through it, missed the rest of the season due to a different injury, came back the next year and continued throwing with an injured shoulder, then finally got surgery after that season ended, and had to go overseas for treatment because by then it was so badly worn down. 

 

I hope the staff knows what they're doing with Hoover if there's something wrong with his shoulder. 

 

20 hours ago, TheWatShot said:

Seeing Hoover side-arming throws yesterday has me thinking his shoulder is more injured than we're being led to believe. 

 

I'm having flashbacks to when Andrew Luck injured his shoulder during a game, continued to play through it, missed the rest of the season due to a different injury, came back the next year and continued throwing with an injured shoulder, then finally got surgery after that season ended, and had to go overseas for treatment because by then it was so badly worn down. 

 

I hope the staff knows what they're doing with Hoover if there's something wrong with his shoulder. 

....I was thinking the same thing about Hoover. There was a brief exchange between coach Cignetti and Hoover on the side lines and by the looks of Coach, he wasn't too pleased with him. 

IMO, I believe that it's Grants job to loose right now. Coach Cignetti praised him for his abilities and even made a point to about how mobile he is. I'm not saying Hoover is done, but I think Grant showed Coach Cignetti an element of our offense that we have been missing all season. JMO...

[TTT]

20 hours ago, Aaron said:

All of the following can be true:

1.  Some of the questioning of Cig is over the top and 99% of what he does has been amazing and he has installed belief in this program in way no one ever has and just wins like he says.

2. There is 1% of Cig that is not great and that is his timeout usage during games and has been a three year issue we have gladly overlooked. However, last night it finally had a light shined on that and almost cost them. When you are facing a future NFL kicker who is the best you have seen since Dominic Zvada for Michigan in 2024 who is now kicking for Giants, you don't ever assume he is going to miss and you call timeout immediately. Finally, you can't assume officials will ever stop the clock and have to watch scoreboard to double check the moment IU lines up.

Bottom line is we couldn't be luckier to have Cig and 99% of what he does is gold. However, its also OK to say that the 1% with timeout usage is an issue and he mis-evaluated his QB this season by bringing Hoover in. Healthy or not, he was wrong choice and current shoulder/wrist issue has only made it worse. Don't know yet if Wilson is answer but looked fine in second half. Just not sure once game planned for if he will be good.

Team is championship good except at kicker, punter, and QB and unfortunately those are three important positions. I am open to trying Wilson and McAteer full time (note Hoosiers have no other punter listed on roster) but can't say if they will be better in extended time.

IndianaBasketball Forum

 

Radidic situation is just unfortunate and Cig did nothing wrong here whether he is injured or has yips and was reliable till this season. The evaluation though at QB and punter were missed this offseason and hopefully something Cig has learned from as first evaluation misses of his three year tenure which is an amazing track record.

 

20 hours ago, Aaron said:

All of the following can be true:

1.  Some of the questioning of Cig is over the top and 99% of what he does has been amazing and he has installed belief in this program in way no one ever has and just wins like he says.

2. There is 1% of Cig that is not great and that is his timeout usage during games and has been a three year issue we have gladly overlooked. However, last night it finally had a light shined on that and almost cost them. When you are facing a future NFL kicker who is the best you have seen since Dominic Zvada for Michigan in 2024 who is now kicking for Giants, you don't ever assume he is going to miss and you call timeout immediately. Finally, you can't assume officials will ever stop the clock and have to watch scoreboard to double check the moment IU lines up.

Bottom line is we couldn't be luckier to have Cig and 99% of what he does is gold. However, its also OK to say that the 1% with timeout usage is an issue and he mis-evaluated his QB this season by bringing Hoover in. Healthy or not, he was wrong choice and current shoulder/wrist issue has only made it worse. Don't know yet if Wilson is answer but looked fine in second half. Just not sure once game planned for if he will be good.

Team is championship good except at kicker, punter, and QB and unfortunately those are three important positions. I am open to trying Wilson and McAteer full time (note Hoosiers have no other punter listed on roster) but can't say if they will be better in extended time.

IndianaBasketball Forum

 

Radidic situation is just unfortunate and Cig did nothing wrong here whether he is injured or has yips and was reliable till this season. The evaluation though at QB and punter were missed this offseason and hopefully something Cig has learned from as first evaluation misses of his three year tenure which is an amazing track record.

Coach and staff and IU football has just been living right for three years.  That 99% is close to what his win percentage is!

[AZ Hoosier]

16 minutes ago, Artie86 said:

 

....I was thinking the same thing about Hoover. There was a brief exchange between coach Cignetti and Hoover on the side lines and by the looks of Coach, he wasn't too pleased with him. 

IMO, I believe that it's Grants job to loose right now. Coach Cignetti praised him for his abilities and even made a point to about how mobile he is. I'm not saying Hoover is done, but I think Grant showed Coach Cignetti an element of our offense that we have been missing all season. JMO...

I have no problem with Hoover coming back and replacing Wilson... but Hoover has to be healthy (at least 95%). Wilson is more than capable for USC, Washington and little brother. I say we give Wilson the ball and let Hoover get healthy. Hoover does us no good if he's only as healthy he appeared to be on Saturday. 

[Stuhoo]

Let me ask you guys this:

You saw him play against an above average Big Ten defense; what part of Grant Wilson's game appears to be lacking?

• Does he put us into unadvisable situations?
• Does he lack mobility?
• Does he have enough arm strength?
• Can he execute back shoulder throws?
• Can he zip it into a tight window when needed?
• Is he big enough and strong enough?
• Can he take off and run when needed?
• Does he have leadership maturity?

Thought so.

[MonteMarcaccini]

Been mentioned plenty about needing to get to the bye, so I looked at the top 30 or so teams ranked today in the Athletic.

IU is the only one that had played 9 straight weeks. (USC has played 9 games but played week 0 and had a bye on 10/17). Every other team has had a week off.

After playing on the road in front of 100k getting NEB and MICH best shot in between playing a grinder against OSU, to say they were on fumes going into MINN would be a major understatement.

Makes it all the more remarkable what this defense has done.

MUCH needed rest this week.