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

[Brass Cannon]

Just now, Home Jersey said:

I'm sure the fans played an instrumental role in Cig's decision-making process.

Didn’t claim that.  But the fans were right 

[JSHoosier]

13 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

I get that he almost threw a pick.  But he was infinitely better than Hoover and we wouldn’t have been in that position of being down had Wilson started the game.  Had we got his level of QB play from the get go Minny scores fewer and we score more. We probably win by 2 TDs in regulation if Wilson starts.  
 

Wilson isn’t a perfect option.  But he can hit an open guy and he can run pretty well. Hoover misses the open guy and trips over his own feet.  We might throw more picks with Wilson but if we can hit the open guys again the running game is going to come back and the QB won’t be the one we are leaning on consistently. 

 

If Wilson can move the chains it would allow the defense to rest too. And fewer chances to shank a punt.

[Hoosierfan2017]

2 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

The only thing the IUFB fanbase needs to tell Cig is "thank you sir" 

I don’t fully agree. Obviously Cig did the impossible and brought a national championship to iufb, and the fanbase should be eternally grateful for that. But the standard is the standard. The offense, special teams, and even Cig at times haven’t lived up to the standard at times this year. Timeout handling has been questionable sometimes this year. Not calling a timeout after the completion to Becker last night was a mistake. The staff thought he was out of bounds and didn’t realize the clock was running. No one’s perfect, and I don’t see an issue with calling out mistakes when the staff makes them.

Maybe it’s just greed, idk, but at a point we stop being the little engine that could and adopt the mindset of a football powerhouse. Sometimes that includes booing bad performances, like the crowd did to Hoover last night. Part of me feels bad for the player, but it’s all part of the game. The crowd booing was the same crowd blowing the nonexistent roof off the stadium when we were on defense late in the fourth and in overtime. 

[Brass Cannon]

1 minute ago, JSHoosier said:

If Wilson can move the chains it would allow the defense to rest too. And fewer chances to shank a punt.

Or at least not be in our red zone when they do shank the punt 

[mshoosier]

12 hours ago, KingPG21 said:

Field goal unit had issues @Rutgers as well. The shank today looked more like execution issues on the snap and hold than anything.Same as the Rutgers game. 

Who is the FG holder now ? It is not the same person as last year, correct ?

[Home Jersey]

Just now, Hoosierfan2017 said:

I don’t fully agree. Obviously Cig did the impossible and brought a national championship to iufb, and the fanbase should be eternally grateful for that. But the standard is the standard. The offense, special teams, and even Cig at times haven’t lived up to the standard at times this year. Timeout handling has been questionable sometimes this year. Not calling a timeout after the completion to Becker last night was a mistake. The staff thought he was out of bounds and didn’t realize the clock was running. No one’s perfect, and I don’t see an issue with calling out mistakes when the staff makes them.

Maybe it’s just greed, idk, but at a point we stop being the little engine that could and adopt the mindset of a football powerhouse. Sometimes that includes booing bad performances, like the crowd did to Hoover last night. Part of me feels bad for the player, but it’s all part of the game. The crowd booing was the same crowd blowing the nonexistent roof off the stadium when we were on defense late in the fourth and in overtime. 

My issue is more with the idea that people in this thread were saying they "hope Cig gets killed for this" and just constantly cutting the guy who took the losingest program in CFB to an undefeated natty 0 slack. Lunatic stuff. Mistakes happen, but to doubt the man's game management is just comedy to me. He has lost 3 games in 3 years here. I'm not so quick to boo at frustrating play against that backdrop. Do agree we eventually need to turn the corner on being the little engine that could. 

[Stuhoo]

 

OOPS!

[AZ Hoosier]

41 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Yes. As admirable a job as Wilson did stepping up yesterday, he also came very close to throwing a pick that would've basically sealed the game.

Much talk about Hoover "trying too hard" to avoid INTs possibly contributing to his issues... I don't think that's accurate. I think avoiding TOs is a big part of his job. He doesn't have to be Mendoza, and he has to play better than he has been, but he is also likely much more injured than publicly known. Hence why he sat in the second half. Because he was too hurt to play, not because Cig thinks Wilson gives us the best chance the rest of the season IMO. Assuming Hoover's health improves over the bye week, I will be surprised if Wilson plays over him. Cig does not strike me as one for QB controversy. 

It would be nice to support a struggling player rather than make him everyone's favorite whipping boy and showering him in boos at home. But we get one undefeated natty and Heisman season and suddenly fans know more than the staff that actually delivered those achievements. Totally hilarious.

Booing is not acceptable. Pure and simple. It's not acceptable.

My concern with Hoover, and I've stated it several times already, is simply this: is he injured or not? It matters because if injured, that puts the onus of the quarterback play on the coaching staff. If he's hurt, why is he playing? If he's not hurt, what is the coaching staff doing to help him sort out the issue.

Cignetti has said that he was not 100% against Michigan. So he's "hurt" to some extent. With a capable backup in Grant Wilson, why is Cignetti trotting him out there and propping him up? Get him out, get him healthy and bring him back for the playoffs.

[AH1971]

I thought the booing at half was out of frustration more than anything, not pointed at a single individual. It was a piss poor performance across the board sans the play from the defense. Offense did nothing outside scoring on a drive that was gifted great field position off a turnover and special teams play gifted Minnesota all 10 points, both off shanked punts. The decision by Cignetti at the end of the first half to let 20-25 seconds of game clock run off after appearing content to get to half only to call a TO and bring the offense back was just perplexing. Didn’t help Hoover threw a pick.

 

[Pagoda]

6 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

My issue is more with the idea that people in this thread were saying they "hope Cig gets killed for this" and just constantly cutting the guy who took the losingest program in CFB to an undefeated natty 0 slack. Lunatic stuff. Mistakes happen, but to doubt the man's game management is just comedy to me. He has lost 3 games in 3 years here. 

I do think people forget Cig and staff have a lot of information and fans have comparatively very little.  We aren’t in practice everyday and we didn’t scout the opponent etc.  So when making a decision they’re taking a lot more into account we don’t know about.

I think it’s fine to discuss questionable decisions.  The staff will make mistakes… all staffs do.  Folks should just remember our staff is very good and makes comparatively few errors.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

8 hours ago, AH1971 said:

I’ll give Hoover the benefit of the doubt in the sense that he’s not 100% healthy, but he’s missed throws all year. His mechanics are terrible. He’s constantly dropping his elbow/shoulder causing balls to sail and his feet are almost never set. At some point Sunseri needs to feel some heat, Whitmer has been a huge loss as well.

It’s curious.  Hard to know Sunseri vs Whitmer but Whitmer left on the highest of notes.  Hoover hasn’t been what ive expected.  I do wonder if an early injury might be an explanation.  I thought it was mental until the OSU injury.  Maybe it’s been both.   But the accuracy issues don’t match the TCU tape.  I mean he wasn’t even close yesterday.  Credit to the kid for grinding.  Hope he can get right and finish on a high note

[WayneFleekHoosier]

6 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

I thought the booing at half was out of frustration more than anything, not pointed at a single individual. It was a piss poor performance across the board sans the play from the defense. Offense did nothing outside scoring on a drive that was gifted great field position off a turnover and special teams play gifted Minnesota all 10 points, both off shanked punts. The decision by Cignetti at the end of the first half to let 20-25 seconds of game clock run off after appearing content to get to half only to call a TO and bring the offense back was just perplexing. Didn’t help Hoover threw a pick.

 

It seems both.  That particular drive Hoover threw 2 straight odd arm angled horrible balls that were head scratchers. So that on top of the inaccuracies and overall bad play.  I know I personally was ready to see Grant a drive or 2 before that one, and I was definitely ready after seeing those balls and Marsh/Becker body language. 

[Pagoda]

FWIW, I think it's mental and physical with Josh.

Tino's track record includes Rourke, McCloud, Centeio, and Johnson.  Per below, those all worked out.  I'm not sure Tino is exactly the problem.

I really don't understand how things got so sideways with Hoover.  Maybe it's as simple as it's impossible to bat 1.000.

 

[AH1971]

8 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

It’s curious.  Hard to know Sunseri vs Whitmer but Whitmer left on the highest of notes.  Hoover hasn’t been what ive expected.  I do wonder if an early injury might be an explanation.  I thought it was mental until the OSU injury.  Maybe it’s been both.   But the accuracy issues don’t match the TCU tape.  I mean he wasn’t even close yesterday.  Credit to the kid for grinding.  Hope he can get right and finish on a high note

I don’t think Hoover is comfortable in this system/role. He’s a natural gun-slinger that thrives on rhythm. He’s asked not to turn the ball over in a ball control offense that wants to establish the run. They turned him loose at TCU, because they had too, as they had to score 30-40 night just to stay in. They lived with the turnovers because of his big play ability. That’s not Cig’s MO.

[str8baller]

3 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I do think people forget Cig and staff have a lot of information and fans have comparatively very little.  We aren’t in practice everyday and we didn’t scout the opponent etc.  So when making a decision they’re taking a lot more into account we don’t know about

I have a friend who was a good QB. Set an NCAA record (all divisions). Had an offer to be a GA to eventual QB coach from a B1G school. When I listen to him discuss QB play or mechanics, I am always reminded that I know virtually nothing about the subject.   
 

With that said…we’ve all watched the offense trend down for weeks now with no answer in sight. And I do mean, trend down. We look like we’re getting more stagnant. I can understand why fans have latched onto Wilson.  
 

He may not be the answer. One thing I’m certain of is if there is even an answer Cig and Co. will find it. And if they don’t, we can still ride the defense to a 10-2 record and playoff berth, which is a successful season by any metric. 

[Brass Cannon]

18 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

 

OOPS!

You don’t ever say that lol.   But it definitely felt like it. But Charlie Becker said “No!!! not today Satan”

[rayl456]

10 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

It seems both.  That particular drive Hoover threw 2 straight odd arm angled horrible balls that were head scratchers. So that on top of the inaccuracies and overall bad play.  I know I personally was ready to see Grant a drive or 2 before that one, and I was definitely ready after seeing those balls and Marsh/Becker body language. 

Don’t remember the exact time this happened, but I saw a tv shot of Becker standing next to Hoover with his arm around his shoulder.  Both had helmets off and looked like Becker was just trying to give moral support to Josh.

[Gahoosierfan]

A couple of observations. The punter gave UM two scores. Mistakes happen. Hoover is injured. He is trying, but the injury is hindering his play. There were some special teams mistakes. Most all of this will be discussed, and corrections made by the coaching staff. Last season was special and we can't expect perfection every year. 99% of the schools out there would like to be in IU's position. 

[Hoosierfan2017]

15 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

My issue is more with the idea that people in this thread were saying they "hope Cig gets killed for this" and just constantly cutting the guy who took the losingest program in CFB to an undefeated natty 0 slack. Lunatic stuff. Mistakes happen, but to doubt the man's game management is just comedy to me. He has lost 3 games in 3 years here. I'm not so quick to boo at frustrating play against that backdrop. Do agree we eventually need to turn the corner on being the little engine that could. 

I think Hoover only got boo’d because it was the fourth straight game with the same issues, and it only came yesterday after several consecutive (I think) wildly inaccurate throws. 

As for Cig, I view tactical decisions, which I would always defer to him on given his proven record, as separate from game management decisions. The stuff that comes to mind in particular for me is the way we’ve burned several timeouts on fourth down this year just to come out and punt or try a field goal. It’s just a lack of crispness that I don’t remember seeing his first two years. Something like not calling a timeout last night when Minnesota had 4th and 6 at the 41 is what I view as a tactical decision. Calling a timeout would’ve given us much more time after Minny’s field goal, but Minny also could’ve decided to go for it, convert, and then drain the clock down  

I also get that handling Hoover is a tricky situation. Some guys shut down when they get benched. Wilson could’ve stunk it up last night and then you’re stuck with a Hoover whose confidence is shot. You also have to think about how it looks to guys in the portal in the upcoming offseason. A short leash could make other qbs think twice about coming to IU. We’ll see who starts at USC. There’s no benefit in Cig committing to either guy right now in the media. Make USC prepare for both guys. I personally thought our offense looked better with Wilson in the second half than it’s looked for most of conference play, but part of that could be Minny not preparing for Wilson. 

[HoosierReb01]

33 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

So was I, though I was in the end zone which is rare for me.  I wrote most of it off as usual groans when stuff goes wrong.  Maybe it was more than I thought I’m not doubting you.

I guess I’m just not ready to rake our fans over the coals right now.  They’re not perfect but they’re not a material issue in my view.

I was in the upper level, which was in my opinion, where most of the boos were coming from. Hard to tell when you're in the middle of it, but I thought most of it came from there. Maybe somebody from the visitors side could give some insight. And by vocal minority, I do mean a loud, but pretty small percentage.