Diamont's cigar photo creates an internet sensation

[OliviaPope40]

They always said Zander Diamont had a little Johnny Manziel in him.

While Diamont can't match Manziel's playmaking or flamboyance, the Indiana freshman gave it the old college try Saturday.

A photo of Diamont with a lit victory cigar in his mouth and Old Oaken Bucket in his hands was widely circulated on the Internet. The photo, posted on his Instagram account, was later taken down.

By then, @crimsonquarry, the Hoosiers' Twitter home at SB Nation, had posted the photo multiple times. The first post was captioned, "INTERNET'S FAVORITE QUARTERBACK," and featured 157 retweets and 313 favorites as of Sunday afternoon.

Indiana University has been a smoke-free campus since Jan. 1, 2008, so school leaders cannot be happy about the photo. The cigar is obviously lit because the tip is ash and smoke is visible.

IU coaches cannot be happy, not wanting to fan the flames of the Purdue rivalry. Talk about bulletin board material …

Diamont, once the third-string quarterback, was understandably exuberant after the Hoosiers' 23-16 comeback victory. (Coincidentally, Manziel scored his first NFL touchdown Sunday for the Cleveland Browns.)

Diamont led Indiana on the winning drive in the closing two minutes, scoring a touchdown himself on a 1-yard run with 27 seconds left. He completed 15-of-24 passes for 119 yards, and he netted 34 yards rushing on 11 attempts.

 

At coach Kevin Wilson's postgame news conference, he said Diamont has "some grit" but continues to have a long way to go.

"Been nice not to have played him this year, but the way he battled gave us chances in games and for sure gave us a chance to win today," Wilson said.

It's possible Diamont could be redshirted in 2015 when Nate Sudfeld reclaims the No. 1 job. So the Californian might not play quarterback for Indiana again until 2016.

Coaches in all sports have anxiety about athletes' use of social media. This was hardly an egregious offense, but it was not the image IU wanted to project.

But it did add a classic image to a 123-year-old college football rivalry that could use a jolt.

 

Instagram | @zanderdiamont

Last one! #oakenbucket

http://www.indystar.com/story/hoosier-insider/2014/11/30/diamonts-cigar-photo-causes-sensation-on-internet/19707787/

[lucel15]

Let him smoke his cigar they all deserve it. Forget politics I'm tired of it all boys will be boys and girls will be girls......hell if cuban was the AD he would be posing with Zander (cigar in mouth as well)

[TheWatShot]

This is what makes rivalries special. It's possible this may be the only game Diamont ever wins as a starter, which makes this even more legendary. 

[Walking Boot of Doom]

This is what makes rivalries special. It's possible this may be the only game Diamont ever wins as a starter, which makes this even more legendary.

Really? At this rate he's red shirting next year, and starting the year after. Who would start in front of him once Sudfield is gone? He definitely improved this season.

[FKfootball]

Diamont may start next year. Who knows? Sudfeld is no world beater.

[TheWatShot]

Diamont was the fifth option on the depth chart last spring. If he's starting again and it's not because of an injury to someone else, he'll either be light years ahead of where he is now or we'll have failed to recruit a better QB. 

 

 

Not trying to slam him, but beating an awful Purdue team doesn't make him good. 

[Walking Boot of Doom]

Diamont was the fifth option on the depth chart last spring. If he's starting again and it's not because of an injury to someone else, he'll either be light years ahead of where he is now or we'll have failed to recruit a better QB.


Not trying to slam him, but beating an awful Purdue team doesn't make him good.

I agree, but as a freshman, he looks like a decent long term option in his fourth or fifth year.

[Terrie]

I am not sure how good of a quarterback he is - the only game I was able to watch, he seemed right on and the receivers were not catching.  What I do know is that he may be the best looking quarterback since Gibran Hamden :) 

[LIHoosier]

He should've lit a cigar after every game for not being turned to dust; especially against the likes of Michigan St and Ohio St.

[CR3AMnCR1MS0N]

I am not sure how good of a quarterback he is - the only game I was able to watch, he seemed right on and the receivers were not catching. What I do know is that he may be the best looking quarterback since Gibran Hamden :)

J-Shun Harris can't catch.

[MartintheMopMan]

Wait. He spells Xander with a "Z"? I don't know about this guy anymore.

[Josh]

This cigar photo is one of the awesomest pics ever

[ou812dude]

Something something hot mom, something something Seinfeld

[HoosierReb01]

Well, crap. At least it wasn't a blunt.

[chicagoHOOSIER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

F@#k it!  That's a great pic.

 

 

Thx MrsTijanJobe!

[Walking Boot of Doom]

Btw, I was watching Seinfeld the other day, and unwittingly ended up watching the episode where Diamont's mom plays Jerry's gf with gonorrhea.

[chicagoHOOSIER]

That pic is going out to all of my IU friends :yes:, and also to all of my Purdue 'friends!' :wink:

[OliviaPope40]

 

F@#k it!  That's a great pic.

 

 

Thx MrsTijanJobe!

 

That is not my title.

[HoosierReb01]

That is not my title.

MrsHannerMosquera-Perea?

[OliviaPope40]

MrsHannerMosquera-Perea?

Nope I'm thinking of a better inside player.