College Football Thread

[Class of '66 Old Fart 94,089]

1 hour ago, AZ Hoosier said:

Seen this already:

4 top recruits (4 and 5 star) have recommitted already…

Decommitted October 12 (today):
Kemon Spell: A five-star running back and the top player in Pennsylvania for the 2027 class.
Layton Von Brandt: A five-star offensive tackle from Delaware.
Gabe Jenkins: A four-star linebacker. 

Decommitted October 11 (yesterday):
Khalil Taylor: A four-star wide receiver from Pine-Richland in Pennsylvania. 
 

Add '26 WR Lavar Keys

[Brass Cannon 25,990]

For people concerned we are going to lose Cignetti.  Why would he give up a chance to win it all this year to go to Penn State. Penn State is going to want a guy to start before the transfer window. 

[8bucks 7,655]

We can probably bump salary for him and the assistants to compete but our NIL budget vs the bigger schools has me more concerned. 
 

I also worry our coordinators get poached this offseason to get their HC opportunities. 

[Demo 25,170]

13 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

We can probably bump salary for him and the assistants to compete but our NIL budget vs the bigger schools has me more concerned. 
 

I also worry our coordinators get poached this offseason to get their HC opportunities. 

I know it’s still pre-coach hiring season, but I’m pretty surprised that Haines doesn’t seem to be viewed, at least yet, as a white hot HC candidate. Dude’s about to turn 41 and what he’s doing here has been freaking remarkable. If he was doing this at Bama or UGA there would be a straight bidding war to be his 1st HC job along the lines of Smart and Bob Stoops. I really don’t get it.

[Hardwood83 5,170]

41 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

For people concerned we are going to lose Cignetti.  Why would he give up a chance to win it all this year to go to Penn State. Penn State is going to want a guy to start before the transfer window. 

True, and beyond that, while I don't claim to know Cignetti's motivations or reasoning, from what I have seen, it would be surprising for him to leave IU after this season. Granted he was only at Elon for 2yrs, but that doesn't seem to be a great comparison. Feels like he likes the IU rags to riches arc and it completely belongs to him. Wouldn't be on brand for him to go to a Penn State, IMO. And the truth is IU is a legit top 5 team right now.....we don't have the resources of the big dogs, but are getting the results.

[8bucks 7,655]

34 minutes ago, Demo said:

I know it’s still pre-coach hiring season, but I’m pretty surprised that Haines doesn’t seem to be viewed, at least yet, as a white hot HC candidate. Dude’s about to turn 41 and what he’s doing here has been freaking remarkable. If he was doing this at Bama or UGA there would be a straight bidding war to be his 1st HC job along the lines of Smart and Bob Stoops. I really don’t get it.

So many want to hire the creative offensive guy so maybe that helps. He has been great

[AZ Hoosier 11,199]

UAB fired Trent Dilfer today, as well.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46575973/uab-blazers-fire-football-coach-trent-dilfer

[Rico 3,774]

1 minute ago, AZ Hoosier said:

UAB fired Trent Dilfer today, as well.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46575973/uab-blazers-fire-football-coach-trent-dilfer

Perfect landing spot for DeShaun Foster...

[LamarCheeks 22,579]

The Nits had the perfect candidate right there in Happy Valley, but let him escape to Clemson. 

CTA and LEO at PSU! 

[realTomCrean 2,798]

IMO it’s Dillingham who PSU pursues the hardest. Then, Will Stein & Matt Rhule. Diligence will reach out to Cig, but as already stated here he is a known Pitt/WVU guy + “we are the emerging superpower in CFB why would I leave?”
He has talked a lot about his value of loyalty. Dolson and IU President gave him a chance when nobody else would, restructured contract to allow OC/DC to be top paid and have his own salary be Top 10 if he wins enough. 0% he leaves IU. IU will have to restructure his salary again this year, add onto the stadium, and bump up NIL to a top 15 level to keep the wolves at bay. 

[Hovadipo 62,714]

3 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

Pitt/WVU guy

I largely agree with your post, but anyone who’s a “Pitt/WVU guy” definitely doesn’t care about rivalries. Those 2 places hate each other beyond comprehension. 

[realTomCrean 2,798]

2 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

I largely agree with your post, but anyone who’s a “Pitt/WVU guy” definitely doesn’t care about rivalries. Those 2 places hate each other beyond comprehension. 

You’re right. Great point 

[realTomCrean 2,798]

One of the OC/DC is most likely taking IUFB HC job upon Cig’s retirement in the next decade. If IU can keep Cig, believe we’ll find out which it is by Spring 

[cthomas 6,767]

2 hours ago, Demo said:

I know it’s still pre-coach hiring season, but I’m pretty surprised that Haines doesn’t seem to be viewed, at least yet, as a white hot HC candidate. Dude’s about to turn 41 and what he’s doing here has been freaking remarkable. If he was doing this at Bama or UGA there would be a straight bidding war to be his 1st HC job along the lines of Smart and Bob Stoops. I really don’t get it.

It's Indiana.

[TTT 1,483]

If IU coach would leave IU for a traditional elite program I would predict he averages 7, 8 or maybe it would be a stretch to 9 wins definitely not the level he is currently at IU (nor is he going to continue at a 16-2 clip at IU but he will go out finally as a high percentage winning coach at IU) for several reasons….just brainstorming a list of reasons.

[Brass Cannon 25,990]

10 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

The Nits had the perfect candidate right there in Happy Valley, but let him escape to Clemson. 

CTA and LEO at PSU! 

Pretty sure Clemson will give him back 

[Pagoda 5,905]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

If IU coach would leave IU for a traditional elite program I would predict he averages 7, 8 or maybe it would be a stretch to 9 wins definitely not the level he is currently at IU (nor is he going to continue at a 16-2 clip at IU but he will go out finally as a high percentage winning coach at IU) for several reasons….just brainstorming a list of reasons.

I think you're right.  He's built something here basically from scratch exactly how he wants it such that we can beat a #2/3 ranked team at Autzen and have the fifth best odds to win it all at the moment.  It's wild to say, but his ceiling here is surprisingly very high in this modern era of CFB.  I find it hard to see his redoing everything he's done the past two years, especially at 65.  He could build up another program I'm sure and do very well, but it's a lot of redundant effort and there is some risk too.

And how much better is PSU as a platform to do something like win national titles?  It's better, yes, but I'm not sure it is by a whole lot.   They have two natties from the 1980s and haven't been competitive for titles in the modern era.  They're not a program that sets up coaches to win it all like an OSU or LSU, nor are they one of the richest programs like Texas or Oregon.  It's a Tier II program in a tiny town in the literal middle of nowhere PA (2.5 hours Pittsburgh) with a big stadium.

We can pay Cig and staff as much as they can -- that money comes from the athletic dept and we have enough.  We likely can't match PSU NIL, but we can probably close the gap such that it's less of an issue.  What we do have is the current high performing program Cig has built with strong support from Scott, Pam, and other key figures at IU.  I think there is a lot of value in that.

These are just some ramblings from a homer IU fan.  I'm not well connected to IU, but I know a few people around the program and they're not too worried.  If they get worried, I'll get worried, but until then, I feel pretty good he keeps building here.  Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know Cig and I can only guess.  We'll see.

And lastly, I've got a sneaking suspicion Cig likes beating the traditional powers at a non-traditional school.  I say this in the most positive way -- he's kind of a maniac and it makes the wins even sweeter.

[Home Jersey 17,000]

IMO, Cig isn't leaving until he retires

Start commissioning the statue, Scott

[Demo 25,170]

6 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

IMO, Cig isn't leaving until he retires

Start commissioning the statue, Scott

Dolson’s reply: “Way ahead of you, H.J.”

[TTT 1,483]

9 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I think you're right.  He's built something here basically from scratch exactly how he wants it such that we can beat a #2/3 ranked team at Autzen and have the fifth best odds to win it all at the moment.  It's wild to say, but his ceiling here is surprisingly very high in this modern era of CFB.  I find it hard to see his redoing everything he's done the past two years, especially at 65.  He could build up another program I'm sure and do very well, but it's a lot of redundant effort and there is some risk too.

And how much better is PSU as a platform to do something like win national titles?  It's better, yes, but I'm not sure it's much.   They have two natties from the 1980s and haven't been competitive for titles in the modern era.  They're not a program that sets up coaches to win it all like an OSU or LSU, nor are they one of the richest programs like Texas or Oregon.  It's a Tier II program in a tiny town in the literal middle of nowhere PA (2.5 hours Pittsburgh) with a big stadium.

We can pay Cig and staff as much as they can -- that money comes from the athletic dept and we have enough.  We likely can't match PSU NIL, but we can probably close the gap such that it's less of an issue.  What we do have is the current high performing program Cig has built with strong support from Scott, Pam, and other key figures at IU.  I think there is a lot of value in that.

These are just some ramblings from a homer IU fan.  I'm not well connected to IU, but I know a few people around the program and they're not too worried.  If they get worried, I'll get worried, but until then, I feel pretty good he keeps building here.  Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know Cig and I can only guess.  We'll see.

And lastly, I've got a sneaking suspicion Cig likes beating the traditional powers at a non-traditional school.  I say this in the most positive way -- he's kind of a maniac and it makes the wins even sweeter.

I agree.  Actually, this has to be gratifying, very gratifying in being in the group of the happiest coaches, staff, players, and others involved (excluding exception/s…..isn’t there always exception/s….hard to find) in football land across the country.