Coaches come and go all the time, most are fired, nothing new to see here. To make the claim Cignetti has done anything approaching Osborne, Meyer, Saban, or Bear Bryant is more than a little premature.
Cignetti/Whittingham vs. Rhule
- Thread starter tfree32
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I would say what Cignetti has done is exponentially greater than anything your aforementioned names accomplished. Osborne, Saban, Meyer, Bryant, etc were head coaches either at multiple schools and/or many years, in Osborne and Saban's cases, decades, before they found elite success.
Curt Cignetti has accomplished this in two years with his first ever head coaching gig at a P4 school. To me, that's an accomplishment that far exceeds anything those previously mentioned great coaches have done.
We are just going to agree to disagree. He hasnt won anything but a few games so far
Bro... Effing WHAT!?!?!?
Curt Cignetti's coaching record the last 4 years: 45-6 with an .882 win percentage.
I think that qualifies as "more than a few games."
Just this year alone Indiana is undefeated with key victories over Iowa, Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, and Oregon (twice).
Cignetti is on track for one of the most dominant coaching runs in college football history. But let's remember he hasn't even won a single major national championship yet. He needs to win multiple titles to be an all-time great and not just a flash in the pan. That makes it FAR too early to compare him to the likes of Saban, Osborne, and Bryant.
I get the logic of your comment, but I must point out that for all the success and GOAT-iness of the coaches you mentioned, It took Bryant 4 years to win a NC and in the case of Saban and Osborne--decades.
So while I agree about the flash-in-the-pan thing, respect for Cignetti as a GOAT of coaching is warranted. To take Indiana, amazing basketball school, terrible for decades in football, and have them in the NC in just his 2nd year deserves its own level of GOAT award.
OK, one could say the same thing about Scottie Frost at UCF. His 2 year record there was phenomenal and then he "came home" and shite all over his Alma Mater. In retrospect, it isn't that surprising since he did drop at least one "F" bomb towards Husker fans as our star quarterback, but I digress.
And technically UCF won a MNC under the Former Guy, his second year so there is that as well.
I don't think we completely disagree. There is certainly an argument that Cignetti's start is the best ever in major college football. I just think it is way premature to declare him the GOAT before he even wins one title. If he can win tonight and then add a few more titles, he will have a case as the GOAT. It's just too early to crown him yet.
GOAT is based on an entire career and resume. In major college football, CIgnetti is the equivalent of a very impressive rookie of the year. He could end up being the best. We will just have to wait and see.
True, and…
UCF was good two years before Frost got there, and he inherited talent. Injuries derailed the season causing the previous coach to get fired. They were also in a joke of a conference.
Cignetti did it in the B1G, which produced the last 2 national champions. He also evaluated the talent himself and turned over the whole roster.
Yeah, I do discount the AAC but I still think, if it can be done in the AAC it can be done in other conferences. Didn't realize injuries were what caused their horrible season pre-Frost. Pundits acted like it was such a huge deal about what Frost did and I, of course, swallowed it hook line and sinker.
Blatz
Blackshirt
So now Cignetti has won a National Championship. Transforming IU in this short of time has got to be the quickest to title and greatest ever. Truly a remarkable job with the wins to prove it. But he needs a lot more time to be mentioned with the greats. His James Madison teams were built and coached up. No way were they the product of NIL and portal transfers. To me, that shows him to be a fantastic coach. Whereas Indiana is a masterfully constructed team from NIL and the portal.
I wonder what Dr. Tom and the other Mt. Rushmore coaches would have built with the portal and NIL.
I wonder what Dr. Tom and the other Mt. Rushmore coaches would have built with the portal and NIL.
He was able to keep the quality parts of the team together. He may not have spent a lot in the transfer portal (although he did get some players) he was able to KEEP quality players because Mark Cuban's money made it logical to stay with his positive program. Money +culture=why leave?
I believe it's about the man not the setting.
I think the great coaches would've become great no matter what scenario you placed them in, be it, Bear Bryant, Tom Osborne, Nick Saban, or Curt Cignetti.
I doubt whether it was one thing that allows Cignetti to make the magical transformation that he has made at IU. But I will pick two things that seem to be glossed over imo. Those things are consistency and loyalty. He has a seasoned staff and team. His coordinators have been with him for over a decade and he brought six assistants with him to Indiana who had been with him for 6-11 years. Curt always talks about the process. It's a lot easier to build on a process when coaches and players know what the process is. If you compare Curt's consistency with the past twenty years at NU there is a glaring gap. He's loyal to them, and they in turn are loyal to him. Granted it's easier to stay loyal when expectations are lower at the places he has been than places like NU or Penn State. You also need to make the correct hire initially, something that is lacking most places.
In addition to staff loyalty, he has assembled a loyal and seasoned team. The average age of his team is 23/24 years old. I'd wager you would look long and hard to see that duplicated. Even his transfer additions are a little long in the teeth. Maturity and experience are not lost on Cignetti. There is a world of difference between 18-year-olds and 24-year-olds in experience and physical maturity. He seems to get players that are often overlooked but talented and physically mature.
The exception to that is most likely this year's portal. The last I knew his portal class was first or second in the fbs. At this rate Indiana might be around for a long time.......at least until he retires and someone new who has forgotten his formula takes over.
In addition to staff loyalty, he has assembled a loyal and seasoned team. The average age of his team is 23/24 years old. I'd wager you would look long and hard to see that duplicated. Even his transfer additions are a little long in the teeth. Maturity and experience are not lost on Cignetti. There is a world of difference between 18-year-olds and 24-year-olds in experience and physical maturity. He seems to get players that are often overlooked but talented and physically mature.
The exception to that is most likely this year's portal. The last I knew his portal class was first or second in the fbs. At this rate Indiana might be around for a long time.......at least until he retires and someone new who has forgotten his formula takes over.
For myself it’s apples and oranges. Indiana has a population three times what Nebraska has. Twice the programs and studies. They keep their talent at home. Nebraska has to work harder. The Big 8 was easy. The Big is hard.
Nebraska is losing youth. Even the politicians talk about it. Another factor. It took Osborne almost three decades to grab the ring. Not saying a bad word about the Indiana coach. I think he’s got it going. But….. it was easier in Bloomington.
Nebraska let a lot of talent escape this past year or two . Or should I say a decade or two. Maybe not all Rhule’s fault. He got a lot of minds to change after all that. It’s always going to be harder being the little fish in another Great Lake.
Nebraska is losing youth. Even the politicians talk about it. Another factor. It took Osborne almost three decades to grab the ring. Not saying a bad word about the Indiana coach. I think he’s got it going. But….. it was easier in Bloomington.
Nebraska let a lot of talent escape this past year or two . Or should I say a decade or two. Maybe not all Rhule’s fault. He got a lot of minds to change after all that. It’s always going to be harder being the little fish in another Great Lake.
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