Dear Hoosiers,
You lucky SOB’s. The 2025-2026 school year has brought a historic run to Indiana athletics. Curt Cignetti has single handedly changed the culture of IU football in less than 2 years as head coach. You have the biggest football game of any Indiana fan, student, or resident’s life coming up this Saturday in the Big Ten Championship against “THE” Ohio State University (you are not dreaming). You have a basketball team that has started out 7-0 with a brand new coach. You have a basketball team that has finally learned how to make free throws (you are still not dreaming). Sure, the IU basketball team is full of corn fed senior+ transfers that’ll be gone next year, but hey, enjoy it while you can.
But we’re not here to talk about Indiana basketball. We’re not here to talk about a program that is expected to be good year in a year out, and has continuously disappointed a fan base like the Hoosier basketball team has done in recent years past.
In fact, we’re here to talk about quite the opposite. We’re here to talk about a program that is expected to be terrible. A program that, going into this year, was statistically the single most abysmal college football team in D1 FBS history. A problem, more than a program, that Indiana students chose to ignore for years and years in lieu of a handle of peach takka, warm keystones, and the tailgate tents across 17th street every fall Saturday. Those days of blissful gridiron ignorance are officially gone in Indiana. Students have something to cheer for, something to believe in, and something to truly get excited about for years to come. The stands are packed every Saturday in Bloomington. That campus is buzzing. We have a legitimate heisman contender. We have a culture that incoming freshmen and transfers want to be a part of. We are a real, desirable football school. And that is all thank you to one Curt Cignetti (and the millions of dollars IU finally decided to spend on things that mattered rather than university cops, the credit union, and Bloomberg sponsorships).
Curt Cignetti unleashed his stoic presence on Indiana‘s campus at an Assembly Hall pep rally two years ago after accepting the head coaching job. At that rally, he prophesied this season. I don’t think a single soul took him seriously when he said, “Purdue sucks” (ok, that part we did) “BUT SO DOES MICHIGAN AND OHIO STATE!” I think the collective conscious that is the Indiana student body said “alright buddy… relax.” We generally barely have a chance at scraping together a resume for a bottom tier bowl game, let alone a competitive game against the big bad wolf 215 miles east in Columbus.
But Cig does not relax. He took it to the national media and said “I win. Google me.” Some call it verbose. Some call it arrogant. I call it necessary. What is a good coach if not confident in his own abilities? I’ve seen too many years of Bears head coaches talk about “winning culture” with no real rigor behind their words. The proof is in the pudding.
Retained talent, a strong recruiting class, and work put in with the transfer portal, including our lord and savior Fernando Mendoza. Not expecting winning, but DEMANDING winning. Building real culture. Cultivating belief from your players and your fans. Sheer defensive strength. Grown men pushing the pile on the offensive line. A dual headed beast of a backfield that is Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. Call it a three headed dragon when you throw Kohbie Martin in there. An incredible WR core that spreads the secondary deep and can artfully slice an under route through midfield. Real talent surrounding the best QB and one of the best leaders this southern Indiana town has ever seen. This team is something special. There is real passion from the fans and real solid football being played on the field and I cannot wait to watch the boys attempt their first win against Ohio State since 1988. And once the Buckeyes are taken care of, we’ll see if we can redeem ourselves from last years ND playoff game. I’m not getting my hopes up, but I’m not not getting my hopes up. As a Chicago sports fan, I’m used to expecting the worst even after hoping for the best. It’s nice to have a change of pace.
So, Hoosier fans, enjoy it. Do not take it for granted. Recognize that this is SPECIAL. Soak in your final tailgates at 17th and Dunn, but soak in the game too. Soak in the 20 minute study break filled with reading or watching real media personnel talk about the Hoosiers while you cram for finals in the coming weeks. Soak in all the highlights, the heismendoza edits, the memes, and the clips. Remember these days on campus because they will come and go faster than you can finish someone’s “hoo hoo hoo.”
Sincerely,
A wishful but excited Hoosier alum