Indiana coach Curt Cignetti tells restless Hoosiers fans not to gripe over 38-0 win

Some Indiana fans are growing impatient in Bloomington after a sluggish start by a team that has climbed from obscurity to the top of college football. The Hoosiers, the defending national champions, are 3-0, but their opening month has featured lethargic first halves against lighter opponents.

Victories over North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky have not satisfied everyone as Indiana moves toward Big Ten play. The slow starts have left part of the fan base uneasy, even after a 38-0 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday.

Coach Curt Cignetti addressed that frustration during his weekly radio appearance on Thursday. Speaking about fans who did not stay in their seats for the entire game, he said, “It was hot, and I was hot on the sideline.”

Cignetti then added, “What are we, 29-2? When we came, I saw the picture, 10,000 fans in the stands,” before concluding, “Don’t b—- about a 38-0 win.” His comments drew laughter from those listening, though he clearly meant them as a serious rebuke.

The reaction underscored the contrast between Indiana’s current expectations and where the program stood only a few years ago. Three years ago, a fan base that once would have celebrated an 8-4 record and a Gator Bowl berth likely would not have complained about winning by 38.

There is also a warning attached to the early-season caution: if Indiana plays that way against Ohio State or Oregon, it could be punished. Even so, Cignetti has built enough trust that many believe he is the right coach to fix the issues, especially given what he has already accomplished in Bloomington.

He has been compared to Nick Saban at his peak, and the argument is that his impact at Indiana has been unlike anything the school has seen. For that reason, supporters are being urged to appreciate the run while it lasts, because Cignetti will not be on the sideline forever.