According to Curt Cignetti, Indiana has had a productive fall camp, but he’s not satisfied. The Hoosiers have improved across the past few weeks, says the Indiana head coach, but he and his program reject complacency at every opportunity. Even though he’s been generally pleased, Cignetti still expects better of his players each and every […]
According to Curt Cignetti, Indiana has had a productive fall camp, but he’s not satisfied.
The Hoosiers have improved across the past few weeks, says the Indiana head coach, but he and his program reject complacency at every opportunity. Even though he’s been generally pleased, Cignetti still expects better of his players each and every day.
“Making progress but never satisfied, and that’s sort of the theme right now,” Cignetti told reporters after practice on Monday. He made it clear that he’s seen progress, but to be the best you can never settle and must always strive for more.
This type of mentality is what sets Cignetti apart from most head coaches around the country. He could’ve simply praised his team and let everyone know that the Hoosiers have been playing well, but the way he runs his program wouldn’t allow that. Cignetti is all about getting better, even if that means shrugging off a good performance from the day before.
Fall Camp Q&A: Curt Cignetti provides insight as the final week of fall camp begins
“We try to improve upon yesterday’s practice or the previous drill, today’s or the previous rep, right? So, you know, what we’re really trying to do is improve our focus, our concentration, our urgency, our communication, how we react, respond, identify what’s going on out there, technique, and then being able to turn it off and play the next play,” Cignetti said. “Rip off the rearview mirror and do it from first play practice to last play or game also. And then the more guys you get doing that, the better you become as a team.”
While he delivered the message to reporters, it’s the same message he gives his team every day. Even in fall camp, it’s 100% all the time, and that 100% is focused on being your best, but improving on your best the next day.
The players understand this, according to Cignetti, as he described how the older guys have fully bought into the program and have allowed the entire roster to understand Cignetti’s vision. He specifically mentioned Aiden Fisher as a voice inside the locker room, but explained that it’s a team effort, and everyone needs to buy in, from the walk-ons to the starters.
“They’re not satisfied and they know what the expectation level and the standard is and how we do things, and every year you got new leadership and you know the best leaders lead through their actions, not their words,” Cignetti said, explaining how important leaders are to his program.
Another player Cignetti mentioned specifically was Fernando Mendoza, as he explained how he’s seen progress from his QB, but like he’s said time and time again, there’s always room for improvement.
“He’s done a nice job of learning the offense and still not perfect, but nobody out there is,” Cignetti said.
In addition to learning the offense, Mendoza will also have to learn how to be a leader in the locker room and on the field. Cignetti didn’t comment on that specifically, but other players on the Indiana roster have said the new QB1 has already taken a leadership role.
With fall camp winding down, Indiana will transition to the regular season as soon as later this week. While the theme of “never satisfied” won’t change, the Hoosiers’ preparations will, offering new opportunities to get better each week.
“We’re still in camp. We’ll switch gears late in the week. So, our focus is getting the offense, defense, special teams in the situations that come up during a football game, improving players, creating depth, competition, who’s going to be a one, who’s going to be a two, and developing players all the way around, improving our practices, making them more clean,” Cignetti said.
Indiana kicks off its season in just 11 days, meaning there are a lot of improvements to be made in a short period of time. That may sound like camp hasn’t gone well for the Hoosiers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there’s certainly room for improvement — there always is — Cignetti has continued to preach that every day.
It’s trickled down to his assistants and players, with seemingly everyone inside Indiana’s program buying into that vision. Even though it’s still fall camp, Cignetti’s mentality is already in midseason form.
“So, I see a lot of improvement out there, but it’s still not where it needs to be. And even when it’s close, you can never be really satisfied if you want to be great.”
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Category: General Sports
