So I don’t have to be jealous. That’s all it is.
CFP Games
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I 've disliked Miami ever since the 1987 Fiesta Bowl where the they arrived in combat fatigues as an intimidation tactic against Penn State.
This is so spot on. Like congrats for showing us all you can hire an amazing coach and in two years dominate two historically great programs on your way to a national title appearance. It doesn't mean I have to root for them to win it
Uhhh....no Notre Dame???
They opted out.
Too important for this list.
Too important for this list.
Illinell
'03 IMPE All Star
- Bridgeport, Chicago
I am 100% rooting for Indiana, not even close. Go Big Ten! I'm a B1G Picture guy lol
it's fun to see a football program basically step out of obscurity and surpass the two powerhouses in the big ten in a 2 year period....hard not to root for them.
its really about the biggest story in CFB history. its only because its happening concurrently with the new portal issues and NIL that its not getting more press - and we all know its because of those two things that this was even possible to begin with
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
What's wild about this year's team for Indiana is that, yes, the transfer portal made a major impact.
But I'm not sure how much of an impact NIL had. They currently have the lowest ranked 247 talent composite ranking in the B1G. Northwestern has more 4 stars than Indiana.
Next year, yes, NIL will make a big impact for Indiana.
I dunno about how little or how much NIL mattered . I highly doubt that Mark Cubans money donated in to the school was worthless .
and I also suspect no friggin way does Mendoza transfer in without a nice bag .
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I'd contend given what they are historically it might be the biggest story in modern American team sports history. The Cub world series in 2016 perhaps exceeds but no pro league can produce quite the same type of out of nowhere winner as a college sport since the pro leagues have around 30 teams. CFB around 130 & hoops north of 300.
I know the dynamics are different now but if you told someone as recent as 2 years ago IU would play for (and be a solid favorite in the game) the football national title they'd suspect you needed mental help.
I enjoy watching them (except when they destroyed us) & frankly unless they play poorly it will be a one sided affair IMO. The 1 wildcard is Miami being at home does help them. But after 50k Hoosiers showed up in Atlanta I suspect they will have 30 to 40% of the stadium in Miami at least.
Its a bold new world & if IU can do it, Bret can lead Illinois there in due time.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The Leicester City thing from the Premier League feels like the only comp, and that was really a one-year wonder.
And the fun, amazing, weird, not sure what, thing about it is, it absolutely unequivocally could not have happened 5 years earlier or 5 years later. The window of time in which this kind of mission could have been executed at that kind of school was very small.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
They were #72 in Team Talent Rankings coming into the season. They didnt build this dropping bags of money on kids the way Texas Tech did. Sure, they spent money like every P4 school has, but what they have accomplished defies everything we have seen historically.
It is incredible. I dont even feel bittersweet about it. I just hope our fanbase realizes that comparing us and our progress to them is a fruitless endeavor. It has never been done before. And may not ever be done again.
We can be certain their roster will have more talent moving forward.
The song goes: Hail! Hail! to Michigan the leaders and best!
Interesting that they don't mention exactly what they're best at or leading.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
Part of it is I truly think Cignetti is some kind of football savant the likes of which rarely come around. Like a football version of a Ric Majerus type who just drastically improves the program everywhere he is at.
And he hit IU at the right time, was able to bring a crew from JMU & use the portal to fill some gaps after showing great success in year 1.
He appears to be a bit of a unicorn if you will. Not reasonable to expect that to be duplicated other places. Bret is doing a fantastic job here & I think he has the coaching chops to contend at the highest levels if we can get talent commensurate with that level.
This is where I'm at too, but Cignetti is so good, I wonder if he's starting a dynasty that I'll wind up rooting against.
Amazing if once payments go above board the BIG wins 3 in a row with 3 different programs while the SEC is struggling to get into a championship game.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
You'd think he'd have been more successful in his prior career though, right?
It's a little like Saban where his legend makes you think his Michigan State tenure was better than it was.
(Also, have we discussed that Cignetti replaced Lou Tepper at Indiana University of Pennsylvania?)
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I did not know that he replaced Tepper. Pretty low bar to clear with that one to be considered an upgrade.
blackdog
- Champaign
He's 145-37 in his career as a head coach. His biggest problem was that it just took him a long time to get his shot and he had to start pretty far down the ladder.
I wonder how Eddie Robinson or John Gagliardi would've fared at a P4 school. Similar records at lower level, though Cignetti's win% is bit better.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Cheating
Yeah kinda crazy he never got a shot as an OC. Worked his way up as a position coach for almost 30 years, before finally jumping way down the ladder to take a HC gig, then another decade working his way up that ladder. Not the kind of career path you'd expect at all for someone who, in retrospect, is obviously a rare talent.
the whole combined story of his crazy career path and IU’s 10-24 month ride from obscurity to being really good / great is just so unbelievable
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