What Curt Cignetti has accomplished at Indiana is beyond laudable. It is exceptional. Recently, Cignetti credited Nick Saban and his five seasons as an Alabama Crimson Tide assistant coach as major contributors to his success.
Between Tuscaloosa and Bloomington, IN, were three lower-profile head coaching gigs for Cignetti. He did well at each stop, especially his five seasons at James Madison, during which the Dukes were 52-9.
Recently, Cignetti spoke about his time on the Alabama football staff and about Saban being a "real important part of my journey. [I] learned a lot from Coach Saban in terms of organization and standards. I wouldn't be where I am today without my time under Nick."
The Indiana coach is not known for spending time currying favors. He is oftentimes blunt and sometimes brash. No matter how sincere his Saban comment was, many Alabama football fans will view him as a new villain. It will be worse if Indiana wins the Rose Bowl Playoff Quarterfinal.
Will Cignetti disparage the Alabama Crimson Tide?
Based on various Cignetti comments since joining Indiana, he will likely say something before, during, or after the Rose Bowl that will draw the ire of Crimson Tide fans.
The most famous Curt Cignetti quote was on National Signing Day, when asked about selling his program to recruits, he quickly quipped, "It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me.”
Shortly after he landed the Indiana job, Cignetti was given a microphone at an IU basketball game. Part of what he said was, "Purdue sucks… so does Michigan and Ohio State." Indiana fans loved it.
Cignetti may go too far at times, but his communication strategy since Day 1 in Bloomington has been to shake the Hoosiers football program out of its doldrums. The boldness has worked, with the Hoosiers having the best back-to-back seasons in their football history. Before Cignetti, Indiana's best two-season run came in the 1940s, when IU was 6-3, followed by 9-0. Indiana's single Rose Bowl Game came with a 9-2, 1967 season that was sandwiched between 1-8 and 6-4 records.
Cignetti has also said that he never takes a backseat to anyone. He must have successfully hidden that attitude during his years with Saban. If Indiana wins in Pasadena, Alabama fans will never forgive him, even if he tries hard to praise the Crimson Tide.