Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes vs. Washington
10/26/2024 4:30:00 PM | Football
Postgame Quotes
Washington at Indiana
October 26, 2024
Curt Cignetti | Indiana Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: Good win. There are no bad wins. I thought it was really gutty finding a way to win. Defense with the big turnover in the first half for a touchdown and then Ponds comes back with another one shortly thereafter. We made a couple nice plays in the first half and had a two-score lead at times.
But we weren't playing very well. We just weren't executing. Quarterback has got a few plays that he'll learn from. It wasn't that there weren't things there. They did change their tendencies on us quite a bit. They went from a man coverage team to a zone team, so at some point in the game you almost throw out 50 percent of the game plan and just start shooting them from the hip.
The second half opened with the interception, so it was tight. We respond with a nice drive and a score. That was a point. I think one of those drives we had three runs for third-down conversions, and then it became more about -- sometimes you've just got to throw that game plan out, like okay, what works against this.
It still comes down to the guys up front and the running back, Justice Ellison, 29 carries. The line did a great job up front, and the punt return was good. Defensive stops kept coming back, coming up with plays, and we gutted it out. We gutted it out.
We're 8-0, and it was a great team effort. I told the team after the game, I said, really good teams, championship teams, they find ways to win games, and that's what we did today. We found ways to win a game.
On complementary football and the contribution in all three phases…
CC: Well, I don't know if that's complementary football. Complementary football to me is you're playing well and you're balanced on offense and doing all the things you've got to do in all three phases. What I would say is the defense really saved us early in the game. Saved us, and then came up with some big turnovers.
Then at the end of the game the offense got the run game going, started eating some clock and kept them off the field, and special teams with the big return did their part, and we had some good plays on special teams.
I think this is a close team with a lot of competitive character, guys that really want to be good, have the right stuff, and they found a way to win.
On Justice Ellis and the number of carries he had this game…
CC: Yeah, there was a time we used to give a guy the ball 42 times a game, but we won't go there.
You know, Lawton had a little tweak and didn't feel like he was 100 percent, and Justice had the hot hand. We had Kaelon take a few carries, too, but I thought he was terrific. Terrific. Ellison.
On your thoughts on Tayven Jackson…
CC: Yeah, like you said, he made some good plays. He left as many plays out there. It's just doing what you're coached to do. Reading your key, don't forget to send the motion, those kind of things.
On how well the offensive line was able to create the opportunities for Tayven and Justice…
CC: Yeah, I don't think we gave up a sack. I think the quarterback got hit one time, and we did it -- we've been very consistent on the offensive line. We matched up well against Washington, honestly. But those five guys have stayed on the field. They got a lot of snaps together, which really helps at that position.
I thought they were great.
On what changed in ball movement after the 14-play, 75-yard drive in the third quarter…
CC: We really just changed some things there. I think we had three running conversions on 3rd down there if I'm not mistaken. We played football differently and ate a lot of clock and probably caught them off guard on a few of those 3rd downs when we ran the ball.
On what makes D'Angelo Ponds so good…
CC: You know, he's got good talent, but he's got competitive character. He's a competitor, and he wants to be great. He's got day in, day out consistency. He does the things that help him improve on a daily basis, and that's his goal. He wants to be the best football player he can be, and he loves the process and everything that goes into that, and he's intelligent.
He comes from an area down there in Miami where those guys growing up, high school, a lot of pride down there in South Florida about being a baller, and he's a baller.
On Myles Price after the dropped punt…
CC: Yeah, I told him that between the negative 20-yard return and the big return, they came out to zero net yards. (Laughter.)
No, that punt return was a huge play in the second half. We had some good blocks and he hit the hole. We made some timely plays in the second half. Special teams played a big role.
On what you have seen from D'Angelo Ponds and the expectations you have for him…
CC: Yeah, he's a good player, and he wanted to step up and play against competition at the highest level, like all the other ones did. He's showed that he's more than capable.
On what makes this O-line so special?
CC: You know, Bob does a great job coaching them. They're all real tough, hard-nosed kind of guys, and they function well together. Bob keeps it simple, and we don't have missed assignments, things of that nature. They're tough guys. They're tough guys.
On the big picture and the 8-0 record…
CC: I mean, you are what your record says you are. Believe me, we're going to put that tape on, and it ain't going to be real pretty at love of times on offense and it won't be on defense, either. There will be a lot of mistakes out there.
But not off to a bad start, I guess.
On reflecting on the magnitude of the season so far…
CC: Well, Gameday came, and we talked to the team briefly about it on Monday, and we really didn't dwell on it after that. I dealt with it a little bit after the walk-through yesterday evening with the team for about 15 seconds because that's a great thing to have at your university, the exposure and all that stuff, but it's real easy for your team to kind of lose their focus on what they're there for. I've just seen it happen over and over and over.
We overcame it, and we won, so it was a good day.
Indiana Student-Athletes
Mike Katic | OL | R-Sr. +
On what it means to be 8-0 with all the attention…
MK: It means everything. I love this place with my whole heart, and I'm so grateful for everyone in this program that has helped me get to where I am. I'm so proud of this team and these coaches for everything and breaking through and getting Indiana football back on top.
On a slow start without the starting quarterback…
MK: I think we definitely started off with a slow start offensively. We couldn't really finish drives and our run game wasn't the best. I think we came out in the second half ready to go. We knew what we had to do, and I think we executed very well.
On the decision to return for another year…
MK: I think about it pretty often, but I'm so grateful. I've said this to everyone that has asked me what it's like to come back. This is the best decision I've ever made hands down, and I'm so grateful to be here.
Justice Ellison | RB | Sr. +
On wearing down Washington with every yard…
JE: It's mainly about your attitude. I have always been a tough guy. I have been through a lot in my life. My dad always told me to always stay focused and stay hungry. Keep going. A lot of times there are obstacles in games, just like life, but you can't put your head down and go in the corner and pout. You have to be a man and strap it up and keep fighting. Hats off to the O-line. They have battled. It wasn't a lot of big runs, explosive runs, but they really showed the resilience of this football team. I am so proud of the guys, and I am thankful to be a part of this team.
On scrapping some of the plan and outrunning Washington…
JE: It is everything you work toward in the offseason. You work so hard in those moments as a running back, because that is what the team needs you to do. It is nowhere near about Justice Ellison because it's not. It is about this team. I knew that. It is a simple example that I need to go and make plays. I need to have that mentality to get get this first down. I need to get four more yards, five more yards. I kept talking to myself. Those type of things elevate the jersey. Every single time I am out there, I keep saying "give me some more push." I think the guys did great at that, and we are going to continue to keep doing that.
Mikail Kamara | DL | R-Jr.
On having fun in the Big Ten…
MK: I am. I'm having a lot fun. I'll be honest, a lot of fun. I mean it's winning, winning in the Big Ten. Especially coming from JMU, a lot of people didn't think we were gonna come here and dominate. Specifically the JMU guys like Walker and Fish. Ponds had a crazy game today, but all the JMU guys, especially just to see from the first, when we played FIU. The stands compared to what it was today, a huge difference.
On a championship and being 8-0…
It didn't slip out. I'm still about it. Like especially what we saw with Nebraska today. I think we go out there and win. We just got to keep staying focused. We can't let the clutter get in the way of anything. We just got to keep on going every single day.
D'angleo Ponds | DB | So.
On the defense, having a good game…
DP: The offense has been saving us for the past couple games, so it's only right we had their back this game. It felt big on me to just make a play.
On how the defense set the tone early on in this game…
DP: Usually offense gets the ball first. But this game we were on the field first, so we made it a thing to set the tone, and we did that.
On his pick-six…
DP: I was blitzing and somebody tipped the ball, and it came right to me. That is just a testament of trusting the process and being where you have to be and the ball will come to you.
On getting to the endzone on his pick-six…
DP: It honestly felt unreal. That was my first career pick-six. I prayed for it, so that's what I'm feeling. It's unreal.
Jedd Fisch| Washington Head Coach
Opening Statement…
JF: Tough one today. I thought that Indiana has a very good football team that played well. 31-17. They won the turnover battle. They were plus one there, and I think that was the difference in the two scores. For the most part, we were able to do some good, some bad. The possessions were strange. We only had four possessions in the second half for the offense. One touchdown, one field goal and two punts. Offensively in the first half, going down, we had four possessions inside the forty, and one touchdown from that. Defensively, we had some good plays and moments [as well as some] good opportunities to keep them out of the in zone. On the same token, they had some long drives against us, which is rough. They had a backed up drive from the minus two. They had an 11 minute drive after the touchdown to make it 17-14. That was tough. Special teams covered well at times, and then let up a huge return to get (the ball) down to the nine yard line at 24-14. Overall, those things hurt us. We have to continue to build off of every moment we have together. I told our guys that you have to divorce the outcome and marry the process. Marry the moment. Right now, we have to sit there and look at what we can continue to do to get better at this moment and embrace the process of improving. Each day we have to find ways to improve. Each day we have to find ways to get better. We have a great shot back at home. Three out of our next four are against foes that we know, and we have an opportunity to play two of them at home.
On if there is any difference in the team when playing on the road…
JF: No. People play well at home. That is a well known thing, that teams are playing well at home right now. I don't feel like our team was much different when it was 17-14 with 11 or 12 minutes left in the third quarter. I felt like it was a really good football game. I didn't think that some of the things were a little wacky. I have never seen a pick-six off of an out route. That was one of the weirder plays that I have ever seen on the second drive of the game. I feel like our guys are pretty locked in when they come out here. I thought their energy and attitude was excellent. I thought their efforts dictate that. At the end of the game they had a six minute drive that we didn't get the ball back. That was challenging at the end.
On changing the offensive line during the game…
JF: We were looking for stuff that was going to work. Right now, we have three guys on the offensive line that are in their second year of playing college football. Those guys need opportunity, reps and to see how good they can get. Max is still a week or two away from being able to play. On that side of the line, we need to figure out ways to improve. We were struggling early on with some of the line game, so we tried to mix and match. I thought we were better in the second half in protection, but we have to get the ball out of our hands and find ways to continue to establish the running game.
On the difficulty to stack improvement through the season…
JF: It's just part of the process of who you're playing each week. It's the process of different guys going in at different moments. The consistency of the offensive line or the defensive line. The consistency of the schedule. We were playing games against good teams. It's hard to get good sometimes, right away. Sometimes in the process, you're getting better. I don't think there is a question when I watch us that there are moments where we are getting better. The question becomes a matter of … are you [getting] better against opponents. You have to get better each week. You have to get better when you go on the road against Iowa, or on the road against an 8-0 Indiana team. We have all of those phases that we are continuing to evaluate, but this is the trials and tribulations of going through and trying to put together a whole new culture, a whole new system, a whole new offense, defense and special teams. We need to find a way to continue to improve.
Washington Student-Athletes
Kamren Fabiculana | Safety | Sr.
On what was working early on…
KF: I mean, they weren't wearing us down. The score says what it is, but we just played. We played fundamental football. We just have to continue that energy coming out of the half, and keep going whenever we step out on the field.
On what sound football looks like…
KF: Everyone doing their job and having pride just being on that field.
On message to younger players…
KF: "Don't take it for granted. Just echoing that message to the younger guys puts things into perspective. I've got four college games left, and I'm putting that into their minds. If you don't have anything else to play for, play for the seniors. Play for the W on your chest, play for yourself and play for the team."
Jonah Coleman | RB | Jr.
On how he felt coming into this week…
JC: I really attacked recovery hard. They did a good job in the training room and weight room, making sure I'm doing everything to get my body back to how it was in week one.
On what would constitute a successful season…
JC: Really just trying to go 1-0. We've got a game back at home, so we'll get back to it on Sunday. Just trying to stay focused on going 1-0 and not thinking too far down the road.
