Postgame Quotes: Spring Game

Postgame Quotes
IU Football Spring Game
April 18, 2024

Curt Cignetti | Indiana Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: The great thing about that was we got nobody hurt today, got some good valuable work in. I thought we made a lot of progress from the beginning of spring to the end of spring. I give the players a lot of credit. I thought they really tried hard.

When you look back December 1st, the first day I took the job, when we had ten offensive starters in the portal and many defensive guys and really couldn't even fill the team at that point, and where we are today, we made good progress.

But we have a long way to go and a short time to get there. I think the players understand that in terms of mindset, how we think, playing more physical, cleaner, tackling better first time out, throwing and catching, stuff like that.

We'll look different with four or five key injured guys back in the fall and with a great summer, second time through the offense, defense, special teams, and hopefully a few roster additions in some areas we could use some help.

On what he saw from the offensive line…
CC: That would be hard for me to evaluate that until I watch the tape. I know, when we ran the ball, we ran it really well. It seemed like the ball was moving forward. I told Mike to throw it 65, 75 percent of the time tonight.

There were a couple of dropped passes that probably stalled some drives. And then with me being out on the field, there was one situation where the ball was in plus territory about the 42 or 7, where it would have taken two downs and we threw it on third and got a penalty. So if we'd have played that different.

But there was some pressure on the quarterback for sure, but it's hard for me to say how much.

On the impressions of the quarterbacks…
CC: I was trying to figure out if our two offense was that good or our two defense was that bad. I think I know the question to that -- or the answer. I think the freshman corner got exposed a little bit in the boundary. But Tayven made some nice throws, and Andison made a play or two, Coby.

But we then turn around and drop a ball, could have been a big play, throw an interception. Kurtis was the victim of some dropped passes that could have kept some drives alive.

So I think there's a healthy competition there heading into summer and fall camp. Competition is a great thing. We need more competition at all positions. That was one of our issues this spring is we have some guys that played some football in the past that didn't have the kind of competition we'd like to see to motivate them to go out every day, every play, focused in, best effort, improving.

That's how I saw it.

On Aiden Fisher's progression from last year at James Madison to this spring…
CC: I think Bryant Haines sleeps a lot better at night with him. He's like a quarterback of the defense. Knows it inside out, really studies, really respected by his teammates too, helps get others lined up. So making progress, good football player.

On the next steps for this team…
CC: I think it's a busy time for your coaches, number one. The portal is open. We spent a lot of time on that the last few days as well as recruits here and then getting ready for the scrimmage. Then they're going to hit the road, May recruiting.

Players will stay in the strength and conditioning program for a week and then prepare for finals. Then there's a few weeks where they're off. Then summer sessions start. We'll be back training again May 20th, begin our summer program.

I thought we made excellent progress in the winter with Derek. Usually what we see in the summer is just a huge leap. I expect to see that. Then another significant leap in fall camp.

I think the number one thing right now is just some key positions on this football team we've got to strengthen a little bit.

On players that stood out during the spring game…
CC: I'd have to watch the tape. To me it was just a glorified practice. They called it a game.

I know Tayven started out good, him and 0 hooked up a couple of times. I think some of that was going against a freshman DB who may have fallen down one time.

I've got to watch the tape. It seemed like, when he ran the ball, the ball was moving forward pretty good.

On the progress he has seen from the running backs…
CC: I think that group definitely caught my eye. I just think our running back room is faster, more dynamic, good at pass pro, good at catching the ball out of the backfield, can break tackles. We have more speed and athleticism back there. All three of those guys just love football. They're football nuts. Tough guys. They're tough guys.

On the progress Donaven McCulley made over the final weeks of spring practice…
CC: I thought he made a really nice catch that first touchdown on the post. I saw him really respond. I don't do that a lot. I did it once last fall with our quarterback, and he really responded about the middle of the season.

He still has some improving. Everybody's got to improve. I know what his goals are, to be a great player, and it starts with the way you practice, your attention to detail, how you study off the field, how you prepare. Those are some of the areas he's got to improve in. But I'm glad we got him.

On Shawn Asbury II and Terry Jones Jr. and their growth through the spring…
CC: They're both doing great in the classroom, I can tell you that. They work really hard. They've got great work ethics. Asbury has a very consistent spring. Jones has been running a little bit more with the twos lately, but had a nice play, like you mentioned.

Both of those guys have played a lot of football and had about 100 tackles last year each. That kind of experience only helps.

On how he will evaluate the defense after the game…
CC: This was the first practice we tackled, which is kind of a trend across the country. I watched some other people, even their spring games, they're thudding.

We did this last year, and because we opened with Bucknell last fall, they didn't even tackle in fall camp any of our scrimmages. I'm not saying we're going to do that.

So I'm sure there were some missed tackles tonight. When there's missed tackles, that can be a lot of different things -- athleticism, balance, body control, want to, toughness, things like that.

It's hard for me to give a comment on that without watching the tape, other than I'm sure there's a lot of improvements to be made.

On his approach to roster additions as the spring transfer portal opens…
CC: I'm looking for the best I can get. I'm not looking for any third teamers.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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Indiana Student-Athletes
Aiden Fisher | LB | Jr.
On how he has embraced his role as leader of the defense…
AF: It's definitely something I have embraced. They've kind of put me in a position where they want me to go out there and lead and kind of bring energy to the defense, and I want to get out there and do just that. Help guys get lined up and help them play faster, cause at the end of the day if they're playing faster, I'm playing faster, and we will be an explosive defense if we play that way.

On how he's been able to gauge how the defense will look in the fall…
AF: Definitely a couple pieces we are missing here and there, but I'm sure with how it will shake out [with transfers] will be even more new faces in here. I just think the biggest thing, like Coach Cignetti talked about, is that the guys that don't usually get a lot of reps are getting reps. We're just building depth, so by the time season comes we will be a deep team and that's something that's going to play to our advantage.

On how his relationship with Coach Haynes has developed here at Indiana…
AF: I would just say the biggest thing between me and Coach Haynes is our communication and our trust within one another. I think there were times last year when we were thinking the same calls at the same time. It's just been huge to develop with him and under him. And being able to grow not only in his scheme but as a person, and just kind of knowing his tendencies and building off of those things for myself as well.

On what he wants to focus on developing before fall camp…
AF: I definitely want to get my twitchiness back up, and really get my legs back under me a bit to recover. Biggest thing for me is kind of affecting the pass game a little more. I know what I can do in the run game, moving lateral, sideline to sideline within the box. I want to be able to get my hands within the pass game, affect the game through the air as well.

Kurtis Rourke | QB | R-Sr.+
Q: On his offensive rhythm now compared to the start of spring football…
KR: We have come a long way since we entered day one. Day one everyone is trying to feel out the offense, feel out the playbook, and get used to everyone. Every practice we have built on that, built chemistry with each other, and we've been able to get things going and come together as an offense. I think today was a really good showcase of what we can do and it's the bottom line right now, so we are going to keep continuing to grow and improve up until the fall.

Q: On his personal progress since the beginning of spring ball…
KR: My goal is to improve every single practice and get better. That comes a lot with what I do off the field and in-between practices. My goal this spring is to get control of the offense and get control of the team and be able to run the team. To be able to run the team, you have to have the confidence to play, so every day that is what I was trying to do. Everyone has done a great job of coming together since we are new to the offense, so being able to come out every day and learn and get better has helped me improve.

Q: On the running game in the new Indiana offense…
KR: I think we have one of the deepest running back rooms in the country. We have a lot of guys that can make plays and that was shown today. As a quarterback, you want to be able to pass the ball, but being able to run the ball effectively opens up the passing game. Being able to have running backs who can make plays on their own helps the whole offense.

Q: On what drew Rourke to transfer to Indiana compared to other schools….
KR: The coaches mentality they have. I love the playbook, I love the design, but it's the way that they call plays. Coach [Mike] Shanahan really thinks about how the drive is going to go. It seems like they are always one step ahead and that really puts defenses on their toes.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Shawn Asbury II

Aiden Fisher

Terry Jones Jr.

Donaven McCulley

Kurtis Rourke

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