Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Rose Bowl Game Media Day
12/30/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti addressed the media at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl Game's Media Day ahead of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama on Thursday (January 1).
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
On keeping the team focused and prepared with the long break between games…
CC: Well, everything we've done up to this point doesn't matter. All that did was get us here. The only thing that matters now, once we leave this, is our preparation between now and kickoff. So when we came out of our last game, because we had so much time and didn't know who we were going to play, and then nowadays in college football you've got to think ahead to your '26 roster.
So, we were sort of in bye-week mode, a lot of good weight-room stuff, rest and recovery, some short practices, working on the '26 roster, retention, evaluating portal guys, coaches retention. Once we knew who the opponent was, the next day for the coaches was a Sunday. Then the next day, for the players, was a Monday, and so forth.
Up until the 24th, which normally would have been a Thursday practice, we wanted the players to be able to get home for Christmas, so we were off the field by 1:00 and it was sort of a repeat, short, third-down day. We head back on the 27th for a 7:00 check in meeting, and next day, normally would be a Monday again, was a Monday in terms of reps and tempo, but it was red-area work. Then we caught up on our Tuesday with more red area. Yesterday was third down. Today will be a normal Thursday. Tomorrow will be a walk-through, then go play the game.
On preparing the guys' mindset for playing a historic team like Alabama…
CC: You probably know more about the mystique than they do. Our guys just know what they see on tape.
On appreciating what has been done so far while looking to continue the success…
CC: The only goal right now is to have as good a day as we can today. We've got progress to make in our preparation. When we get done today, this morning, with media, it's important we have a great day and that we have a realistic perspective what it takes to meet the challenge, gives us the best possibility. What you're talking about are things in the past, which I've probably fielded that question a hundred times, right? But it's a good question. It's great. There's a lot of excitement. But we're here to play in the playoff game and our 100 percent focus is on the here and now.
On what it was like learning who the opponent was going to be…
CC: I did get to watch the game. You're right, early on Oklahoma built a lead. And then a true test of Alabama's character and resiliency to come back on the road in a playoff-game, hostile environment and win that football game. I think it says a lot about their football team.
Alabama is a great football team. Kalen DeBoer is a great coach. I've been following him for a long time because our backgrounds are similar. He's come a long way from the Canyon Coyotes. I figured I'd throw that one in there.
And I shouldn't have to build up Alabama. Everybody knows what a great team they are. So, it was an interesting game. It was just good to get our opponent defined.
On going about three-and-a-half weeks off…
CC: Like I said, until we knew the opponent, we weren't in high gear, so to speak. Once we knew the opponent, and the coaches had their Sunday and the players came in for their Monday, there's always a team meeting. Now, it was all on me to get everybody focused, thinking the way we wanted to because had a lot of smoke blown up their you know what for two, two and a half weeks, right?
And then you're dealing with player retention and negotiation and a lot of stuff, a lot of different stuff. Guys are winning awards. I thought I'd rock their world and get their attention, and I did my best job to do that.
On Alabama's defense…
CC: I think Alabama has a really good defense. They've got a lot of great players and a lot of depth. And Kane Wommack and the defensive staff do a great job putting them in positions to be successful. And I think they're tough.
On what he appreciates about what Fernando Mendoza has done this year…
CC: I think the things he's done in the past has been documented pretty well, the way he's played with the game on the line, particularly on the road, in the last five minutes of the game. And that's a mark of a clutch player, a great player. And then he won a nice award in New York. I think it's really critical now that he really developed a sharp edge in his preparation and don't play like, oh, I'm the Heisman Trophy winner and I've got to do this or do that, because we've all been following this game long enough to know we've seen some of those performances, right?
And Alabama's defense I think is a challenge, not only because they've got great players and they play really hard and fast. But schematically, they do some things to try to throw you off rhythm. So, we've got to go in with a good, sound plan. But at the end of the day, it's all about execution, left tackle doing his job, running back, receiver, and Fernando being on point.
On monitoring who is expected to be available and evaluating who could be fits for 2026…
CC: They all say something on Twitter nowadays, right? So you know who is planning on going out, and it's easy for the recruiting department to make a PFF tape on them because you know you can't talk to them until the portal opens on the 2nd.
On how IU handles the transfer portal compared to how other schools utilize it…
CC: I can't say what everybody else does. I hear stories. I'm just worried about us.
On evaluating prospects during the season and how he manages the schedule…
CC: The focus there is on high schools.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
On keeping the team focused and prepared with the long break between games…
CC: Well, everything we've done up to this point doesn't matter. All that did was get us here. The only thing that matters now, once we leave this, is our preparation between now and kickoff. So when we came out of our last game, because we had so much time and didn't know who we were going to play, and then nowadays in college football you've got to think ahead to your '26 roster.
So, we were sort of in bye-week mode, a lot of good weight-room stuff, rest and recovery, some short practices, working on the '26 roster, retention, evaluating portal guys, coaches retention. Once we knew who the opponent was, the next day for the coaches was a Sunday. Then the next day, for the players, was a Monday, and so forth.
Up until the 24th, which normally would have been a Thursday practice, we wanted the players to be able to get home for Christmas, so we were off the field by 1:00 and it was sort of a repeat, short, third-down day. We head back on the 27th for a 7:00 check in meeting, and next day, normally would be a Monday again, was a Monday in terms of reps and tempo, but it was red-area work. Then we caught up on our Tuesday with more red area. Yesterday was third down. Today will be a normal Thursday. Tomorrow will be a walk-through, then go play the game.
On preparing the guys' mindset for playing a historic team like Alabama…
CC: You probably know more about the mystique than they do. Our guys just know what they see on tape.
On appreciating what has been done so far while looking to continue the success…
CC: The only goal right now is to have as good a day as we can today. We've got progress to make in our preparation. When we get done today, this morning, with media, it's important we have a great day and that we have a realistic perspective what it takes to meet the challenge, gives us the best possibility. What you're talking about are things in the past, which I've probably fielded that question a hundred times, right? But it's a good question. It's great. There's a lot of excitement. But we're here to play in the playoff game and our 100 percent focus is on the here and now.
On what it was like learning who the opponent was going to be…
CC: I did get to watch the game. You're right, early on Oklahoma built a lead. And then a true test of Alabama's character and resiliency to come back on the road in a playoff-game, hostile environment and win that football game. I think it says a lot about their football team.
Alabama is a great football team. Kalen DeBoer is a great coach. I've been following him for a long time because our backgrounds are similar. He's come a long way from the Canyon Coyotes. I figured I'd throw that one in there.
And I shouldn't have to build up Alabama. Everybody knows what a great team they are. So, it was an interesting game. It was just good to get our opponent defined.
On going about three-and-a-half weeks off…
CC: Like I said, until we knew the opponent, we weren't in high gear, so to speak. Once we knew the opponent, and the coaches had their Sunday and the players came in for their Monday, there's always a team meeting. Now, it was all on me to get everybody focused, thinking the way we wanted to because had a lot of smoke blown up their you know what for two, two and a half weeks, right?
And then you're dealing with player retention and negotiation and a lot of stuff, a lot of different stuff. Guys are winning awards. I thought I'd rock their world and get their attention, and I did my best job to do that.
On Alabama's defense…
CC: I think Alabama has a really good defense. They've got a lot of great players and a lot of depth. And Kane Wommack and the defensive staff do a great job putting them in positions to be successful. And I think they're tough.
On what he appreciates about what Fernando Mendoza has done this year…
CC: I think the things he's done in the past has been documented pretty well, the way he's played with the game on the line, particularly on the road, in the last five minutes of the game. And that's a mark of a clutch player, a great player. And then he won a nice award in New York. I think it's really critical now that he really developed a sharp edge in his preparation and don't play like, oh, I'm the Heisman Trophy winner and I've got to do this or do that, because we've all been following this game long enough to know we've seen some of those performances, right?
And Alabama's defense I think is a challenge, not only because they've got great players and they play really hard and fast. But schematically, they do some things to try to throw you off rhythm. So, we've got to go in with a good, sound plan. But at the end of the day, it's all about execution, left tackle doing his job, running back, receiver, and Fernando being on point.
On monitoring who is expected to be available and evaluating who could be fits for 2026…
CC: They all say something on Twitter nowadays, right? So you know who is planning on going out, and it's easy for the recruiting department to make a PFF tape on them because you know you can't talk to them until the portal opens on the 2nd.
On how IU handles the transfer portal compared to how other schools utilize it…
CC: I can't say what everybody else does. I hear stories. I'm just worried about us.
On evaluating prospects during the season and how he manages the schedule…
CC: The focus there is on high schools.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballFB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (12/30/25)
Tuesday, December 30
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (12/29/25)
Monday, December 29
FB: Bryant Haines Media Availability (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28