Cignetti Is Spring-Practice Clear -- Never Waste a Chance to Improve
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Curt Cignetti strides off the Indiana football practice fields bearing the expression of a man who has just learned his $10 million Rembrandt collection is fake.
Cignetti has thrived by demanding -- and getting -- his players’ best: in practice, in training, in games. When that doesn’t happen, when the Hoosiers don’t bring enough “juice” and rigorous coaching has no effect, well, Cignetti isn’t one to wait around.
Many coaches would practice until things are done right, however long it takes.
Cignetti has his own approach.
So, under a postcard perfect blue sky, with freezing early morning temperatures warming to late-morning comfort, after a series of mental and physical lapses incompatible with improving and winning, IU’s 10th spring practice ends early without the usual players-gather-at-midfield-for-a-Cignetti talk. Instead, he heads to his Memorial Stadium office, letting the Hoosiers work out things with their position coaches, the message as clear as a total solar eclipse:
This can’t happen again. Too much rides on it.
Cignetti’s 130-37 head coaching record over 14 seasons -- and last year’s program record-setting 11-2 IU debut -- suggests how effective this approach can be.
Just in case the message is missed, Cignetti uses his post-practice press conference to make a few coaching points.
“Practice 10 in the books,” he says from the Memorial Stadium Team Room. “It's a race to improve as much as you can and, up to today, the effort and the improvement was on track. Today, we squandered an opportunity to improve as much as possible. We were inconsistent in too many areas. Probably not mentally prepared to come out and do what it takes to have a successful practice and improve as much as possible.”
For Cignetti, every day crisp execution, effort and focus builds toughness and resolve so when the Hoosiers face adversity, they overcome it.
On this day, they disappoint, and their coach lets them know it.
“It was too much inconsistency across the board at all positions; whether it was a lack of detail, focus, or preparation, which leads to a breakdown in execution," he says.
“Good players want to be coached. Great players, you can't coach them enough, you can't give them enough, they want more (coaching). Inconsistent players want coached on their terms. And today we had too many inconsistent players.”
Yes, the Aug. 30 season opener against Old Dominion is four-and-a-half-months away, and if you think that’s plenty of time to correct the problem, you don’t understand what it takes to win at an elite level.
Cignetti does. He’s never had a losing record.
“We didn't come out prepared, ready to improve, and live up to the standard that we've set for each individual, the team, offense, defense, special teams.
“I am sure I will look at the tape and it is never as good and never as bad, but that is where we are today. I am really not worried about what it looks like four months from now. My focus is on what were we today. What were we today and what did we put on tape.”
As far as what the Hoosiers did wrong, Cignetti says, “We just didn't have enough juice. Too many coaches yelling to get going because guys weren't (ready to practice). I am not saying every guy, but (a good number). Up to today, I think the practices have been; they are never perfect, but effort and energy has been good.”
IU scrimmaged last Saturday. It will scrimmage again this Saturday. Then comes next Tuesday’s practice before the spring session ends with Thursday night’s spring game at Memorial Stadium. It will feature IU’s only live tackling of the spring.
“We play a half,” Cignetti says. “Offense versus defense. That’s it. We’re done. It’s not really a game. It’s a glorified practice. It’s a third opportunity to get your guys out there in game-like conditions.”
Expect the Hoosiers to be ready. Expect them to perform, at least in effort, energy and focus, to their coach’s demands. The first scrimmage, and then the follow-up practice, were blueprints on what to do, and what not to do.
“It was a typical first scrimmage: good competition, too many penalties, sacks, turnovers,” Cignetti says. “It’s about like every first scrimmage I have ever been around.
“I want to see it be cleaner on Saturday in all three phases. Cut down on the missed assignments; get 11 guys to do what they are supposed to do consistently, play-in and play-out, at a high level and finish plays. Play winning football.”
In other words, don’t disappoint.