Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Howard
9/12/2026 4:00:00 PM | Football
Postgame Quotes
Howard at Indiana
September 12, 2026
Â
Curt Cignetti | Indiana Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: Okay, better taste in our mouths after this game, which was the goal. Got to play a lot of players. Defense got the shutout and also scored, which was good.
And we did shorten the fourth quarter to ten minutes. We both agreed to that. Got it done in less than three hours. Get everybody out of the heat.
So, it wasn't perfect. Still mistakes. But there were mistakes that could be critical mistakes in big football games. But better and we need to continue to develop and get better.
On getting the quarterback to protect himself more…
CC: I need to watch the tape a little bit. The first couple weren't penalties but they were close. May not have been him. But Josh [Hoover] made a couple really nice plays in the game and then he had a couple that he's going to want back.
Â
On the preparation of Charlie Becker…
CC: Hardest worker on the team. Prepares as well as anybody. Nobody prepares more. Goes hard every play. Goes hard in practice. He's a really good special teams guy, too.
Â
It's really important to him and he does everything he can to be the best explosive player. We've had quarterbacks around here throw more touchdown passes and incompletions in games the last two years probably three, four times, right? He's got almost as many touchdown catches as receptions.
Â
On the play of the defensive line…
CC: Yeah, that's great. Back to how we used to be. I thought as the game went on they couldn't block us and our biggest challenge was tackling the quarterback when we were getting to him. And then we got to him and tackled them.
Â
On getting snaps for the backup quarterback…
CC: I think it was really good. Start with Grant [Wilson]. He got in last week and had a 50-yard touchdown run. Gets in this week, has two nice runs. I believe throws two touchdown passes. So he's got to feel good about his performance.
Â
Then it was good to get Tyler [Cherry] in the game. But, you know, he missed his first two throws. He's got to make those throws. At this level you have to make those throws. Then he did make the one. That was a nice throw.
Â
On being able to run the ball…
CC: Well, never comfortable because every week is a new challenge. It's hard to run the football and then we know when we get in Big Ten play, you know, those yards are tough.
Â
So it all starts up front, and with tight ends and the perimeter blocking and the backs. I think we ran for 320 against Old Dominion last year. That one drive early in the first half where we just handed the ball off and hammered them, I like doing that.
Â
Indiana Student-Athletes
Charlie Becker / WR
On touchdowns to receptions ratio and his perspective on that…
CB: I've been blessed by the Lord in so many ways. I'm just forever grateful for all the positions that he's put me in. You know, a lot of hard work, just working with Coach Eddie [Burk Jr.] during the off season. Just getting the footing, just getting everything that goes into being a receiver.
Â
On what this special receiving core needs to do to take them to the next level…
CB: I think definitely blocking. That's got to be an area where we need to improve upon. My blocking isn't great, and I think that's an area where we can all improve is our blocking because a great offensive line leads to first downs, great wide receiver blocking leads to touchdowns. So that's just an area we need to improve.
Â
Joe Brunner / OL
On the team's preparation week to week…
JB: I don't know if we played hard enough or what it was. But you know, you watch film, and we scored a lot of points. But that's credit to Josh Hoover and the receivers. They did a phenomenal job, and we just got to do way better in the run game. Talking about last week, I think we did that this week, but still, like, we're going to watch the film. There's going to be a lot of things to improve on and I'm sure there are instances where if we do one thing right, then maybe we'll break it for a touchdown. But it's always looking to get better.
Â
On his transition back to the guard position…
JB: I think having done it for four years at the college level, just being able to go back is like riding a bike, right? And obviously, it takes a couple days to get adjusted because it's such a high level, but I'm happy where I am. And again, like if I need to go out and play tackle again, I'm here to do whatever is best for the team.
Â
Grant Wilson / QB
On throwing a couple of touchdown passes…
GW: It was just a blessing. It's been a long journey. I hope my whole career led me to this moment right here with Coach Cig [Cignetti] and this team. I love it. I love football so much and it was just a blessing out there today.
Â
On being called the best teammate on the team…
GW: That's awesome. That's just something I, you know, try to do every single day. I know my role. I try to be the best teammate I can be, whether that's in the quarterback room, on the sidelines, helping the guys out on scout. Anything I can do to make this team better. That's the role, and I embrace it every single day. I just love being here, love being a part of the team and whatever I can do to help the team win is my number one opportunity and choice.
Â
Rolijah Hardy / LB
On his pick six…
RH: I think it was just me doing my 1/11th. We had pressure up front from the defensive linemen and I think Josh (Burnham) tipped it so I was able to come under it.
Â
On embracing his leadership role and what he learned from Aiden Fisher…
RH: Yeah, Fisher's one of those guys you can learn from on and off the field. Watching film with him, you're going to get better with the pre-snap stuff that he sees. So I mean, leadership wise, Fisher's a really good leader so, I mean, I've seen what he did and tried to use those all season.
Â
Josh Burnham / DL
On his first impressions of the defense…
JB: I love it. You have so much freedom to just go out there and play ball. So yeah, just knowing that you have that freedom. So you don't have to think as much and you can just go out there and play and you know, let other people play off you. It's been awesome.
Â
On how the defensive front can be special…
JB: I think we have a lot of depth. Especially in the room. Also just like, we have a lot of older guys too, so, just being able to play off of each other, play with each other, especially in practice too. There's just so much depth like I said that the competition and everything each and every day just makes each of us better.
