Postgame Quotes: North Texas

Postgame Quotes
North Texas at Indiana
September 5, 2026

Curt Cignetti | Indiana Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: I heard a couple minutes ago the heat index was at 152, which I've never heard of in my life. People that gave me that information felt like it was a pretty accurate reading.

It's good to win. There will be a lot of critiques, for sure. Both corners go down in the first quarter, never return. They will be back. Those are not long-term deals. Khobie Martin, who I consider a starter [...] He might be out for a little bit.

I didn't think we played real well on defense. [We] Had a soft balance, whether it was poor tackling, out on the perimeter. When you play a first game, especially with a new staff, you're not exactly sure what you're going to see offensively. You see some looks that you haven't practiced, you have to make some adjustments. That was the case.

Offensively we made some big plays. I thought Josh Hoover was sharp. We made some big plays in the kickoff return game, and special teams in general was solid.

So we're 1-0. There will be a lot of critiques.

On sideline's reaction to quarterback Josh Hoover staying in game after nosebleed…
CC: I was watching the pattern down the field so I didn't see the hit. Then when they showed the replay, I didn't see it either. I saw it on a tablet. Saw his face and his pants afterwards.

I thought he played well. Like, I'm sure he earned the respect of his teammates based on his performance today. He's a veteran. I'm glad he had a good opener.

On chemistry between Hoover and wide receiver Charlie Becker…
CC: I've been reading the articles, sounds like those two hooked up as soon as Josh got here. They had a problem covering Charlie today, for sure. We probably left a couple out there, too. Nick Marsh made a really nice play on the first touchdown. Tyler Morris made a few plays. Got Davion Chandler involved. Now he's not supposed to spike the ball. Trying to look for reasons to play him, [and] he's giving me reasons not to. I mean, that's youth (smiling).

I thought the passing game in general was decent.

On if hot weather affected play-calling…
CC: No, it really didn't. Did not at all. It was tough on our guys, I'm sure. We both had to play in it.

On Hoover's efficiency…
CC: When we dialed up what we dialed up, we had open opportunities and delivered the football. For the most part he had protection, other than the one he got hit, which he flipped the protection. Probably shouldn't have. There was one other time where he escaped the pocket and made a play out of pocket.

The throw to Charlie for the touchdown wasn't a really good throw. Charlie was so open, you've got a transfer ready to stick that ball and throw that ball. That's why I was so happy the next series, he cut that loose to Shazz (Preston), and then a really good throw on the touchdown to (Davion) Chandler. I thought he played really well.

When you ask me why did the players play good, I guess it's because they're good players.

On importance of Hoover playing without a turnover…

CC: Yeah, we'll take that for sure, right? 13-for-16, that's over 75%, I think. Four touchdowns, no picks, no turnovers. Take that every week, no doubt.

On team efficiency…
CC: This was a different kind of game. We had a hard time getting them off the field on defense. We had some bigger plays on offense. Not every game goes this way. I think we have had one kind of like this since I've been here. I can't remember which one. But at the end we're just trying to run the clock out, [and the] quarterback pulls the ball and runs for a 52-yard touchdown.

On assessing team's run game…
CC: I think it will be hard for me to critique the run game right now without seeing the tape.

On two big plays to start the game…
CC: That's one of the things we talked about in the locker room when I talked to the team right before the game, is let's try to start a little better than last year when ODU scored on the first play of the game. We did. We just didn't play quite as well in between, the rest of the first quarter like we did last year.

On 2025 National Championship sign unveiling…
CCI: I didn't see it. I heard we were putting it up. I think we were in the locker room. I knew we were going to be in the locker room. I honestly never saw it. But I know we won it last year. It was fun (laughter).

On run game controlling possession…
CC: I mean, it's hard for me to remember every play, especially when it's 152 (degrees) out and you're 65 years old.

Early in the game, they came out with five defensive linemen in the first play, which caught us way off guard. Then we chipped away at a few runs there.

But it was pretty obvious as the game got going that it was the pass game where the big chunks were.

Indiana Student-Athletes
Josh Hoover / QB
On nosebleed after facemask penalty…
JH: [It] Feels good. [It] Just got a little cut there, so it looked way worse than it felt. I didn't even know it was bleeding like that. So now I feel good.

I've broken my nose a couple times. It happens in a sense. Like the chin strap catches it, or I don't know what caught it. I think it was probably just inside the helmet. There's a microphone in there, all that sharp stuff. So who knows?

On how the offense can improve…
JH: I think we'll probably go watch the film, because there [are] probably some things that we can be better at. So, we have to go watch the film, be honest with ourselves, but we'll be able to improve. I think there'll be some opportunities for improvement.

On personal improvement…
JH: I think I've got to continue to build. We're still early on in this process. I've only had one game and probably 30 practices. So it's just continuing to develop in the offense and understanding every single detail of the offense, and I think that, as we take this daily approach, maximize each day, to give us an opportunity to continue to improve on all the details. It's not just the big stuff, but the details that matter, like Coach (Cignetti) preaches. So I think with me, just my footwork and timing with the receivers, and then giving them really good opportunities to make plays down the field. I think I will continue to improve in some of those areas.

On a play in which he alluded sack, scrambled right and completed throw downfield…
JH: [It was] Third and long, had to man up and try to extend the play. Brock made a great catch. Probably not one that I would like to try and do a lot of the time, but got away with it right there. I think I made a play on a crucial down, crucial drive and scored the next play. So it was a big play for the sequence of events in the game. Brock did a great job just keeping his eyes on me.

Turbo Richard / RB
On growing up in warmer part of the country and Saturday's high-temperature conditions…
TR: I feel like it's important to prepare before the game, hydrating, getting your electrolytes, and stretching [so] that way you're not cramping up. It's very important that you do that before the game.

On scoring two touchdowns…
TR: It felt really good, knowing the preparation I put in before the game. What prepared me the most was fall camp and summer workouts, and now it feels like everything is paying off.

On seeing Hoover with nosebleed, and its impact on the team…
TR: Man, I was coming onto the field, and I looked at Josh for the play card, and I just was like "yo, you good?". He just kept going, but he has that warrior spirit in him. That's inspirational to see. Even when I'm hurt, I tell myself that I just have to keep going.

On first impression seeing packed-out Memorial Stadium…
TR: Just seeing the environment and all of the people cheering us on felt good, and made me feel even more ready.

On Coach Cignetti preaching "process" in preparation for games…
TR: It all starts in practice. Getting a little detail down, our alignments, how deep our routes must be. You have to play the game before you actually play the game, and when we do that, we can all come into the game fully prepared.

Isaiah Jones/LB
On the defense…
IJ: The defense left the field unsatisfied in how we played. We beat ourselves on some plays, and we got to get off the field quicker. You want to see more explosive players, want explosive defense, TFLs, sacks. If they get the ball to the perimeter, TFL [or] it's a gain of one. Violent tackles, that's what we preach, hustling to the ball and we have to correct that.

On how the team keeps improving…
IJ: It's just the accumulation of reps. That's playing with the 11 guys you have on the field, whether it's a backup, whether it's a starter. And we just believe that the 11 guys on the field have to play cohesively together. Once you get that oil clicking and the machines running, it's hard to stop us.

On Hoover's nosebleed…
IJ: Yeah, I did see it. I didn't see it all happening on the field, but I saw when I was walking past him on the sideline. He had a big ol' bandage, swollen nose, kind of bloodstained on his face, but that's what you want to see from your quarterback. He's going to still go out there and put his body on the line for his team, so it just shows his mental toughness.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Charlie Becker

Davion Chandler

Josh Hoover

Isaiah Jones

Nick Marsh

Khobie Martin

Tyler Morris

Turbo Richard

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