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By Tyler Erzberger
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Curt Cignetti is the main character of the college football universe at the moment.
He came to the losingest program in history at Indiana and turned them into a College Football Playoff Cinderella in 2024.
A year later, he somehow one-upped himself, going undefeated, becoming the top seed in the tournament, and bringing in transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman.
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He played in the Rose Bowl against Alabama and gave them their worst loss in a quarter-century, advancing to the CFP semifinals.
Oh, and he’s also dominating in the transfer portal, picking up TCU QB Josh Hoover and setting up his program for sustained success going into the next season.
Yet, through all of it, the man does not crack a grin.
Before the Hoosiers face Big Ten rival Oregon in the semifinals on Friday in the Peach Bowl, Cignetti finally opened up about the elephant in the room: Is he ever happy?
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“There are a lot of times I’m happy, I just don’t show that I’m happy,” Cignetti said in the national media press conference before the semifinal on Thursday. “And if I’m going to ask my players to play the same regardless of the competitive circumstances, then I can’t be seen on the sideline high-fiving people or celebrating.”
He went on to say that it was his job to lead by example for his team. In games where the pressure is on and any one play can flip the momentum, Cignetti wants his players to always feel in control and to keep playing hard, even if they’re up 30 points on Alabama with minutes remaining.
Cignetti admitted that, yes, he does smile when he is alone with his coaches following a game and that he will crack open a beer in the aftermath. But with two games still left before he reaches his ultimate prize, he isn’t satisfied just yet.
“I do smile, and I am happy, at times.”
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