We need to have a chat about the IU football program.
I was a little afraid that what happened at the end of the season was going to happen, and now that we are living in the aftermath and there is something that we need to address.
First, we begin with the facts.
The Indiana University football season of 2024 was the best we’ve seen in our lifetimes.
By any measure, it was a remarkable season, and it was the biggest story in college football in 2024.
Much like when the Cubs made it to the playoffs in 2015 in Joe Maddon’s first season with the Cubs, no one was ready for what we saw from the Hoosiers. Sure, they had a new coach, and anything was possible. But how many coaches have come along since Bill Mallory left in 1996 with the promise of things getting better that never materialized? For the record, Mallory also finished with a losing record, but he coached 149 games in Bloomington, which is 67 more than any IU coach in the last 30 years.
Memorial Stadium was full, and long-time radio voice Don Fischer had to yell at the top of his unmistakable voice to be heard over the throng that was cheering for the Hoosiers.
The excitement filled the state—minus Purdue fans, of course—and everyone was glad that IU had found some magic on the football field.
After winning 11 games and being invited to the first-ever 12-team college football playoff, the Hoosiers found out the bad news. They were welcomed into the field where they would have to face perhaps the second hottest team in the country behind Oregon—the Fighting Irish.
Hoosier fans didn’t really care who they played in the CFP, they were just thrilled to be there.
They were quick to scoop up tickets at Notre Dame Stadium, and they filled them with full voice. Of course, once the game started, they had very little to cheer about.
And that’s when the inevitable happened.
The game was barely past halftime when social media from around the country began screaming about the injustice of having the Hoosiers in the final 12 teams competing for the national championship while leaving out a three-loss Alabama team.
They were a joke, they said.
They didn’t belong, they said.
They didn’t deserve to be one of the 12, they said.
And they listed off all of the teams who should have played in their place.
Losing to Notre Dame and having their season end was painful enough, but to have what felt like an entire nation of sports raining fire down on the Hoosiers and their faithful was more than they should have had to endure.
They had a great season.
They had more fun than they’d ever had.
They should have been able to enjoy it.
Instead, pitchforks and torches in hand, the angry mob stood at IU’s door demanding an apology for the misjustice.
Well let me tell you something, IU fans, don’t you dare apologize or even feel bad for one second for the way your team’s season ended!
You owe college football fans nothing.
Your team took the schedule that was set in front of them, and they beat everyone on it accept for Ohio State, and that’s a pretty good accomplishment—especially when none of us has ever seen it happen before.
And if Buckeyes fans give you any grief, just ask them “what was the score of the Michigan game?”
They’ll leave you alone.
Now, part of the angst that has followed the loss in South Bend comes in the wake of their coach’s personality.
Curt Cignetti is a person that we call a “pot stirrer” around here. He talks a big talk, and he walks it.
Famously, about halfway through the season, he responded to a postgame question about how he convinces good football players to play for him, and he said “I win….Google me.”
IU fans loved it. Everyone else was too stunned to respond.
From that day on, he continued to boast of his Hoosiers and his program. I believe that his bravado sold a lot of CFP committee members on the validity of his football team and is a significant part of why the Hoosiers were in the field of 12.
But, as our society likes to do, we like people to rise up in front of us and then watch them cut down and fall in pain.
The anti-Cignetti crowd was on its high horse after the Notre Dame game.
But, again, be very clear—IU fans have absolutely nothing to apologize for during the football season.
Enjoy it, store away the memories, and hope that the day comes soon that you get to feel that way again.