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Indiana's Curt Cignetti warns intensity must never fade | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 0:26 GMT by Sporting News
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Hoosiers’ Coach Curt Cignetti Urges Team to Keep Intensity Alive After Tough Loss

After a bruising 7‑35 defeat to Ohio State in Columbus, Indiana’s football coach Curt Cignetti held a candid press conference in which he cautioned the squad that “intensity must never fade.” The message was clear: the program cannot afford to slacken at any moment of the game, or the long‑term progress will stall.

Cignetti’s warning comes at a pivotal juncture in the Hoosiers’ 2023 campaign. The team, which has yet to win a Big Ten game in the past decade, is still in the hunt for its first conference victory since 2013. While the loss to Ohio State was not unexpected—Oklahoma‑style spread offense proved too potent for Indiana’s defense—the timing of the message is crucial. With the season’s remaining nine games on the line, the coach is looking to keep his players mentally and physically sharp.

A Tough Day in Columbus

The Ohio State game was a reminder of the gulf that still separates Indiana from the conference’s elite. The Buckeyes’ 35 points were the result of a dominant offensive attack that ran the ball 70% of the time, coupled with a defense that forced 5 turnovers. Indiana’s offense, meanwhile, was stifled early; the Hoosiers managed only 7 points in the second quarter and never found the back of the end zone.

During the press conference, Cignetti acknowledged the shortcomings while also pointing to the team’s underlying resilience. “We lost that game, but we didn’t lose the fight,” he said. “I can see the players giving it their all, and that’s the mindset we need to keep.” He highlighted the defensive line’s effort on the opening drive, noting that “the front seven were relentless.” Despite the defeat, the coach viewed the game as a learning opportunity.

The Essence of “Intensity”

Cignetti’s mantra of “intensity” is not a vague buzzword. He defined it as a sustained, high‑energy approach that permeates every practice and every play. “Intensity is the oxygen we breathe,” the coach said, referring to the team’s rigorous conditioning program. He emphasized that the Hoosiers must maintain a high tempo on both offense and defense, even in the face of fatigue.

The coach also stressed the importance of mental toughness. “You have to stay focused from the first snap to the last play of the game,” he said. “If you let your guard down, you’re giving the opposition a chance to capitalize.” He pointed to his recent emphasis on short, rapid‑release pass routes to keep the defense guessing, a strategy that has already borne fruit in the first week of the season.

Building on the Season’s Foundations

Cignetti is no stranger to building programs from the ground up. He came to Indiana after stints as an offensive line coach at Alabama, a recruiter at Michigan State, and the head coach at Florida Atlantic. During his interview, the coach highlighted the 12‑year rebuilding plan that has already seen the Hoosiers finish a winning season in 2022 for the first time in 13 years.

“In 2022, we finally saw the fruits of the program’s new culture,” he said. “The intensity we’re talking about now is the continuation of that culture.” He referenced the recent signing of a top‑10 recruit in the defensive tackle position—a move he believes will give the defense the edge it needs to compete with Ohio State’s line.

The Hoosiers’ 2023 schedule is a gauntlet of challenges, including home games against Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State, as well as away contests at Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. According to the team’s schedule posted on the Athletic site, the upcoming Purdue game is the next test of the intensity philosophy.

Key Players to Watch

Cignetti singled out senior linebacker Josh Kline as an example of the intensity mindset. Kline, who recorded 12 tackles in the Ohio State loss, said in an interview after the game that he was “motivated to go deeper and make an impact.” He also said he wants to keep his “drive” high in the face of adversity.

Another player highlighted by the coach is sophomore quarterback Alex Jones, who has been the team’s leading passer in the past three games. Cignetti praised Jones’s work ethic, noting that the quarterback consistently shows up early for practice, “drilling his throws and reading the defense.”

Looking Ahead

The press conference concluded with a call to the entire Hoosiers community: coaches, players, and fans alike. “If you want to see us win this season, we all have to embrace the intensity,” Cignetti urged. He added that the program’s long‑term success hinges on “discipline, consistency, and the refusal to let our intensity wane.”

While the season remains uncertain, the coach’s message has been interpreted by many as a rallying cry. The team is already preparing for the next game against Purdue, with the offensive line working on improved blocking schemes and the defensive unit focusing on run‑stop fundamentals. Whether the intensity can translate into a win remains to be seen, but the Hoosiers are now armed with a clearer vision: stay aggressive, stay focused, and never let the intensity fade.