Coaches Show Recap: “CJ West Will Play Saturday”

Head Coach Curt Cignetti sat down with “Voice of the Hoosiers” Don Fischer on Thursday for the fourth episode of “Inside IU Football.” Over the course of the hour-long show, Coach Cig spoke on how he feels the Hoosiers are playing and what he wants to see from the team heading into their matchup with the Charlotte 49ers this weekend.

Coach Cignetti started the show by giving his thoughts on the Hoosiers’ 42-13 victory over UCLA at the Rose Bowl last week. “I really liked the way we played in the second half; we had some unfortunate penalties, but we were physical and got after them, which we wanted to do the whole game. And every time UCLA kicked a field goal or scored a touchdown, the offense would respond.” Cignetti summed up his thoughts by saying, “It’s nice to go out there to the Rose Bowl, ‘The Grandaddy of Them All.’ I guess we avenged that ‘67 loss.”

Fisch then asked Cignetti about the availability of CJ West and D’Angelo Ponds. To this, Cignetti delivered some great news about West. “We had some real close calls, and CJ was called for targeting—first play of the second half, I think. The Big Ten sent it for review, and he’ll play Saturday to start the game, and won’t have to sit out.” As he said this, the audience at Hoosier Hank’s erupted into cheers, happy to get a key piece of the defense back to start the game vs. a physical Charlotte team. Unfortunately, Ponds’ suspension for targeting was upheld, and he will be out for the first half on Saturday.

The conversation then turned to the offensive side of the ball, where Fisch asked Cignetti about OL Tyler Stephens, who played tight end last week in place of the injured James Bomba. “He’s played center; he’s played tight end; his natural position is guard; he played tackle for me at JMU; and we’ll see what number he comes out in this week. But he’s a real smart guy; he’s almost a 4.0 student, so he can handle a lot of volume.”

Cignetti then highlighted Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, QB Kurtis Rourke, saying, “He was outstanding. He played like a grizzly old vet out there, like those NFL veterans where nothing’s too big for them, and he’s like that collegiately. I mean, he’s started a lot of football games and thrown for a lot of yards, just his poise, his command, and his eye control.”

Coach Cig then turned his attention to the Hoosiers’ matchup with the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday. 

“Look, I know everybody just thinks we’re just going to roll all over Charlotte. They’re going to come in here, and this is going to be their Super Bowl. This team, they play up to the competition level, and they’ve got a lot of transfers, and they’ve got some athletes and some dudes. Especially on the D-Line. They’re two-deep on dudes on the D-Line. And they’ve got some guys on offense and all the other positions. You see them against Gardner Webb, and they weren’t ready to play, but they’re going to be ready to play Saturday; I can promise you they’re going to be ready to play, so we’ve got to come out ready to play.”

In addition to the team showing up on Saturday, Cignetti wants to make the fans show up as well. “We’re at home. 12 o’clock; that’s the earliest we’ve played. We’re going to have a good crowd…and make a statement.” He went on to praise the fans who showed up at the Rose Bowl and encouraged them to keep that momentum going. “I saw a lot of red in the stands, and walking off of the field at the end of the game, they were very, very loud. I was proud for them, the program, and the state. Hey, people are taking notice right now. We have a tremendous opportunity…to see all the red out there; that was a great thing. I’m looking forward to a great crowd Saturday, and every week a bigger and bigger and bigger crowd.”

One thing is for sure though, the crowd on Saturday may witness IU Football history, and Coach Cignetti knows it. “On my way over here, I happened to see an article. Did you know that if we win [Saturday], I am the first coach ever to start 4-0 at Indiana?” Cignetti remarked.

The Hoosiers take on the Charlotte 49ers at noon this Saturday, and like Coach said, it’s time to Pack the Rock.