If you told an Indiana fan in 2019 that Kalen DeBoer and the Hoosiers would be playing in the 2025 Rose Bowl, their first response would likely be, “what happened to Tom Allen?” Imagine their shock when they learn that their offensive coordinator won’t be leading the Hoosiers onto the field but rather will be wearing a different shade of crimson as Nick Saban’s replacement at Alabama. Depending on their level of surprise, you might not want to mention that a little-known FCS coach named Curt Cignetti has completely changed the culture in Bloomington and that the Hoosiers are actually favored over the Crimson Tide. That would probably be too much for the LEO-era brain to comprehend.
While DeBoer’s tenure at Indiana was short-lived, he still pays attention to how the Hoosiers are doing. Speaking to the media on Monday, DeBoer said, “I do pay attention just because it’s a place I’ve been; pay a little more attention…But I felt like when we were there, there was a growth, an investment that was happening, and there was success in ’19 when I was there that felt like you were getting over the hump and that extended into the next season as well.”
DeBoer continued by complimenting the job that Curt Cignetti has done in Bloomington, saying, “Coach Cignetti has done a great job providing the spark, which really leads to people continuing to be all in. As you get more people all in, you get the moments that you’re in right now. So, I think it works off of each other, the energy and the commitment to the success, working hand in hand with the people that are there. So, nothing but a great time there that I had. It was short-lived, but one that I remember, and my family as well.”
DeBoer is not the only member of the Tide coaching staff who has spent time in Bloomington; his staff is littered with former Hoosiers, including Kane Wommack, Nick Sheridan, and David Ballou.
Speaking about the Indiana connection and what he saw from Coach Wommack when they were in Bloomington, DeBoer said, “Yeah, I’m probably missing some — Coach Ballou, Coach Sheridan — but your reference to Kane [Wommack], here’s what I saw when I was there. First of all, a guy that really wanted me to come, be a part of it. And then when I was there, doing everything he could to be a team player. [He was] focused on running a defense — I was the offensive coordinator — but practice plans, whatever it was, be willing to work to do whatever was best for our team, not just his side of the ball…It’s been really a great opportunity. And I’m glad that he was a big part of me coming there, trying to get me to Indiana. I’m glad he returned the favor and came when I called him as well.”
Coach DeBoer is not the only coach with ties to the other program; Coach Cignetti is extremely familiar with Alabama, having spent four years in Tuscaloosa as Nick Saban’s wide receivers’ coach and recruiting coordinator.
Speaking about his time at Alabama under Coach Saban, Coach Cignetti said, “We had a great experience at Alabama. It was real important part of my journey. Learned a lot from Coach Saban in terms of organization, standards, stopping complacency. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my time under Nick.”
Cignetti continued saying, “My family really enjoyed Tuscaloosa. We had great years there. We took over a team; we were 7-6 and 12-0 the next year in the regular season. Fell short in the SEC game to Tebow and Florida and Urban. And then had a rematch the next year and beat them and won the national championship out at the Rose Bowl. So we had four really good years there, and then began another part of our life.”
Cignetti will once again be playing for a national championship at the Rose Bowl, this time with an Indiana team that he built from the ground up. With a victory in Pasadena, Cignetti has the chance to make history as the first coach to bring Indiana a Rose Bowl victory. For Cignetti, a win would have the added satisfaction of defeating the program that helped build the foundation of his career and one of the blue bloods of the sport.
The Hoosiers’ 2025 reality is something that a 2019 fan could only dream of.