So...a couple days removed now from all of us getting something we could only have dreamed of, where does IU football stand? Did it just become THE best program in the country? If not, what else does it need to do? Does it need 50+ years worth of history, making overtaking OSU, Texas, Bama, etc... impossible?
Here are some thoughts from me. Welcome any others on things we need to focus on, or not focus on, now that we're in this new place.
Coaching Staff - We have the best coaching staff, top to bottom, in the country. We just lost our strength coach, and that's a pretty important decision. Obviously Cignetti has earned the trust to make a great hire here... but it'll be interesting to see who that ends up being. I think Dolson, by how he has set the contracts up, has put IU in as good a position as it possibly could be, to continue to have elite coaching. And as long as Cignetti is here, there's a great chance he'll have a great staff underneath him. Lets hope Cig has 5-6+ years left in him!
Roster - this one is being discussed more than anything with the HS and Portal threads. So I won't dig too deeply in here. I think we need some more depth on the offensive line. As of today, the line looks solid, but if Texas is able to pry Lynch away, and if Carter Smith gets the grade he's looking for to change his mind on the draft, that becomes a serious question mark, really quickly. And even if they both come back, the same concerns could come from injuries. We need a couple solid, veteran OL portal guys. And it'd be nice if one or more of the underclassmen emerges to earn playing time as well. Every other "room" on the team seems to be in really good shape. And I think the HS recruiting is going unnoticed a little bit. Cig and the staff are doing a good job backfilling with young talent, as well. Duke's top wide receiver might be a guy to take a look at... especially if Cooper is planning on going pro. He's a very, very good possession type receiver, that would complement Baker and Marsh, very well, if Cooper does leave.
Schedule - Do we need to replace a team like Howard, with a P4 opponent? I think winning the Natty how we did, largely eliminates all that talk. We should get the benefit of the doubt going forward, for a while, and not fall too far if we lose a game in conference play. We "should" get the Alabama treatment in this regard. So I don't really think its as necessary as I did before winning the title how we did. But, there is the fact that the SEC is forcing their teams to play 1 high major level team in the OOC, and they're going to a 9 game conference schedule. I don't think IU needs to react to that though, until the entire B10 does something to follow suit. Next year's schedule includes games against Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Nebraska. And also a game at Washington. Its markedly more difficult, as of today, than Notre Dame's, as an example.
Facilities - This will be an interesting one. I think focusing a majority of our likely very large influx of money, on staff and players, is what IU should do. But...Memorial Stadium does need a few things...better bathrooms and concourses, better press box, some more and better luxury suites... And then our practice facility is lacking against many of our new peers. Strike while the iron is hot? Lean in to whale donors, right now, for funding for these things? I know it sounds like blasphemy, but I think one of Dolson's key focuses now should be balancing keeping Cig and his staff intact, and happy, with planning for life after Cignetti. Cignetti just proved HE doesn't need elite facilities to win at the highest level. And that HE can win with lesser "star ratings" based talent. But history says he's an anomaly. And even if there's a seamless transition from Cignetti to Haines or Shannahan... there's no guarantee whoever that person is, will have the same supernatural levels of competency that Cig has. So... knowing that... at some point, you're going to need to land 5 star kids. And that will take money, obviously. But having competitive facilities is also a factor.
Cignetti is IU football, and we're obviously damned lucky to have him, for as long as we have him. But he's 64 years old. He isn't likely going to be coaching IU football for more than 5-6 more years. What, if anything, should IU be doing to elevate the program in ways that don't have anything to do with him?
I agree with starting to plan for life post-Cig now, as in using this momentum to build up the program for the next coach so we don’t fall too far when Cig retires.
But, for the love of all that is holy, I cannot take another non-con schedule debate lol.
@tammany I agree...now. The committees have shown that SOS, doesn't always play a major role. And even if it does, playing 9 B10 games, most years, is more than good enough. Its probably more of a philosophical question of when we think IU is at a point where the program is good enough, solid enough, etc... that giving up a home non conf game every other year is ok... and having an elite non conf home game every other year is "cool" enough to risk a loss. It becomes moot in a handful of years, assuming the ND home and home stays on the schedule.
As a guy who has had 4-5 suite passes for the last two years, I can tell you it's difficult to get my clients or friends or even family too fired up about attending one of those non-con games. I hate the idea of giving up a home game every other year though. That's all I've got on the subject.
@iunorth - I would love a more competitive game simply because, we are good enough to feast on them. OSU and UM does it and no one thinks, "that's dumb". We are at or above those guys. Either way, in regard to the SOS, my hope is we see 2 more B1G schools ranked in the preseason and 2 less SEC schools, so that our SOS is elevated naturally. 3 years too late but it'll have to do.
I still want them to elevate the east side stands to be even with the west side. And if they could also do it in the north end zone that place would be so awesome during a football game!
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