Notes and Quotes: Curt Cignetti's 2024 National Signing Day Press Conference

Written by: TJ Inman

Curt Cignetti met with the media on Wednesday morning to give an update on IU’s recruiting class, upcoming spring practices and the changing culture inside the program. Here are some of the key quotes and takeaways from his media availability.

On hiring Recruiting Coordinator Matt Wilson

Cignetti: “I was looking for good structure, capable people. We put together an organization that was strong in evaluation and marketing. I think we’re extremely strong in evaluation. I’m impressed with Matt, I’ve known him a long time…it’s a critical component in terms of expediting the evaluation and identifying people, both within the state and a four-hour radius, and those out-of-pocket areas.”

On Spring Practice

Cignetti: “Well, there’s no scoreboard, so everybody has a great spring. You want to develop players, get your offense, defense, special teams systems in, see improvement on a daily basis, keep guys healthy, don’t get anybody injured. Usually in spring, the second half of spring looks a lot better than the first half of spring. There’s going to be a lot of new nomenclature, new people, a different practice structure than the guys that have been here are accustomed to.” 

“Little 500, that was our best available date to have our spring game, which is going to leave us with 13 practices, which I’m fine with. You can get done what you need to get done in 13 practices. Fall camp has been kind of the same way. Never really used all 25. Never used 20 hours in the week. Sometimes less is more. More isn’t always more. That’s the maximum amount they give you, that doesn’t mean you have to use ‘em all.”

On Strength Program and Derek Owings

Cignetti: “Derek Owings is a guy I got a lot of confidence in. Strength and conditioning has really changed through the years. It’s become a very scientific thing. I think he’s on the cutting edge, gets great results. I have 100% confidence in him. I don’t mess with him. That’s his area, I let him go. I know the players really like what we’re doing down there. He changes their bodies. He’ll cut a lot of body fat, still add lean muscle mass, quicker, stronger, faster, more explosive. I’ve seen the results. You look at the GPS numbers sort of here last year, relative to maybe where we were the year before. He’ll make ‘em faster. I think a lot of the guys came in and adapted well, particularly the guys that were used to the program, like the JMU guys, for instance, P5 transfers. It took some of the guys that were returning from this squad last year a little while. Everybody is caught up now and all the reports are good.”

“The off-season is his (Derek Owings) baby. Right now and then in the summer. Now, we’ll still maintain and do things during spring ball, fall camp, during the season. I think he’s a big part of what we do. That’s why I do everything I can to keep him, pay him as well as I can, because he makes a difference. Fast, physical. He’s a winning edge, I think our guys are seeing that downstairs right now.”

On Developing Relationships Locally and Regionally

“It’s huge. I mean, I don’t care if you’re the head coach at Indiana, Texas or Idaho, you got to do a great job in your state. We want to dominate our state best we can. I made every effort to get out there and into the key schools in January, meet people, talk with prospects, et cetera. Okay, after your state, now it’s the border states, those two-to-four hour pockets where there’s population and players. Cincinnati, Dayton, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville, Detroit…there’s players scattered in the Midwest, southwest Michigan, et cetera. To me, that’s where it all begins, especially in this day and age with the transfer portal. Guys that grew up watching Big Ten football are more apt to stay in the program four or five years than people that did not have the bond with the Big Ten.”

Commentary

Curt Cignetti’s comments on recruiting locally and regionally as a method of player retention is an interesting and valid point. Obviously, recruiting your state and region has always been important but considering it to be even more important now because a player that is from Indiana is more likely to stay at IU long-term instead of bolting for the portal after a year is an angle I had not previously considered. 

Derek Owings was somewhat an afterthought when Curt Cignetti’s staff was initially announced but it has become increasingly clear just how important the young strength coach is to Curt Cignetti’s program. Owings was extremely impressive on Rhett Lewis’ “Under the Hood” podcast this past week and being described by a serial winner like Curt Cignetti as a “winning edge” is notable. Quickness, speed and explosion have been continually mentioned and a lack of team speed was a consistent criticism of Tom Allen’s squads the past few seasons. The impact Derek Owings has on this roster throughout the offseason will be something to monitor.