There was some instant bulletin board material for the UCLA Bruins last week at the Big Ten media day. Head coach at Indiana Curt Cignetti had some interesting words about his first Big Ten matchup against the UCLA Bruins.
The 63-year-old may not be the best to be trash-talking other conference schools, as he has yet to coach a game at Indiana. The former James Madison head coach is coming off a 12-2 season a year ago, before getting hired in November of 2023 by Indiana.
Cignetti was asked what it would be like for his Hoosiers to start their Big Ten season in Pasadena. This is what the head coach had to say, per Zion Brown of The Indianapolis Star.
” “We’re just going to an old stadium to kick somebody’s (butt),” Cignetti said. “When I say that, that’s not directed toward UCLA. That’s the objective every week. Look, I know that 1967, we were there and we haven’t been there since and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We’re not going out on a cruise or for a tour. We’re going out to play a football game. We got a job to do.”
Before the game against UCLA on September 14th, the Hoosiers have two home games. Indiana should be favored to win both games as they host Florida International on August 31st and Western Illinois on September 6th.
Absolutely no shortage of confidence for #iufb Coach Curt Cignetti.
“We’re going to an old stadium to kick someone’s a**.”
Cignetti on playing at the Rose Bowl Stadium Week 3 against UCLA. pic.twitter.com/23HuWPjucd
— Joe Cronin (@Joe_cronin03) July 25, 2024
The Hoosiers went 3-9 last season, and 1-8 in Big Ten play. It was the final season for head coach Tom Allen, who was there for 7 seasons.