Indiana football‘s next game is Sept. 5 against North Texas. That’s coach Curt Cignetti‘s focus.
No victory tours, television talk-show appearances, golf tournaments and the like. Cignetti even told athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pamela Whitten he wanted them to refuse all external appearances and speeches with spring practice underway.
ESPN visited spring practice in Bloomington, and also Norte Dame’s in South Bend. Hoosiers players told stories about Cignetti’s year-round unwavering practice approach that doesn’t allow them dwell on their mind-boggling perfect season and national championship.
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“I’m 95% football,” Cignetti said. “We’ve said no to everything except for the Indy 500.”
Cignetti will drive the pace car at the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24. He will test, along with IndyCar Series drivers, on the 2.5-mile oval next week.
Other than that, it’s film study, his familiar lunch order and not much else.
“I’ve got to be able to do my job,” he said. “(Appearances) pull you out of the office and they take up your time. I mean, I have a job to do. Believe it or not, I’m busy.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti refuses offseason appearances