"ATLANTA -- Despite what he looks like on the sideline, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is enjoying the College Football Playoff ride. Cignetti's demeanor during games -- furrowed eyebrows, steely eyes -- have made the transformative Hoosiers coach into a meme, popularized during the team's postseason run that continues Friday against No. 5 seed Oregon in the CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl."
""There's a lot of times I am happy. I just don't show I'm happy," Cignetti said Thursday at a joint news conference with Oregon coach Dan Lanning at the College Football Hall of Fame. "If I'm going to ask my players to play the first game, first play to play [No.] 150 the same, regardless of competitive circumstances, then I can't be seen on the sideline high-fiving people and celebrating, or what's going to happen, right? What's the effect going to be?""
"The 64-year-old Cignetti has found moments to celebrate Indiana's success, which includes a record 14-0 start, the team's first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and its first Rose Bowl win. Cignetti, who won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award Thursday, is 25-2 as Indiana coach. "I'll smile and celebrate later in the coaches room with the coaches, you know, maybe have a beer," he said."
Curt Cignetti projects a reserved sideline demeanor while privately enjoying Indiana's breakthrough season. He deliberately limits visible celebration during games to preserve consistent focus and competitive habits among players. Indiana achieved a 14-0 start, secured the program's first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and recorded its first Rose Bowl victory. Cignetti is 25-2 as Indiana coach and earned the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award. He plans to celebrate with his coaching staff away from the sideline. Oregon coach Dan Lanning traveled to Atlanta with his family and reflected on the special playoff experience.
Read at ESPN.com
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