IU football coach Curt Cignetti trolled Purdue two years ago, the first time he walked on the court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
This time he waited until after he left the floor.
The IU football team was honored before IU basketball hosted Purdue on Tuesday evening. They brought their national championship trophy with them to center court. Cignetti took the microphone and addressed the crowd. That always creates the potential for something memorable to come from the head coach’s mouth.
Cignetti told Field of 68 later Tuesday evening he thought about repeating his “Purdue sucks” line that went viral in late 2023.
But although the basketball team was facing the Boilermakers on the hardwood, Cignetti didn’t feel this was a Purdue kind of moment.
He took a more mild-mannered approach.
“We’d like to thank our great fans, for carrying us through a 16-game season. We could not have done it without you. Let’s have fun tonight, Go IU!” Cignetti said to the crowd.
Thank you, Hoosier Nation. 🤍❤️
As always, GO IU! pic.twitter.com/CFSjXnvQz6
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) January 28, 2026
On Field of 68 Cignetti said Assistant AD for Alumni Relations Mark Deal brought the Old Oaken Bucket to Assembly Hall Tuesday evening for the coach and the players to bring with them to the basketball court.
“Mark we’re a little beyond that now,” Cignetti said he told Deal. “We’re just taking the national championship trophy.”
ESPN commentator Stanford Steve was on the Field of 68 podcast and added “122-3 you beat them the last two years, they don’t need to see the bucket, they know where it belongs.”
Cignetti asked him to repeat what he said, and Stanford Steve obliged.
“I heard you,” Cignetti said. “I just wanted to hear you say it again.”
The basketball Hoosiers added to Purdue’s misery with a 72-67 win.
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