Big Ten media days tend to produce a tsunami of content after a relatively quiet stretch of months.
Tuesday was no exception as IU coach Curt Cignetti and players Aiden Fisher, Mikail Kamara and Elijah Sarratt took dozens of questions in Las Vegas.
Here are some notes and nuggets from the day from appearances on stage, on the Big Ten Network set, and breakout sessions:
— On the 2025 season opener vs. Old Dominion, Cignetti cited how the Monarchs have defeated Virginia Tech twice in their recent history, and played South Carolina last year to a four-point game. “We’ve gotta be ready to play,” he said.
— Cignetti called linebacker Aiden Fisher “probably the No. 1 leader on the football team. Just fully invested in the team, and hands down the leader of the team.”
— Fisher on quarterback Fernando Mendoza: “He’s at the point now where he could teach the system to somebody else. He lives in that facility.” Fisher said he and Mendoza like to talk trash at the line of scrimmage in practice.
— Fisher on the difference the fans made as the 2024 season progressed: “That fan base means so much to our program. I think they finally got the winner they deserve, and now they’re going to continuously get that.”
— Big road games will be the test for what Cignetti is calling an improved offensive line. “We didn’t play well against Ohio State and Notre Dame (in 2024), let’s call it what it is. I give them all the credit. We’ve got to get better to beat the big boys on the road. It all starts up front.”
— Cignetti said 2024 starting offensive guard Drew Evans is fully cleared after suffering an Achilles injury in November. Evans’ workload will be managed during fall camp but he will participate and is in contention to earn a 2025 starting role. Cignetti says there will be competition along the offensive line in fall camp to determine starters.
— Cornerback Jamari Sharpe is the projected starter opposite D’Angelo Ponds, Cignetti said. He says Northern Illinois transfer Amariyun Knighten is back from injury after missing time in the spring and is expected to compete for snaps along with Pitt transfer Ryland Gandy.
— Discussing Kurtis Rourke vs. Fernando Mendoza, Cignetti said Rourke did a great job of finding the open receiver and throwing a catchable ball. But he said Mendoza has a stronger arm and is more mobile.
— Cignetti says he’s confident in Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones at linebacker. He called Hardy a “top-line” guy, presumably meaning he’s the projected starter alongside Aiden Fisher.
– From a facilities standpoint, Cignetti highlighted the new turf installed this summer at Memorial Stadium, and some rebranding work inside the indoor practice facility (Mellencamp Pavilion). He has a bigger vision. “Down the road, that stadium has got to look a lot different than it does right now,” he said. “And before I retire, that press box has to come down.”
— Decisions about revenue sharing and NIL allocations to players are made by Cignetti, he said, referring to himself as the GM and head coach. He says he thinks most of the players know what others on the team are getting, but he hasn’t seen that impact the cohesion in the locker room.
— Someone asked Cignetti about Purdue coach Barry Odom’s subtle shot at Indiana’s nonconference schedule approach. “I like Barry Odom,” he said. “I saw it, it was a flicker in my brain, and it was over.”
— Cignetti was asked whether he would like to see stricter prohibitions against player tampering enforced. He said he hopes the contracts players are entering will help to eliminate most of it. He also said he had one of his own players get offered $1.5 million in the spring.
For more from Big Ten media day in Las Vegas:
- Curt Cignetti on the stage
- Curt Cignetti on the Big Ten Network set
- Aiden Fisher, Mikail Kamara and Elijah Sarratt on the Big Ten Network set
- Curt Cignetti says he is adopting the SEC philosophy for scheduling
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