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VTHokie2000
Joined: 01/01/2005
Posts: 41,416
Likes: 17,028
VTHokie2000

The reason for my post is because the "turnaround" may not have been as

quick as people think at Indiana. Generally speaking, people tend to focus on the records of the HCs from season to season and overlook all the things the school may do behind the scenes which can help a HC build a winning program. As a result, the narrative is portraying Indiana as being this "overnight sensation." When in reality the "plan" had been in place for 5-15+ years and this year under Cignetti ended up being a perfect storm of that plan. Unfortunately, fans will never know if Indiana would have been able to accomplish what it did in Cignetti's second year if it had not laid the foundation (aka all those various projects in the last 15 years) prior to his arrival. It doesn't take away what Cignetti accomplished this season because he was a huge part of it. It should show that having the "right HC" may not be enough because there are other pieces to this championship puzzle. Also, Indiana does provide a blueprint for non-blue blood programs on a path that will take a program to the summit if everyone is patient and leadership makes smart decisions at critical times.
Posted: 01/20/2026 at 03:37 PM ET
(In response to this post by The Bear)

Thread Replies (48)

Full Thread →
With IU winning the CFP, showing how it can be done, we should have hope!
The Bear • 01/20/26 11:13 AM ET
The reason for Indiana's success
Tidewater Hillbilly • 01/20/26 07:01 PM ET
Good for Indiana, but its not applicable to us or anyone else
TekkNerd • 01/20/26 12:39 PM ET
You nailed it **
HokiesACC2004 • 01/21/26 05:31 AM ET
Cignetti's year may result in more James Franklin types being fired**
VTCALS72 • 01/20/26 05:09 PM ET
The money part of the equation is applicable
Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie • 01/20/26 02:49 PM ET
That surprises me
crazylane • 01/20/26 04:10 PM ET
My theory is you can buy program improvement with money, not championships.
TekkNerd • 01/20/26 02:58 PM ET
Fallacious argument. You can't win championships without investment.
marcbvtgm • 01/20/26 03:56 PM ET
Cignetti (or his staff) seem to be good evaluators of talent for his system
The Bear • 01/20/26 02:41 PM ET
He isn't recruiting "older" players, but "productive" players.
EDGEMAN • 01/20/26 01:05 PM ET
Well...older players are usually more productive.
TekkNerd • 01/20/26 01:11 PM ET
We had a lot of "older" players who were invited to hit the portal...
EDGEMAN • 01/20/26 01:14 PM ET
How many of the older players were "productive" at their prior schools when
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 01:21 PM ET
Chesney is probably the HC with the most pressure on him going into next
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 01:05 PM ET
Everyone has forgot the other component MONEY
1947Sunbowl • 01/20/26 01:03 PM ET
Their NIL was $10M in 2024...heard it was closer to $14M this year (2025)
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 01:10 PM ET
I can think of one person in the athletic department that needs to go NOW!
EDGEMAN • 01/20/26 01:10 PM ET
working.
1947Sunbowl • 01/20/26 01:49 PM ET
Agree on it being Cignetti,the guy wins everywhere.I saw an extremely well
HokieBrazil • 01/20/26 12:53 PM ET
I got hope. Never lost that, even with our struggles.
Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie • 01/20/26 12:31 PM ET
Actually, it wasn't a quick build at IU
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 12:14 PM ET
It would not surprise me if some Simon properties executives
tallahasseehokie • 01/20/26 12:43 PM ET
Undergrad or grad...probably more with the latter.**
EDGEMAN • 01/20/26 01:11 PM ET
Kelley School has a very good reputation both undergrad and MBA
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 01:13 PM ET
You can probably say that about most B10 undergrad and grad schools.
EDGEMAN • 01/20/26 01:18 PM ET
I agree
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 01:32 PM ET
They are... I know quite a few of the large donor families
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 01:02 PM ET
I want to figure out who will be VT's "Mark Cuban"
Rationalist • 01/20/26 12:02 PM ET
THere is but they are quiet.
1947Sunbowl • 01/20/26 01:06 PM ET
i like quiet!
Rationalist • 01/20/26 10:39 PM ET
People always think it's the money. It's not.
Gobbler Guru • 01/20/26 12:39 PM ET
I agree with part 2 of your statement
Rationalist • 01/20/26 10:43 PM ET
Cuban isn't one of the largest athletics boosters
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 12:17 PM ET
I read that he didn't start contributing to athletics until a couple
reestuart • 01/20/26 01:58 PM ET
A friend of a friend heads up their NIL collective
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 02:02 PM ET
FWIW Indiana started to quietly invest in its football program back in 2021
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 11:41 AM ET
I didn't say we would win the CFP this next year. But it's nice to see
The Bear • 01/20/26 03:05 PM ET
The reason for my post is because the "turnaround" may not have been as ◄
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 03:37 PM ET
It was earlier than that to be honest (see above) $138-143M in major
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 12:16 PM ET
The reason I said 2021/22 is because I found an article, which I posted on
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 12:52 PM ET
If you look at football specific spend, IU has been above VT the last 15 yr**
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 01:33 PM ET
I assume that is due in part to the comparison of the network deals and
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 01:54 PM ET
Huge disparity in Conference money...B10 schools expected to get $70M
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 02:01 PM ET
I don't disagree there is a huge disparity in conference money. Hence why
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 02:10 PM ET
But they really don't...
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 04:06 PM ET
Maybe not in the long-term, but what about the short-term? Short-term
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 04:20 PM ET
It's still very risky and assumes that a conference like the B10
AirborneHokie96 • 01/20/26 04:34 PM ET
Except the Big Ten may not be VT's only option. After listening to the
VTHokie2000 • 01/20/26 05:00 PM ET