Curt Cignetti has been on college football’s biggest stage before, winning the national championship as a member of Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. Tonight, he leads his undefeated Indiana Hoosiers onto the field at Hard Rock Stadium, playing Miami in the Hurricanes’ own stadium, with another national title at stake.
Cignetti, who was 53-17 and won two PSAC championships in six seasons at IUP, said in the final news conference before the championship game that his father, Frank Cignetti Sr., showed him how to be a college football coach.
Cignetti said he would approach the pregame preparations just as he would a pregame before a typical college football Saturday.
Indiana is playing for a national championship in just Cignetti’s second season at the helm. He says the Hurricanes have a disruptive defense led by a talented line.
There are quite a few connections with IUP and Miami in tonight’s game. Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan were coaches on Cignetti’s staff at IUP, and Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich is an IUP graduate, a recipient of the IUP Distinguished Alumni Award, and a member of the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame.
Kickoff tonight for the College Football Playoff championship game is at 7:30. Indiana is going for its first national title, Miami its sixth.
