Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti spoke with the media on Monday for the first time since an unfounded accusation against the program for cheating went wild on social media.
An X.com user known as @GoatKiffin proposed that the Hoosiers were “hacking into the VEO/Pixellot software to watch practice film of other teams” amid the playoff run. The rumor or accusation was so unsubstantiated that no member of the media asked Cignetti about it during the 22-minute press conference on Zoom.
Rather, reporters showed interest in how the Hoosiers were preparing for Miami in the national championship game and how Indiana rose to power so quickly. For Cignetti, he addressed the Cinderella label for the Hoosiers — a question that could get as old as “Is the U back?” for Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal.
“Well, I think that’s a fact,” Cignetti told reporters on Monday. “If you look at the record since Indiana started playing football and relative to the success we’ve had the last two years, we’ve broken a lot of records here in terms of wins, championships, postseason games, top-10 wins on the road, et cetera, top-10 wins, period.”
“So it’s been kind of surreal, but you get it done with the right people, properly led. You’ve got to have a blueprint, plan in process,” Cignetti added. “You’ve got to have the right people on your staff and the right people in the locker room.”
How the Indiana Accusation Developed & Why It’s Unfounded
Indiana’s 56-22 dismantling of Oregon on Jan. 9 was undeniable, and it had CBS Sports’ Bud Elliott commenting that the Hoosiers are “so buttoned up, it’s almost like they know your plays” and that “crazy scouting is unreal.” FOX Sports analyst Chris Fallica likewise said, “it’s almost like Indiana knows what play or look is coming almost every down” and that “they are so well prepped.”
That’s where @GoatKiffin, who has 1,100 followers on X.com, piggybacked and took the appearance of Indiana knowing what’s coming next a step further. The user went for an accusation that looks like a high-tech, or AI version, of Spygate from the 2007 New England Patriots when Bill Belichick’s crew secretly videoed a New York Jets practice.
“Not only has Indiana been hacking into the VEO/Pixellot software to watch practice film of other teams, but they have infiltrated most cloud-based systems, which teams keep their game plans on,” @GoatKiffin wrote. “This includes opening scripts (funny they jumped the first route today and returned it for a pick six). They know every sign and every variation the coaches on opposing teams plan for.”
There isn’t any evidence to the claim, and the Hoosiers players have executed at a high level all season.
Preparation is Key For Hoosiers
Indiana notably had a similar pick-six against UCLA during the regular season well before the Oregon one, and the Hoosiers demolished everyone on their schedule, except Ohio State, before the national spotlight of the College Football Playoff.
“We’ve got to prepare for this game no different than we’ve prepared for Ohio State and Alabama. The biggest mistake our guys can make … is making this game bigger than it is and going down that road,” Cignetti said.
“Then that would be detrimental to our preparation and our performance. This week is no different than any other week,” Cignetti added. “We have to be on point. We have to stack meetings, practices and go in totally prepared. But then you’ve got to put it on the field against a great opponent.”
Indiana will get to show the nation what they have one more time against Miami on Jan. 19.
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