Nick Saban had strong words for red-hot Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti.
The legendary head coach spoke highly of Cignetti and the Hoosiers, who are out to an undefeated start to the season. The Hoosiers haven’t been known for their football in years past. This year seems like it’s been different though.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers are already bowl-eligible, and have a chance to make a play for the Big Ten Championship Game. But before he became the Hoosiers head coach, years ago, he was part of Saban’s original staff in Tuscaloosa in 2007.
Saban spoke very highly of the process that one of his former assistants has installed.
“Coach Cignetti was with me when we built a progrum from scratch..
It was a great experience and we both learned a lot from each other” ~ Nick Saban #PMSLive https://t.co/G4ya1dZuNT pic.twitter.com/tcOecpSBLv
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 25, 2024
“I think one of the things guys like Coach Cignetti had an advantage of is, when we went to Alabama, they weren’t very good. So, therefore, we built the program from scratch,” Saban explained on The Pat McAfee Show. “We were 7-6 the first year, 12-0 the second year.”
Saban explained that many who went on to become assistants for him did when they were already successful. Meanwhile, Cignetti had that experience from seeing the foundation be laid early on. Saban said it was a “great experience” and picked up on the necessities to build and sustain a program.
The legendary head coach has a good point on what Cignetti experienced and how he may have taken it with him. So far, you can’t argue with the results.