Indiana Football Coach Curt Cignetti’s message is simple: ‘I win. Google me.’

While Cignetti can certainly ‘talk the talk’ he is starting to show he can ‘walk the walk’ as well. In his short time with Indiana football, he has had some major wins.

Cignetti was able to hold off powerhouses like Michigan, Penn State and others to keep talented wide receiver Donaven McCulley in Bloomington.

He also has rebuilt the quarterback room. After losing 2023 starter Brendan Sorsby, Cignetti brought in Ohio transfer and 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke, four-star Tyler Cherry from Greenwood, IN and three-star Alberto Mendoza who was previously committed to James Madison.

Cignetti has had no time to settle in since taking over Indiana football but his drive and commitment have led to his early success.

“What really drives me these last 20 days is the time period that I was hired and what needed done with the signing date coming up,” Cignetti said about the quick turnaround for him. “The number of guys we had in the portal, the number of guys we were going to have to replace because I knew that these 20 days were going to play a big, big part in our success in the fall and that we had to get it done.”

Cignetti has worked hard to rebuild the roster and his effort has paid off.

“There will be a new culture, identity here and expectation level in the way we play the game, and we’re not done recruiting yet,” Cignetti said about the new faces coming in. “We’ve signed 31 new ones today.”

Cignetti made it clear that despite 31 players signed (seven will not be announced until after they play their bowl games), he and his staff are not done building the roster for the 2024 season.

Just like he said in his introductory press conference, Cignetti has placed an emphasis on production over talent when recruiting players.

“I look for guys that have a body of work, guys that have started, played the entire season without getting injured and have production,” Cignetti said about his focus when targeting players. “And multiple years of production is even better because I firmly believe this: Like there are some intangible qualities that it takes to be a starter and make it through a season. You’ve got to be able to handle adversity, success, have consistency in performance. There’s just some characteristics and traits.”

Cignetti is not going to make it easy for anyone who plays for him. Playing for him means everything will be earned and nothing will be given on and off the field.

“But everything’s earned, not given. Nobody’s promised anything,” Cignetti said about a potential starting quarterback. “… Once in a while, a guy wants you to promise them something. What am I, nuts? I’m going to promise you something so that goes around the locker room? Nobody has anything. Everything’s earned. That’s how we run our program.”

Cignetti has learned from some of the greats and his experience in coaching starts from his childhood when he was able to observe Bobby Bowden at West Virginia when his dad worked for the legendary coach. His last job before becoming a head coach was under Nick Saban at Alabama.

Cignetti understands the sacrifice that it takes to win at the college level and he is ready to do whatever it takes to win, including the early mornings and late nights that come with coaching.

While he might not have any issues with his current work schedule, his car dealer might.

“So pretty good that a 60-year-old guy can still go at it like that although I do think I fell asleep for a half second this morning on the way to work, hit a curb, and blew my tire,” Cignetti said about the chaos of the build-up to signing day. “My car dealer is not going to be real happy with me.”

Cignetti may have some old-school mottos and he may need a personal driver, but his wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to win everywhere he has ever been and deliver the same message to everyone that ever asks about him.

“It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me.”