Indiana DC lashes out at Ty Simpson, Alabama fans over QB’s Rose Bowl comments
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Head coach Curt Cignetti understandably gets all the credit for turning the Indiana Hoosiers into a college football powerhouse.
In two seasons at the helm, Cignetti turned the nation’s losingest program into an undefeated national champion.
But he hasn’t done it alone. Cignetti’s relationship with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines goes back 11 years to their days at James Madison.
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Haines won the Broyles Award as the country’s top assistant in 2025. Recently, he heard former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson talking about the simplicity of the Indiana defense compared to SEC teams.
Haines wasn’t having it, especially after the Hoosiers rolled over the Tide 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.
“Adorable,” Haines posted on X. “We also, saw everything they were doing, on every single snap … It’s just that we exploited those cues. And didn’t get frozen and crushed by them.”
Simpson, a possible first-round pick in this week’s NFL draft, spoke about the Rose Bowl loss on the “Downs2Business” podcast hosted by Josh and Caleb Downs.
“From my point of view, I was like, they don’t do much,” Simpson said. “They do the same thing every down. So when I got the ball, I knew exactly what was going to happen. … They were in the exact same spot they were supposed to be. They were so well-coached.
“It was so much different than the SEC. In the SEC, they’ll play man, they’ll do these unorthodox coverages. That’s kind of how it is.”
Simpson sustained a cracked rib late in the first half and left the Rose Bowl in the third quarter. He finished 12-of-16 passing for 67 yards.
Indiana Head Coach Bryant Haines during spring practice. | The Herald-Times via Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Alabama fans jumped on Haines’ post. They rightly pointed out that Simpson complimented the Indiana defense and indicated they thought Haines’ response lacked class.
But Haines wasn’t shy about responding to them, either, posting on X, “That’s all it took to break your entire fanbase? … Grow up folks.”
Indiana will hold its spring game on at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, April 23. The 2026 NFL Draft begins at the same time in Pittsburgh on ESPN, the NFL Network and the ESPN app.
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