Curt Cignetti finally smiles. Indiana is at top of college football, but not done yet

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INDIANAPOLIS — This was Curt Cignetti‘s moment. He teed this up two year ago on the floor of Assembly Hall, which led Fox analyst Joel Klatt to firmly grip the microphone so the Indiana football coach couldn’t rip it away.

Cignetti still refused to wear a smile, even after his Hoosiers bled the clock on a 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game, IU’s first outright title in 80 years. Cignetti stormed toward midfield to greet Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

Remember, he said at that IU basketball game that his football team would not take a backseat to anybody.

He was chomping his gum, perhaps to try and hide a smile, or because taking the undisputed No. 1 ranking when the College Football Playoff field is set Sunday is just the start of a new season, where he will likely say his team must earn it again.

Either way, it was classic Cignetti, up until the end of his podium speech after receiving the Big Ten championship trophy.

Cignetti started, “I’ve got two things to say.

“Besides all the thank yous to (IU) president Pam Whitten, the AD Scott Dolson, our assistant coaches, our team, our seniors, our fans, alright.

“We are Big Ten champions!”

That was one. And then two,

“I’ve got three-and-a-half weeks to get this team humble and hungry for the playoffs.”

And then, a smile from ear-to-ear.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Curt Cignetti speech, reaction as Indiana football wins Big Ten championship

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