Curt Cignetti quiets critics after Indiana demolishes Alabama in Rose Bowl with verbal jab

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Curt Cignetti quiets critics after Indiana demolishes Alabama in Rose Bowl with verbal jab originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It was a great day for the Indiana Hoosiers as they clinched their spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 38-3 Rose Bowl win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

There was still skepticism that the Hoosiers hadn't arrived despite an undefeated regular season, a Big Ten title win against the Ohio State Buckeyes, and a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in Fernando Mendoza.

All were debunked in a matter of a few hours, which Cignetti echoed to ESPN after the win.

"Why should [the moment] be too big, because our name's Indiana?" Cignetti asked Holly Rowe. "We've got a lot of veteran starters that played a lot of successful football in their careers. They have high character. We've got great leadership and character on this football team. We've come through in the clutch moments. I'm proud of the way they responded and prepared and met this challenge. It's a great win."

Alabama had won this past week against the Oklahoma Sooners in a comeback effort during the opening round. But a three-touchdown day from Mendoza, plus losing quarterback Ty Simpson, was too much to overcome.

Ultimately, Cignetti seems to be in full support of the Hoosiers' football hysteria, teasing a Hollywood script that college football fans would likely eat up.

"It'd be a hell of a movie," Cignetti said after the win.

And he's probably right.

The Hoosiers' win sees them rematch the Oregon Ducksin the Peach Bowl next Friday (7:30 p.m. ET) for the opportunity to play for a national title.

The atory continues, and it's arguably getting better with each game.

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