Indiana’s Curt Cignetti rips refs for not flagging UM hits on QB Fernando Mendoza

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MIAMI GARDENS — Halftime of the College Football Playoff national title game involved a coach interview atypical of what’s usually heard going into the locker room for intermission.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti used his air time with ESPN’s Holly Rowe to rip the officials for the hits the Miami Hurricanes defense was getting on Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

“There’s three personal fouls on the quarterback on one drive that were not called. They need to be called because they’re obvious personal fouls,” an impassioned Cignetti said.

“I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line, you got to call it. They were black-and-white calls.”

One noticeable big hit against Mendoza in the first half came when Hurricanes safety Jakobe Thomas drilled him after he handed the ball off and faked like he was running with the ball. There was contact from Thomas’ helmet to Mendoza’s chin under his facemask and Mendoza’s lip was bloodied.

Aside from that, there were multiple instances where Mendoza was hit as he threw or just after releasing the football. Officially, Miami was been credited with three quarterback hurries in the first half — one each by defensive ends Akheem Mesidor and Marquise Lightfoot and another from linebacker Mohamed Toure.

Cignetti was irate over the officiating despite Indiana leading, 10-0, at intermission.

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