Goodman: The Coach Nick Saban Once Questioned
This is an opinion piece.
When Nick Saban first heard Curt Cignetti's intentions, he had to wonder about his mental state.
Cignetti expressed a desire to leave Alabama for what destination, exactly?
He mentioned IUP—no, not Indiana University or Penn State, but rather Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The Crimson Hawks at IUP compete in Division II football and are members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Geographically, Indiana, Pennsylvania, is nestled between Pittsburgh to the west and Penn State to the east. While it's a charming town, it isn't particularly renowned for its college football, especially on a national scale.
This was the place where Cignetti, who served as Saban's first wide receivers coach at Alabama and played a key role in the development of star player Julio Jones, envisioned launching his head coaching career.
Or perhaps sabotaging it right from the start, which was certainly a possibility.
GOODMAN: History Is in the Making for Alabama
Fast forward to today, and Cignetti is now one of the most sought-after coaches in college football, credited with leading Indiana to an impressive ascent to the top ranking in the nation. The Hoosiers are now champions of the Big Ten Conference and enter the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff undefeated. This narrative is particularly riveting given their next opponent: Cignetti and the Hoosiers will face Alabama in the Rose Bowl on January 1 in Pasadena, California.
For Indiana, this season is nothing short of a fairy tale, all thanks to Cignetti, who had a grand vision back when he was working alongside Saban.
Back in 2010, Cignetti had the option to continue his tenure at Alabama. At that time, Alabama had just triumphed over Texas in the Rose Bowl, claiming their first national championship since 1992. Life was undoubtedly good. However, Cignetti was at a crossroads: should he remain a subordinate to Saban indefinitely, or should he embark on a new journey?
Coach Cig felt ready to take a chance on himself, yet Saban harbored reservations.
IUP? Seriously? After everything they had built together?
"He had some questions about whether that would be a very good move for me," Cignetti reflected. "I was eager to run my own show. I had been an assistant coach for quite some time, and I was turning 50."
It seems Cignetti made the right choice. Just look at what he's achieved now.
In life, sometimes you need to take risks and put everything on the line. Cignetti's decision to join IUP was indeed a bold gamble, but he had a well-thought-out plan in place.
Saban, however, urged against it.
Who would opt for the Crimson Hawks over the Crimson Tide?
"I began my full-time coaching career at Rice University when they were part of the Southwest Conference," Cignetti explained. "So, I've been in this profession for 28 years. I was simply ready for a change.
"I valued his opinion, but ultimately, I decided to make the move."
Frank Cignetti, Sr., concluded his distinguished coaching career at IUP after serving under Bobby Bowden at West Virginia. His son chose to kick off his head coaching journey right where his father had retired. I find that quite touching. Cignetti honored his roots and aimed to contribute to his father's legacy before forging his own path.
Saban's influence permeates the current playoff landscape. Of the eight teams in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, five have former Saban assistants at the helm. Saban was undeniably skilled at developing players and, even more impressively, nurturing future head coaches.
Among them are Kirby Smart at Georgia and Mario Cristobal at Miami. Although Lane Kiffin has opted out of the playoffs, his successor at Ole Miss, Pete Golding, is also a former Saban disciple.
Dan Lanning at Oregon is another Saban protege, and then there's Cignetti, who is rapidly becoming the Saban of the Big Ten.
While Saban had "The Process" at Alabama, Cignetti refers to his approach as "The Blueprint." Ultimately, both strategies yield similar results. Saban kicked off his second season at Alabama with a record of 12-0; Indiana is mirroring that success, heading into the Rose Bowl with a perfect record of 12-0.
Cignetti didn’t squander his opportunity while coaching under Saban. He meticulously took notes and filled his binders with invaluable insights.
"Honestly, I think about those days nearly every day," Cignetti admitted. "The experience profoundly influenced my growth and development.
"Philosophically, the program we operate here mirrors Alabama's more than it differs, so there isn’t a day that goes by without drawing from those experiences."
The organizational strategies and standards of excellence that Cignetti absorbed during his time at Alabama will now be put to the test as he faces the Tide. Currently, Indiana is favored by seven points, and the emergence of the Hoosiers stands out as the most remarkable success story in the era of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness). Upon arriving on campus two years ago, Cignetti revamped the roster and set to work. Last year, Indiana finished with an 11-2 record, narrowly losing to Notre Dame 27-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Now, Indiana is back on the scene and is favored to claim the championship.
Interestingly, Cignetti chose to turn down an offer from Penn State to remain at Indiana. Who does that? Likely someone who opted for IUP over Alabama. Following that decision, Cignetti went on to coach at Elon and then James Madison.
But it all originated with the Crimson Hawks in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Saban may have had a point; maybe Cignetti is a bit eccentric. And he acknowledges this himself.
"I won’t deny that there were many mornings early on when I questioned my decision due to the enormous and radical change, but ultimately, that experience prepared me for where I am today," Cignetti shared.
However, there’s a crucial distinction between Saban and Cignetti. Resurrecting Alabama is one thing, but achieving similar success at Indiana is truly unprecedented in the world of college football.
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