Urban Meyer makes case for Curt Cignetti as National Coach of the Year

As far as Urban Meyer is concerned, the choice for national coach of the year in college football is easy: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.

And when you lead the Hoosiers to an undefeated start and a Top 10 ranking into November in your first year in charge, your case is ready made. So Meyer had no trouble lauding the new Hoosiers head man.

And he used a simple test to explain the turnaround: Indiana around a two-touchdown favorite over Michigan for a Nov. 9 contest, something Meyer said would get crosseyed looks if presented a year ago.

“And I’m going to talk about this because they’re playing each other: Who would’ve thought, 365 removed from the worst team in the Big Ten, they’re playing the best team in the Big Ten a year ago, and they’re a 14.5-point favorite. I’ll tell you what, if someone — if Big Bear, if Bears Bites was throwing a couple bucks on that one Mark, he’d be flying private to Big Noon,” Meyer said, making reference to FOX betting analyst Chris “The Bear” Fallica.

And Meyer continued, lauding Cignetti for things his team does that an untrained observer might not notice. The sort of things that are likely the difference for Indiana on this remarkable run.

“A lot’s been said and I’ve probably got a little bit more insight, just because of the way I watch film,” Meyer said. “I’ve done it for 37 years and there’s things that I might notice that maybe Mark probably does as well. I see things that most people don’t see. And I think there’s a fine line between recruiting and coaching. They’re both what it takes to be successful. But I always tell people, the guy who makes the one-handed catch over the top of two people in the end zone, that’s God touched him and said, ‘Let’s make a great player.’ But the perimeter blocking, the goal line stand when everybody’s in the proper gaps, there are just so many things that I see Indiana do.”

Much of the success has stemmed from the star-turned season of transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who is No. 3 nationally in completion percentage, has thrown 19 touchdowns and has the No. 2 passer efficiency rating.

And it’s all a recipe that has Meyer singing the praises of Cignetti.

“So Curt Cignetti is absolutely, obviously a candidate and unless something changes, he gets it,” Meyer said.