Curt Cignetti's daughter, Natalie, gets engaged on field after Indiana's win vs. Michigan

Life has been pretty good for Curt Cignetti lately. He’s got Indiana off to a historic start and now 10-0 for the first time ever while his blunt persona has won over plenty of fans.

And Saturday’s win over Michigan came with a cherry on top: His daughter, Natalie, got engaged. Her now-fiance, Trent VanHorn, used a pretty nifty method: The Memorial Stadium video board.

“Natalie, every day with you is 10-0,” the proposal begins, “will you marry me?”

Cignetti posted a picture of the message on the video board and added his own message on top.

“Great way to cap off a gritty win!”

Curt Cignetti’s daughter Natalie and her now fiancé Trent VanHorn were engaged on the field after today’s game. https://t.co/01WYaWhjvs

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 10, 2024

Cignetti has been getting his plaudits recently

As far as Urban Meyer is concerned, the choice for national coach of the year in college football is easy: 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.”