Indiana

Indiana Football Begins First Fall Camp Under Curt Cignetti

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2024

Indiana Football Begins First Fall Camp Under Curt Cignetti

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new era of Indiana football kicks off on Aug. 31, which means it’s time for fall camp.

The Hoosiers had their first non-padded practice on Wednesday at the outdoor practice fields beside Memorial Stadium and Mellencamp Pavilion. Instead of the megaphone-carrying Tom Allen coaching Indiana, a less boisterous Curt Cignetti oversaw Wednesday’s practice ahead of his first season with the Hoosiers.

It was a hot and humid day in the mid-80s, different from the mild conditions of Cignetti’s first practices last spring.

“It forced us to think and play football on day one, so that was good,” Cignetti said.

“We want to develop players, develop more consistency in performance day in, day out, play in, play out. It’s the second time through the offense, defense and special teams now. Guys ought to be playing faster, thinking less. And we want to promote competition.”

Much of the summer was spent working with Derek Owings, Indiana’s new director of athletic performance. Cignetti said he has a lot of trust in Owings, who held the same role at James Madison from 2020-23, because of his knowledge, work ethic, commitment and the respect he gains from players.

With the season opening in about a month against Florida International at Memorial Stadium, the Hoosiers have heightened their focus on getting in game shape and preparing for their first game.

“The big takeaway today is you can’t replicate football. No matter what you do in the summer, football is just a set of different movements,” Cignetti said. “A lot of start, stop, and then you throw the heat in there and it was a real test and a challenge. So we’ve got to get into football shape now. We took off weight. We put on good weight. We got stronger, quicker, faster, cut down on body fat, all that good stuff. Now we’ve got to get into football shape.”

Cignetti said he introduced a lot of new concepts during spring practice sessions. But now that it’s the team’s second time through, he’s coaching with an eye on the fine details and finishing. He wants to see all 11 players doing their job at a high level on every play.

Indiana has a new-look roster with 30 incoming transfers and 17 freshmen. Cignetti coached 13 of those new Hoosiers at James Madison, but he has to get the rest of the team to embrace the style of football he demands.

He often describes that as fast, physical, relentless, smart, disciplined and poised, seen through his James Madison teams that went 52-9 in his five seasons and led the nation in run defense last year. The Dukes had the fewest penalties in the Sun Belt in 2022, and they ranked 12th out of 14 teams in that category last season. Cignetti also mentioned turnover ratio, a stat in which James Madison ranked 24th nationally in 2023.

In addition to those key stats, Cignetti strives to develop a resilient mindset with the Hoosiers that was reflected in his James Madison teams. He referenced the Dukes’ first Sun Belt game in 2022 after moving from the FCS to FBS as an example.

James Madison traveled to Appalachian State, a team which two weeks before won 17-14 at No. 6 Texas A&M. The Dukes trailed 28-3 in the second quarter but came back to win 32-28. Cignetti wants his Indiana team to play with that mentality, where they are not affected by the positive or negative circumstances of a game.

“It’s kind of a mindset and an identity,” Cingetti said. “Those intangibles that we want to develop in camp as well.”

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Indiana

Is ‘The Bachelorette’ happening? This Carmel contestant weighs in

Published

2 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Is ‘The Bachelorette’ happening? This Carmel contestant weighs in

Should ABC air the canceled-for-now season of “The Bachelorette”? A Carmel man who was set to compete on it seems to think so.

Matt Carroll, a 43-year-old Purdue basketball alum and Carmel resident, took to social media over the weekend to address the cancelation of season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” on which he appeared. Public opinion on whether the show should see the light of day is split, but the former Boilermaker forward and industrial real estate broker hopes the footage makes it to air.

Disney and ABC pulled season 22 of “The Bachelorette” because its lead, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul, faces an ongoing domestic violence investigations. The network announced the decision March 19 after TMZ leaked a video from a 2023 domestic violence incident involving Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen.

Neither Carroll nor the show have officially commented on the cancelation, but that doesn’t mean he and other contestants haven’t hinted at their feelings on social media.

Carroll’s Instagram reel — in which he struts through the streets of Carmel, rose in hand, RAYE’s “Where the Hell is My Husband” soundtracking it all — breaks the ice. “So…about that,” he joked, tagging both “The Bachelorette” and Bachelor Nation, the franchise’s official hub for news and content.

The reel has garnered comments from fellow Carmel residents wishing Carroll well, even offering to set him up with local singles. Notably, though, some of Carroll’s followers have called for the season to air — and he agrees.

“Trying to manifest that they still air this,” one comment from model Brittany Mason reads. “America wants it the world wants it!”

“From your lips to God’s ears,” Carroll replied.

Another response from him put it more plainly:

“I’m still hoping they decide to air it.”

Whether “The Bachelorette” will air is unclear. Disney Entertainment Television’s official statement only indicated that it was halting the season “for now,” so it’s possible the network could dust off the footage and air it after all.

Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@indystar.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.

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Indiana

Game times announced for Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis

Published

14 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Game times announced for Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four is set.

Four teams have advanced to the Final Four and will compete for the national championship this upcoming weekend in Indianapolis.

The two national semifinal matchups will take place on Saturday. Tip times for the two games have been announced:

6:09 p.m. EDT – No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 2 seed UConn
8:49 p.m. EDT – No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona

The winners of Saturday’s games will then play in the National Championship Game on Monday, April 6.

Each game will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday morning as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ events to voice their concerns about the current administration.

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Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

“I’m out here today because what’s happening in our government is completely trash,” Donna Sipes told WRTV. “It’s wrong. We need to do something about it.”

“I’m tired of every single day when the TV comes on to see what stupid thing he’s done next,” Lindi Marti said.

WRTV

Attendees noted the growing popularity of the demonstrations.

“This is my fourth one to come to. I didn’t come to all of them when it was really cold, but I’m glad to see that they are getting a lot more people out here every time,” Marti added. “It seems like there’s more and more coming.”

Demonstrators highlighted specific foreign policy concerns, including the administration’s handling of the war in Iran.

“We’re bombing the heck out of them. We’re killing civilians,” Marti’s husband said. “We’re getting ready to send our Marines.”

Others focused on the administration’s handling of immigration.

“That’s what I’m concerned about,” Reverend Kenny Little told WRTV. “Little kids, they’re taking them away from their family. And I’m just one of those people, I think everyone got rights.”

Indiana medical students also attended the rally to speak out against changes to the healthcare system.

“We’re really worried about the attacks on the health care system in general, but with Medicaid… current estimates range from anywhere from 325,000 to 450,000 Hoosiers will lose coverage by 2032,” Wade Catt said with concern.

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With midterm elections approaching later this year, attendees emphasized the importance of now taking action at the ballot box.

“If we don’t vote, then things are gonna not, they’re gonna stay the same,” a protester said.

Meanwhile, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith says he’s happy to see Hoosiers exercise their First Amendment right to protest.

However, he takes issue with the idea that President Trump is acting like a king. Beckwith says the fact that people have the freedom to protest is proof that the president is not acting like a tyrant.

He acknowledges that bridging the gap between the sides is probably an uphill battle, but believes communication is key.

“I think when you sit down with people face to face, you’re confronted with humanity. There’s another human sitting across that table from you and talking to you. And so, all I have to say, I think that’s probably the thing I would encourage all Hoosiers to do is say, ‘Hey, if you don’t agree with somebody or if you don’t like somebody, why don’t you try grabbing coffee with them? And give it 30 minutes, and just see what happens.’ I bet most of the time people will walk away with a much softer heart and spirit towards that person before they came in,” Beckwith said.

Beckwith is currently on a 92-county tour of the state. He says all sides are welcome to attend his events.

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