Curt Cignetti isn’t interested in reliving Indiana’s old special teams nightmares.
That’s the simplest way to read his answer Monday when the Hoosiers’ punt return setup came up. Indiana has made special teams a priority under Cignetti, and that has meant trusting regular contributors in key spots. It has also paid off in a big way, with D’Angelo Ponds’ blocked punt against Illinois and Mikail Kamara’s similar blocked punt in the National Championship Game against Miami both turning into touchdowns.
But against Western Kentucky on Saturday, the sight of Charlie Becker - Indiana’s top wide receiver option - standing back to field punts got some attention. Becker handled one return, and that was enough to make the arrangement stand out to fans.
Cignetti brought it up on his own at his Monday press conference. While discussing Northwestern’s early turnover creation and praising both the Wildcats and his own team, he slid in his explanation for Becker’s role.
“I get asked, ‘why do you have Charlie Becker back on punt return?’, ” Cignetti said. “Well, drop a punt and change the momentum of a Big10 game. That’s why.”
The move makes more sense when you remember who started there first. Tyler Morris was Indiana’s initial punt returner, but he dropped two punts against Howard.
That kind of mistake can be survivable against the Bison. It’s a much bigger problem when Big Ten games are on the other side.
Whether Becker stays in that spot all season remains to be seen. For now, Cignetti’s reasoning is clear: he’d rather eliminate the risk than revisit the kind of turnover that can swing a game in a hurry.
In Other News...
Indiana's Rise Is Creating A Memorial Stadium Problem Fans Can See
Indianas fast start has turned Memorial Stadium into something closer to a weekly destination than a routine stop, and the scene around Saturdays 38-0 win over Western Kentucky reflected that shift. The Hoosiers moved to 3-0 and extended their winning streak to 19 games, while the crowd on hand got a reminder that the on-field momentum has outgrown some of the day-to-day realities in the building. The atmosphere was energetic and the overall fan experience had plenty going for it, but the stadium itself still showed some of the growing pains that come with a program drawing more attention.
What stands out now is how much the buzz around the team is colliding with the limits of the venue. With more big games ahead, the need for ongoing improvements is becoming harder to ignore, especially when basic conveniences such as concessions and bathrooms can get stretched thin as the crowd builds. Indianas rise has made Memorial Stadium feel more important than it has in years, but it has also made the gaps in the fan experience easier to see. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Showed How Serious It Is About Fixing The Pass Rush
Indianas effort to upgrade its pass rush keeps showing up on the recruiting trail, and the latest move is another sign the Hoosiers are targeting the kind of edge talent that can change the feel of a defense. The program extended a scholarship offer to Fred Ntumba, an edge defender from Antioch High School in Tennessee, and the interest lines up with what Indiana has been trying to build along the front with more size, athleticism and disruption off the edge.
Ntumba fits the profile Indiana has been chasing, thanks to the physical tools and motor the staff believes can translate into Big Ten production. The Hoosiers see him as a potential key piece for their defensive front, and offers like this suggest they are not waiting around to find help for a pass rush that has to hold up against league competition. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Sends Indiana Fans A Clear Message Before Big Ten Play
Indiana fans have had plenty to enjoy in Curt Cignettis first season, but the coach knows the in-game atmosphere at Memorial Stadium still has room to grow. He recently addressed the habit of some fans leaving early, especially during afternoon kickoffs when the heat builds and the scoreboard can get lopsided, and he framed it as part of the challenge that comes with winning big. For a program heading into Big Ten play, the message was less about criticism than about the kind of crowd support that can matter when the games get tighter.
Cignetti also turned his attention to Northwestern, giving credit to its coach and the way the Wildcats have played. It was a routine opponent preview on the surface, but it carried a little more weight because Indiana is moving into the part of the schedule where home-field energy is supposed to be an edge, not an afterthought. The Hoosiers have already shown they can win comfortably, and now the question is how much noise Memorial Stadium can make when the conference slate starts asking different questions. [Read more 🡒]