The Indiana Hoosiers touched down in Indianapolis on Jan. 20 with more than just luggage in tow - they brought home a piece of history.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, players from IU’s football team stepped off their United charter flight and into the frigid Indiana air, greeted not by a roaring crowd, but by the quiet satisfaction of a job completed - and completed perfectly. The national championship trophy made the trip with them, the physical symbol of a 16-0 season that rewrote the record books and delivered the program’s first-ever national title.
There was no grand ceremony on the tarmac, no confetti or fireworks, but the moment still carried weight. Players, some in pajama pants, others in shorts - including Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who rocked a pair of gold headphones like a man who just ran the table - made their way to a line of waiting coach buses. The final leg of their journey back to Bloomington was underway.
Head coach Curt Cignetti, who’s built a reputation for his no-nonsense demeanor, allowed himself a rare moment of visible satisfaction. With a slight smile and a quick wave to a small group of local media, he acknowledged the magnitude of what his team had just accomplished.
Less than a day earlier, he was on the sideline directing a flawless performance to cap off a perfect season. Now, he was simply heading home - a national champion.
While the trophy didn’t make a dramatic appearance on the runway, it won’t be long before it’s front and center in Bloomington, where celebrations are already ramping up and will continue into the weekend.
A few die-hard fans weren’t about to let the team’s arrival go unnoticed. Armed with flight-tracking apps and plenty of layers, they waited near the private terminal on the north side of Indianapolis International Airport, hoping for a glimpse of the team buses as they rolled out.
Among them were Karen and Mel Fletcher from Greenwood. With three IU grads in the family, they’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. Decades, in fact.
“We came out early and just hopefully, we could see them,” Karen said, bundled up against the cold.
As the motorcade passed, the Fletchers beamed with pride.
“It was a great team, a great bunch of guys. Fantastic coach. And they did it,” she said.
And she’s right. They did it. The Indiana Hoosiers didn’t just win a title - they made history.