Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said he channeled Jim Tressel in saying Ohio State ‘sucks’

When he was introduced in a Indiana men’s basketball game last Decembernew football coach Curt Cignetti didn’t hesitate much when speaking to the Hoosier faithful.

“I don’t intend to take a backseat to anyone,” Cignetti said. “Purdue sucks, but so do Michigan and Ohio State. Go to IU.”

When Cignetti was asked to explain his comments at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, he said he was reminded of the legendary comments made by former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel upon his arrival.

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“We are in the entertainment business,” Cignetti said, according to the Indianapolis Star. “It’s training, but it’s entertainment. I remember Jim Tressel, when he went to Ohio State, he said something about beating Michigan. … I just amped that up a little, I guess. You’ve got 17,000 people in basketball arena and I have to get them excited.

“The first half was easy, but why stop there and set the bar at 6-6? Let’s go after these two. We want to be the best.”

In January 2001, when he was hired as John Cooper’s replacement, Tressel assured during an Ohio State men’s basketball game that fans would be proud of the team “especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor.” Tressel led Ohio State to a 26-20 road victory that November, his first of nine victories against the Wolverines in 10 seasons.

Ohio State will face Indiana on Nov. 23 at Ohio Stadium. And if Cignetti and the Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes, it would be Indiana’s first win against Ohio State since 1988.

Ohio State currently holds a 28-game winning streak against Indiana. The teams were tied during the 1990 season.

2024 Ohio State Football Schedule

• August 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• September 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• September 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• September 28: Ohio State and Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• October 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• October 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

• October 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

• November 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Nov. 16: Ohio State at Northwestern; Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

• November 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• November 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

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This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Why Indiana coach Curt Cignetti feels like he channeled Jim Tressel