Comparison of Cignetti and Pope

[Doc4UK!]

Pretty simple. Both are experienced coaches who took over "higher level" programs JUST two years ago. Each had a plan for recruiting and style of play that they felt would bring success.

However here is where the comparisons diverge. One brought coaches with him that could implement the style of play . One brought in players who could easily adapt to the style of play. And one brought discipline and grit and football savvy.

The other brought in athletes who could not adapt to the style of play and were potentially playing for the largest pay check they would ever receive. Bench players were making more than starters. Payroll influenced playing time. There were no leaders. There were no set rotations. Bench discipline was an issue.

One is leading one of the worse football programs in the history of the game to the national championship with an outstanding pipeline in place for the future and the other is taking one of the best basketball programs in the history of the game to an uncertain future with player issues, discipline issues, and soon money issues. One talks very little but always in the same determined voice with minimal player interaction while the other uses flowery terms, philosophic approach, and wants to be a players coach and best friend.

These two coaches represent what CAN happen if the right staff and players are in place. But it all starts at the top and it is a much easier path to the bottom than it is to the top. Can Kentucky's once dominant and proud program which has not been in the elite 8 in a number of years make it back to the top of college basketball under Mark Pope? Or will he guide us into obscurity with a half empty stadium like IU had just two years ago?

Only time will tell but I certainly see a much brighter and certain future for IU football than I do Kentucky basketball, and I think that is something most of us can agree on. I hope that most of us are wrong.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Similarities between Pope and Cignetti:

- Species.

That is all.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Pretty simple. Both are experienced coaches who took over "higher level" programs JUST two years ago. Each had a plan for recruiting and style of play that they felt would bring success.

However here is where the comparisons diverge. One brought coaches with him that could implement the style of play . One brought in players who could easily adapt to the style of play. And one brought discipline and grit and football savvy.

The other brought in athletes who could not adapt to the style of play and were potentially playing for the largest pay check they would ever receive. Bench players were making more than starters. Payroll influenced playing time. There were no leaders. There were no set rotations. Bench discipline was an issue.

One is leading one of the worse football programs in the history of the game to the national championship with an outstanding pipeline in place for the future and the other is taking one of the best basketball programs in the history of the game to an uncertain future with player issues, discipline issues, and soon money issues. One talks very little but always in the same determined voice with minimal player interaction while the other uses flowery terms, philosophic approach, and wants to be a players coach and best friend.

These two coaches represent what CAN happen if the right staff and players are in place. But it all starts at the top and it is a much easier path to the bottom than it is to the top. Can Kentucky's once dominant and proud program which has not been in the elite 8 in a number of years make it back to the top of college basketball under Mark Pope? Or will he guide us into obscurity with a half empty stadium like IU had just two years ago?

Only time will tell but I certainly see a much brighter and certain future for IU football than I do Kentucky basketball, and I think that is something most of us can agree on. I hope that most of us are wrong.

You see a brighter future for the number one team in America that is maybe the most dominant team ive ever watched than a program that is national punchline? Don’t go out on a limb there lol. I get everything you were saying and ik you didn’t mean it the way I was saying but still.

 

[Argonaut]

Apparently Indiana has around a $13 million NIL budget for this year. Kentucky is estimated at around $22 million. In spite of a much larger roster of players, Cignetti is leading the losingness program in college football to the championship. Meanwhile, with nearly $10 million more, Pope is leading us toward a historically bad season.

Fascinating, isn’t it? Both have 2 seasons on the books at their respective programs.

 

[77blueuk]

Pretty simple. Both are experienced coaches who took over "higher level" programs JUST two years ago. Each had a plan for recruiting and style of play that they felt would bring success.

However here is where the comparisons diverge. One brought coaches with him that could implement the style of play . One brought in players who could easily adapt to the style of play. And one brought discipline and grit and football savvy.

The other brought in athletes who could not adapt to the style of play and were potentially playing for the largest pay check they would ever receive. Bench players were making more than starters. Payroll influenced playing time. There were no leaders. There were no set rotations. Bench discipline was an issue.

One is leading one of the worse football programs in the history of the game to the national championship with an outstanding pipeline in place for the future and the other is taking one of the best basketball programs in the history of the game to an uncertain future with player issues, discipline issues, and soon money issues. One talks very little but always in the same determined voice with minimal player interaction while the other uses flowery terms, philosophic approach, and wants to be a players coach and best friend.

These two coaches represent what CAN happen if the right staff and players are in place. But it all starts at the top and it is a much easier path to the bottom than it is to the top. Can Kentucky's once dominant and proud program which has not been in the elite 8 in a number of years make it back to the top of college basketball under Mark Pope? Or will he guide us into obscurity with a half empty stadium like IU had just two years ago?

Only time will tell but I certainly see a much brighter and certain future for IU football than I do Kentucky basketball, and I think that is something most of us can agree on. I hope that most of us are wrong.

I read that article on ESPN, and forwarded it to several people. Spot on; I fully agree with the premise. Indiana's coaches don't go by Star ratings; they look at the whole package. Junior year stats; fourth and fifth year players (like last year's BB team); ankle, knee and hip flexibility; how to spot the "fatal flaws; it goes on and on. I thought this sums it up: "He doesn't always go after the big, shiny guys. If you can make plays, he wants you. The second part of that is the human being behind the pads. He's going to bring guys who mold well in the locker room. That's what's made this team so special." I hope Pope gets this, and adapts.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I hate to pull for IU but I do because my best friend is an IU graduate and large donor to IU. So if they aren’t playing UK I root for them because of that. He does the same with UK because of me.

I watched a bit of that game last night.

IU is simply a well coached team.

Across the board Oregon had more talent.

But IU is just too grounded in fundamentals for Oregon to beat them.

 

[fisherscatfan]

You see a brighter future for the number one team in America that is maybe the most dominant team ive ever watched than a program that is national punchline? Don’t go out on a limb there lol. I get everything you were saying and ik you didn’t mean it the way I was saying but still.

Yea the WORST PROGRAM in major college football history is in the title game 2 short years after hiring the right coach in a sport that is much more difficult to turn around than basketball is a perfect example for how bad Barnhart screwed this up.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Yea the WORST PROGRAM in major college football history is in the title game 2 short years after hiring the right coach in a sport that is much more difficult to turn around than basketball is a perfect example for how bad Barnhart screwed this up.

Nobody’s mentioning all the IU billionaires that bought this. They didn’t buy players they bought the W straight up.

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Pretty simple. Both are experienced coaches who took over "higher level" programs JUST two years ago. Each had a plan for recruiting and style of play that they felt would bring success.

However here is where the comparisons diverge. One brought coaches with him that could implement the style of play . One brought in players who could easily adapt to the style of play. And one brought discipline and grit and football savvy.

The other brought in athletes who could not adapt to the style of play and were potentially playing for the largest pay check they would ever receive. Bench players were making more than starters. Payroll influenced playing time. There were no leaders. There were no set rotations. Bench discipline was an issue.

One is leading one of the worse football programs in the history of the game to the national championship with an outstanding pipeline in place for the future and the other is taking one of the best basketball programs in the history of the game to an uncertain future with player issues, discipline issues, and soon money issues. One talks very little but always in the same determined voice with minimal player interaction while the other uses flowery terms, philosophic approach, and wants to be a players coach and best friend.

These two coaches represent what CAN happen if the right staff and players are in place. But it all starts at the top and it is a much easier path to the bottom than it is to the top. Can Kentucky's once dominant and proud program which has not been in the elite 8 in a number of years make it back to the top of college basketball under Mark Pope? Or will he guide us into obscurity with a half empty stadium like IU had just two years ago?

Only time will tell but I certainly see a much brighter and certain future for IU football than I do Kentucky basketball, and I think that is something most of us can agree on. I hope that most of us are wrong.

Off topic, but it really pains me to see Indiana on the cusp of winning a National Championship in football. We havent been close to one in football or basketball in a while.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Nobody’s mentioning all the IU billionaires that bought this. They didn’t buy players they bought the W straight up.

IU wasn’t close to the top NIL contributors in CFB this year. Some of the teams they have already beaten paid more — Oregon I think was top 2 in the country in NIL last year and this year.

 

[megablue]

What is really AMAZING is that Mark Byington (currently undefeated at Vanderbilt) and Curt Cignetti (currently undefeated at Indiana) were both coaching at the same time at James Madison University ... !!!.

 

[fisherscatfan]

Nobody’s mentioning all the IU billionaires that bought this. They didn’t buy players they bought the W straight up.

Still doesn’t change the fact-zero 5 stars on the roster of 100 kids and they destroyed a team that had 1 loss (to them) and did so because of coaching. He knows what he is doing and if people think it’s because of payroll, I give you UK 25-26 basketball as Exhibit A

 

[megablue]

Still doesn’t change the fact-zero 5 stars on the roster of 100 kids and they destroyed a team that had 1 loss (to them) and did so because of coaching. He knows what he is doing and if people think it’s because of payroll, I give you UK 25-26 basketball as Exhibit A

It is my understanding that IU has no 5-star players on its roster.

For the upcoming 2025 season (as of early 2026), the Indiana Hoosiers football team has a limited number of highly-rated recruits, with recent reports indicating they have around 7 four-star recruits on their roster, but zero five-star players, placing them lower in national talent rankings compared to top programs.

Key Details:

• Roster Talent: Indiana's roster talent, as measured by recruiting services, places them outside the top tier nationally, with some sources ranking them around 71st overall for 2025.
• Focus on Development: While not loaded with elite prospects, the team under Coach Curt Cignetti aims to develop talent, as seen in their surprising success, including a Rose Bowl win.
• Recruiting Class: The 2025 recruiting class brought in some highly-rated players, contributing to their current roster's talent level.

In essence, Indiana isn't known for a high volume of 4-star or 5-star recruits but relies on strong coaching and development to build a competitive team.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Off topic, but it really pains me to see Indiana on the cusp of winning a National Championship in football. We havent been close to one in football or basketball in a while.

I don’t expect to be close in football. The fact we haven’t even made a FF in basketball since 2015 is ridiculous.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

It more gives me hope for our football team to be able to pull something off like this in the future with our new coach. They have been a joke forever but turned things around so no reason our football program can't turn things around.

 

[akaukswoosh]

What is really AMAZING is that Mark Byington (currently undefeated at Vanderbilt) and Curt Cignetti (currently undefeated at Indiana) were both coaching at the same time at James Madison University ... !!!.

Congrats to the JMU AD who hired them.

 

[fisherscatfan]

It is my understanding that IU has no 5-star players on its roster.

For the upcoming 2025 season (as of early 2026), the Indiana Hoosiers football team has a limited number of highly-rated recruits, with recent reports indicating they have around 7 four-star recruits on their roster, but zero five-star players, placing them lower in national talent rankings compared to top programs.

Key Details:

• Roster Talent: Indiana's roster talent, as measured by recruiting services, places them outside the top tier nationally, with some sources ranking them around 71st overall for 2025.
• Focus on Development: While not loaded with elite prospects, the team under Coach Curt Cignetti aims to develop talent, as seen in their surprising success, including a Rose Bowl win.
• Recruiting Class: The 2025 recruiting class brought in some highly-rated players, contributing to their current roster's talent level.

In essence, Indiana isn't known for a high volume of 4-star or 5-star recruits but relies on strong coaching and development to build a competitive team.

Yep. But it is all about the $ according to some.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

It more gives me hope for our football team to be able to pull something off like this in the future with our new coach. They have been a joke forever but turned things around so no reason our football program can't turn things around.

I like the optimism! When it comes to football, I think you’re the optimist and I’m the pessimist. I see zero chance of us usurping all of the SEC blue bloods to get there in the current era. Cignetti is this era’s Nick Saban, so I don’t see how Indiana winning the 1 out of a billion lottery to get that guy has anything to say one way or another about us. I get that we are a historically bad football program like Indiana but that’s where the similarities end.

 

[BBNinSCar]

What Cignetti is doing is unprecedented. I have never seen a program make a turn around like we are witnessing at Indiana and it’s a lot harder to do in football than basketball.
I don’t think we can use the Indiana football as a model because our basketball team is a blue blood and it’s a lot easier for a new coach to come in here and win, given all the advantages that UK affords.
What this does show is a blueprint on how to find our new coach. There may be another Cignetti out there but he is at a smaller school, has a high win percentage and a strong background.
Kentucky will not find this with the usual suspects bantered about on this forum. Our answer is not Pearl, Hurley, Drew, etc.
Michigan found Dusty May, Arizona found Tommy Lloyd. We need to find our next guy in the same way.

 

[peterpiper09]

16-17
19-12

how about comparing something similar
This is Hurleys first 2 seasons at UCONN

 

[UKCowboys]

Apparently Indiana has around a $13 million NIL budget for this year. Kentucky is estimated at around $22 million. In spite of a much larger roster of players, Cignetti is leading the losingness program in college football to the championship. Meanwhile, with nearly $10 million more, Pope is leading us toward a historically bad season.

Fascinating, isn’t it? Both have 2 seasons on the books at their respective programs.

Cignetti spent low NIL money buy using mostly 3 star players. Right now there are people calling for Pope's head because he can't pull in top 10 players. I think it would be funny as Hell if Pope told BBN at his next press conference that he is going to follow RR's advice and recruit a team full of 3 stars. That'll go over like a fart in church lol

 

[Smeegs]

Apparently Indiana has around a $13 million NIL budget for this year. Kentucky is estimated at around $22 million. In spite of a much larger roster of players, Cignetti is leading the losingness program in college football to the championship. Meanwhile, with nearly $10 million more, Pope is leading us toward a historically bad season.

Fascinating, isn’t it? Both have 2 seasons on the books at their respective programs.

Indeed it is. I think the most fascinating thing about this IU story is that they’re doing it with a roster that were almost exclusively low rated prospects out of HS. Hell, if you go by recruit rankings, even UK should be a far more talented team than IU.

The heart of that team the last two years has been those 13 James Madison transfers. Those are all guys who had to go the little mid major route because no big conference teams wanted them. And now they’re kicking the **** out of the likes of Alabama and Ohio State. Crazy stuff.

 

[megablue]

I like the optimism! When it comes to football, I think you’re the optimist and I’m the pessimist. I see zero chance of us usurping all of the SEC blue bloods to get there in the current era. Cignetti is this era’s Nick Saban, so I don’t see how Indiana winning the 1 out of a billion lottery to get that guy has anything to say one way or another about us. I get that we are a historically bad football program like Indiana but that’s where the similarities end.

What is TRULY amazing is that all four (4) of the final teams in the CFP had coaches with experience under Nick Saban, not to mention Kane Kiffin who was the architect at Ole Miss ... WOW !!!

for the 2026 College Football Playoff semifinals, all four head coaches—Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Dan Lanning (Oregon), Mario Cristobal (Miami), and Pete Golding (Ole Miss)—coached under Nick Saban at Alabama, showcasing his significant coaching tree.
Here's a breakdown of their roles under Saban:


Curt Cignetti: Wide Receivers Coach (2007-2011).

Dan Lanning: Graduate Assistant (2015).

Mario Cristobal: Offensive Line Coach (2013-2016).

Pete Golding: Defensive Coordinator (2018-2022).

This dominance by Saban's former assistants highlights his profound legacy and influence on college football leadership, with many current Power 4 coaches emerging from his program.

 

[chroix]

Can’t root for IU but you have to respect what they’re doing. That team is a machine.

 

[Argonaut]

Nobody’s mentioning all the IU billionaires that bought this. They didn’t buy players they bought the W straight up.

And yet still nearly $10 million less than our basketball team’s NIL budget.

 

[megablue]

Can’t root for IU but you have to respect what they’re doing. That team is a machine.

They are a physical, disciplined team who plays "six (6) seconds at a time" with tremendous mental focus and effort.

 

[Argonaut]

16-17
19-12

how about comparing something similar
This is Hurleys first 2 seasons at UCONN

…without the transfer portal or NIL budget by the way.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

IU wasn’t close to the top NIL contributors in CFB this year. Some of the teams they have already beaten paid more — Oregon I think was top 2 in the country in NIL last year and this year.

Yea those programs all paid more for players I’m sure. I don’t really believe what I was saying but I was meaning IU didn’t buy players they bought the system/Vegas all the good stuff that don’t really exist but does ya know what I mean.


Example…. Oregon and anybody else spend 20 million on a roster.




IU spent 500 million to the committee…..

 

[megablue]

Yea those programs all paid more for players I’m sure. I don’t really believe what I was saying but I was meaning IU didn’t buy players they bought the system/Vegas all the good stuff that don’t really exist but does ya know what I mean.


Example…. Oregon and any is else spend 20 million on a roster.




IU doesn’t 500 million to the committee…..

Curt Cignetti brought a significant number of players with him from James Madison (JMU) to Indiana when he took the coaching job, specifically 13 players who became foundational to the Hoosiers' rapid success, forming the core of his first Indiana transfer portal class.

Key Details:

• Number of Players: 13 players followed Cignetti from JMU to Indiana.
• Impact: These transfers formed the backbone of the team, enabling Indiana to quickly achieve an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in Cignetti's first year.
• Examples: Prominent examples include LB Aiden Fisher, WR Elijah Sarratt, and DB D'Angelo Ponds, who earned All-America honors.
• Strategy: This move was a key part of Cignetti's strategy to rapidly overhaul the program by bringing proven talent from his successful tenure at JMU, where they were often overlooked recruits who excelled under his system.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Curt Cignetti brought a significant number of players with him from James Madison (JMU) to Indiana when he took the coaching job, specifically 13 players who became foundational to the Hoosiers' rapid success, forming the core of his first Indiana transfer portal class.

Key Details:

• Number of Players: 13 players followed Cignetti from JMU to Indiana.
• Impact: These transfers formed the backbone of the team, enabling Indiana to quickly achieve an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in Cignetti's first year.
• Examples: Prominent examples include LB Aiden Fisher, WR Elijah Sarratt, and DB D'Angelo Ponds, who earned All-America honors.
• Strategy: This move was a key part of Cignetti's strategy to rapidly overhaul the program by bringing proven talent from his successful tenure at JMU, where they were often overlooked recruits who excelled under his system.

I get it.

 

[megablue]

I get it.

To me ... bringing in talent from JMU makes what he's done even more impressive !! Pretty amazing stuff !!

James Madison University - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

James Madison University

James Madison University

www.jmu.edu

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

To me ... bringing in talent from JMU makes what he's done even more impressive !! Pretty amazing stuff !!

James Madison University - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

James Madison University

James Madison University

www.jmu.edu

When Indiana wins you see billionaires all over the field. You’re not seeing that at UK. What do we have like 1 that supports alll sports. Not the same category. The illusion is that these games are won on the field.

 

[Smeegs]

Kentucky will not find this with the usual suspects bantered about on this forum. Our answer is not Pearl, Hurley, Drew, etc.
Michigan found Dusty May, Arizona found Tommy Lloyd. We need to find our next guy in the same way.

Agreed. We’re not gonna solve our problems by throwing a giant pot of money at the current biggest names. Instead, we need to look for the NEXT big name …which is how Florida got Golden, UConn got Hurley, Michigan got May, Bama got Oats, Zona got Lloyd, etc.

The mistake we made with Pope was not that we didn’t get a big name, instead it’s that we took into consideration factors that had absolutely nothing to do with his coaching credentials …meaning him being a beloved former UK player. If he wasn’t a former Cat, we never would’ve even considered looking at Pope.

 

[megablue]

When Indiana wins you see billionaires all over the field. You’re not seeing that at UK. What do we have like 1 that supports alll sports. Not the same category. The illusion is that these games are won on the field.

Yours is a valid point. Can you imagine what Ivy League basketball would look like if the schools and their alumni decided to relax emphasis on academics in efforts to produce top-level teams ?? There would be immediate impact and possible dominance, imho. They have $$$. Look at Vandy ,,, fwiw.

 

[peterpiper09]

…without the transfer portal or NIL budget by the way.

Funny how we all twist things to fit our narrative

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Yours is a valid point. Can you imagine what Ivy League basketball would look like if the schools and their alumni decided to relax emphasis on academics in efforts to produce top-level teams ?? There would be immediate impact and possible dominance, imho. Look at Vandy ,,, fwiw.

If vandy has the money they can easily become one of the good ol boys of the SEC. Nashville is growing at a crazy rate. That is a rich city they seem to have all the money they need. Kentucky never was and never will be a good ol boy so as bad as we all want an Indiana fairytale. It’s not happening. As fans that’s all we can do tho is hope.


Kentucky doesn’t even put the same amount of focus on basketball anymore. Much less football.

 

[TFCat11]

Apparently Indiana has around a $13 million NIL budget for this year. Kentucky is estimated at around $22 million. In spite of a much larger roster of players, Cignetti is leading the losingness program in college football to the championship. Meanwhile, with nearly $10 million more, Pope is leading us toward a historically bad season.

Fascinating, isn’t it? Both have 2 seasons on the books at their respective programs.

This right here is why I argue, there’s NO WAY in h3££ Pope/ UK spent $22 million on 14 basketball players, none of which were worth more $1.5 million (JQ)!

Mitch went full retard when he slipped that number to the media, because he had no clue that the top collegiate football programs were only spending $15-$20 million (tOSU), but somehow thought people would believe UK MBB spent more!

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

This right here is why I argue, there’s NO WAY in h3££ Pope/ UK spent $22 million on 14 basketball players, none of which were worth more $1.5 million (JQ)!

Mitch went full retard when he slipped that number to the media, because he had no clue that the top collegiate football programs were only spending $15-$20 million (tOSU), but somehow thought people would believe UK MBB spent more!

Agreed. We didn’t spend that. Pope talking out of his *** because he’s new to this level and has zero experience or cool about him so he’s all giddy now he has our program a national laughing stock and we are all on here being told he needs more time this and that. Dude if he’s here next year I can no longer take this program I love serious.



Threads examples from the last two months: how can Pope turn it around.


How can we change sucking?

How can we suck less.

What can we do to not suck as bad when we suck.

We won’t suck when we get everybody back.

We still suck

Why can’t we land a single recruit


Sucks to suck.


If anybody’s says give Pope a year three I have to say you ARE part of the problem.

 

[BBNinSCar]

Agreed. We’re not gonna solve our problems by throwing a giant pot of money at the current biggest names. Instead, we need to look for the NEXT big name …which is how Florida got Golden, UConn got Hurley, Michigan got May, Bama got Oats, Zona got Lloyd, etc.

The mistake we made with Pope was not that we didn’t get a big name, instead it’s that we took into consideration factors that had absolutely nothing to do with his coaching credentials …meaning him being a beloved former UK player. If he wasn’t a former Cat, we never would’ve even considered looking at Pope.

Mark Pope had a career coaching winning percentage of .636 when Kentucky hired him and averaged 13 losses a season at BYU.
Kentucky has to do a better job of identifying a coach with a consistent history of winning.

 

[fisherscatfan]

Congrats to the JMU AD who hired them.

Maybe we are looking at this all wrong? Maybe the JMU AD should be our next hire? Somewhat said in jest cause I know absolutely zero about that person but leadership matters.