Dowell Loggains and his recruiting staff are absolutely phenomenal.

[AppSt94]

This is so true. You don't have to have the most talented team. You need some talent but coaching and just doing the little things right can make up for not being the most talented. Indiana just won the national title and is not loaded with 5-8 first rounders on the team. They likely have just 2, maybe 3 max.

It's interesting because these two teams are basically the opposite sides of that coin. Cignetti is all about finding players that fit his scheme and personality and coaching them into elite players. Cristobal has always been more about recruiting the biggest, fastest guys he can find and just letting them do their thing. In this case, the Cignetti way won, but just barely.

If you listen to the talking heads and recruiting rankings then Miami should have won by 3 TDs but Indiana is clearly the best team in the nation. We have to do the Cignetti way at App State because we simply don't have the money. Plus, if you eventually get to where you have the money but still do the Cignetti way then you will get very good talent but won't be in habit of wasting money either.

Indiana also spent a ton of money on its roster.

A ton, but not even close to the most. Texas spent almost $10 million more and didn't even make the playoffs. According to 24/7, Indiana had the 11th highest NIL spending, but 5 of the top 10 NIL teams didn't even make the playoffs. My point is, a lot of money will get you a lot of wins, but it doesn't buy championships. For that, you need elite coaching, which Cignetti has proven he has.

Money can buy talent. It can’t buy effort.

[bcoach]

Here is the part I don't see mentioned much in "the Cignetti way". I hear about portal. I hear about older players. I hear about money. I hear we need to do all of that. Maybe we can do that and maybe we can't. But at this moment we do not have the most important part of the "Cignetti way". He is a very experienced head coach with an experienced OC. Now you can hire an experienced OC but the HC is a work in progress. We can piss and moan about what we don't have or we can work on a crash course to help the HC. I see a HUGE room of desk jockeys in the department when what we really need is a mentor for the HC and an experienced OC.

[Saint3333]

I'd like to get back to the level of GS, CCU, and Marshall before I worry about the Indiana's of CFB.

[EastHallApp]

It's funny how people always think they can replicate whatever thing is on top at a given moment. Maybe Cignetti is just a really good coach?

Now everyone's saying you have to hire an experienced HC. Ryan Day had never been a head coach before he was promoted at Ohio State. Kirby Smart had never been a HC before Georgia hired him. Dan Lanning had never been a HC before Oregon. Marcus Freeman had never been a HC before Notre Dame.

There's no magic formula. You make the best hire you can, try to give them the support they need and hope it works out.

[AppStFan1]

It is the little things that Cignetti staff teaches that make a difference .. that add up to success. Fur example, the DB Ponds defending at line of scrimmage. Puts one hand into the WR at the line of scrimmage to get the WR on sequence for the play. I get it that you got to have the Jimmy's and the Joe's.
There are several other examples on D in stopping the run.

This is so true. You don't have to have the most talented team. You need some talent but coaching and just doing the little things right can make up for not being the most talented. Indiana just won the national title and is not loaded with 5-8 first rounders on the team. They likely have just 2, maybe 3 max.

It's interesting because these two teams are basically the opposite sides of that coin. Cignetti is all about finding players that fit his scheme and personality and coaching them into elite players. Cristobal has always been more about recruiting the biggest, fastest guys he can find and just letting them do their thing. In this case, the Cignetti way won, but just barely.

If you listen to the talking heads and recruiting rankings then Miami should have won by 3 TDs but Indiana is clearly the best team in the nation. We have to do the Cignetti way at App State because we simply don't have the money. Plus, if you eventually get to where you have the money but still do the Cignetti way then you will get very good talent but won't be in habit of wasting money either.

Indiana also spent a ton of money on its roster.

They spend a solid amount but not a ton. They are not even top 10 in NIL based on 2025 numbers. Most of it was spent to get Mendoza (who was not considered an elite QB when they signed him) and to retain their stars from last years. They had the #49 recruiting class in 2025 and #34 for 2026. Their commits already got a little bump compared to previous years and I bet their 2027 class will see players get a little more of a bump when they commit to Indiana. The recruiting rankings are very reactionary. Their portal class in 2025 was just ranked #25 and this year they were ranked in the top 10 but they should have been ranked in the top 3 each of the last 2 years based on how the classes did on the field.

[Saint3333]

Indiana also spent a ton of money on its roster.

They spend a solid amount but not a ton.

Spending over $10M isn't a lot anymore?

Let's be transparent.

https://247sports.com/longformarticle/c ... 0/#2564343

$13.6M estimated for 2025 in December 2024, 12th most in FBS.

[bcoach]

It's funny how people always think they can replicate whatever thing is on top at a given moment. Maybe Cignetti is just a really good coach?

Now everyone's saying you have to hire an experienced HC. Ryan Day had never been a head coach before he was promoted at Ohio State. Kirby Smart had never been a HC before Georgia hired him. Dan Lanning had never been a HC before Oregon. Marcus Freeman had never been a HC before Notre Dame.

There's no magic formula. You make the best hire you can, try to give them the support they need and hope it works out.

THat is correct but how many did not have an OC ?

[APPdiesel]

Since it looks like Dabo Swinney is getting tired of the petal era why dont we just make him an offer? Come be the former South Carolina OC’s OC? Brilliant.

[AtlAppMan]

No doubt Cig has been a success and is a very good coach. In no means is this to take anything away from him but we all know that an AD's eternal challenge is to find and keep good coaches. That job may sound easy as some here portray but we all know that is far from the truth. There are examples of GOOD coaches coming through multiple paths to get to the pinnacle of their careers. There are some paths that seems to be more common than others. That is what makes it difficult.

Let me remind folks that on purely W/L Cig's time at Elon didn't exactly blow anyone away. He was 14-9 in two seasons but did beat JMU which probably got their attention. My point is there is a lot more to the story that the total results.

Another example I always use it Coach Krzyzewski. He was a Bobby Knight disciple and went to Army for 55% W/L. He had a rocky start at Duke but got his legs established and we all know the rest.

There is a lot that goes into what makes a great coach. There is not a one size fits all formula.

[AppWyo]

I wonder if the rules that are in place now had been in place in 2019 would Drinkwitz have taken the entire team with him?

[EastHallApp]

I wonder if the rules that are in place now had been in place in 2019 would Drinkwitz have taken the entire team with him?

He would have never come to App because Satt would have taken the team with him to Louisville the year before.

[AppWyo]

I wonder if the rules that are in place now had been in place in 2019 would Drinkwitz have taken the entire team with him?

He would have never come to App because Satt would have taken the team with him to Louisville the year before.

You are so right.