Vocal leader on and off the field, Pat Coogan primed to guide IU football ‘misfits’ in Big Ten championship game
- Josh Pos
- 2m ago
During Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game last season, viral clips of Pat Coogan surfaced before each matchup. The Fighting Irish center delivered spirited speeches the only way an Irish Catholic from Chicago could – loud, unapologetic and laced with colorful language.
A censor bleep usually covered the explicit words, but every line from No. 78 in blue and gold carried meaning.
Fast-forward to Friday night in West Lafayette. Now in cream and crimson, the redshirt senior delivered an emotional speech to his teammates before the game. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza said afterward that Coogan’s speech fueled Indiana’s 56-3 dismantling of Purdue to lock up the program’s first undefeated campaign.
This time, the veteran’s message centered on the team as a group of “misfits” with a chance to make history at Indiana.
“I thought it applied to us,” Coogan said. “It was more about the message as a whole, about just how all of our journeys have led us to here, and how all of our different paths have led us to this locker room on this Friday night before Purdue.”
But while the message resonated with players, their head coach saw it differently.
Curt Cignetti didn’t agree with his center’s description of the players on the roster as “misfits.” However, he was impressed with Coogan’s ability to capture his team’s attention ahead of the rivalry game.
“I don’t view our team as a bunch of misfits at all. We’ve got a lot of good football players who have proven themselves collegiately,” Cignetti said. “I do give Pat credit for finding an angle to kind of get everybody juiced.”
Cignetti saw that same fiery passion when he recruited Coogan out of the portal.
Coogan possessed leadership qualities that matched those desired by Cignetti and offensive line coach Bob Bostad. Just nine days after Notre Dame’s season concluded, the Hoosiers secured Coogan’s commitment.
Indiana had its offensive leader on paper, but it was up to Coogan to earn his teammates’ belief.
Less than six weeks removed from his final game at Notre Dame, the Palos Heights, Illinois, native began spring practices. It was an opportunity for him to build trust and morph into a captain.
“The last thing I wanted to do when I arrived here was step on the toes of people who have been here,” Coogan said. “I know how I would feel, you know, as an offensive lineman if someone new came in and kind of tried to take control.
“I wanted to gel with the guys. I wanted to grow with the guys through spring ball.”
A successful spring gave way to fall camp, the most grueling days of the year in the sweltering heat. For Coogan, those weeks were vital. They helped solidify his status as an unofficial captain entering the regular-season opener.
Earning the title of leader was just the beginning. Unwilling to be complacent, Coogan continued his quest to push his teammates to get better each week.
Whether it was bettering each other in practice or at the weekly dinners, the offensive line continuously found ways to improve. Its impact appeared on the field, too.
Indiana’s offensive line fueled a high-powered offense that averaged 483.8 yards per game, while also allowing only 15 sacks.
“There’s always a gelling, and I think that’s what we’ve seen,” Coogan said. “That’s what translated to success because we’ve always kept striving and kept improving throughout the year.”
That steady improvement brings Indiana into its biggest challenge yet: a Big Ten title game against No. 1 Ohio State. And it’s an opponent Coogan knows better than most.
Notre Dame squared off with the Buckeyes three times in Coogan’s four seasons. Coogan and the Irish lost all three heavyweight bouts, including the aforementioned national championship game, less than a year ago.
His familiarity with the current Ohio State defense differs from the one he saw back in January. New defensive coordinator Matt Patricia made an already elite defense petrifying in his first season. The Buckeyes allow 7.6 points per game, holding opponents to 12.7 first downs per game and rank in the top 10 in both categories.
Coogan and the Hoosiers started their preparation for Ohio State on Monday in the film room. Game planning for the nation’s best defense will continue leading up to Saturday.
“It’s a challenge we’re all very excited for, but we’ve got to be ready,” he said. “It’s gonna be a long week with a lot of film and a lot of hours, but that’s football, and that’s what we love, and that’s what we love to do.”
Whether Coogan delivers another speech before Saturday night remains to be seen and it is likely something that would come in the heat of the moment.
What is certain: No. 78 will radiate energy on every snap, attempting to lead a group of “misfits” toward a conference championship.
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