Video, Quotes: Curt Cignetti reacts to IU football’s win against Western Kentucky

Curt Cignetti addressed the media following IU football’s 38-0 win against Western Kentucky on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Watch Cignetti’s postgame comments below:

A full transcript is available below, via ASAP Sports:

All right, back to back shutouts. First time since 1963. ’93. And we won our 30th game. 30 and 2. Not bad, so…

It was ballgame. Western Kentucky played well early. We squandered a few opportunities, mainly offensively where we had a chance to make some explosive plays in some critical situations.

Isaiah Jones’ play was huge in terms of a momentum swing. And then so we went in the locker room with two-score lead and got down there right away, had to settle for a field goal, and then made the long pass to Charlie.

And then from that point on really could have just named it maybe. We were more interested in shortening and getting out of the game instead of risking the chance of somebody — because we are thin in some positions.

Even when you emptied the bench, you’re still thin at certain positions, so that’s part of the management of the team a lot of times that never gets talked about.

Good win. I like the way we responded when the game got tight. Now we get ready for a short week against Northwestern who was 8-5 last year, went to a bowl. New quarterback from Michigan State. We all know him well. Saw him run for 66 against us one play last year here.

They’re a good football team.

Q. With that defense, what — I know you have to watch the film — but first impression of what turned after the goal line stand? You really shut them out.

CURT CIGNETTI: Yeah, I think that was key right there. They got down there and we stopped them. Third and two, fourth and two. Really gave us a shot in the arm.

You know, after that, we pretty much dominated the line of scrimmage and the quarterback was under duress. You know, was a long day for them.

Q. Kind of to follow up on that, again, like I said, I know you want to watch the film, but what are your impressions of that defense’s makeup through three games this season?

CURT CIGNETTI: Our defense?

Q. Yeah.

CURT CIGNETTI: We’ve gotten better since the first game for sure. You know, sure will help if we have Wyatt and Daley. It’s hard to measure that. We’ll find out we think soon. But if not, we lost some key guys last year and other guys stepped up.

I give the corner a lot of credit. AJ Harris, when we brought him in here we thought he would help us and really he has probably practiced 20% of the time since he’s been here.

Some spots we’re really thin, but we got good players, good front line players. We just got to keep them healthy. Bryant and the defensive staff will do a good job getting them ready.

Q. Coach, first down passing I think you guys were 12 for 12 for 215 yards. What made that successful today?

CURT CIGNETTI: A lot of that was RPOs. When they bailed we had the easy gift throw.

Q. Is Becker now your main punt returner?

CURT CIGNETTI: Today he was, yeah. And I’m on the staff about getting the No. 2 guy in there at the end of the game, but we’re telling him just fair catch it, because today would’ve been Ferrell, right?

And you’ll see Tyler again back there. We just thought we would give him a little break because we don’t want that to get in his head.

Q. Big picture question: You guys have won 19 in a row. Very few programs have ever gotten to 19, much less 20. Thoughts on the consistency you guys have shown over multiple years here.

CURT CIGNETTI: It’s been a nice run. Of course we get criticized because we kind of play an exhibition season before we go into the Big10 play. I can understand that.

But those exhibition seasons have been real valuable for us. Last year we played 16 games. We were 16 and 0. Hadn’t been done since 1893 [sic] or something.

So for spring ball we had a lot of guys out with postseason surgery and even the new guys that came in, so I mean, we’ve needed these games to learn about ourselves our guys, where we are, and what we have to do to be the best we can be.

Q. Seems like teams have been trying to hit you guys with a lot of quick throws, getting the ball out before the pressure. I am curious how did that play into Isaiah Jones’ interception. Seemed like he was able to jump a pass there.

CURT CIGNETTI: Yeah, I would have to look at it on tape. You know, it appeared to be a roll out a little bit to me. You know, people are going to try to get the ball out of their hands quick against us. I mean, look at Hardy. He’s had a couple pick sixes, and now Bones. So, I mean, when we’re on our game we’re tough to protect against.

So the big play, that is two weeks in a row defense scored a touchdown. Well, they didn’t score a touchdown. Got it down in two, yeah.

Q. What was your message to the team at halftime and what improvement specifically did you want to see in the second half that you did or didn’t see?

CURT CIGNETTI: Well, coaches make their adjustments on offense, defense, in the coaches room, and usually these kind of situations, I’ve said this before where we are maybe not where we quite want to be against a team that everybody believes we’re better than, which we are.

I just talked to them, like, hey, let’s play our game and relax and play like we can play. So we still made some mistakes in the second half, but we made progress. I see progress in areas that are hard to measure.

This team has progressed.

Q. Like the point you made of having the exhibition season to get the season…

CURT CIGNETTI: They count.

Q. For sure.

CURT CIGNETTI: And, you know, those teams have beaten P4 teams before, too.

Q. Yeah, for sure. And now that you have gotten through that wave of the 3-0 and now beginning conference play, I can’t imagine the preparation will be any different. Is there a mental approach with the Big 10 coming up?

CURT CIGNETTI: Well, I think all our guys, it’s just human nature. I think that they’re going to be ready to do things they got to do.

Q. Tobi Osunsanmi had another sack today. What did you see from him and Daniel Ndukwe kind of waiting to see what Daley and Wyatt situation is going to turn out to be?

CURT CIGNETTI: They’re the bench guys and the leaders in the TFLs in the team, so been playing well.

Q. Coach, Nick Marsh didn’t start last weekend. Seemed like he was pretty involved early on. Was that a point of emphasis going into the game?

CURT CIGNETTI: Not really. I mean, he didn’t start last week. There was a reason. And then we didn’t really decide until yesterday who would start there.

You know, at receiver it’s funny, somehow the opportunities come one week and then the well runs dry maybe. I remember Elijah Surratt in fall camp would be a week without having the ball thrown to him.

So a lot of variables. And I thought he played really well other than maybe cutting inside on that — we ran that bootleg out there and he cut in to where the defensive pursuit was coming from.

He had a couple nice blocks. I think he played really well in all the games. And I think he’s coming. I really do. Preston is as well.

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