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Cignetti Sets Tone at Indiana's Spring Opener With Gold-Cleats Rebuke

The coach is using early practices to reset standards for a roster heavy with transfers.

Overview

  • Indiana, which opened spring practice Thursday, saw coach Curt Cignetti reprimand Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh before drills for showing up in gold cleats in what he called a wake-up call.
  • Marsh changed footwear and later drew buzz with a one-handed catch at practice, as Cignetti tempered the critique by saying the receiver has worked hard and done a great job so far.
  • The junior wideout arrives as a key addition after back-to-back productive seasons at MSU, totaling 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns, and he is expected to help offset NFL-bound departures at receiver.
  • Cignetti said this staff has more work to do with this group because many projected contributors are new to him, a transition that includes former TCU starter Josh Hoover at quarterback and builds toward the April 23 spring game.
  • Outlets from ESPN and the AP to Fox News and OutKick framed the episode as a culture message from a Saban-influenced, no-nonsense coach who won a 16-0 national title season and now signals that flash yields to team standards in Bloomington.