How Curt Cignetti's viral scowl became college football's best meme material: 'I am happy, at times'

Morgan Moriarty

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How Curt Cignetti's viral scowl became college football's best meme material: 'I am happy, at times' image

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has become one of the most meme-able figures in college football. During the Hoosiers’ College Football Playoff run, television cameras have made a habit of finding the second-year Indiana head coach’s expressive face on the sidelines.

Indiana has gone 2-0 in the playoff, with dominant wins over both Alabama and Oregon. As a result, the Hoosiers will play for their first national championship in school history against Miami on Monday night.

But instead of the cameras catching Cignetti smiling or cheering on his winning team, he consistently wears a scowl on the sidelines.

His expressions during games have taken on a life of their own, becoming a college football meme.

MORE: Miami vs. Indiana recruiting breakdown: A look at each team's roster construction

Why Curt Cignetti doesn't smile on the sidelines

Cignetti has addressed his lack of smiling on the sidelines. 

"No, that's not right. There's a lot of times I am happy," Cignetti said at media availability before the Peach Bowl vs. Oregon. "I just don't show I'm happy, and if I'm going to ask my players, to play the first game, the first play to play 150 the same regardless of the competitive circumstances, then I can't be seen on the sideline high fiving people and celebrating. Or what's gonna happen? What's the effect going to be?"

Indiana has gone a combined 94-25 in its two CFP wins over Alabama and Oregon. Still, Cignetti remains locked in throughout, 

"You gotta be dialed in and thinking ahead," Cignetti continued. "I'll smile and celebrate in the coaches room with the coaches. Maybe have a beer. Of course, in the playoffs you've got to do 9 or 10 different press conferences after the game so that's about an hour and a half later."

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Best Curt Cignetti memes

Although Cignetti has been making stonewalled expressions all season, it caught fire during Indiana's Rose Bowl quarterfinal against Alabama.

The Tide, facing a 4th-and-1 from their own 34 early in the second quarter, appeared to be going for it. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer called a timeout, and lined up to go for it again. Cignetti, of course, was unfazed. Indiana's defense stopped the trick-play attempt from Daniel Hill to Germanie Bernard, forcing a turnover on downs. Cignetti's face during the play was pure art: 

Naturally, the Internet has had a field day with Cignetti's face, and his expression became an instant classic meme:

Curt Cignetti 'Incredibles' meme

One sharp-eyed fan compared Cignetti to the insurance guy from the movie "The Incredibles." Honestly, it's pretty perfect:

Curt Cignetti sideline expressions

Cignetti has appeared to lean into his new Internet fame. During Indiana's blowout win over Oregon, Greg McIlroy talked about Cignetti "giving the cameras the face" when the Hoosiers were flagged for a false start penalty. Right on cue, Cignetti found them: 

"It almost looks like he's trying to find the camera at times," former JMU quarterback Ben DiNucci said of his former coach via CBS Sports.  "He knows people are watching to give people what they want." 

Even when Indiana scores, Cignetti remains locked in: 

The Nick Saban effect

Cignetti, who coached on former Alabama head coach Nick Saban's staff from 2007-2010, emulates his former boss on the sidelines. Even when his team is up by multiple scores!  

The good news is that college football fans will continue to get regular doses of Cignetti. The second-year Indiana head coach signed a contract extension with the Hoosiers in 2025, which puts hm through the 2033 season.

As Indiana keeps winning, expect the Cignetti memes to continue.

MORE: What is a Hoosier, anyway? Explaining Indiana’s nickname

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