Paul Finebaum reacts to ‘terrible’ extension for Indiana HC Curt Cignetti
By Jyesha Nance
Published:
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum slammed Indiana’s decision to give head coach Curt Cignetti an 8-year, $93-million extension, making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football. Finebaum called the move “terrible,” saying Cignetti hasn’t earned such a lucrative deal.
“I frankly think this is a terrible move by Indiana,” Finebaum said during his show on Thursday. “I know that the college football cognoscenti will disagree with me, but there is no way in the world Curt Cignetti should be the third-highest-paid coach in the country. He is not in Kirby Smart’s league, he is not in Ryan Day’s league.”
Finebaum acknowledged Cignetti’s recent success — including a road win over Oregon in Week 7 and a likely return to the College Football Playoff — but said that doesn’t justify the massive contract extension.
“He has a big win on the road against Oregon. I realize he may end up winning the National Championship, but this is not how you make sound decisions; this is how you take your university to the ledge, and at some point, end up paying for it.”
Finebaum continued to question whether Indiana could sustain the move long-term, pointing out the coach’s age and the potential financial strain the deal could cause.
“I was asked, ‘Is it sustainable?’ Well, he went to the Playoff last year. Today it looks like he’s going back to the Playoff because he’s got literally nobody on his schedule,” Finebaum said. “He’s 64 years old, so he’s got a runway of 6 to 10 years, but you just mortgage your university to an astronomical contract based on what? He didn’t beat anybody last year.”
Finebaum went on to compare the decision Indiana made to other high-profile deals that ended poorly, hinting that the same could occur between Cignetti and Indiana.
“I know I’m going to be excoriated for sounding like ‘that guy’ against Curt Cignetti, but I’m just being realistic. It’s too bad somebody didn’t say the same thing I’m saying about Jimbo Fisher and Mel Tucker. That’s a great day for Curt Cignetti, but I’ll make a prediction that athletic director probably gets run out of there in about five years because they’re not going to be able to sustain this,” Finebaum said.
