Rapid Fire: Curt Cignetti Shades Notre Dame & What’s Next for Irish Football Rivalries
In the latest edition of Rapid Fire from Irish Breakdown, the panel dove into several hot-button topics surrounding Notre Dame athletics, with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti’s recent comments taking center stage.
During a recent appearance on Greg McElroy’s Always College Football podcast, Cignetti raised eyebrows with remarks perceived as subtle jabs at Notre Dame’s use of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) resources. While not directly accusatory, Cignetti suggested that some programs lean heavily on NIL spending rather than building a team culture rooted in development and cohesion. Many listeners interpreted this as a shot at Notre Dame, especially given the longstanding tension between traditional recruiting and the evolving NIL landscape.
The Rapid Fire crew dissected the implications of Cignetti’s comments, questioning whether they reflect broader concerns among coaches at rising programs or if it was simply strategic messaging to differentiate Indiana from its higher-profile in-state neighbor. Either way, the moment added fuel to the growing Indiana-Notre Dame conversation.
The episode then turned to a fun hypothetical: If Notre Dame were to establish a new football rivalry in the coming years, who should it be? Possibilities included traditional powers like Michigan, regional opponents such as Cincinnati, and even emerging forces like Oregon. The consensus leaned toward reviving old grudges, with many panelists and fans expressing a desire to see more frequent matchups against Michigan or Penn State—rivals with rich history and high stakes.
Shifting to baseball, the podcast highlighted Notre Dame baseball’s recent surge. With a string of key victories and strong conference play, the Fighting Irish have positioned themselves as a dark horse in the postseason conversation. The panel discussed how sustained baseball success could elevate the overall profile of Notre Dame athletics, especially in the competitive ACC.
Finally, a more philosophical topic was posed: Should sports teams continue retiring jersey numbers? While many fans see it as a sacred tradition, others argued it may be time to honor legends in ways that allow current players to still wear those iconic numbers. The debate brought thoughtful perspectives on evolving sports culture and how programs can balance history with the present.
With a mix of hard-hitting insights and lighthearted banter, Rapid Fire delivered another well-rounded episode for Irish fans.
