WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump praised Indiana football’s undefeated season during a ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House on Monday, honoring the team for their historic 16-0 campaign.
“This was a year that will live forever in the hearts of Indiana football fans,” Trump said. “There’s no story like this.”
Trump recounted the journey of Indiana’s perfect season, offering his own commentary on standout moments. He compared head coach Curt Cignetti’s confidence to Muhammad Ali, referencing Cignetti’s famous “Google Me” press conference. “Just two years later, he brought home the national championship,” Trump noted. “When you do that stuff, you have to be able to produce when you act that way.”
Trump also reacted to the absence of several former Indiana players, many of whom were occupied with NFL offseason workouts. Among those missing were key starters like Pat Coogan and D’Angelo Ponds, as well as quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who reportedly called the president to explain his absence.
“We’ve got 15 of them in (NFL) training camp right now,” Cignetti told Trump.
“Oh, I can’t believe it,” Trump said. “No wonder you won.”
The president expressed particular amazement at Indiana’s 38-3 blowout victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl. “Coach, you’ve got to be kidding,” Trump said after reading the final score. “That’s right, over Alabama. That’s a big one.” Cignetti, who previously coached under Nick Saban at Alabama, jokingly shouted “Roll tide” during Trump’s remarks.
Trump also spotlighted a gutsy fourth-down quarterback draw by Mendoza in the College Football Playoff championship game against Miami. With Indiana holding a slim lead late in the game, Cignetti called the play—Mendoza broke multiple tackles and dove across the goal line.
“No coach in America would have done what this guy did,” Trump said of Cignetti. “They said, this guy is making such a mistake, and he won. That was a hell of a play.”
Throughout his speech, Trump repeatedly highlighted the remarkable turnaround Cignetti orchestrated in just two seasons at a program with little football tradition. “What you did is something that I don’t think anybody’s ever really done in college football history,” Trump said.
“It’s the story of Indiana University—a truly legendary story,” Trump concluded.