BLOOMINGTON – Indiana Football offensive lineman Mike Katic is one of only two players from the 2019 class still on the team’s roster.
“I was unwell in my first year, but then I got better again and now I have to get treatment,” says Katic, laughing.
The sixth-grader joked that he felt “old” just days after completing another fall camp.
Katic, who will play center for IU in its season opener against FIU on Saturday, told reporters Tuesday that the excitement on campus this week surrounding the start of the Curt Cignetti era was a welcome change from recent years.
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Cignetti’s confidence has brought an optimism to Bloomington that has been sorely missed, and that hasn’t just inspired fans. Indiana’s returning players found the coach’s demeanor refreshing after three brutal years.
The team won a total of nine games from 2021 to 2023, and only three of them were against Power Five opponents.
Cignetti worked all season to establish a new culture in the locker room and eradicate the “old Indiana” he saw on film. Katic had those issues from an on-field perspective, speaking of his experience trying to keep everyone “mission focused” as the losses piled up.
“I think we didn’t stay connected as well over the course of the season last year,” Katic said. “People checked out early when we knew we weren’t bowl eligible. Guys didn’t practice hard and didn’t play hard.”
Those bad habits have now disappeared thanks to Cignetti’s winning mentality, which was further reinforced by what Katic describes as the “melting pot” of like-minded coaches and players he brought into the team.
“There are a lot of older transfers from successful programs,” Katic said. “Just having a group of guys who know how to win and know the feeling of winning. The weeks fly by when you’re winning. Everyone has fun. We want to keep that going.”
James Madison had a 19-5 record over the last two seasons when moving to the FBS and reached a bowl game for the first time in program history in 2023. Transfer players such as Kurtis Rourke (Ohio), Miles Cross (Ohio), Myles Price (Texas Tech) and Justice Ellison (Wake Forest) have all played in multiple bowl games during their careers.
“All the boys can’t wait to go out and show who we are this season,” said Katic.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana reporter for the Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X. @michaelniziolek and read his full report by clicking here..
