Indiana's Curt Cignetti ahead of Monday night's national championship: 'You don't go to war with warm milk and cookies'

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal are preparing their teams for the national championship game set for Monday. In a final news conference, Cignetti addressed the excitement around Indiana, emphasizing the need for focus against a formidable opponent. He referenced the team's unity and warned against complacency, using the term "rat poison" to describe the distraction of positive press, a phrase popularized by former mentor Nick Saban.

Cignetti also mentioned a fan tradition involving holy water being sprinkled in the Indiana end zone, which has coincided with the team's successful playoff run. Meanwhile, Cristobal, also a former Saban assistant, highlighted the importance of maintaining standard procedures and staying focused on the task at hand, acknowledging the unique qualities of his team while avoiding distractions.

Both coaches are channeling lessons learned from their time under Saban as they prepare for the championship game, emphasizing discipline and focus as key to success.