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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football transfer offensive lineman Pat Coogan certainly knows what a winner looks like.
Coogan anchored Notre Dame’s offensive line last season and regularly went viral for his fiery pre-game speeches during a 14-game win streak that culminated with an appearance in the finals of the College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish had three 10-win seasons during his tenure and was 21-5 in games he started.
Notre Dame’s first round matchup against Indiana was still fresh on Coogan’s mind when he hit the portal after the team’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State. He was seeking a contender to sign and knew the Hoosiers had an opening at center with Mike Katic exhausting his eligibility.
“It was an unbelievable opportunity,” Coogan said after IU’s practice on March 27. “Obviously, I saw the year that those guys had last year and the momentum in this program right now is remarkable. I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”
While he’s only been in Bloomington for less than two months, he’s already seen a lot of similarities between the programs.
“The greatest teams are always led by the players,” Coogan said. “There are great coaches (here), but the greatest teams are always led by the players with leadership in the locker room. I see that here, I really do.”
He rattled off a list of IU veterans — linebacker Aidan Fisher, defensive end Mikail Kamara and fellow offensive linemen Carter Smith and Bray Lynch — who are fueling the winning culture they established last year in Curt Cignetti’s first season.
“It’s just compiling dudes that want to make each other better,” Coogan said. “They are really in it for one goal, to be the best version of themselves and that will lead them to be the best team on…
Source link : https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/iu/2025/04/01/indiana-football-building-reputation-as-a-winning-destination-for-impact-transfers/82735846007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-01 08:03:00
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