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By Cameron Kiszla
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The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off perhaps the most unlikely national championship in college football history, and they're no longer the plucky underdogs.
With that success comes a transition from hunter to hunted, but at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on Thurdsay, head coach Curt Cignetti said his team is ready to fend off all challengers.
'Target Is on Our Back'
Cignetti, speaking with Andrew Chernoff of WISH-TV News of Indiana, was asked about their new heavyweight status after that magical undefeated season.
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"The target is on your back now," Chernoff said. "What's been your message to these guys on the roster?"
Cignetti didn't seem concerned.
"The target is on our back, but we've bought a bigger gun," he quipped.
Cignetti was referencing the Hoosiers' huge name, image and likeness budget for the upcoming season.
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Despite cobbling together a championship team with a relatively low budget last season, Cignetti reportedly has a roster worth $32.4 million this season.
They've even landed a much sought-after recruit, five-star-plus wide receiver Monshun Sales, reportedly "beating out Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU" in the process, reports Hunter Shelton of On3.
Despite last year's successes, though, Cignetti is focusing on the year ahead.
"That was in the past. I can barely remember it," he joked. "It did a lot for our state, our town, our university, our fanbase. The way we took over the CFP in the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and down in Miami, it was really unbelievable. Good things happen when you win."
Now, Cignetti is pushing for the good things and the winning to continue.
"We're using to winning. The staff that's been together, it's what we do," he said. "We expect if we develop guys on a daily basis and the players commit to improvement and high standards, that we can form the intangibles and be successful. That's why I'm anxious to get going with this team, because a lot of these guys that I think well be counting on weren't out there in the spring ... So I'm anxious to get our team together and develop."
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