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Curt Cignetti was so focused this offseason, he turned down all external requests: ‘I’m 95% football’

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The Indiana Hoosiers, out of nowhere, won the National Championship, finishing off an undefeated 2025-2026 season.

It’s not an understatement to say that it was one of the most surprising outcomes in modern college football history. A program that had little track record of success, more commonly viewed as one of the easy wins on a team’s schedule than a legitimate contender for major postseason accomplishments. It was a remarkable achievement. 

In fact, just before the regular season started, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said he thought undefeated teams were a thing of the past. Then Indiana goes 16-0. 

TEXAS HEAD COACH STEVE SARKISIAN THINKS DOMINANT CFB TEAMS ARE A THING OF THE PAST

You’d think after a season like that, the Hoosiers program, and especially head coach Curt Cignetti, would take some time to enjoy it. Bask in the glow, take some time off, do a sort of “victory lap” through the media, talking about what it meant. 

Well, Indiana and Cignetti did the opposite. The exact opposite. Because he’s a football guy first, and football guys think about one thing: more football.

ESPN spoke to Cignetti on the Indiana campus, where he detailed how he approaches coaching and development.

“We’ve got a way of doing things,” he said. “How you do something is how you do everything. Consistency, performance is the key to the drill. So right now we’re teaching guys not only scheme, but standards, expectations, and how we want to play the game between the white lines, and I see us making progress.”

But perhaps the clearest indicator of how committed Cignetti is to keeping the focus on football came when ESPN reported that he told Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pamela Whitten to “turn down all external requests and speaking engagements.” Why? So he could “continue to focus on football.”

“I’m 95% football,” Cignetti said. “We’ve said no to everything except for the Indy 500.”

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“I’ve got to be able to do my job,” he said. “These things pull you out of the office, and they take up your time. I mean, I have a job to do. Believe it or not, I’m busy.”

That’s a football guy if we’ve ever seen one.

Obviously, all coaches are focused on their jobs. It’s an extremely demanding profession that requires dedication and extraordinary amounts of time for recruiting, game planning, and personnel evaluation. But it’s clear that Cignetti’s focus, potentially as a result of his time coaching with Nick Saban, has completely changed the Indiana program. Along with nailing the transfer portal, of course. 

Players can see that single-minded purpose and respond to it, and the Hoosiers played with the discipline and efficiency of a team that mirrors its coach. Even though Cignetti has to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and other key players, it’s hard to bet against Indiana being right back in contention. Because Cignetti is all football.

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US embassy in London warns to ‘exercise increased caution’ near Jewish sites in UK, Europe after attacks

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The U.S. embassy in London on Friday warned Americans to “exercise increased caution” while visiting Jewish and American areas in the U.K. and in Europe because of a recent rise in threats.

“The U.S. Embassy in London notes recent attacks and threats targeting Jewish and American institutions in the United Kingdom and Europe,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens, particularly those visiting institutions serving Jewish or American interests, should remain alert and exercise increased caution.”

The embassy further advised Americans to remain alert while visiting tourist and expat areas and houses of worship, review personal security plans and to check local media for updates.

Concerned citizens can also enroll in the State Department’s Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel and security updates.

NRA FORGES HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH GROUP AMID RISING ANTISEMITISM

The advisory followed a series of recent antisemitic attacks in the U.K. and in Europe, including an arson attack on four ambulances linked to Jewish charity in London on March 23, an April 18 attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in London, and a March explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam that authorities called a “targeted attack against the Jewish community.”

No one was injured, but the school was damaged.

ANTISEMITIC ATTACKER FACED 30-YEAR SENTENCE, GETS LESS THAN 1½ YEARS IN PLEA DEAL

U.K. authorities are investigating whether “thugs for hire” backed by Iran are instigating the attacks in London, GB News reported.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Jewish Chronicle: “In relation to malign state actors more generally, proscription, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures, and that is legislation that we’re bringing forward as soon as we can.”

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US military kills two suspected narco-terrorists in strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific

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The U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Friday, killing two suspected narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

“On April 24, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action.”No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS KILLED AS US FORCES STRIKE SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN

SOUTHCOM did not immediately provide additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.

The U.S. military has carried out numerous strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.

The strike comes less than a week after SOUTHCOM said it conducted a similar operation in the Caribbean, killing three suspected narco-terrorists.

US, ECUADOR LAUNCH JOINT OPERATIONS TARGETING NARCO-TERROR GROUPS: SOUTHCOM

Earlier this month, the military struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four alleged narco-terrorists, SOUTHCOM said.

SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.

The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with cartels often using small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs toward the U.S. and Central America.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

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Matthew Stafford’s wife sends message to husband’s possible heir apparent, Rams draft pick Ty Simpson

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Even at 38, Matthew Stafford remains one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. In fact, he added another trophy to his collection in February, winning his first league MVP award.

Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after throwing a career-best 46 touchdowns. The 2026 season will be his 18th, and with nearly two decades in the league, the Rams appear to be looking toward the future following Thursday night’s first round.

The Rams selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick, potentially positioning him as Stafford’s successor. The decision sparked strong reactions and drew a response from Kelly Stafford, the veteran quarterback’s wife.

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Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him to the team with a message on social media.

“Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram and welcomed me and told me to hit her up if we need anything,” Simpson said during his introductory press conference. “But I can’t wait to talk to Matthew. I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain.”

FALCONS’ MICHAEL PENIX JR SHARES CRUCIAL ADVICE KIRK COUSINS GAVE HIM AFTER TAKING OVER AS STARTER

Simpson was the full-time starter at Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.

Rams coach Sean McVay shut down any speculation that Simpson was joining the team to compete with Stafford for the starting job.

“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said Thursday. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”

Simpson’s parents visited with Rams general manager Les Snead during Alabama’s trip to the Los Angeles area for the Rose Bowl in January, the NFL Network reported. Simpson’s father, Jason Simpson, is the head football coach at UT Martin.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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