Walk the halls of our office, and you’ll see flat screens rolling with quotes that matter—reminders from leaders and legends. One is from Super Bowl GOAT, and now NFL Las Vegas Raiders minority owner, Tom Brady: “Clear communication leads to confidence. When everyone understands the message, the team succeeds.”
That message was on display Monday night—Brady was in Miami, scouting Heisman winner and potential #1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza at the Indiana vs Miami CFP Championship—and the Hoosiers delivered a masterclass in Messaging Matters discipline. In reading articles on the amazing rise of Indiana, I was struck by how many of their team quotes map to our STRONG core values:
SELF — Curt Cignetti: “I’ve never taken a back seat to anybody and don’t plan on starting now.” Confidence starts with clarity of self.
TEAM — Fernando Mendoza: “I’ll remember going 98 yards with my boys.” And he learned every teammate’s name—star or walk‑on. Message: team above self.
RESPECT — Cignetti: “We’ll get people’s attention with this one.” Earned, not demanded—through preparation and performance.
OPTIMIZE — Star Receiver Elijah Sarratt: “One more rep!” Extra work became a standard. Cignetti: “There’s good and there’s great… it takes special discipline.”
NURTURE — Athletic Director Scott Dolson who hired Cignetti at IU: “Don’t put any limitations there.” Leaders remove ceilings so people can grow.
GROW — Mendoza: “Always bet on ourselves… one more time at the biggest stage of the game.” Growth is choosing courage—again and again.
Our theme this year is Messaging Matters. Indiana’s season proves it: a shared message, repeated consistently, turns belief into behavior and behavior into results. When we align on the message, live it, and communicate it clearly—one more time—everything is possible.