Redshirt Senior Pat Coogan is No Stranger to the Big Stage
Pat Coogan's experience will undoubtedly play a significant role as Indiana prepares for the College Football Playoff championship game against Miami. The 6-5, 311-pound center has already faced the biggest stage in college football, having started at Notre Dame in last year's CFP final against Ohio State.
Having spent two years with the Irish, Coogan moved to Indiana and quickly established himself as a key player on the team. Despite playing an often underappreciated position, he has become a leader and has earned recognition for his performance, including being named Rose Bowl MVP after helping Indiana beat Alabama in the CFP quarterfinals.
This season, Coogan's experience will be crucial to the Hoosiers' success. When asked about his nerves before the championship game, Coogan drew on his past experiences as a leader and a player. "I've learned from a lot of great leadership at an early age, a lot of great coaches," he said. "This is my fifth year. I've played a lot of football, I've been around success, I've been around failure. I've been around everything in between."
Coogan's experience will be matched by that of his Miami counterparts, Marquise Lightfoot and Justin Scott. A sophomore defensive end from Kenwood, Lightfoot has made 31 tackles and 2 sacks this season, while a nose tackle from St. Ignatius, Scott has 23 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
The stage for these players is familiar, having already faced the biggest challenges in college football earlier this season. For Coogan, Lightfoot, and Scott, the focus will be on being present in the moment and making every play count. "It's similar to what we have been talking about during this whole playoff run," Coogan said. "Just being where your feet are and maximizing each day and each opportunity."
As these teams prepare for the championship game, one thing is certain: their experience will be put to the test in front of a huge audience. While the stage may be big, these players have already proven themselves capable of handling the pressure.
Pat Coogan's experience will undoubtedly play a significant role as Indiana prepares for the College Football Playoff championship game against Miami. The 6-5, 311-pound center has already faced the biggest stage in college football, having started at Notre Dame in last year's CFP final against Ohio State.
Having spent two years with the Irish, Coogan moved to Indiana and quickly established himself as a key player on the team. Despite playing an often underappreciated position, he has become a leader and has earned recognition for his performance, including being named Rose Bowl MVP after helping Indiana beat Alabama in the CFP quarterfinals.
This season, Coogan's experience will be crucial to the Hoosiers' success. When asked about his nerves before the championship game, Coogan drew on his past experiences as a leader and a player. "I've learned from a lot of great leadership at an early age, a lot of great coaches," he said. "This is my fifth year. I've played a lot of football, I've been around success, I've been around failure. I've been around everything in between."
Coogan's experience will be matched by that of his Miami counterparts, Marquise Lightfoot and Justin Scott. A sophomore defensive end from Kenwood, Lightfoot has made 31 tackles and 2 sacks this season, while a nose tackle from St. Ignatius, Scott has 23 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
The stage for these players is familiar, having already faced the biggest challenges in college football earlier this season. For Coogan, Lightfoot, and Scott, the focus will be on being present in the moment and making every play count. "It's similar to what we have been talking about during this whole playoff run," Coogan said. "Just being where your feet are and maximizing each day and each opportunity."
As these teams prepare for the championship game, one thing is certain: their experience will be put to the test in front of a huge audience. While the stage may be big, these players have already proven themselves capable of handling the pressure.
. Lightfoot's got some serious skills, too... 2 sacks in a single game is insane! Scott's the quiet one, but don't sleep on him either 
. Whoever can keep their cool under pressure will be the ones making the big plays. The energy at the championship game is gonna be ELECTRIC 
! I mean, he played in the CFP final last year & was MVP at the Rose Bowl 
! And now he's gonna lead his team AGAIN against Miami 
. I know some ppl might say he's not getting enough recognition but I'm like "no way" 
! He's already proven himself to be a total boss on that field 
! & let's be real, those Miami players Marquise Lightfoot & Justin Scott are gonna bring their A-game too 
! Can't wait 2 see what these teams got! 
Pat Coogan's leadership skills are gonna make or break Indiana's chances vs Miami 
He's played in the CFP final before and knows what it takes to perform under pressure 
Coogan's experience is gonna be huge tho, gotta give him that 
. Having played in big games before, especially the CFP final last year, must give him an edge. And it's not just about him, Marquise Lightfoot and Justin Scott have their own experiences too 
. I'm excited to see how all these guys perform on the biggest stage of college football! 
. Who do you think is gonna take home that championship trophy? 
Either way, it's gonna be a wild ride...
Give me a break!
. Let's see if experience and nerves are just a thing of the past for Coogan and his team 
!
Maybe Coogan's experience will be a good thing... or maybe it'll just add to his nerves 
. But what's really gonna make or break them is their ability to stay present in the moment - no one can control how big the stage gets 
️.
That's a mindset that'll definitely help him stay focused on the task at hand, even with thousands of eyes watching.
. Everyone's got nerves before the big game and they all think they're gonna shine. Newsflash: it's not about being a star, it's about executing the plays and making your teammates look good 
. Pat Coogan might've had some experience playing in big games, but at the end of the day, he's still just trying to stop the other team from scoring 
️. And those Miami guys? They're not so special after all... I mean, 31 tackles and 2 sacks isn't exactly breaking new ground 
.