PSAC WEST

[Golden89]

Re: PSAC WEST

I was told today that the game is on. Is IUP coming in the night before or not until the day of the game?

Re: PSAC WEST

Gannon has no game from February 10-17 and IUP from February 7-14. Monday February 12 seems like a good makeup day that is fair to both. Weathermen have been wrong before so maybe they wait till morning to decide.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

Shippensburg at Mercyhurst ... officially postponed.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

I heard some talk yesterday the game is doubtful at this point due to additional bad weather expected. I think they will officially postpone it today.

They also have to consider getting the team back out of there at 10pm in even worse conditions at night.

There's probably far too many logistics to flip the home games for the teams and play this first one here. Even doing so Gannon still has to be able to get out of Erie (and back).

I'd be shocked if IUP makes the trip. I think President Driscoll makes the call and avoids any danger. They don't need a Duquesne situation with the team stuck on 79 for 24 hours. Those coach buses aren't exactly dynamos in these conditions.

[Golden89]

Re: PSAC WEST

What also excites me about the IUP at Gannon doubleheader is the return on holiday basketball to the Hammermill Center. Gannon used to host a monster tournament over the holiday season (Porreco Cup) from the 1960's till 2013. The mandatory break and expanded conference schedules made the tournament impractical. (Gannon also hosts a four-team tourney over Thanksgiving weekend) I have to say it will be really nice to have my Gannon basketball fix back during the holidays -- I really miss it).

How strong was the Porreco Cup? I don't have all the records in front of me, but for a seven-or-so year stretch (1985-1991), one participant in the Porreco Cup, save maybe one, made the Elite Eight (including two national champions), and about half the time that team didn't even win the tournament. It's fitting that we'll have a big game at the Hammermill over the holidays.

In its place, the Gannon / Mercyhurst games are termed the "Porreco Pride of Erie" game. A lot of bricks and turnovers to be proud of.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

IUP vs. Gannon is always a good one. Even during this current IUP winning streak the games have all been fairly close.


The other game I'm really interested to see this weekend is the Edinboro at Cal game. I could see both teams being in triple digits. Cal's defense is non-existent. Edinboro's guards should have a field day. But, Cal can score a ton, too, and should have a huge advantage inside. I'd put the over/under for combined points at around 198.


Weekend upset: Seton Hill will beat Slippery Rock in Greensburg. There should be a packed crowd of about 30 people in the stands but I like the match-up for the Griffins. SRU is the mystery team so far despite the 9-2 record -- it played a putrid schedule to this point. Although, I do think SRU is going to be a tough to team to play by mid-Jan.

The lone crossover game this weekend is also interesting. Shippensburg travels to Mercyhurst. The Lakers have played Kutztown (lost by 3) and West Chester (lost by 8) tough - and held West Chester to just 58 points. That's impressive. Mercyhurst has an average 5-4 record but has played a tough schedule. The four losses are by a combined 23 points. Shippensburg is a very tough team to defend. Dustin Sleva is a rare breed in D2. We'll see if the old Triangle and Two can sink the ship.

[IUPalum]

Re: PSAC WEST

The players are back, they have practiced and their are local PSAC officials they can use if they aren't already assigned the game. All good...

[Golden89]

Re: PSAC WEST

The game will not be canceled. The highways will all be clear! The city roads are rough but that won't effect IUP's trip here!

I agree. Things are pretty much back to normal now. As long as the players made it back to practice, I don't see how this negatively impacts Gannon. They can all walk to practice. We never lost power. The only day that a lot of things were closed en masse was Tuesday, and I think that that was part of the mandatory off period.

As long as the visiting team and officials can make it in, the game will be played.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

I was able to pull this from Dodge (overview of entire project). I looked at the arena plans. It looks like the major change will be replacing the bleachers (with new bleachers). They are not currently showing the 'horseshoe seating' ... that was likely eliminated as a VE option. The current plans show adding bleachers behind one of the baskets. It looks like some other upgrades in regard to the basketball court area include updating the actual baskets (modern hoops instead of the 1950s ones coming down from the ceiling structure), new scoreboard, floor, etc. The elevation of the 'main' entrance to the building is getting a major (modern) facelift. This is a major project. I'd project it at taking about 2 years once the green light to proceed is given.



1 Building/ 2 Stories above grade / 0 Story below grade / 45,000 Total square ft / Building Frame: Structural Steel
Additional features: Project consists of extensive renovations to the existing Tippin Gymnasium at Clarion University, built in 1965, and includes a major Addition for a new Natatorium with competition swimming and diving pool. Also included in the Project is a separate Addition to the adjacent Student Recreation Center, built in 1998, to house a new 11,000 SF Recreation Pool. The Project is designed to achieve a LEED Silver level of sustainability, from the US Green Building Council. The Project will include four (4) prime contracts for Construction. THIS IS A BEST VALUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROJECT. NO FEE FOR PLANS AND SPECS.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

Public projects have so many chefs in the kitchen that they just drag and drag. School projects and transit jobs are about equally as bad (and slow).

[Fightingscot82]

Re: PSAC WEST

The state is paying 100% for the Tippin renovation. Clarion made a deal to forgo several other projects to get the money on Tippin. Clarion's facilities page says that construction was to begin in Spring 2017. I wonder if the delays are due to the state budget issues.

[IUPalum]

Re: PSAC WEST

Do you guys think the IUP at Gannon game gets postponed due to the great Erie blizzard?

The game will not be canceled. The highways will all be clear! The city roads are rough but that won't effect IUP's trip here!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: PSAC WEST

Clarion hired a Pittsburgh architecture firm several years back to design some renovation design concepts for Tippen. The notion was definitely a renovation and not a tear down/new construction.

I saw the plans. There were several versions. The entire front entrance would be completely redone in each option. The bleachers would be eliminated and replaced with seats.

None of the options are going to be cheap. That's a major problem. In a building that old ... There will no doubt be many hidden expenses once the demolition starts ... asbestos remediation, etc.

Tippen is kind of neat in a way. It's a relic but that's the charm of it. To young kids ... not very attractive.

I've been to many games in there but never got to experience one with a big crowd. Even small crowds can get real loud with those low ceilings. It would be deafening in there with a large crowd. It's also always 110 degrees in there ... Even in January.

Ultimately I think Clarion put the project on the back-burner for the time-being. They aren't in real good financial shape.

It's been proven you can win there in basketball. Righter had some real, real good teams there ... not all that long ago.

I'm not real impressed with Williams. I was actually surprised they brought him back this year. They are regressing.

[Big Ike 97]

Re: PSAC WEST

Sort of PASSHE question. Attending Clarion graduation heard "old heads" say Tippen would essentially be "gutted" and not tore down. I imagine a "horseshoe" type seating structure with the head of the horshoe were the current banners hang opposite the press box. A smart workaround from knowing they will not probably be able to field a KCAC type convocation center. My question is this an attempt and will it help keep them afloat? Any updates to the schools most likely to be left in dire straits besides the well documented Chaney situation.