IUP Women’s Basketball

[Bballfan]

You are correct Wayne State is bigger. Of course Grand Valley is bigger than Western, Central, and Eastern Michigan, all MAC schools. You also omitted how a full D2 scholarship can go further for Michigan students based on tuition rules. So that in itself gives them an inherit advantage that private schools do not have as more athletes can get scholarships. There is a reason Hillsdale and Northwood (both private schools in Michigan) dumped the GLIAC. I am sure Davenport would too if they could, but the GLIAC desperately needs football schools hence why they brought Roosevelt into the league, a school which has next to no chance of even being competitive in the league.

Hats off to Grand Valley though. They know how to play the D2 game very, very well. Going to move up that list on the next Director's Cup now! 25.26DII FinalFallOverall (PDF) - National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

[Redwing]

You are correct Wayne State is bigger. Of course Grand Valley is bigger than Western, Central, and Eastern Michigan, all MAC schools. You also omitted how a full D2 scholarship can go further for Michigan students based on tuition rules. So that in itself gives them an inherit advantage that private schools do not have as more athletes can get scholarships. There is a reason Hillsdale and Northwood (both private schools in Michigan) dumped the GLIAC. I am sure Davenport would too if they could, but the GLIAC desperately needs football schools hence why they brought Roosevelt into the league, a school which has next to no chance of even being competitive in the league.

Hats off to Grand Valley though. They know how to play the D2 game very, very well. Going to move up that list on the next Director's Cup now! 25.26DII FinalFallOverall (PDF) - National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

I kind of inferred that is true with my point about tuition at GV vs others. But I also wanted to point out that GV, SV, and others don't get as much funding per pupil from the state as others.. even GLIAC, schools. So GV has figured out a way to keep tuition low while others raise theirs. FWIW, GV gets barely 20% of it's budget from the state. The state helps, but it's not like they are funding a major portion of the budget. So, OK, privates have higher tuition costs... but most are WAY more than 20% higher. They choose that and also choose to play in the NCAA. I do agree that the scholarship things create winners and losers.. especially with how there are multiple ways to get schollies for D2 athletes other than athletic scholarships. GV plays that some, but I know SV and FSU play it big time for football due to some of the type of degrees that they offer. Still, each institution has their own issues and solutions. Lately, NIL has severely impacted a ton of otherwise good programs. It'll be great when/if that dust settles with portal transfers, etc. But still, money does matter, but it's not the only thing. Some of GV sports are bare bone programs and yet are quite successful. Even football doesn't have a blank check. It's no poverty program, but it's far far from having a blank check program.

[IUPNation]

That’s why the 1993 football NC game can be such a frustrating memory for those of us old enough to have experienced it. That was IUP’s chance and it slipped away in the most gut wrenching way possible. Don’t get me wrong, 99.9% of everything about that season was amazing and for IUP to be involved in one of the greatest D2 football games ever is definitely something to cherish. Likewise this women’s hoops season was incredible as were the 2010 and 2015 men’s season. But darn it, we just want one national title. It doesn’t seem like too much to ask for.

Well..IUP has won a few National Titles.

Women’s Gymnastics. 2 of
them if I recall…87 and 88.

IUP was the better team in 1993. They got screwed over playing that game on North Alabamastan’s home field. If that game was on the goat pasture in Indiana that high school option team would have gotten curbed stomped to Saltsburg and back.

Again if Michael Mann had turned around in the end zone and it was a TD and not a field goal to tie the game..IUP would have given the finger to all the toothless Confederates in home stands and Cherokee would have been blaring across the field as Frank was handed the trophy he richly deserved.

[IUPNation]

I kind of inferred that is true with my point about tuition at GV vs others. But I also wanted to point out that GV, SV, and others don't get as much funding per pupil from the state as others.. even GLIAC, schools. So GV has figured out a way to keep tuition low while others raise theirs. FWIW, GV gets barely 20% of it's budget from the state. The state helps, but it's not like they are funding a major portion of the budget. So, OK, privates have higher tuition costs... but most are WAY more than 20% higher. They choose that and also choose to play in the NCAA. I do agree that the scholarship things create winners and losers.. especially with how there are multiple ways to get schollies for D2 athletes other than athletic scholarships. GV plays that some, but I know SV and FSU play it big time for football due to some of the type of degrees that they offer. Still, each institution has their own issues and solutions. Lately, NIL has severely impacted a ton of otherwise good programs. It'll be great when/if that dust settles with portal transfers, etc. But still, money does matter, but it's not the only thing. Some of GV sports are bare bone programs and yet are quite successful. Even football doesn't have a blank check. It's no poverty program, but it's far far from having a blank check program.

Isn’t it true GV can use state funding for scholarships? Something we cannot do in the Pee Sack.
Also did the ladies get to use one of the infamous private jets that we know GMV owns…😉🤣

[IUP24]

Well..IUP has won a few National Titles.

Women’s Gymnastics. 2 of
them if I recall…87 and 88.

IUP was the better team in 1993. They got screwed over playing that game on North Alabamastan’s home field. If that game was on the goat pasture in Indiana that high school option team would have gotten curbed stomped to Saltsburg and back.

Again if Michael Mann had turned around in the end zone and it was a TD and not a field goal to tie the game..IUP would have given the finger to all the toothless Confederates in home stands and Cherokee would have been blaring across the field as Frank was handed the trophy he richly deserved.

This is a pretty horrific argument. IUP basically had a home game on Saturday and got blown out of the city. The only finger being given in all of these instances was the one that Grand Valley State put to their lips and gave to the crowd 2 minutes into the basketball game lol

[IUPNation]

This is a pretty horrific argument. IUP basically had a home game on Saturday and got blown out of the city. The only finger being given in all of these instances was the one that Grand Valley State put to their lips and gave to the crowd 2 minutes into the basketball game lol

IUP played a D1 MAC team. Grand MAC Valley blew out every team they faced in Yinzerburgh. Technically IUP is the best actual D2 team. I figured it was a long shot for IUP.

However the 1993 IUP foosball team was better than North Alabamastan. They only barely won because they were playing at home in front of their toothless fans.

[iupgroundhog]

The record book still says IUP has never won an NCAA national championship in any sport.

[IUPNation]

The record book still says IUP has never won an NCAA national championship in any sport.

Well they won two women’s gymnastics titles..I was on campus when they won.

I did an easy Google search it was 1988 and 1989..they were D2 National Champions. They competed against D1 teams as well.

[Bballfan]

I know SV and FSU play it big time for football due to some of the type of degrees that they offer. Still, each institution has their own issues and solutions. Lately, NIL has severely impacted a ton of otherwise good programs. It'll be great when/if that dust settles with portal transfers, etc. But still, money does matter, but it's not the only thing. Some of GV sports are bare bone programs and yet are quite successful.

Well Ferris prioritizes football first and foremost, and then to some extent hockey. You got a D2 school that has been in the Frozen Four before with their D1 hockey team. Their football team of course could beat many D1 FCS teams, and some D1 FBS teams issues too! That's why Ferris State Football has trouble finding opponents. The same can be said for Grand Valley Women's basketball. It is why they had to play Ohio State for a couple years, and then a poor little NAIA school this year.

[Sec10-A-14]

To all the IUP fans out there, this Gannon fan was pulling for ( gulp ) IUP Hawks. Sorry none of us could celebrate.
I do recall how GVSU beat up on Gannon last yr so I feel your pain.
looking forward to next season with gleam in my eye.
See you on the court of forever hopeful. God Bless all our Student Athletes and keep them safe.

[iupgroundhog]

Well they won two women’s gymnastics titles..I was on campus when they won.

I did an easy Google search it was 1988 and 1989..they were D2 National Champions. They competed against D1 teams as well.

Well, it's interesting and I'd love to know the definitive answer. During the WBB finals, the ESPN+ announcers kept saying that IUP has never won an NCAA NC and I've always believed that to be true. So, I did some research. It's confusing to say the least.

I saw the citation you referred to. However, I also came across a lot of conflicting information. The AIAW governed women's sports until 1982 when it was replaced by the NCAA. Smaller schools then went to the NAIA, while bigger schools (D1) were in the NCAA. It looks like in 1987 the smaller schools were sanctioned for competition by the NCAA. However, it looks to me like there was no small school national championship, only the D1 national championship. After doing my research, I believe IUP's championships were technically under the auspices of the United States Gymnastics Federation, which held a national championship event for NCAA D2 and D3 teams, because there was no NCAA D2 or D3 championship event. Because the field was made up of D2 (and D3) schools, it was informally referred to as the NCAA D2 championship, but technically it was not run by the NCAA.

I could be wrong, but that is the way it looks to me.

[Chuck Norris]

Well, it's interesting and I'd love to know the definitive answer. During the WBB finals, the ESPN+ announcers kept saying that IUP has never won an NCAA NC and I've always believed that to be true. So, I did some research. It's confusing to say the least.

I saw the citation you referred to. However, I also came across a lot of conflicting information. The AIAW governed women's sports until 1982 when it was replaced by the NCAA. Smaller schools then went to the NAIA, while bigger schools (D1) were in the NCAA. It looks like in 1987 the smaller schools were sanctioned for competition by the NCAA. However, it looks to me like there was no small school national championship, only the D1 national championship. After doing my research, I believe IUP's championships were technically under the auspices of the United States Gymnastics Federation, which held a national championship event for NCAA D2 and D3 teams, because there was no NCAA D2 or D3 championship event. Because the field was made up of D2 (and D3) schools, it was informally referred to as the NCAA D2 championship, but technically it was not run by the NCAA.

I could be wrong, but that is the way it looks to me.

I’m seeing the same thing. It wasn’t an NCAA championship. In any case, when I made the comment about wanting a national championship for IUP, gymnastics was not what I was thinking about. No offense to gymnasts, of course.

[IUPNation]

But the fact is, IUP won those two titles and it was made a big deal at the time.

I get it, yinz want titles in sports that only matter. But those two still count just like NFL titles before “the Super Bowl” still count. The Eagles have 5 titles.

[IUPNation]

Well, it's interesting and I'd love to know the definitive answer. During the WBB finals, the ESPN+ announcers kept saying that IUP has never won an NCAA NC and I've always believed that to be true. So, I did some research. It's confusing to say the least.

I saw the citation you referred to. However, I also came across a lot of conflicting information. The AIAW governed women's sports until 1982 when it was replaced by the NCAA. Smaller schools then went to the NAIA, while bigger schools (D1) were in the NCAA. It looks like in 1987 the smaller schools were sanctioned for competition by the NCAA. However, it looks to me like there was no small school national championship, only the D1 national championship. After doing my research, I believe IUP's championships were technically under the auspices of the United States Gymnastics Federation, which held a national championship event for NCAA D2 and D3 teams, because there was no NCAA D2 or D3 championship event. Because the field was made up of D2 (and D3) schools, it was informally referred to as the NCAA D2 championship, but technically it was not run by the NCAA.

I could be wrong, but that is the way it looks to me.

The Pee Sack sponsored the sport in the 80’s and IUP won the Pee Sack titles too. Like 4 years in a row…

Just sayin….

[Chuck Norris]

I for one am glad Grand Valley is still D2. This level has lost so many good programs and more jump every year. It’s a good thing, to me, that some of the traditional powers seem content to stick around.

Grand Valley women’s basketball is very strong, but it’s not like they’ve been an unbeatable juggernaut for decades. They’ve put together two straight incredible teams. And yeah, it sucks pond water that IUP ran into them this year, with the Elite 8 in Pittsburgh. But that’s life. Now they’ve seen what a truly elite team looks like. Someone pointed it out earlier, Coach Carey seems pretty adept at seeing what he needs to do to improve his team. Hopefully he can take that last step. Hopefully he sticks around to do it.