IUP Football 2020

[Horror Child]

I, along with some other people who have seen a lot of games, were asked to submit our personal lists. They were supposed to be best games by IUP, so I didn't pick any losses.

I get that. But since there were some losses on the released list, the West Florida game could have been considered. National semi-finals. Home game. Came back from 17-0 to pull within a TD early in the fourth quarter.

[IUP24]

* The game out at Ashland sticks out in my memory. We had a nice crowd out there on their opening night.

* Of course, the 'Sarka Kick' was just incredible to watch live. There was a point in that game I thought IUP was going to get blown out. Don't forget the massive field goal IUP blocked late in that game. But, Sarka nailing a 47-yard walk-off was one for the ages.

* For dubious reasons, the infmaous #LIT-AF game stands out.

* Oddly, two years ago ... the come-from-behind (down 20-0) win over Clarion. IUP looked (and played) as disinterested of 3 quarters as I've ever seen ... then went nuts in the fourth quarter.

* The McPhatter Pick Six ... no other comments needed.

* The Assumption game was like watching IUP play against an expert chess player. That game, on paper, shouldn't have been that close. But, they just knew how to exploit the smallest of things -- onside kicks, etc.

* The Cal night game at Miller was a good one. Nice, lively crowd (at night ... imagine that). Very exciting ending.



My all time favorite game at Miller was when IUP beat a Randy McKavish led SRU in another rare Saturday night game. Tink Stennet was the hero that night ... breaking lose on a long run late in the game. In my memory, that was the largest crowd I have ever seen at Miller.

And, of course, when IUP won up at SRU in the playoffs after SRU ran it up on IUP in the regular season. That was the original 'Rock Dance'

I forgot the 2018 Cal loss. That was a back and forth affair as well, but is unfortunately remembered more for the officiating than anything else. That's an interesting call on the Clarion game as well.

That Assumption game really sticks out. I don't think people realize how close IUP was to actually losing that football game. About a yard. That was it. The WR was wide open and broke loose in the secondary. The pass was thrown. The catch was made. The game was over. Until it wasn't. They were that close to losing that game.

[IUP24]

I, along with some other people who have seen a lot of games, were asked to submit our personal lists. They were supposed to be best games by IUP, so I didn't pick any losses.

Makes sense. Thanks, Matt.

[IUP24]

I get that. But since there were some losses on the released list, the West Florida game could have been considered. National semi-finals. Home game. Came back from 17-0 to pull within a TD early in the fourth quarter.

To tell you the truth, I thought that game was pretty dull. WF went up 17-0 early and they kinda just played out the string. While IUP did get within 7, they were never in a position where they were threatening to win the game.

[Matt Burglund]

I get that. But since there were some losses on the released list, the West Florida game could have been considered. National semi-finals. Home game. Came back from 17-0 to pull within a TD early in the fourth quarter.

[Fightingscot82]

I remember watching that game. I had some friends who worked for UWF, some who worked for IUP. It just seemed like in the first half everything went UWF's way. That QB was dropping passes into double coverage as if it were divine intervention. Hard to watch pulling for IUP. Fun to watch for a team with UWF's story that year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I, along with some other people who have seen a lot of games, were asked to submit our personal lists. They were supposed to be best games by IUP, so I didn't pick any losses.



What a night that was. McKavish had a chance at the end to win the game and SRU got inside the IUP 40 on its last two possessions, but both ended with turnovers on downs. That was a nail-biter if there ever was one.

According to the box score, the attendance that night was 9,200. No home game since then has had that many. Aamir Dew ran for 164 yards, with a long of 51. Tink had six carries for 23 yards, but he did have a 41-yard TD catch early in the fourth quarter.

So much for memory. I just remember Tink busting one loose and the place went insane. That was the only game I ever attended when the track fence was completely lined.

Nevertheless, 9,200 is crazy. Consider today we get excited for 4,000. That was the 2000 season, correct?

Why they don't take the Joe Lombardi theory of night games only is beyond me. I know ... the old folks in the pressbox section don't want them. Bingo starts at 4 p.m.

But, no matter how it's spun ... noon kicks SUCK.

[Fightingscot82]

2pm is ideal. You have time before the game to do things. You have enough time after to do things. I don't want to eat lunch at the game. I don't want to eat dinner at the game. I just want to watch the game.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Has anybody else seen that IUP Football's twitter account is counting down the top ten best games of the decade from 2010-2019? I'm not sure what their criteria is, but I thought about all of the IUP games I have seen since I arrived on campus in the fall of 2011. Here's my list based on the games really sticking out and being memorable and/or very meaningful (and be advised... they aren't all victories):

10. 20-15 Win over Cal in 2015:
This was a rare night game at Miller Stadium. The game was played on a frigid night in early October. It's all the game that our supposed resident PSAC expert was torched on defense by IUP. Chris Temple and Lenny Williams both had big games in this edition of the Coal Bowl.

9. 17-13 loss at Shepherd in the 2nd round of the 2015 playoffs:
This game had it all. There were great players making great plays. There was controversy. And there were dramatics at the end. I forget the specifics of the play when, I think, Ethan Cooper scored a touchdown, but that was a very controversial play that gave IUP the lead. Curt looked to really be in control of this one. They had the lead late in the second half and largely held Billy Brown in check for Shepherd with the exception of one drive that ultimately proved to be the game winner. IUP had a chance late. If I recall correctly, Devin Atland had the winning touchdown pass go through his hands on a 4th and long.

8. 27-22 win against Assumption in the 2017 SR1 championship game:
Another back and forth playoff tilt. Assumption was a great team and came away within a few plays of getting past IUP. The Hawks were down late. Lenny Williams completed one big throw in the game for a touchdown. Justice Evans and Duane Brown both had huge games running the football for IUP. Often forgotten is that Assumption actually threw the game winning touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the football game to wide open receiver in the back of the end zone. However, the quarterback had stepped about a yard or so past the line of scrimmage. That's how much of a razor's edge this game was on. IUP was fortunate to win.

7. 21-17 loss at Winston Salem State in the 2012 SR1 Championship game:
I remember watching this game with my buddies in my dorm room at Northern Suites. We hooked up my computer to the tv to watch. This was before all of the streaming devices. Had it not been for a hail mary that was connected on at the half, IUP probably wins this football game, and fairly comfortably. Mike Box had a pass knocked away on a 4th and 5 from the WSSU 5 yard line in the final minute. The last drive was incredible. 10+ plays virtually all on the ground. I still think that 2012 team was better than in 2017.

6. 26-23 win over Ashland in the 2017 season opener:
IUP was playing from behind all night. Ashland actually held a double digit lead late into the 3rd quarter, and maybe into the early 4th. The rest, as they say, is history. There was a big hit on the Ashland QB that changed the football game. Sarka's game winner kicked deep into the Miller Stadium night got a historic season off to a great start. Who knows what happens that season if they lose that game. I remember taking Thursday and Friday off work to attend this one.

5. 41-7 win over Shippensburg in the 2012 PSAC Championship Game:
Led by Zack Zulli, Shippensburg had the best offense in the entire country. It was no match for IUP that day. Miller Stadium was overflowing with people and was equally loud. I'd love to see the gate number for that one. IUP dominated from the opening kickoff. Probably the most memorable Saturday afternoon I ever spent in Miller Stadium as a student. That was the first "we have arrived" moment for Curt Cignetti during his tenure.

4. 40-39 loss at SRU in 2015:
This one REALLY sticks out for me. I can remember watching this one. I was going to make the trip in from Columbus until I saw the weather forecast. This game was played in absolute monsoon from start to finish. It never let up. When you look back, this was really the night that the legend of Lenny Williams was born. We was absolutely terrific this night. Kicker Ryan Stewart had a good senior year, but he was pretty awful as a junior. He missed more than one extra point in this game and at least 2 chip shot field goals - although conditions weren't ideal for kicking. IUP was right in the position to win this game multiple times. This was a tough one to swallow. On the 4th down play on IUP's final drive, Walt Pegues got tackled when the ball left Lenny Williams' hand. It was a clear pass interference that wasn't called. Curt went nuts on the sidelines and chased the officials to the locker room.

3. 17-14 win at New Haven in 2nd round of 2012 playoffs:
IUP has historically played numerous tight and exciting second round games. This one was no different. New Haven was, I believe, undefeated going into the game. IUP was a clear underdog. People were touting that as being the best NE-10 ever. They were as good as advertised. That game was back and forth. It was controlled by defense. De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown and also busted off a huge run in the second half that gave IUP control of the football game. New Haven had their best receiver in the back of the end zone for the winning touchdown as time expired, but he couldn't control the catch as he came to the ground. They were that close to losing. Probably the most exciting win I can remember watching from IUP.

2. 26-24 loss at Cal in 2012:
Not much else needs to be said here. They blew this one. But... You probably won't ever see a better (crazier) finish ever watching football. I have no other words.

1. 34-17 win at SRU in 2017:
Probably the most satisfying win I have watched since I have been following IUP. Both of those teams had a ton of hype for that game, but nobody really knew who was for real yet. That game was going south in a hurry for IUP. Down two touchdowns and inside their own 2 yard line, Samir Bullock avoided a tackle in the end zone that would have resulted in a safety, and ran the next 98 yards untouched to the SRU end zone. That silenced all of Butler County. They often say a game is a tale of two halves... That game was tale of before and after one play... SRU crumbled the rest of that season. They built up that moment and it all came crashing down.

What do you guys think?

Excellent work here, IUP24!!! Fab list and terrific write up on each game.

I want to say that the IUP-Cal game in 2015 was played on October 17. It was C-O-L-D that night. Thankfully I caught the game on the road with a good heater blowing warm air. It just seemed to have such a fantastic ambience to it. Night game. Frigid. Two great rivals going at it. And yes, that was the game that something really bad must have happened to Homer to cause his anti-Lenny wrath for years. Lenny probably still calls him BURNT TOAST! LOL.

I might put the Ashland game at #1. I believe that Damon Lloyd #50 was the one who changed the trajectory of that game with an absolutely crunching hit on the Ashland QB. He wasn't the same guy after that one.

I think that one game I would at least give honorable mention to was the 2011 night game at Miller against Bloom. It was on national television and even though IUP did lose it served as ample proof that IUP football was officially resurrected under the command of new skipper Curt Cignetti. I recall that being the game that I KNEW IUP football really was back and it was a very exciting time.

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[IUPbigINDIANS]

Excellent work here, IUP24!!! Fab list and terrific write up on each game.

I want to say that the IUP-Cal game in 2015 was played on October 17. It was C-O-L-D that night. Thankfully I caught the game on the road with a good heater blowing warm air. It just seemed to have such a fantastic ambience to it. Night game. Frigid. Two great rivals going at it. And yes, that was the game that something really bad must have happened to Homer to cause his anti-Lenny wrath for years. Lenny probably still calls him BURNT TOAST! LOL.

I might put the Ashland game at #1. I believe that Damon Lloyd #50 was the one who changed the trajectory of that game with an absolutely crunching hit on the Ashland QB. He wasn't the same guy after that one.

I think that one game I would at least give honorable mention to was the 2011 night game at Miller against Bloom. It was on national television and even though IUP did lose it served as ample proof that IUP football was officially resurrected under the command of new skipper Curt Cignetti. I recall that being the game that I KNEW IUP football really was back and it was a very exciting time.

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All three games you just mentioned were played under the lights. It's just a different experience. Better atmosphere. More lively.

I'd love to see IUP play one home Thursday night and one Saturday night home game every season -- especially now with the $50/spot tailgaiting 'officially' permitted.

Todd (new AD) is pretty in to the atmosphere of the event. The first season under his watch the men's basketball team had some of the best crowds ever in the KCAC this past season. I'm pretty much expecting, from what I've heard, for them to start playing at least one night game per season.

[Ram040506]

To me, a game you lose is not a good game. That's why I didn't pick any losses.

But if I were to include losses on my list, I would not include the West Florida game. IUP went down 24-0, couldn't stop the run, had too many turnovers and couldn't throw the ball when they had to. Not one of their better days.

Although they leave a sour taste, they still are great games when you have 2 good teams going at it. Shepherd and IUP have had some classics that I hope would be on your IUP all time list (that 9-6 game comes to mind, amongst others.)

[Matt Burglund]

Although they leave a sour taste, they still are great games when you have 2 good teams going at it. Shepherd and IUP have had some classics that I hope would be on your IUP all time list (that 9-6 game comes to mind, amongst others.)

You're looking at it objectively, and also as a fan of the team that has won 4 of the 5 all-time meetings ;).

I was asked by the IUP Sports Information office to give my list. It made no sense to me to put losses on my list, so I didn't. I'll stand by that, considering this is a list being compiled by and released by the IUP Sports Information office.

If I were making a list for the newspaper, I would have done it differently. The 18-15 loss to Cal in 2010 would have made it for sure.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

All three games you just mentioned were played under the lights. It's just a different experience. Better atmosphere. More lively.

I'd love to see IUP play one home Thursday night and one Saturday night home game every season -- especially now with the $50/spot tailgaiting 'officially' permitted.

Todd (new AD) is pretty in to the atmosphere of the event. The first season under his watch the men's basketball team had some of the best crowds ever in the KCAC this past season. I'm pretty much expecting, from what I've heard, for them to start playing at least one night game per season.

The night games are absolutely so highly memorable. People are up for them and they love them. We could have even mentioned the 2006 night game at Miller between IUP and Rock. Kevin Weidl's last gasp drive just came up short at the end. There was a great atmosphere for that one as well.

IUP just doesn't seem to get it. Why did they put the lights up if they never want to play night games. It's been one asinine decision after another down there. You could play night games on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights. What is the problem here? Noon kickoffs generate zero excitement at IUP.

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[IUPMonk]

IUP just doesn't seem to get it. Why did they put the lights up if they never want to play night games. It's been one asinine decision after another down there. You could play night games on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights. What is the problem here? Noon kickoffs generate zero excitement at IUP.

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Night games make a long day for the coaches. I don't think they particularly like 4pm or 6pm kicks let alone a night game.

[Fightingscot82]

Night games make a long day for the coaches. I don't think they particularly like 4pm or 6pm kicks let alone a night game.

Goes back to my same grumble: is the football game a job function of several university employees or is it a major community event that wants to attract the best possible crowd?