THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

99 Days to Kickoff

[IUPalum]

I think he did it on his own. I believe he has the green light to bunt when he sees a certain defensive configuration due to his speed. He’s not a great hitter and maybe didn’t like the matchup and thought that was the best way to get the ball in play. The bunt was obviously awful but part of it was due to him trying to lay it down while starting up the line. The runner on third came down the line on contact, which to me signifies a safety squeeze.

It was either a called play that was poorly executed or Owens did it on his own and just didn’t put the ball on the ground.

Bottom line is there were force outs everywhere. You NEVER bunt in that situation, PERIOD!!! You never run a safety squeeze with bases loaded. That's baseball 101.

[EyeoftheHawk]

The only thing I question with the bunting is...why the F is Owens bunting with bases loaded with less than 2 out in the 5th? That's the spot where you're trying to break the game open but nope, bunts right into a double play!

I think he did it on his own. I believe he has the green light to bunt when he sees a certain defensive configuration due to his speed. He’s not a great hitter and maybe didn’t like the matchup and thought that was the best way to get the ball in play. The bunt was obviously awful but part of it was due to him trying to lay it down while starting up the line. The runner on third came down the line on contact, which to me signifies a safety squeeze.

It was either a called play that was poorly executed or Owens did it on his own and just didn’t put the ball on the ground.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The only thing I question with the bunting is...why the F is Owens bunting with bases loaded with less than 2 out in the 5th? That's the spot where you're trying to break the game open but nope, bunts right into a double play!

That was the moment I thought they could have ended the game. Getting some more there may have taken the wind out of SH's sails.

SH going with the bullpen first (pitcher per inning for first four innings in final game) was an interesting strategy.

[IUPalum]

Great way to spend the afternoon. The atmosphere was electric, especially when IUP grabbed the lead late and the closer looked dominant. Today was the biggest day in IUP Baseball history, but there’s a little more work to do.

As for the bunting, these teams almost never bunt during the regular season and it comes back to bite them in these types of game where they play a little more small ball. You might think bunting is easy but it’s certainly not, especially if you’re not dedicating reps to it like you to regular batting practice. They got 2-4 down today, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t bad.

The only thing I question with the bunting is...why the F is Owens bunting with bases loaded with less than 2 out in the 5th? That's the spot where you're trying to break the game open but nope, bunts right into a double play!

[EyeoftheHawk]

Speaking of Seton Hill being a top-notch program, part of the reason for the big crowds this weekend was due to their fans. I’ll bet it was close to 50/50 in terms of fan support. It’s not a far trip from Greensburg obviously but they still did it and they had all the team gear. I’m guessing for many in the crowd on the IUP side it was the first games they’ve seen all season. I have a hunch that’s going to change going forward after this run. I know I’ll be picking up an IUP Baseball shirt.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I try not to get ahead of myself and I'm definitely enjoying this in the moment. Kline is a pretty down to earth guy. I don't think he's looking to climb some college coaching ladder. If he wanted to climb a coaching ladder he would have done it in pro baseball. He seems to be all in on the IUP lifestyle and appears to be enjoying it. After so many years of the pro lifestyle it's a different phase of life for him. Since he's from Lewisburg, Indiana is like coming home. In his interview with Jack after the game, he's talking about the collegiality among the IUP coaches from different sports, Jack is talking to him about his involvement in the community, and on and on. Kline is a great addition to the IUP family.

He's obviously well-received by top recruits, too, as he inherited a 2-35 roster and three years later won the Regional.

I've heard they are getting blown up by transfers wanting to play for him.

He holds his players to a very high standard. They will certainly get an earful when they screw up.

This team is so young. The pitcher who closed the game out yesterday (and struck out the side in the 9th) is a freshman. They are loaded with sophomores. It's quite the story.

The expectations were building but I think most thought next year would be the big push. This was obviously a nice surprise.

Taking 5 of 7 from SH is quite the accomplishment. That's an incredible program.

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[iupgroundhog]

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The program has definitely turned around under Kline’s direction but keeping him here will be the challenge. DII baseball head coaching jobs don’t pay well at all, at least not at state schools. Let’s just enjoy this now because it hasn’t happened before and it’s hard to say when it will happen again.

This is a pretty magical run but I’m not sure I’d call any of this an upset. IUP’s record is up there with anyone in the Atlantic Region and they won 5-7 over Seton Hill. They had a slow start and fell off everyone’s radar but started peaking down the stretch.

I try not to get ahead of myself and I'm definitely enjoying this in the moment. Kline is a pretty down to earth guy. I don't think he's looking to climb some college coaching ladder. If he wanted to climb a coaching ladder he would have done it in pro baseball. He seems to be all in on the IUP lifestyle and appears to be enjoying it. After so many years of the pro lifestyle it's a different phase of life for him. Since he's from Lewisburg, Indiana is like coming home. In his interview with Jack after the game, he's talking about the collegiality among the IUP coaches from different sports, Jack is talking to him about his involvement in the community, and on and on. Kline is a great addition to the IUP family.

[IUPNation]

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The program has definitely turned around under Kline’s direction but keeping him here will be the challenge. DII baseball head coaching jobs don’t pay well at all, at least not at state schools. Let’s just enjoy this now because it hasn’t happened before and it’s hard to say when it will happen again.

This is a pretty magical run but I’m not sure I’d call any of this an upset. IUP’s record is up there with anyone in the Atlantic Region and they won 5-7 over Seton Hill. They had a slow start and fell off everyone’s radar but started peaking down the stretch.

We can dream can’t we? I’d love to see IUP sweep these three every year just to give the finger to the Home Office In Lock Haven.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Can you hear the sneering over the possibility IUP sweeping the three men’s major sports every year?

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The program has definitely turned around under Kline’s direction but keeping him here will be the challenge. DII baseball head coaching jobs don’t pay well at all, at least not at state schools. Let’s just enjoy this now because it hasn’t happened before and it’s hard to say when it will happen again.

This is a pretty magical run but I’m not sure I’d call any of this an upset. IUP’s record is up there with anyone in the Atlantic Region and they won 5-7 over Seton Hill. They had a slow start and fell off everyone’s radar but started peaking down the stretch.

[IUPNation]

IUP is seeded 5th and faces #4 Pont Loma on 6/1 in the first game of the D2 Series.

Why not us?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Can you hear the sneering over the possibility IUP sweeping the three men’s major sports every year?

I like Tort's team heading in to next year. I cannot say the same about Joe's.

This IUP Baseball team is very young.

[IUPNation]

It was fantastic. The Top of the 9th felt like a football game (not one here, mind you, but one at a place that actually cheers).

Can you hear the sneering over the possibility IUP sweeping the three men’s major sports every year?

[IUPNation]

I couldn’t give you a number but it was the biggest crowd I ever saw there. Yesterday was big too, similar to today. The entire hillside on the third base line was full. They were several rows deep near both dugouts and bleachers on both sides were full.

Outstanding!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

How big of a crowd?

It was fantastic. The Top of the 9th felt like a football game (not one here, mind you, but one at a place that actually cheers).