THE IUP Football Thread

[Ram040506]

The nice thing about being used as a stepping stone is that they can't flip your job for something better without doing good things they're able to sell. Curt used IUP to learn how to head coach...but in that time he also fixed a lot of the off campus challenges from the Tep era. It's unlikely IUP is where it is today without Curt Cignetti. Probably far less likely had they hired Felus or Rogish.

I crossed paths for a very brief time with Rogish. For the life of me I don't get what the IUP hoopla was with him. He seemed completely lost coaching within Shepherd's defensive scheme and quickly lost respect of the players once they realized they knew more about the scheme than their coach did. Just was not impressed at all with him and I'd say IUP dodged a major bullet not succumbing to any pressure to higher him as the HC during that time frame.

[Fightingscot82]

I was guilty in thinking Curt came home to be closer to his family and his wife was also from Indiana. I thought he was doing what his dad did coming from D1 and become another big fish in D2 and bring back the glory years.

It was nice to hope.

The nice thing about being used as a stepping stone is that they can't flip your job for something better without doing good things they're able to sell. Curt used IUP to learn how to head coach...but in that time he also fixed a lot of the off campus challenges from the Tep era. It's unlikely IUP is where it is today without Curt Cignetti. Probably far less likely had they hired Felus or Rogish.

[IUPNation]

Agree with both.

I think most close to the program could recognize Curt wasn't going to be around very long. And within the context of the conversation, that's okay. Both got what they wanted out of the marriage. IUP wanted a shot of life and resurgence after the Tepper era. Curt needed an opportunity somewhere to show he could be a head coach after years as a successful well-traveled assistant at multiple big name schools.

Regarding Tort... I don't see it at all. He's been at the D2 level for far too long at this point. I never even heard him "linked" to an FCS job, which makes me think that rumor is shaky at best. Reality with Tort is that he probably just hasn't had enough success (please don't shoot me for saying that) at this level to make major waves with higher profile opportunities at a higher level. Had he followed up 2017 with trips to the SR1 Championship or National Semifinal the next two seasons in 2018 and 2019, then yeah, he'd be getting some buzz. But that's not happened. He's a really, really good coach at this level. And he's had very good success at IUP since taking over for Curt. He's mostly always had them legitimately as one of the 2-3 best teams in the PSAC and in contention for the playoffs. As a fan and program, that's what you want.

I was guilty in thinking Curt came home to be closer to his family and his wife was also from Indiana. I thought he was doing what his dad did coming from D1 and become another big fish in D2 and bring back the glory years.

It was nice to hope.

[IUPNation]

There’s a 0% chance of this.

Yeah I don't see him leaving. He's in a pretty good lane for himself.

[IUP24]

Difference is Curt was moving about the country all those years while Torts has been in Indiana the whole time. Curt wasn't staying at IUP. We had hoped for another Cignetti Magical Run but it didn't happen.

The only way I see him leaving is maybe he gets offered the Akron job now that his son is going to attend there.

The IUP job is pretty decent. You have decent funding and support. It's in a pretty nice town for the area and you can live comfortably there. It's not that far to Pittsburgh to enjoy the city.

There’s a 0% chance of this.

Agree with both.

I think most close to the program could recognize Curt wasn't going to be around very long. And within the context of the conversation, that's okay. Both got what they wanted out of the marriage. IUP wanted a shot of life and resurgence after the Tepper era. Curt needed an opportunity somewhere to show he could be a head coach after years as a successful well-traveled assistant at multiple big name schools.

Regarding Tort... I don't see it at all. He's been at the D2 level for far too long at this point. I never even heard him "linked" to an FCS job, which makes me think that rumor is shaky at best. Reality with Tort is that he probably just hasn't had enough success (please don't shoot me for saying that) at this level to make major waves with higher profile opportunities at a higher level. Had he followed up 2017 with trips to the SR1 Championship or National Semifinal the next two seasons in 2018 and 2019, then yeah, he'd be getting some buzz. But that's not happened. He's a really, really good coach at this level. And he's had very good success at IUP since taking over for Curt. He's mostly always had them legitimately as one of the 2-3 best teams in the PSAC and in contention for the playoffs. As a fan and program, that's what you want.

[EyeoftheHawk]

The only way I see him leaving is maybe he gets offered the Akron job now that his son is going to attend there.

There’s a 0% chance of this.

[IUPNation]

Tort has been, I'd say, at least 'linked' to a couple FCS jobs the past two years. Now, whether he interviewed for any of them I don't know.

Curt had (is having) a lot of success.

Difference is Curt was moving about the country all those years while Torts has been in Indiana the whole time. Curt wasn't staying at IUP. We had hoped for another Cignetti Magical Run but it didn't happen.

The only way I see him leaving is maybe he gets offered the Akron job now that his son is going to attend there.

The IUP job is pretty decent. You have decent funding and support. It's in a pretty nice town for the area and you can live comfortably there. It's not that far to Pittsburgh to enjoy the city.

[Iupgh]

Curt is now in a different world of The Sun Belt!

JMU will be just fine, great Stadium, facilities and recruiting area quite fertile.

[IUPalum]

Tort has been, I'd say, at least 'linked' to a couple FCS jobs the past two years. Now, whether he interviewed for any of them I don't know.

Curt had (is having) a lot of success.

Curt is now in a different world of The Sun Belt!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Considering he’s been on the staff since the 90’s I doubt he has plans to move on…he’s got a pretty good gig.

The biggest secret in life as you get older is finding your lane that will make you happy in all aspects of your life.

I could have a bigger job with higher pay but would it make me happy? I don’t think so.

Tort has been, I'd say, at least 'linked' to a couple FCS jobs the past two years. Now, whether he interviewed for any of them I don't know.

Curt had (is having) a lot of success.

[IUPNation]

I wonder if that has kept Tort to stay at IUP for as long as he has. Two kids staying at the same school all the way up in the coaching Industry is rare.

Considering he’s been on the staff since the 90’s I doubt he has plans to move on…he’s got a pretty good gig.

The biggest secret in life as you get older is finding your lane that will make you happy in all aspects of your life.

I could have a bigger job with higher pay but would it make me happy? I don’t think so.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

Yes. His other son, Michael, still plays at Indiana High School. They’re good kids.

I wonder if that has kept Tort to stay at IUP for as long as he has. Two kids staying at the same school all the way up in the coaching Industry is rare.

[EyeoftheHawk]

There is still a location at the Johnstown Galleria. It has some irregular hours but it's still open. That's the last one I know still in operation.

The one at IUP was always packed. It likely just died during the summer months.

We could never understand why it went under. It was busy most of the time, even when school was out. It was privately owned and I believe at the time they just decided to get out of the business and couldn’t find a buyer. I hated working homecoming weekend but at the same time you could expect well over $100 in tips on Saturday. In the mid 90’s, that was a lot of cash for a college kid.

[EyeoftheHawk]

https://twitter.com/zachtort23/statu...pWKnbJPO_hHf4A
Is this Torts son?

Yes. His other son, Michael, still plays at Indiana High School. They’re good kids.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

https://twitter.com/zachtort23/statu...pWKnbJPO_hHf4A
Is this Torts son?