THE IUP Football Thread

[TheROCK]

From my perspective, A ROCK fan, we can debate all day OL vs DL, penalties, turnovers....... the game came down to time management.

Having the ball inside easy winning field goal range with under two minutes left and giving it back to the ROCK with 1:35 left and a time out isn't smart football the way the game is currently played. Going for the TD pass must have sure felt good for IUP fans at that time, but it wasn't the correct call. I guess it was the right call for ROCK Fans

[EyeoftheHawk]

Okungu dressing but not playing yesterday was a killer. They got next to no heat all day on the SRU QB.

Okungu played. I saw him in there for several snaps in the second half and he shows up in the participation statistics. He didn’t make a single play that got tallied on the stat sheet. When I saw he was in the game I watched him specifically and he got no push and was a non-factor. Granted, he’s been injured so I imagine we weren’t seeing his best.

The Rock offensive line owned IUP’s D-line. They ran for basically 200 (196) and didn’t allow a single sack. Not one. When IUP knew they had to throw late, they still couldn’t get a push. That’s where the game was won.

[iupgroundhog]

For the deficit that IUP found itself in, they almost won.

Two questions: what is the PSAC record for longest field goal?

When was the last time IUP had a kicker that could kick a field goal over 50 yards?

Brett Zachman of Lock Haven hit a 57 yarder last year against West Chester.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I’m not sure what you saw that makes you believe IUP is better than Slippery Rock. Being there and seeing it in person, I’d actually give the edge to Slippery Rock if I was forced to decide which I thought was better. Of course, these are both our opinions so let’s hope we get a chance to see a rematch.

I think the players are pretty equal this year.

Okungu dressing but not playing yesterday was a killer. They got next to no heat all day on the SRU QB.

SRU is better coached. I hate to say it but it's true.

IUP didn't play to win on that final drive. They were instructed to play not to lose. There's a big difference.

It's sickening. No other way to say it.

Now we'll see what they do next. Will they be pi$$in' vinegar mad or will we see a normal Tort hangover?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Slimey Pebble has second half issues. They almost let Edinboro back into a game as well.

Kutztown is the class of the conference.

We'll see. Long way to go.

I don't give two sh!ts about which team is perceived better. One of them won yesterday. That's all that matters.

Would IUP win a rematch? Maybe. But, they sure won't win a close game on coaching.

As I said, it's no coincidence IUP keeps blowing these big games.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

And an ugly pattern it is. As Slippery Rock was driving down the field all those other games were in the back of my mind. I was thinking, surely it can’t happen again, right? Now here we are.

IUPAlum texted me right after IUP scored late. He said they left too much time. I then looked at the scoreboard. I unfortunately knew he was right.

I knew Jim Smith would panic and go ultra conservative. He did.

I knew SRU would dink and dunk right down the field. They did. The whole stadium knew they didn't have a deep threat.

I knew IUP would commit a dumb penalty (the DE body slamming that kid was the dumbest play I've ever seen in that stadium).

And, with 17 seconds left, I just knew SRU was going to somehow score. How that WR got behind the defense is unexplainable.

So, that's (5) games - all at home - IUP has pi$$ed away in the recent Tort past. All big games.

[IUPNation]

I’m not sure what you saw that makes you believe IUP is better than Slippery Rock. Being there and seeing it in person, I’d actually give the edge to Slippery Rock if I was forced to decide which I thought was better. Of course, these are both our opinions so let’s hope we get a chance to see a rematch.

Slimey Pebble has second half issues. They almost let Edinboro back into a game as well.

Kutztown is the class of the conference.

[Tdobson]

For the deficit that IUP found itself in, they almost won.

Two questions: what is the PSAC record for longest field goal?

When was the last time IUP had a kicker that could kick a field goal over 50 yards?

[EyeoftheHawk]

Oct. 6, 2019 -- IUP was unable to stop SRU on 4th and 7 to win the game. SRU ultimately drives the field and scores. IUP, at home, loses 30-27.

Nov. 23, 2019 -- IUP loses at home in first round of playoffs to Shepherd. Gives up final second TD, and loses 31-27.

Oct. 23, 2021 -- IUP blows a 21-point fourth quarter lead and ultimately loses, at home, to California, 38-34. The Vulcans scored in the final 20 seconds.

Sept. 9, 2023 -- IUP forgets how many timeouts they have (inside the 5-yard line) and loses, 13-12, at home, to ESU.

Oct. 5, 2024 -- IUP lets SRU drive 75 yards in 90 seconds. IUP commits one of the dumbest personal fouls in stadium history by body slamming a player at midfield, and then gets a targeting call called. With 17 seconds left and SRU out of timeouts, IUP's secondary somehow lets somebody get behind them.




This isn't some coincidence. This is a pattern.

And an ugly pattern it is. As Slippery Rock was driving down the field all those other games were in the back of my mind. I was thinking, surely it can’t happen again, right? Now here we are.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Those of us commenting on the game day thread were just talking about what we were seeing. Personally, my own comments overlapped with a lot of what you are describing. However. I think an argument can be made that IUP wasn't prepared to play SRU from the first whistle. This has been a problem in the past.

After watching that game, I disagree that out of 10 games the results would be even. Frankly, I think IUP is a better team than SRU. But IUP needs to be prepared for teams of that caliber.

I’m not sure what you saw that makes you believe IUP is better than Slippery Rock. Being there and seeing it in person, I’d actually give the edge to Slippery Rock if I was forced to decide which I thought was better. Of course, these are both our opinions so let’s hope we get a chance to see a rematch.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Oct. 6, 2019 -- IUP was unable to stop SRU on 4th and 7 to win the game. SRU ultimately drives the field and scores. IUP, at home, loses 30-27.

Nov. 23, 2019 -- IUP loses at home in first round of playoffs to Shepherd. Gives up final second TD, and loses 31-27.

Oct. 23, 2021 -- IUP blows a 21-point fourth quarter lead and ultimately loses, at home, to California, 38-34. The Vulcans scored in the final 20 seconds.

Sept. 9, 2023 -- IUP forgets how many timeouts they have (inside the 5-yard line) and loses, 13-12, at home, to ESU.

Oct. 5, 2024 -- IUP lets SRU drive 75 yards in 90 seconds. IUP commits one of the dumbest personal fouls in stadium history by body slamming a player at midfield, and then gets a targeting call called. With 17 seconds left and SRU out of timeouts, IUP's secondary somehow lets somebody get behind them.




This isn't some coincidence. This is a pattern.

[iupgroundhog]

Reading the game day thread was quite entertaining. IUP was flat…Karst is awful…IUP has no explosive players…IUP is back in it at halftime…Karst is good…The Refs suck…The defense sucks.

Despite all of that, I thought it was one of the most entertaining games I ever saw in the rivalry. Just because IUP got down 21-0 doesn’t mean they were flat. Rock made some plays, credit to them. IUP made adjustments and came roaring back. Credit to them. I didn’t see anyone say Rock was flat when they gave up the next 26 points. These two teams and coaching staffs slugged it out for 60 minutes and when the dust settled I still couldn’t tell you which team is better. I think there’s a really good chance we’re going to see a rematch later this year.

I’m not going to get into the weeds but I actually feel better about IUP despite the loss. If they win out, which they have a great chance to do, they’re going to be in a nice spot for the playoffs. There are definitely things that can be second guessed but that’s the case in every game. My takeaways:

• Karst Hunter is who he is. He’s going to miss open guys, but also make plays with his legs most QB’s can’t. What you love about him is what you hate about him. He showed strong leadership yesterday.
• The offensive line had its best game so far in my opinion. The sacks were largely on Karst holding the ball too long. Monaco is good!
• Massey is a beast, especially when paired with Ridley.
• The defense isn’t great. Very little push against Rock’s inexperienced O-line and they got run on all day long. The secondary couldn’t hold up. Forget what you saw against Clarion. When it comes to playing the top-tier teams, IUP has a pretty average defense.
• If those two teams played 10 times they’d probably split and most of the games would be barn burners like yesterday.

Those of us commenting on the game day thread were just talking about what we were seeing. Personally, my own comments overlapped with a lot of what you are describing. However. I think an argument can be made that IUP wasn't prepared to play SRU from the first whistle. This has been a problem in the past.

After watching that game, I disagree that out of 10 games the results would be even. Frankly, I think IUP is a better team than SRU. But IUP needs to be prepared for teams of that caliber.

[iupgroundhog]

Wrestling isn't as popular as it once was. Baseball and wrestling are falling victim to year round youth sports programs. I'm trying to get my smaller 8 year old to try wrestling, but the local organization is struggling because now 2nd graders can do basketball, hockey, and indoor flag football (his tackle football coaches are pushing him to do flag FB). The high school already shares its youth organization and high school team with a neighboring school district, and ours is 3A.

We've gotta get used to things of our past fading away as there are fewer kids but more choices. By 2030 there will be half as many high school students than 2010.

For the 2023-24 school year, boy's wrestling participation nationally increased by 25%. Plus, name another sport currently in the midst of adding 50% of the school-age population to the prospect pool. Girls wrestling participation increased by 102% in 2023-24.

As a team/dual meet/general population spectator sport it might be on the decline but the participation numbers belie your theory. No doubt that in PA with a decline in sports participation overall, population loss, more sports to choose from, and a statewide decrease in participation it is hard for a lot of schools to fill out a dual meet roster covering all of the weights. But overall nationally it has increased.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Reading the game day thread was quite entertaining. IUP was flat…Karst is awful…IUP has no explosive players…IUP is back in it at halftime…Karst is good…The Refs suck…The defense sucks.

Despite all of that, I thought it was one of the most entertaining games I ever saw in the rivalry. Just because IUP got down 21-0 doesn’t mean they were flat. Rock made some plays, credit to them. IUP made adjustments and came roaring back. Credit to them. I didn’t see anyone say Rock was flat when they gave up the next 26 points. These two teams and coaching staffs slugged it out for 60 minutes and when the dust settled I still couldn’t tell you which team is better. I think there’s a really good chance we’re going to see a rematch later this year.

I’m not going to get into the weeds but I actually feel better about IUP despite the loss. If they win out, which they have a great chance to do, they’re going to be in a nice spot for the playoffs. There are definitely things that can be second guessed but that’s the case in every game. My takeaways:

• Karst Hunter is who he is. He’s going to miss open guys, but also make plays with his legs most QB’s can’t. What you love about him is what you hate about him. He showed strong leadership yesterday.
• The offensive line had its best game so far in my opinion. The sacks were largely on Karst holding the ball too long. Monaco is good!
• Massey is a beast, especially when paired with Ridley.
• The defense isn’t great. Very little push against Rock’s inexperienced O-line and they got run on all day long. The secondary couldn’t hold up. Forget what you saw against Clarion. When it comes to playing the top-tier teams, IUP has a pretty average defense.
• If those two teams played 10 times they’d probably split and most of the games would be barn burners like yesterday.

[EyeoftheHawk]

What about the mysterious flag pickup on IUP's last scoring drive on Hunter's scramble the running back literally threw the ROCK Blitzer down. It was 3rd down if that gets called is is 3rd and forever, probably turnover on downs and final is 27- 26. I would also question Tort's decision to go for 2 on both occasions.

Officiating was not the story of the game. For the most part I thought they did a pretty good job. A couple here or there could be argued but it seemed even. What an incredible football game to watch, even on the losing side.