THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This is a bit shocking. I thought Hunter was done for the season for sure. I don’t know that I’d want to play if I’m him. Already banged up behind that offensive line and with a 4-4 record, I think I’d be “rehabbing” the rest of the way.

I thought Nico was steadily improving and I was looking forward to seeing him continue to progress. Overall he has done a serviceable job as a backup and it would be good to have a bonafide backup on the roster going forward. I don’t see him as “the guy” down the road though.

The 'read between the lines' message of the show was they'll be loaded up with seniors next year and start over. He's assuming (from his comments) all are staying aside from Stone Shugarts (graduating and not coming back).

There are just (7) seniors on the current team.

He said Karst wants to play as soon as possible. Tort also stated he thinks the OL is getting better and should be pretty good next year.

He lit up the defense pretty good on the show -- in particular the DEs and the entire secondary. He said we'll see more new faces in the secondary play this weekend and that the DL is devastated with injuries.

The best (most direct) questions came when Jack would read fan questions. Tort did pretty good re-directing them.

Other than that, the refs got bashed a good bit, more of the what if this didn't happen logic, and he made Gannon sound on par with the '85 Bears / Greatest Show on Turf Rams.

And, of course, SH didn't do anything they weren't ready for ... lol to the tune of 35 pts.


The question I'd love to have asked is why do his teams constantly stink in the first half?


I realize very few actually watched that debacle last Saturday. There were some good individual performances on offense. But, the defense was horrendous.

[EyeoftheHawk]

The 'read between the lines' message of the show was they'll be loaded up with seniors next year and start over. He's assuming (from his comments) all are staying aside from Stone Shugarts (graduating and not coming back).

There are just (7) seniors on the current team.

He said Karst wants to play as soon as possible. Tort also stated he thinks the OL is getting better and should be pretty good next year.

He lit up the defense pretty good on the show -- in particular the DEs and the entire secondary. He said we'll see more new faces in the secondary play this weekend and that the DL is devastated with injuries.

The best (most direct) questions came when Jack would read fan questions. Tort did pretty good re-directing them.

Other than that, the refs got bashed a good bit, more of the what if this didn't happen logic, and he made Gannon sound on par with the '85 Bears / Greatest Show on Turf Rams.

And, of course, SH didn't do anything they weren't ready for ... lol to the tune of 35 pts.


The question I'd love to have asked is why do his teams constantly stink in the first half?


I realize very few actually watched that debacle last Saturday. There were some good individual performances on offense. But, the defense was horrendous.

I’d still be surprised if Hunter returns. I really don’t want to be talking about next year when this year still has three games remaining. That’s what bad teams do. “Well, we should be really good next year.” Do we really want this same group of players returning? I saw a pretty undisciplined group on Saturday taking a pile of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. I don’t disagree that the officiating crew had a short fuse, but if you know that, shut your mouth and get back to the huddle. What kind of team are you if you think you need to talk smack with Seton Hill?!

If it’s the status quo heading into the 24’ season, this will be an 8-3 or even 7-4 team that misses the playoffs again.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I’d still be surprised if Hunter returns. I really don’t want to be talking about next year when this year still has three games remaining. That’s what bad teams do. “Well, we should be really good next year.” Do we really want this same group of players returning? I saw a pretty undisciplined group on Saturday taking a pile of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. I don’t disagree that the officiating crew had a short fuse, but if you know that, shut your mouth and get back to the huddle. What kind of team are you if you think you need to talk smack with Seton Hill?!

If it’s the status quo heading into the 24’ season, this will be an 8-3 or even 7-4 team that misses the playoffs again.

I'd love to know what happened to Tort's secondary this year. How does a whole unit regress so much from being sophomores to juniors?

I'm sure they'll blame QBs having way too much time, which coincides with Tort saying they were expecting way more out of their DEs this year.

However, that secondary has given up so many big plays ... when WRs and TEs are beyond wide open.

As you said, three more games and burn the tape of the 2023 season.

I think he will have some program defections, but that may not be a bad thing. However, I don't think too many will leave. From what I've heard, Karst is planning to stay.

They could certainly use a staff shake-up. I think sometimes the crowd quits listening to the band.

[iupgroundhog]

When something bad happes in anything, the first step is to identify the problem(s). Hopefully, that can be figured out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

When something bad happes in anything, the first step is to identify the problem(s). Hopefully, that can be figured out.

That's not easy this year. From week to week they kind of fix one thing and then three other parts break.

Ironically, the hyped defense has been a total bust the past 4 games (aside from the second half against Edinboro). They don't even remotely look the same from the first four games. It could likely be pinned on effort, morale, motivation, etc.


One telling part of the show last night was a fan question. They asked if the team lacked leadership. Tort took that to ask if it lacked leadership from players. He didn't say yes or no, but sighted having just 7 seniors -- only two of which are start-to-finish IUP guys. I read his answer to say they don't have good player leadership this year.

When a team falls apart like this one has, it's pretty clear they do not.

There's no question they are a home dog this weekend.

[iupgroundhog]

One reason he might want to return as soon as possible would be to prove himself to other teams in the transfer market - however - I get the sense that Karst made a two-year commitment to IUP, not just for football but for the academic program. Having said that, I think Marchitelli is pretty good and would only get better. I only saw the 4th quarter of the SHU game but I saw Nico make a couple of passes that were on a quality level that Karst hasn't made in all of his starts and that includes the end zone one that Houser dropped on the last drive. As I recall, there were 3 defenders all over Houser and Nico laid it right into Houser's hands. I thought it was impressive but unfortunately, it was dropped.

[ShoNuff]

That's not easy this year. From week to week they kind of fix one thing and then three other parts break.

Ironically, the hyped defense has been a total bust the past 4 games (aside from the second half against Edinboro). They don't even remotely look the same from the first four games. It could likely be pinned on effort, morale, motivation, etc.


One telling part of the show last night was a fan question. They asked if the team lacked leadership. Tort took that to ask if it lacked leadership from players. He didn't say yes or no, but sighted having just 7 seniors -- only two of which are start-to-finish IUP guys. I read his answer to say they don't have good player leadership this year.

When a team falls apart like this one has, it's pretty clear they do not.

There's no question they are a home dog this weekend.

But IUPbigINDIANS , when has IUP have good locker room leadership ?

[EyeoftheHawk]

Some players respond to bad losses by spending a little extra time in the film room, or maybe taking out their frustration by throwing around some weights or doing drills well into the night. Others relieve the pressure by breaking and entering. From the Indiana Gazette:

On Sunday at 2:22 a.m., according to Indiana Borough Police, a [prominent IUP football player], of Indiana, broke into an occupied residence along the 200 block of South Seventh Street. [The player] was arraigned Sunday morning before Blairsville Magisterial District Judge Robert Steele Bell Sr. on criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges and released on $20,000 unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.

I excluded the name in the 1% chance it’s someone else with the same name and age, but you can find it in today’s crime and punishment section. Must have been pretty serious to require $20,000 bond. Innocent until proven guilty, of course.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some players respond to bad losses by spending a little extra time in the film room, or maybe taking out their frustration by throwing around some weights or doing drills well into the night. Others relieve the pressure by breaking and entering. From the Indiana Gazette:

On Sunday at 2:22 a.m., according to Indiana Borough Police, a [prominent IUP football player], of Indiana, broke into an occupied residence along the 200 block of South Seventh Street. [The player] was arraigned Sunday morning before Blairsville Magisterial District Judge Robert Steele Bell Sr. on criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges and released on $20,000 unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.

I excluded the name in the 1% chance it’s someone else with the same name and age, but you can find it in today’s crime and punishment section. Must have been pretty serious to require $20,000 bond. Innocent until proven guilty, of course.

Season keeps getting better.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some players respond to bad losses by spending a little extra time in the film room, or maybe taking out their frustration by throwing around some weights or doing drills well into the night. Others relieve the pressure by breaking and entering. From the Indiana Gazette:

On Sunday at 2:22 a.m., according to Indiana Borough Police, a [prominent IUP football player], of Indiana, broke into an occupied residence along the 200 block of South Seventh Street. [The player] was arraigned Sunday morning before Blairsville Magisterial District Judge Robert Steele Bell Sr. on criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges and released on $20,000 unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.

I excluded the name in the 1% chance it’s someone else with the same name and age, but you can find it in today’s crime and punishment section. Must have been pretty serious to require $20,000 bond. Innocent until proven guilty, of course.

Well, an already bad defense just got a lot worse.

I'd assume they've already hired him the de facto team attorney, and that he's done for this season.

If he has a clean record they'll likely be able to plea the charges down.

[IUPNation]

Two players in two years committed felonies could get Tort axed. Not to mention hiring a coach who committed a crime.

[Ram040506]

But IUPbigINDIANS , when has IUP have good locker room leadership ?

You can sometimes tell who is the "alpha" on a team, even when you aren't a ardent follower. I watch some IUP if it doesn't conflict with Shepherd, some of their bigger games at times. I haven't seen anyone of that kind of ilk since #50 MLB from 2019 Lloyd I think his name was. Clearly the leader of that defense, maybe even the whole team. Just haven't seen that type of guy since he's left your program.

Now 2 years in a row where, one of the top players on your team doing something stupid off the field. Just screams no locker room control, which with the talent you guys have year in and year out... it's the reason seasons go haywire at times.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Two players in two years committed felonies could get Tort axed. Not to mention hiring a coach who committed a crime.

He's likely going to finish 4-7. They may get walloped on Saturday.

They'll (admin) chalk this up to 'one bad year' and start over this Spring.

The upside (if any) is they'll get a big jump in the portal and hopefully get the new guys here for second semester (Spring Ball).

Although if he loses by 35 at home this weekend I can promise it's not going to sit well with some very important donors.

[Ram040506]

He's likely going to finish 4-7. They may get walloped on Saturday.

They'll (admin) chalk this up to 'one bad year' and start over this Spring.

The upside (if any) is they'll get a big jump in the portal and hopefully get the new guys here for second semester (Spring Ball).

Although if he loses by 35 at home this weekend I can promise it's not going to sit well with some very important donors.

I'll give you Gannon... if they lose to Clarion or Bloomsburg though, man that is hard to believe.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'll give you Gannon... if they lose to Clarion or Bloomsburg though, man that is hard to believe.

I'd bet coin they finish 0-3. This team checked out long ago.