THE IUP Football Thread

[iupgroundhog]

Of our standard regular season guests, Cal typically travels to Miller the best. They bring the band (what a concept) and their cheerleaders. Add several hundred fans and they get quite a little group over there on the visitors' side. When the weather is good, SRU travels pretty well. Their last visit (rain) they hardly brought anybody.

A visiting crowd can easily take over the funeral home. We all know the IUP home side barely makes a peep. Those who do cheer get odd looks. I've said it since they started allowing tailgating ... IUP has to go with the Penn State rule of no tailgating once the game starts. The issue at Miller is half the lot out there doesn't come inside. Or, they come in for a quarter until their beer meter goes off and they go back out. There's been games in recent years where there's more people outside the stadium than inside the stadium.

So, Miller Stadium is sort of the Dodger Stadium of the PSAC?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Curt's first BIG Media Day was quite interesting.

[Tdobson]

What happened with Curt?

[Iupgh]

I still can't believe that Mercyhurst exchanged a game with IUP for a game with Lincoln (PA) on the same date. On the other hand, I guess IUP would not have benefitted from playing a "D1" team. Frankly, I think all PSAC schools should have an unofficial policy that they do not compete against Mercyhurst in any sport.

So Mercyhurst schedule is beyond absurd, 2 d2 games one d3 game and I have no idea what that Lincoln is from California looks like naia 2 squad. Also a butt whooping at Montana State as the fourth road game to start the season…Lincoln home game also over Thanksgiving break. Be lucky to get 150 peeps at that one and that’s generous…SMH…PSAC Schools probably got the head nod from Murray regarding anything schedule wise . Similar to Amos letting MEC schools to never schedule Shepherd…

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So, Miller Stadium is sort of the Dodger Stadium of the PSAC?

That's actually a very good comparison - in many, many ways.

The other reality is we talk (justifiably) about how horrible the game-day atmosphere is at Miller ... but, it's horrible just about everywhere else, too.

I've went to nearly every road game for the past 20-30 years ... with a few exceptions they are all basically the same - or worse - than Miller. SRU is crazy for IUP's visit, but it's not nearly that amped up every week. Their gate decreases (hugely) as the season goes along (aside from an IUP visit). Shepherd has a great atmosphere.

That's about it. IUP draws well. It's just the odd thing of having 6,000 in Miller and it's still a funeral home. I think this current coaching staff even refers to it as the crypt.

I can count on one hand how many times I've seen Miller come alive. It has happened, but, it's very rare. It's just an odd thing.

[IUPNation]

That's actually a very good comparison - in many, many ways.

The other reality is we talk (justifiably) about how horrible the game-day atmosphere is at Miller ... but, it's horrible just about everywhere else, too.

I've went to nearly every road game for the past 20-30 years ... with a few exceptions they are all basically the same - or worse - than Miller. SRU is crazy for IUP's visit, but it's not nearly that amped up every week. Their gate decreases (hugely) as the season goes along (aside from an IUP visit). Shepherd has a great atmosphere.

That's about it. IUP draws well. It's just the odd thing of having 6,000 in Miller and it's still a funeral home. I think this current coaching staff even refers to it as the crypt.

I can count on one hand how many times I've seen Miller come alive. It has happened, but, it's very rare. It's just an odd thing.

It wasn’t amped up in the 80’s either.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It wasn’t amped up in the 80’s either.

Two that stick out to me:

- The night game against Slippery Rock (2000-ish). Electric atmosphere. There are some great photos of the stadium from that night. The entire fence was filled around the track. The first games after the original 'Rock Dance' were great. Eyerman vs McKavish. Very heated. Tink Stennett broke a huge run late in the game to put IUP ahead. Personally, that was the loudest moment I've ever heard in Miller. It's my favorite game I've ever seen there (and, I've seen way too damn many). I don't know what the 'announced' attendance was that night, but it was the largest crowd I ever recall seeing.

- The 2021 opening win against Kutztown. It was IUP's first game back after missing the 2020 season. Oddly, a huge student contingent not only showed up but was very active. Kutztown had played the week prior and IUP didn't. You could certainly tell early on. Anyway, IUP won, 29-26, after scoring 22 points in the 4th quarter. The big moment, of course, was the tipped pass that was caught by DL Raunya Mitchell -- which turned in to the rare 'big man' pick six. That was a loud moment. IUP also played that game (and the following) with a backup QB after the starter failed his Covid test (remember those fun times?).

[Chuck Norris]

Two that stick out to me:

- The night game against Slippery Rock (2000-ish). Electric atmosphere. There are some great photos of the stadium from that night. The entire fence was filled around the track. The first games after the original 'Rock Dance' were great. Eyerman vs McKavish. Very heated. Tink Stennett broke a huge run late in the game to put IUP ahead. Personally, that was the loudest moment I've ever heard in Miller. It's my favorite game I've ever seen there (and, I've seen way too damn many). I don't know what the 'announced' attendance was that night, but it was the largest crowd I ever recall seeing.

- The 2021 opening win against Kutztown. It was IUP's first game back after missing the 2020 season. Oddly, a huge student contingent not only showed up but was very active. Kutztown had played the week prior and IUP didn't. You could certainly tell early on. Anyway, IUP won, 29-26, after scoring 22 points in the 4th quarter. The big moment, of course, was the tipped pass that was caught by DL Raunya Mitchell -- which turned in to the rare 'big man' pick six. That was a loud moment. IUP also played that game (and the following) with a backup QB after the starter failed his Covid test (remember those fun times?).

The 2012 PSAC championship was quite an atmosphere. That was the day most people expected Zach Zulli to shred IUP but instead Tort put together a game plan that went a long way toward him being named the top assistant in D2 that season.

[Iupgh]

The 2012 PSAC championship was quite an atmosphere. That was the day most people expected Zach Zulli to shred IUP but instead Tort put together a game plan that went a long way toward him being named the top assistant in D2 that season.

PSAC title game against Ship was electric. Game against Rock was 2000 week 4 Saturday night 24-21 unreal game. High end talent due to number of D1 transfers. IUP had a great month as they beat Ferris week 1 and New Haven week 2. Team finished 8-3 as soph QB Eyerman was hurt late in year. Made playoffs and lost to Northwood on road in snow 28-0 with Tink Stennet wildcat trigger.

[cwfenn]

PSAC title game against Ship was electric. Game against Rock was 2000 week 4 Saturday night 24-21 unreal game. High end talent due to number of D1 transfers. IUP had a great month as they beat Ferris week 1 and New Haven week 2. Team finished 8-3 as soph QB Eyerman was hurt late in year. Made playoffs and lost to Northwood on road in snow 28-0 with Tink Stennet wildcat trigger.

Maybe not the best place for it, but one of my favorite New Haven games was a rare win over IUP back in 1994. Chargers won by two with a last-second stop of an IUP drive and we stormed the field and freshman-year me had no awareness of my surroundings and ran straight into Roger Graham (New Haven’s GOAT). Being all of 150 pounds back then, I thankfully couldn’t do any damage.

[IUPNation]

Paris must have taken a look at Pee Sack stadiums as inspiration for the temporary stadium for these very sad opening ceremonies…

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Paris must have taken a look at Pee Sack stadiums as inspiration for the temporary stadium for these very sad opening ceremonies…

The Earth is full of then-fancy but now-deserted Olympic venues. Google it. Pretty wild photos of then and now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

PSAC title game against Ship was electric. Game against Rock was 2000 week 4 Saturday night 24-21 unreal game. High end talent due to number of D1 transfers. IUP had a great month as they beat Ferris week 1 and New Haven week 2. Team finished 8-3 as soph QB Eyerman was hurt late in year. Made playoffs and lost to Northwood on road in snow 28-0 with Tink Stennet wildcat trigger.

I was sure it was 2000 but then I remembered the (infamous) HC game of '99 and was questioning how IUP hosted SRU in back to back regular seasons (99 & 00).

Sure enough ... that's how it went.

Great memories of that night. I know I have the student video of that game on VHS. I may dig it up.

[iupgroundhog]

Maybe not the best place for it, but one of my favorite New Haven games was a rare win over IUP back in 1994. Chargers won by two with a last-second stop of an IUP drive and we stormed the field and freshman-year me had no awareness of my surroundings and ran straight into Roger Graham (New Haven’s GOAT). Being all of 150 pounds back then, I thankfully couldn’t do any damage.

I was there. It was a great game. It was really cold on that day. It was played at SCSU, right?

[Chuck Norris]

Paris must have taken a look at Pee Sack stadiums as inspiration for the temporary stadium for these very sad opening ceremonies…

I thought bringing the athletes in on boats was pretty cool, but the ceremony as a whole was disjointed and everything seemed to take forever.