THE IUP Football Thread

[Iupgh]

Cal's roster is up. Let me save all the 'they'll be down' crowd ... they won't be. Many key players return including the addition of several impact transfers.


Of interest, former IUP DL coach Anthony Leonard now has the same position with the Vulcans. He did an excellent job in Indiana prior to taking a job at Fordham.

Don’t see many transfers. In fact there best defender went D1. Tons of freshman and redshirt freshman 51 out of 100 players. That is post Covid stuff for sure. That is a huge number must of lost 2 classes.

[iupgroundhog]

#94 Williams was actually there best DL last season. He is back.

You're right. I got the names mixed up.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Don’t see many transfers. In fact there best defender went D1. Tons of freshman and redshirt freshman 51 out of 100 players. That is post Covid stuff for sure. That is a huge number must of lost 2 classes.

Not many but a couple. I've fallen in to the trap on here so many times about them being down ...

I see a lot of weapons back along with a pretty solid QB. I think that program is coached exceptionally well, too. It seems every year they take some big losses but always have the next guys ready to go.

In my own stab of predicting IUP ... that road trip certainly stands out as an 'iffy' one.



I do think that would have been one of the more entertaining games of the year last season had Karst not went down early in the second quarter. I think it was 14-14 when he went out. It was obviously over at that point.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Late addition


IUP has signed Wheeling transfer TE Jeremiah Drummond (6'2", 240 lbs).

[IUPNation]

Not getting hyped up for IUP is a better route to go….

[EyeoftheHawk]

Usually every July I'll talk to several people close to the program to get a gage on the temperature. Typically, it's the same old IUP hype train. It's been a little different this summer. Some are still in the normal 'this team is loaded' camp. Others tend to think this is a team in the 8-2 or 7-3 range. A few think worse.

Tort's been here long enough his numbers can start to get analyzed a bit.

2017 - 13-1 (PSAC Champions)
2018 - 8-3
2019 - 10-2
2021 - 7-3
2022 - 10-2 (PSAC Champions)
2023 - 6-5

Overall: 54-16

Playoff record: 3-3 (all at Miller)

Record vs Cal: 3-3
Record vs. SRU: 3-3


We haven't seen the actual roster yet (although I'm not expecting any major surprises). Anybody have a prediction?

I do think last year was simply the perfect storm -- from the Timeout to massive injuries at QB, TE, WR, RB, etc., to a star player being arrested/suspended to losing on a 53-yard FG that bounces of both posts to totally no-showing in Greensburg ... just an absolute train wreck. It did end well, albeit against inferior competition. Question is was it simply a blip?

Two of IUP's toughest games are on the road (Ashland and Cal) and don't forget about that pesky trip to Erie.

Sad to say, but I have IUP at 7-3 and likely missing the post-season. I know some things didn’t go IUP’s way last year but I also think they just weren’t that good. It’s largely the same roster this year. I don’t think they added any difference makers. The LB coming in from Millersvill, Cox, was a nice addition, but I don’t know that he’s much of an upgrade over DiNunzio-Biss. I still think QB and O-line won’t be as good as they need to be to make the playoffs. Defensively, they’re going to need a lot more out of the D-line and frankly, the D-backs stunk last year and it’s mostly the same group.

I wish I was more optimistic.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Sad to say, but I have IUP at 7-3 and likely missing the post-season. I know some things didn’t go IUP’s way last year but I also think they just weren’t that good. It’s largely the same roster this year. I don’t think they added any difference makers. The LB coming in from Millersvill, Cox, was a nice addition, but I don’t know that he’s much of an upgrade over DiNunzio-Biss. I still think QB and O-line won’t be as good as they need to be to make the playoffs. Defensively, they’re going to need a lot more out of the D-line and frankly, the D-backs stunk last year and it’s mostly the same group.

I wish I was more optimistic.

It would be extremely risky -- and, scary -- to place an actual bet on this team. I think Las Vegas would set the total wins over/under at 7.5 based on their 10-game schedule. You can certainly make a case to bet it either way.

Ironically, I'm completely torn which way it could go. Yes, last year was a disaster. And, yes, most of that team is back. But, they are a year older. Here's my two (in my mind) most likely scenarios:


The Good

at Ashland - Tort is 4-0 in this series -- but could easily be 0-4. He seems to have a little magic here. IUP wins, 24-21 (1-0)

at Lock Haven - The first half will be a fight. The Bald Eagles will certainly be hyped for this one. Tort pulls away in second half. (2-0)

at Millersville - This is a better Marauders group than the one that came to Miller years ago, but the portal hasn't been kind. IUP wins fairly easily. (3-0)

Clarion - Tort's teams are iffy in home openers. Golden Eagles hang around for a bit but IUP pulls away. (4-0)

Slippery Rock - IUP was embarrassed a year ago. That will surely be the theme all week. Tort gets his payback. (5-0)

at Edinboro - IUP (barely) wins an ugly, hungover, post-Homecoming game. (6-0)

Seton Hill - Don't think for a minute IUP isn't waiting for this one. (7-0)

at California - Tort broke the Adamson Curse two years ago - in fluke fashion. IUP will be due for a loss. It comes here. (7-1)

at Gannon - Weather will likely be a factor in early November. Another team on the payback list. (8-1)

PSAC Title Game - Tort is 2-0 in this game and will get to host it. Make that 3-0. (9-1)



The Not Good

at Ashland - As said above, Tort is 4-0 here. Barely. IUP is due for one to go the other way. (0-1)

at Lock Haven - IUP is tough off a loss. (1-1)

at Millersville - (2-1)

Clarion - (3-1)

SRU - Slow start in front of HC crowd dooms the Hawks. (3-2)

at Edinboro - (4-2)

Seton Hill - (5-2)

at California - With playoff hopes on the line IUP stumbles in Adamson -- likely in fluke fashion. (5-3)

at Gannon - IUP wins a chippy road contest (6-3)

Week 10 - Opponent TBD in front of 127 on a cold day at Miller Stadium. (7-3)

[iupgroundhog]

It would be extremely risky -- and, scary -- to place an actual bet on this team. I think Las Vegas would set the total wins over/under at 7.5 based on their 10-game schedule. You can certainly make a case to bet it either way.

Ironically, I'm completely torn which way it could go. Yes, last year was a disaster. And, yes, most of that team is back. But, they are a year older. Here's my two (in my mind) most likely scenarios:


The Good

at Ashland - Tort is 4-0 in this series -- but could easily be 0-4. He seems to have a little magic here. IUP wins, 24-21 (1-0)

at Lock Haven - The first half will be a fight. The Bald Eagles will certainly be hyped for this one. Tort pulls away in second half. (2-0)

at Millersville - This is a better Marauders group than the one that came to Miller years ago, but the portal hasn't been kind. IUP wins fairly easily. (3-0)

Clarion - Tort's teams are iffy in home openers. Golden Eagles hang around for a bit but IUP pulls away. (4-0)

Slippery Rock - IUP was embarrassed a year ago. That will surely be the theme all week. Tort gets his payback. (5-0)

at Edinboro - IUP (barely) wins an ugly, hungover, post-Homecoming game. (6-0)

Seton Hill - Don't think for a minute IUP isn't waiting for this one. (7-0)

at California - Tort broke the Adamson Curse two years ago - in fluke fashion. IUP will be due for a loss. It comes here. (7-1)

at Gannon - Weather will likely be a factor in early November. Another team on the payback list. (8-1)

PSAC Title Game - Tort is 2-0 in this game and will get to host it. Make that 3-0. (9-1)



The Not Good

at Ashland - As said above, Tort is 4-0 here. Barely. IUP is due for one to go the other way. (0-1)

at Lock Haven - IUP is tough off a loss. (1-1)

at Millersville - (2-1)

Clarion - (3-1)

SRU - Slow start in front of HC crowd dooms the Hawks. (3-2)

at Edinboro - (4-2)

Seton Hill - (5-2)

at California - With playoff hopes on the line IUP stumbles in Adamson -- likely in fluke fashion. (5-3)

at Gannon - IUP wins a chippy road contest (6-3)

Week 10 - Opponent TBD in front of 127 on a cold day at Miller Stadium. (7-3)

I have a strong preference for "The Good."

As someone mentioned, it probably comes down to the QB and OL and we won't know how they are going to be until that first game.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I have a strong preference for "The Good."

As someone mentioned, it probably comes down to the QB and OL and we won't know how they are going to be until that first game.

I suspect we see a very different Karst Hunter this year. Him missing the Spring prior to last year was a real killer. I don't think Tort (and staff) knew how to use him properly based on just Fall camp. It was almost like they wanted him to be another in the line of big-armed IUP pocket passers. He's clearly not a pocket passer. He looks the part but that isn't his game. He's a much, much bigger version of Lenny Williams in my opinion.

I still think we'll look back at those 3-4 games he missed last year as being the best thing that could have happened for him. That seemed to be his learning period and he looked much better the final two games. IUP also at least has an experienced backup now, too.

But, they have to customize things to his skill set. I thought the OC did a horrendous job doing that early last year. I get it. It's scary to have your QB running around. But, that's when he's at his best.

The OL was, frankly, mostly awful last year. They need to obviously take a major step.

I'm not in the doom/gloom camp. I think they are ready to roll. No more of that 'young team' b.s. This is no longer a young team. To be honest I'm more nervous about some of the staff than the players.

[Iupgh]

I suspect we see a very different Karst Hunter this year. Him missing the Spring prior to last year was a real killer. I don't think Tort (and staff) knew how to use him properly based on just Fall camp. It was almost like they wanted him to be another in the line of big-armed IUP pocket passers. He's clearly not a pocket passer. He looks the part but that isn't his game. He's a much, much bigger version of Lenny Williams in my opinion.

I still think we'll look back at those 3-4 games he missed last year as being the best thing that could have happened for him. That seemed to be his learning period and he looked much better the final two games. IUP also at least has an experienced backup now, too.

But, they have to customize things to his skill set. I thought the OC did a horrendous job doing that early last year. I get it. It's scary to have your QB running around. But, that's when he's at his best.

The OL was, frankly, mostly awful last year. They need to obviously take a major step.

I'm not in the doom/gloom camp. I think they are ready to roll. No more of that 'young team' b.s. This is no longer a young team. To be honest I'm more nervous about some of the staff than the players.

Valid questions for sure. I think 2 of the DB’s are high end guys Fraser and Bruce need 2 more to step up. Cox is a really good player at this level and the other transfer LB from Fake ND is very good and is a huge upgrade from whoever played with Biss. DE will be also an upgrade with the other Millersville transfer. Offensively there is weapons at RB and speed and size on the outside with the addition of the transfer wideouts who could be quite scary at this level. Hunter is the wild card, he will either light it up cause the talent and wheels are there or be a concern with the turnover bug and missed throws. We shall see as it starts on Friday.

[iupgroundhog]

IUP Roster is up on the website. Looks pretty much as expected. Don't see DE Weightman nor the WR Goodrich, who formerly was at West Florida. Other notables missing are DT Rozina, DL Murphy, DE Fowler, LB Rowe, and OL Marshall and OLSantiago ( I believe he transferred). Any that I am missing?

Comments?

https://iupathletics.com/sports/football/roster

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP Roster is up on the website. Looks pretty much as expected. Don't see DE Weightman nor the WR Goodrich, who formerly was at West Florida. Other notables missing are DT Rozina, DL Murphy, DE Fowler, LB Rowe, and OL Marshall and OLSantiago ( I believe he transferred). Any that I am missing?

Comments?

https://iupathletics.com/sports/football/roster

Fowler was suspended and/or dismissed. Last I heard he landed at a small D1 (could be Norfolk State).

Weightman missed the Spring with academic issues, correct?

[IUPalum]

Slippery Rock wins the recruiting battle again.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Slippery Rock wins the recruiting battle again.

If Weightman doesn't reappear on the roster that's two huge losses for the defense -- before the first practice.

It doesn't appear he has transferred, however.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'd assume some new names appear very shortly (similar to the former Wheeling player who arrived Thursday).

By my count that's already three lost for the season -- WR Omar Stewart, DL Jacobs and now DE Weightman (likely).

Not a good start.