THE IUP Football Thread

[iupgroundhog]

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.

There will probably be some additions to the list. Is Stewart out for '24? He had a broken bone 3-4 months ago?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There will probably be some additions to the list. Is Stewart out for '24? He had a broken bone 3-4 months ago?

It was a gruesome broken bone. Put it that way. I would be absolutely shocked if he plays this year.

[EyeoftheHawk]

A ton to unpack from Matt’s article in today’s Indiana Gazette. I’ll try to hit the highlights:

- Cole Weightman flunked out. I know some recognize this as a big loss but I don’t really. He had some moments but I think the newcomers are better.
- The Quadir Jacobs incident was explained. He had blood clots in both lungs and probably only survived because the incident happened in the Field House where there were people to save him. He’s on blood thinners now and his return to football is questionable but won’t be anytime soon. He’s a lucky young man.
- NDC transfer DL Lavell Gibson left IUP after he got NIL cash from Kent State. That’s a bigger loss than Weightman.
- There are 13 players not on the fall roster that were on the spring roster. Not going to rehash all of them here as the most significant were mentioned in previous posts.

And finally, this is pretty astonishing. Apparently our good friends at “cough, cough” D1 Mercyhurst didn’t want to take a loss to a D2 opponent this fall. Directly from the article: Tortorella said when Mercyhurst announced it was leaving Division II and the PSAC, he still wanted to play the Lakers on Nov. 9. He even made overtures to the Lakers and their head coach, Ryan Remedio, but it didn’t work out. “I tried to contact (Remedio) three times,” he said, “but he never returned my call.”

[Ram040506]

A ton to unpack from Matt’s article in today’s Indiana Gazette. I’ll try to hit the highlights:

- Cole Weightman flunked out. I know some recognize this as a big loss but I don’t really. He had some moments but I think the newcomers are better.
- The Quadir Jacobs incident was explained. He had blood clots in both lungs and probably only survived because the incident happened in the Field House where there were people to save him. He’s on blood thinners now and his return to football is questionable but won’t be anytime soon. He’s a lucky young man.
- NDC transfer DL Lavell Gibson left IUP after he got NIL cash from Kent State. That’s a bigger loss than Weightman.
- There are 13 players not on the fall roster that were on the spring roster. Not going to rehash all of them here as the most significant were mentioned in previous posts.

And finally, this is pretty astonishing. Apparently our good friends at “cough, cough” D1 Mercyhurst didn’t want to take a loss to a D2 opponent this fall. Directly from the article: Tortorella said when Mercyhurst announced it was leaving Division II and the PSAC, he still wanted to play the Lakers on Nov. 9. He even made overtures to the Lakers and their head coach, Ryan Remedio, but it didn’t work out. “I tried to contact (Remedio) three times,” he said, “but he never returned my call.”

Mercyhurst is a joke, but if I were a new D1 program I wouldn't want to schedule a team that historically beat the crap out of us every year either and was a division down from us.

[Fightingscot82]

Does Tort leave a voicemail or message? LOL It seems like nobody calls him back

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A ton to unpack from Matt’s article in today’s Indiana Gazette. I’ll try to hit the highlights:

- Cole Weightman flunked out. I know some recognize this as a big loss but I don’t really. He had some moments but I think the newcomers are better.
- The Quadir Jacobs incident was explained. He had blood clots in both lungs and probably only survived because the incident happened in the Field House where there were people to save him. He’s on blood thinners now and his return to football is questionable but won’t be anytime soon. He’s a lucky young man.
- NDC transfer DL Lavell Gibson left IUP after he got NIL cash from Kent State. That’s a bigger loss than Weightman.
- There are 13 players not on the fall roster that were on the spring roster. Not going to rehash all of them here as the most significant were mentioned in previous posts.

And finally, this is pretty astonishing. Apparently our good friends at “cough, cough” D1 Mercyhurst didn’t want to take a loss to a D2 opponent this fall. Directly from the article: Tortorella said when Mercyhurst announced it was leaving Division II and the PSAC, he still wanted to play the Lakers on Nov. 9. He even made overtures to the Lakers and their head coach, Ryan Remedio, but it didn’t work out. “I tried to contact (Remedio) three times,” he said, “but he never returned my call.”

How in the world does a potential star player flunk out? Good Lord. This isn't Yale. About the only way you could possibly flunk out of freaking IUP right now is by simply not attending class.

Does the program no longer receive grade updates/attendance throughout the semester? I fully get it's ultimately on the player but obviously some need a little extra assistance/motivation.

It will be interesting where he lands. I can already make an educated guess.

[EyeoftheHawk]

How in the world does a potential star player flunk out? Good Lord. This isn't Yale. About the only way you could possibly flunk out of freaking IUP right now is by simply not attending class.

Does the program no longer receive grade updates/attendance throughout the semester? I fully get it's ultimately on the player but obviously some need a little extra assistance/motivation.

It will be interesting where he lands. I can already make an educated guess.

Not everyone is “college material” is the simplest way to put it. I don’t think he’ll turn up anywhere and I suspect he’s already joined the workforce. In all likelihood he played his last down of football at IUP last fall.

[Ship69]

How in the world does a potential star player flunk out? Good Lord. This isn't Yale. About the only way you could possibly flunk out of freaking IUP right now is by simply not attending class.

Does the program no longer receive grade updates/attendance throughout the semester? I fully get it's ultimately on the player but obviously some need a little extra assistance/motivation.

It will be interesting where he lands. I can already make an educated guess.

Grading has gotten a lot more lax at both the high school and college levels. Any high school teacher who attempted to grade the same way my teachers did many years ago probably would be run out of town on a rail today. My first two years at high school were at a large suburban Chicago high school that has made many state and national lists of best high schools over the years. We had two honor rolls, a "B" honor roll for a 3.0 average and a high honor roll that required a 3.5 (basically two "A" and two "B" grades). I have a clipping my mother cut out from one marking period because I made the "B" honor roll. Out of 750 kids in our freshman class, a total of six (not a typo) made the high honor roll that term. And our student body wasn't a bunch of dummies by any means. Many were the sons and daughters of business execs, doctors, downtown lawyers, etc. It just was hard as hell to get an "A" back then, and it wasn't easy in college either, even when I was at Ship. When I see the number of cum laude graduates these days, I know things have changed. And, hey, there are some outstanding students who fully deserve the grades, but obviously it has gotten easier to make the Dean's List.

That said, even though grade inflation is the rule these days, a certain minimum is expected of you at college. Most professors expect you to show up for class and complete the assignments that are given. There are some kids, for whatever reason, who refuse to meet this minimum standard and they are gone. I know the coaches at Ship make the effort to keep track of the kids and get them their degrees, but sometimes it just doesn't take. I'm sure that's true of our PSAC schools in general. There was a powerful incentive to study in my day as failure to do so might result in an expenses-paid trip to Southeast Asia, courtesy of the U.S. Army.

[iupgroundhog]

Not everyone is “college material” is the simplest way to put it. I don’t think he’ll turn up anywhere and I suspect he’s already joined the workforce. In all likelihood he played his last down of football at IUP last fall.

You are probably right. He did play well for IUP and was all-conference. I think for him to move on and rejuvenate his football career he has some obstacles - one being his size and another being out of football for at least a year. (one would think).

[iupgroundhog]

After reading Matt's article there are clearly some question marks going into the season. I think the secondary (DB's and LB's) is great. On offense they have a full stable of RB's (as usual), a strong QB room, and receivers WR and TE look good. We have an experienced kicker and punter.

Where they really needed to make a splash was on the DL and they sort of failed in that attempt. On the OL, they lack depth, IMO. Hopefully, that group has matured and stays healthy.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

After reading Matt's article there are clearly some question marks going into the season. I think the secondary (DB's and LB's) is great. On offense they have a full stable of RB's (as usual), a strong QB room, and receivers WR and TE look good. We have an experienced kicker and punter.

Where they really needed to make a splash was on the DL and they sort of failed in that attempt. On the OL, they lack depth, IMO. Hopefully, that group has matured and stays healthy.

Speaking of WRs, didn't they add another transfer from Colorado Mesa this past Spring? I don't see him on the roster.

They have some burners but very little size beyond Ridley. With two already lost for the season I wonder if this is a spot they are still shopping.

[Ship69]

After reading Matt's article there are clearly some question marks going into the season. I think the secondary (DB's and LB's) is great. On offense they have a full stable of RB's (as usual), a strong QB room, and receivers WR and TE look good. We have an experienced kicker and punter.

Where they really needed to make a splash was on the DL and they sort of failed in that attempt. On the OL, they lack depth, IMO. Hopefully, that group has matured and stays healthy.

How great to have someone actually writing articles about your team.

[iupgroundhog]

Speaking of WRs, didn't they add another transfer from Colorado Mesa this past Spring? I don't see him on the roster.

They have some burners but very little size beyond Ridley. With two already lost for the season I wonder if this is a spot they are still shopping.

Good point. I think they will rely on Ridley heavily. Cyair Clark showed a lot of potential last year. There is Isaiah Houser and Deabner is reliable in his 5th year. Randy Washington is listed as a RB. Washington, Monaco, and Adam Houser could provide a lot of versatility and be used as a flanker-type. There are a lot of weapons there. You are right. None of those guys are big.

[IUPalum]

Not everyone is “college material” is the simplest way to put it. I don’t think he’ll turn up anywhere and I suspect he’s already joined the workforce. In all likelihood he played his last down of football at IUP last fall.

Joined the work force? That's laughable!!!

[EyeoftheHawk]

Joined the work force? That's laughable!!!

What’s laughable about that?