THE IUP Football Thread

[iupgroundhog]

Very upbeat articles in the IG today about IUP. Looks like Houser is the starter at RB. Also, since Santos hasn't practiced enough Chuck Ingram is starting at LB.

Can't wait to see IUP play on Thursday.

[iupgroundhog]

Another article in the IG by Matt is about increasing scholarship limits in college FBS football from 85 to 105 next year. This is going to be devastating for D2 football during the transition and water down the talent pool thereafter.

The changes are even more pronounced in minor sports. For example in college wrestling the NCAA has limited roster size to 30 athletes but increased the scholarship limit from 9.9 to 30. Yes, 30. In a sport already dominated by the Big 10 and Big 12, it's likely going to make it nearly impossible for other schools to compete, particularly the D1 PSAC wrestling schools (Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, Edinboro, and Clarion).

As I think everybody on here realizes, we are witnessing the professionalization of college sports. Sad, IMO.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Very upbeat articles in the IG today about IUP. Looks like Houser is the starter at RB. Also, since Santos hasn't practiced enough Chuck Ingram is starting at LB.

Can't wait to see IUP play on Thursday.

Isn't Ingram a DB? He's not very big to be playing LB?

[iupgroundhog]

Isn't Ingram a DB? He's not very big to be playing LB?

Yes, but he did play LB in the spring.

[IUPNation]

The DL from Notre Dame (OH) that signed with IUP - but then somehow left and signed with Kent State -- didn't record any defensive statistics in KSU's loss at Pitt. It appears he only played on Special Teams.

I get it's 'D1' and all ... but going from an every snap player to a special teams guy (as a senior) has to suck.

Proof that the grass isn’t always greener someplace else…

[Ship69]

Another article in the IG by Matt is about increasing scholarship limits in college FBS football from 85 to 105 next year. This is going to be devastating for D2 football during the transition and water down the talent pool thereafter.

The changes are even more pronounced in minor sports. For example in college wrestling the NCAA has limited roster size to 30 athletes but increased the scholarship limit from 9.9 to 30. Yes, 30. In a sport already dominated by the Big 10 and Big 12, it's likely going to make it nearly impossible for other schools to compete, particularly the D1 PSAC wrestling schools (Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, Edinboro, and Clarion).

As I think everybody on here realizes, we are witnessing the professionalization of college sports. Sad, IMO.

A lot of it will depend on how the D1 schools decide to allocate their scholarships. They'll be able to offer partial scholarships in football for the first time, so it's possible many will allocate 85-90 scholarships and then use partial scholarships for players who formerly would have been walk-ons. Some schools with traditionally strong walk-on programs have been carrying as many as 120 players already, which would be limited to 105 under the new plan, actually freeing more players in that case. There also is a point of view that once you get past 85-90 scholarships you're going to be carrying quite a few kids who won't play much anyway.

And scholarship limits in some of the other sports will jump as much or more than football. Baseball's scholarship cap, for example, jumps from 11.7 to 34. A school such as Vanderbilt, which has had a strong baseball program, but has not fared well in football, might decide to throw more scholarship money toward baseball since with their academic standards it's doubtful they'll ever be a football powerhouse in the SEC. Minnesota makes good money off its hockey program, and that sport jumps from a cap of 18 to 26. Wrestling goes from 9.9 to 30, and I think you could expect Penn State and some of the other Big Ten schools to throw some extra scholies at that.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A lot of it will depend on how the D1 schools decide to allocate their scholarships. They'll be able to offer partial scholarships in football for the first time, so it's possible many will allocate 85-90 scholarships and then use partial scholarships for players who formerly would have been walk-ons. Some schools with traditionally strong walk-on programs have been carrying as many as 120 players already, which would be limited to 105 under the new plan, actually freeing more players in that case. There also is a point of view that once you get past 85-90 scholarships you're going to be carrying quite a few kids who won't play much anyway.

And scholarship limits in some of the other sports will jump as much or more than football. Baseball's scholarship cap, for example, jumps from 11.7 to 34. A school such as Vanderbilt, which has had a strong baseball program, but has not fared well in football, might decide to throw more scholarship money toward baseball since with their academic standards it's doubtful they'll ever be a football powerhouse in the SEC. Minnesota makes good money off its hockey program, and that sport jumps from a cap of 18 to 26. Wrestling goes from 9.9 to 30, and I think you could expect Penn State and some of the other Big Ten schools to throw some extra scholies at that.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Unrelated but pull up the 2024 Mount Union team photo today. There must be 175 players dressed in the photo. That's a serious enrollment booster considering a massive chunk is paying their own tab. It reminded me of the old Wheeling University men's basketball photos when they'd have 39 players dressed.

For those making the trip to Ashland tomorrow, you'll notice another 50 players or so wearing Ashland jerseys in the stands. They have a 'freshman' team or 'JV' team ... whatever they call it. I'm not sure if they can pull from it it as needed as the season goes or not.

[Fightingscot82]

Unrelated but pull up the 2024 Mount Union team photo today. There must be 175 players dressed in the photo. That's a serious enrollment booster considering a massive chunk is paying their own tab. It reminded me of the old Wheeling University men's basketball photos when they'd have 39 players dressed.

For those making the trip to Ashland tomorrow, you'll notice another 50 players or so wearing Ashland jerseys in the stands. They have a 'freshman' team or 'JV' team ... whatever they call it. I'm not sure if they can pull from it it as needed as the season goes or not.

That's pretty common for private school D3. A close friend is an upper administrator at Washington & Jefferson and says they bring in 60-75 new kids a year and keep about 150. You do see private D3's doing old school freshman & JV teams that are de facto club teams. Athletics at private D3 schools is essentially a ruse to get students in the door hoping they get too comfortable and happy to leave over playing time.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's pretty common for private school D3. A close friend is an upper administrator at Washington & Jefferson and says they bring in 60-75 new kids a year and keep about 150. You do see private D3's doing old school freshman & JV teams that are de facto club teams. Athletics at private D3 schools is essentially a ruse to get students in the door hoping they get too comfortable and happy to leave over playing time.

So, in Ashland's case (or any D2 team having a freshman/JV team) ... can they pull from it if need be during the season? Or, are the varsity team and 'JV' team treated as separate entities?

[Fightingscot82]

So, in Ashland's case (or any D2 team having a freshman/JV team) ... can they pull from it if need be during the season? Or, are the varsity team and 'JV' team treated as separate entities?

Yep. Its like how football players will pick up a season of basketball. As long as they're NCAA eligible. JV & freshman teams don't exist in the eyes of the NCAA.

All these extra scholarship players at P4 schools are going to become glorified practice players. Good enough to run plays against first stringers but when your all american linebacker gets in his hits, he's not threatening your QB of the future.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Very upbeat articles in the IG today about IUP. Looks like Houser is the starter at RB. Also, since Santos hasn't practiced enough Chuck Ingram is starting at LB.

Can't wait to see IUP play on Thursday.

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."


This team is much better than what everybody has been led to believe. As for some guys maybe not playing tomorrow? Well, don't believe everything you hear.

They are ready to go.

[Fightingscot82]

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."


This team is much better than what everybody has been led to believe. As for some guys maybe not playing tomorrow? Well, don't believe everything you hear.

They are ready to go.

That's a terrific sandbag job you've pulled this week lol

[Ship69]

That's pretty common for private school D3. A close friend is an upper administrator at Washington & Jefferson and says they bring in 60-75 new kids a year and keep about 150. You do see private D3's doing old school freshman & JV teams that are de facto club teams. Athletics at private D3 schools is essentially a ruse to get students in the door hoping they get too comfortable and happy to leave over playing time.

One of my grandsons had a cup of coffee on the Geneva College team and I was amazed how many kids they had on their roster. It probably was 120 or more.

[IUPNation]

That's a terrific sandbag job you've pulled this week lol

He must have been hanging out on the Northwest Misery forum..they are expert sandbaggers.

[unc4life]

Yep. Its like how football players will pick up a season of basketball. As long as they're NCAA eligible. JV & freshman teams don't exist in the eyes of the NCAA.

All these extra scholarship players at P4 schools are going to become glorified practice players. Good enough to run plays against first stringers but when your all american linebacker gets in his hits, he's not threatening your QB of the future.

While this is true...I don't remember a time in which a "JV" team player was called up during the middle of the season at Ashland. In fact I would say about less than 1% of those players over the years actually make the varsity roster at some point. It does happen, but very very rare. I would say the turnover rate for those players is very high.