THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Looking around, Tort was correct that there is still a ray of hope. While most on here don't believe it (or him), I'll play along. After all, I don't think you're officially dead this year until you get that third loss. Up until then, you may still have a faint shot.

Obviously, IUP has to go 4-0.

For blanks and giggles, here's a look at 12 of the teams currently ahead of IUP (some of them have very tough roads ahead):

-

Kutztown	If there's a team that appears full-proof, it's the Bears
SRU	It's possible they lose at Cal but not likely. I'd bet they enter the State Game undefeated
Charleston	Still has Frostburg State and West Virginia State
New Haven	(1) loss / still has to play at Assumption
Assumption	(1) loss / still has to play New Haven
California	SRU this week and IUP next week. Don't forget Edinboro the following. Very tough 3-game stretch for the Vulcans.
ESU	Sitting on (1) loss. Still has West Chester, LH and Shepherd.
Frostburg State	Horrendous SOS / perhaps must-win game against Charleston this weekend. Also still has West Virginia State looming.
West Virginia State	(1) loss ... still has to play Frostburg State and Charleston
Findlay	Got blasted against only good team its played so far
Ashland	Has won 4 straight / has 2 losses. IUP has head-to-head
Bentley	4-2 ... fairly easy rest of way

-

Wishful thinking is about all this team has left as of this moment. But, as shown above, a lot of that list is going to take care of itself in the next couple weeks. A lot of those teams are going head-to-head. Tort's team (amazingly) isn't actually dead yet. His playoff season just starts in 48 hours.

This exact scenario has happened here before (with incredible results). Can 'this' team actually catch fire, though, is the question. If Team Timeout can go 4-0 ... they have a shot.

So, no need to que the coach speak. The next game IS the most important game. There's no tomorrow if they mope around and lose Saturday.

[IUP24]

It's kind of strange to me that Joe is not attuned to the transfer portal because he always did exceptionally well with transfers before the portal.

The NCAA's rule changes related to allowing unlimited free transfers and immediate eligibility is what effectively killed the competitive advantage that Joe (and many others) had in recruiting. To the above point about taking transfers with multiple years of eligibility, that is accurate. The issue is that there are far, far fewer of those guys dropping down a level than before because of the recent rule changes.

He also rarely ever had big program transfers (Mathis Keita came from Gonzaga, so he was one example). He hit it big with a ton of lower end D1 players. Guys who were right on the fringe of D1. The ones who worked out, and there were many, were normally great fits.

Joe was actually on a podcast two years ago talking about this. He stated that there were way more D1 guys looking to drop down to D2 because they could play immediately. Now that's not the case anymore. So instead of David Morris transferring from Tennessee State to IUP, he would have just transferred to St. Peters or Niagra. That's just an example. The allure for all of these guys is at the D1 level. So they would rather transfer 3 times and play at 4 different schools to remain a D1 player rather than drop down a level. Not all have that mindset, but plenty do. I don't agree with it, but it's where we are at.

[ironmaniup]

Looking around, Tort was correct that there is still a ray of hope. While most on here don't believe it (or him), I'll play along. After all, I don't think you're officially dead this year until you get that third loss. Up until then, you may still have a faint shot.

Obviously, IUP has to go 4-0.

For blanks and giggles, here's a look at 12 of the teams currently ahead of IUP (some of them have very tough roads ahead):

-

Kutztown	If there's a team that appears full-proof, it's the Bears
SRU	It's possible they lose at Cal but not likely. I'd bet they enter the State Game undefeated
Charleston	Still has Frostburg State and West Virginia State
New Haven	(1) loss / still has to play at Assumption
Assumption	(1) loss / still has to play New Haven
California	SRU this week and IUP next week. Don't forget Edinboro the following. Very tough 3-game stretch for the Vulcans.
ESU	Sitting on (1) loss. Still has West Chester, LH and Shepherd.
Frostburg State	Horrendous SOS / perhaps must-win game against Charleston this weekend. Also still has West Virginia State looming.
West Virginia State	(1) loss ... still has to play Frostburg State and Charleston
Findlay	Got blasted against only good team its played so far
Ashland	Has won 4 straight / has 2 losses. IUP has head-to-head
Bentley	4-2 ... fairly easy rest of way

-

Wishful thinking is about all this team has left as of this moment. But, as shown above, a lot of that list is going to take care of itself in the next couple weeks. A lot of those teams are going head-to-head. Tort's team (amazingly) isn't actually dead yet. His playoff season just starts in 48 hours.

This exact scenario has happened here before (with incredible results). Can 'this' team actually catch fire, though, is the question. If Team Timeout can go 4-0 ... they have a shot.

So, no need to que the coach speak. The next game IS the most important game. There's no tomorrow if they mope around and lose Saturday.

injuries also play a large part. Loose a QB or another key player, and teams can loose to anyone. There is always some inexplicable upsets at the end of the season. Remember the Gannon QB having his best day ever and beating a really good IUP late season - a couple times. A rotten Bloom team upsetting WC, Rock losing to a hapless Clarion team. That will happen and throw a wrench into the rankings we expect.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Interesting item tomorrow regarding the 'confusion' defense (or whatever the heck it's actually called):

Through (6) games, Seton Hill is giving up just 2.83 points per game in the first quarter.

As teams adjust, that number obviously goes up.

Following the trend, it kind of works out because IUP takes the first quarter off of most games anyway.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There is (as expected) an enormous amount of unsold tickets for today. That doesn't mean there won't be a nice walk-up gate on a beautiful day. But, as of now, this is probably projecting to be a 1,200 crowd.

I could care less about the phony announced gates. But, hopefully some humans show up.


I also wish:

IUP doesn't play to the opponent -- meaning play their game.

The game isn't close at the end. We know what will happen.

Tort doesn't start every question this coming Monday with "If we'd have done ...". Just do it.

Jack isn't the RB by halftime. IUP is on that pace.

[IUPNation]

There is (as expected) an enormous amount of unsold tickets for today. That doesn't mean there won't be a nice walk-up gate on a beautiful day. But, as of now, this is probably projecting to be a 1,200 crowd.

I could care less about the phony announced gates. But, hopefully some humans show up.


I also wish:

IUP doesn't play to the opponent -- meaning play their game.

The game isn't close at the end. We know what will happen.

Tort doesn't start every question this coming Monday with "If we'd have done ...". Just do it.

Jack isn't the RB by halftime. IUP is on that pace.

It’s been a low energy vibe all season and of course we have been cursed.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It’s been a low energy vibe all season and of course we have been cursed.

It's been low on here compared to most years but the crowds were actually very good both home games.

Today will return to the crypt. That's what happens when you pi$$ two games away.

I don't know what to expect from Team Tort today. A juiced up, violent team wouldn't shock me. A typical Tort hangover team wouldn't, either.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This is an X's and O's type game against this gimmick defense.

... not a strength of this staff

[CUlater]

So in your mind...it's okay to taunt and insult if your are the home team and the visiting team who lost should just bend over and take it?

Were you there? Did you hear what was said? If not, Why are you automatically assuming only the IUP person is at fault?

What happened to winning with some class and maybe Edinboro doesn't know how to do that since they really don't win that often in the last decade or so...........

When Clarion got crushed at The Cig...did your team have to run a gauntlet of insults and taunting? Asking for a friend.

you know what, you're exactly right. I guess I never thought about it from that perspective before Nation, thank you for enlightening me. Lets hope that those fans and players at Boro learned a valuable lesson from the IUP coaches and players. And lets hope the word is out now as well so the Griffins don't come to town today with similar intentions. It would suck to have threaten to beat up a bunch of old fans in back to back weeks after handing a game away but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do right.

[EyeoftheHawk]

It's been low on here compared to most years but the crowds were actually very good both home games.

Today will return to the crypt. That's what happens when you pi$$ two games away.

I don't know what to expect from Team Tort today. A juiced up, violent team wouldn't shock me. A typical Tort hangover team wouldn't, either.

Yep, I won’t be there and I can walk to the place. I have better things to do on a nice Saturday than watching this matchup of mediocre teams.

[iupgroundhog]

This is an X's and O's type game against this gimmick defense.

... not a strength of this staff

I don't think they will be able to handle Massey and/or Ridley, gimmicks or no gimmicks.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I don't think they will be able to handle Massey and/or Ridley, gimmicks or no gimmicks.

This (to me) is clear as day.

(1) They beat the heck out of SH

(2) They feel sorry for themselves, mope and lose.


It's going to be one or the other. I don't see another close game.

I think there's just enough of a carrot still dangling that IUP is actually focused today.

[iupgroundhog]

This (to me) is clear as day.

(1) They beat the heck out of SH

(2) They feel sorry for themselves, mope and lose.


It's going to be one or the other. I don't see another close game.

I think there's just enough of a carrot still dangling that IUP is actually focused today.

If they do #2 (no pun intended), then it's next year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Late October and 70-some and sunny. Much different that past couple years.

[iupgroundhog]

Late October and 70-some and sunny. Much different that past couple years.

Isn't global warming great?