THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Hey don't bring Clarion into this. You guys like to talk about Indiana, we are talking about Indiana. You know i've thought this for years, yes that record is phenomenal but if you take care of the locker room issues and develop some culture that becomes 4 PSAC titles and at least 2 regional titles over the last 6. Good problems to have and like it's been said on here many times, most would kill to be in that position. My issue with it is that I feel in over half of those years you under achieved (even with a great record). When you are blessed with the position that IUP has been in and you put together top end talent from year to year...you have to take advantage of it more often. Many of the games that they lose they are the more talented team, and the more poorly coached team. I've watched football in this conference for a long time. tell me i'm wrong?

Tort's (11) losses (in order):

2017

1. West Florida (27-17) - IUP came out flat before at least making a game of it in second half. But, you have to win home games in the Final Four.

2018

2. @ California (36-24) - The infamous 'pick six' as IUP was going in to put the game away. Terrible loss.

3. Slippery Rock (30-27) - IUP was hammered in the first half before taking the lead late in the game. Roland Rivers led a last-minute drive to win it -- converting a key 4th and 7 that would have ended the game.

4. Shippensburg (45-21) - The 'we quit' game. IUP was out of the playoffs and appeared to have zero interest in this game.

2019

5. @ Slippery Rock (45-42) - Incredible game. Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose.

6. Shepherd (31-27) - Another incredible game. Bagent led a last-drive TD for the win.

2021

7. Shepherd (37-21) - Multiple starters out including starting QB. IUP got walloped.

8. California (38-34) - Cal scored winning TD with seconds remaining. IUP gave up 21 points in 4th quarter ... one of worst losses at Miller in recent memory. The Irv Charles wide open drop for a clear TD would have put the game away. Instead, it gave hope -- and all hell broke loose.

9. Edinboro (21-17) - The worst loss in Miller Stadium in decades (maybe ever).

2022

10. @ Gannon (43-36) - IUP's worst defensive showing in memory. To its credit, Gannon's offense was incredible that day.

11. Shepherd (48-13) - Three weeks after defeating Shepherd, the Rams clobbered IUP.




So, I'll give you IUP was the 'better team' and never should have lost in 3 of the 11 defeats (Ship, Edinboro, Gannon).

Of the others, it is my opinion IUP should not have lost games 2, 3, 6 and 8. That's not because they had better talent. Those Cal teams and SRU (Rivers) teams were exceptionally strong and very equal. **** happens. Game 6 (Shepherd) was a game IUP had to finish and shouldn't have lost. That was a heartbreaker.

[CUlater]

You nailed it. Tort is a terrible 48-11 as head coach. That's a crappy 81.3 winning percentage. He's only won two PSAC titles in five seasons and one Regional title. Unacceptable.

If he and his staff were better at developing players, they'd have a much better record than 48-11. Hell, he should be 59-0 at this point.

They'll be lucky to win 2 or 3 games this year.

Clarion is the clear favorite in the Region. The Fly will rule the landscape. From what I'm hearing/seeing, the Golden Eagles will be pitching shutouts while scoring 50+ weekly.

IUP should be terrified of this upcoming season.

Hey don't bring Clarion into this. You guys like to talk about Indiana, we are talking about Indiana. You know i've thought this for years, yes that record is phenomenal but if you take care of the locker room issues and develop some culture that becomes 4 PSAC titles and at least 2 regional titles over the last 6. Good problems to have and like it's been said on here many times, most would kill to be in that position. My issue with it is that I feel in over half of those years you under achieved (even with a great record). When you are blessed with the position that IUP has been in and you put together top end talent from year to year...you have to take advantage of it more often. Many of the games that they lose they are the more talented team, and the more poorly coached team. I've watched football in this conference for a long time. tell me i'm wrong?

[Ram040506]

They are all 100 percent committed. Some are even a whopping 110 percent committed. The ones who go totally cray are even 1,000 percent committed. They are all blessed and can't wait to work.

Playing for multiple schools isn't the black eye it was a decade ago. It's just the new normal. Scholarships are year-to-year and now so are players. If both Shepherd and IUP signed this kid I have to trust there's some talent. It's now up to the staff to keep his head on straight -- at least for the next four months.

I had no idea he was at Millersville previously. Like most players, he'll probably end up being never heard from again. But I do remember the Shepherd coaching staff being excited about his commitment so there is definitely some talent there. Hopefully IUP can bring it out of him, because this is probably the last chance.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

I say good luck to you, I hope it works out but I don't think this is going to be the team everyone thought it would be say a month or two ago. at least not from what i'm hearing/seeing. time will tell.

Hearing from who? And seeing from who? From my sources Karst Hunter is better than any QB IUP has had in the past 10 years. Yes it’s August 3rd so time will tell.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP has found some defensive line help by signing Cyler Rozina from Lackawanna College. His recruitment path seems like quite the affair as he had many D2 and a couple D1 offers. He signed briefly with Shepherd before announcing on Twitter yesterday that he’s 100% committed to IUP. Of course in January he Tweeted that he was 100% committed to Shepherd before jumping into the transfer portal in May. Anyway, he’s not heavy but still good sized at 6’3” and about 260 lbs.

They are all 100 percent committed. Some are even a whopping 110 percent committed. The ones who go totally cray are even 1,000 percent committed. They are all blessed and can't wait to work.

Playing for multiple schools isn't the black eye it was a decade ago. It's just the new normal. Scholarships are year-to-year and now so are players. If both Shepherd and IUP signed this kid I have to trust there's some talent. It's now up to the staff to keep his head on straight -- at least for the next four months.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

4th school inside of 2 years....I think we can all read between the lines here. Hopefully they've built a stronger culture than in the past but it has never been a strong suit of this staff. strong recruiters, not so strong at development and building character/discipline....

You nailed it. Tort is a terrible 48-11 as head coach. That's a crappy 81.3 winning percentage. He's only won two PSAC titles in five seasons and one Regional title. Unacceptable.

If he and his staff were better at developing players, they'd have a much better record than 48-11. Hell, he should be 59-0 at this point.

They'll be lucky to win 2 or 3 games this year.

Clarion is the clear favorite in the Region. The Fly will rule the landscape. From what I'm hearing/seeing, the Golden Eagles will be pitching shutouts while scoring 50+ weekly.

IUP should be terrified of this upcoming season.

[CUlater]

Was at Millersville prior to Shepherd. From what I understand they were not too excited about his maturity....

4th school inside of 2 years....I think we can all read between the lines here. Hopefully they've built a stronger culture than in the past but it has never been a strong suit of this staff. strong recruiters, not so strong at development and building character/discipline....

[CUlater]

That’s funny I heard the exact opposite. In fact the old Clarion Eagle has looked unreal and they expect a monster year from him. Also the 3 transfer OL are physically imposing in person. With the best OL coach in the region the OL without a doubt the best unit on roster. And to think they may get a guy with 30 career starts granted another year of eligibility. So u say???

I say good luck to you, I hope it works out but I don't think this is going to be the team everyone thought it would be say a month or two ago. at least not from what i'm hearing/seeing. time will tell.

[Boro33]

Oh interesting. From what I had heard Shepherd was pretty excited about him. Wonder why it didn’t work out, but good pull for IUP either way I’d think.

Was at Millersville prior to Shepherd. From what I understand they were not too excited about his maturity....

[Ram040506]

IUP has found some defensive line help by signing Cyler Rozina from Lackawanna College. His recruitment path seems like quite the affair as he had many D2 and a couple D1 offers. He signed briefly with Shepherd before announcing on Twitter yesterday that he’s 100% committed to IUP. Of course in January he Tweeted that he was 100% committed to Shepherd before jumping into the transfer portal in May. Anyway, he’s not heavy but still good sized at 6’3” and about 260 lbs.

Oh interesting. From what I had heard Shepherd was pretty excited about him. Wonder why it didn’t work out, but good pull for IUP either way I’d think.

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP has found some defensive line help by signing Cyler Rozina from Lackawanna College. His recruitment path seems like quite the affair as he had many D2 and a couple D1 offers. He signed briefly with Shepherd before announcing on Twitter yesterday that he’s 100% committed to IUP. Of course in January he Tweeted that he was 100% committed to Shepherd before jumping into the transfer portal in May. Anyway, he’s not heavy but still good sized at 6’3” and about 260 lbs.

[Iupgh]

I think I'd be getting very concerned if i was an Indiana fan about now. The word I'm hearing is a lot of the talent brought in has disappointed thus far in summer workouts. guys not returning, injuries, this thing is coming off the rails quick. I'll wait to pop into a camp practice or two before making my final assessment but as of now, things are looking a little shaky at best.

That’s funny I heard the exact opposite. In fact the old Clarion Eagle has looked unreal and they expect a monster year from him. Also the 3 transfer OL are physically imposing in person. With the best OL coach in the region the OL without a doubt the best unit on roster. And to think they may get a guy with 30 career starts granted another year of eligibility. So u say???

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think I'd be getting very concerned if i was an Indiana fan about now. The word I'm hearing is a lot of the talent brought in has disappointed thus far in summer workouts. guys not returning, injuries, this thing is coming off the rails quick. I'll wait to pop into a camp practice or two before making my final assessment but as of now, things are looking a little shaky at best.

3-7 at best

[CUlater]

I think I'd be getting very concerned if i was an Indiana fan about now. The word I'm hearing is a lot of the talent brought in has disappointed thus far in summer workouts. guys not returning, injuries, this thing is coming off the rails quick. I'll wait to pop into a camp practice or two before making my final assessment but as of now, things are looking a little shaky at best.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A key point here is that all teams have these “issues” to deal with, which I didn’t mention in my post. I would also agree that Tort tends to understate what he has and overstate his problem areas. He’s an experienced guy when it comes to the media.

Tort is pretty careful about what he says in the newspaper. That's the main reason I love the Hawk Talk Show during the season. Both him and Lombardi occasionally slip up and reveal some info that normally wouldn't make the articles. As expected Jack is pretty careful what he asks them. Usually the 'slips' come when the coaches get asked the fan questions. The fans often ask more direct questions relating to specific items, so I think they get caught off guard a bit and can't rely on the same boring 'coach speak' answers. It's also 'live' on air so there's no going back.

Lombardi is by far the best interview around -- on many levels. He can be asked what day it is ... and his answer will be a 6-minute diatribe about playing for one another. It will sound fantastic and you'll be enthralled ... but then realize he totally blew off your question. Then the interview ends. LOL.