THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPNation]

They weren't competitive in the first half. That was a game in the second half.

BTW, IUP has been over-hyped since before you were born. It's a yearly tradition.

One losing season in 40 years will do that…

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Perhaps if IUP took on the mantra of Taylor Swift, they could compete outside of the Region. After all, Taylor Swift is pulling in 8-10 million dollars a night on tour, and if you correlate your analogy to Shepherd, they are the only team in SR1 in this era to get legitimately close, like dangerously close, since the 2007 Cal team. Money talks. And money wins. So perhaps the Swifties are opening the checkbooks with their revenge posts. The one time IUP sniffed that stage, they were not competitive.

I know, I know... Max Redfield.

They weren't competitive in the first half. That was a game in the second half.

BTW, IUP has been over-hyped since before you were born. It's a yearly tradition.

[IUP24]

I can’tvunderstand how a program that is 6-2 vs IUP is always in need of some sort of revenge. It’s just so exhausting like a Taylor Swift revenge song

:-)

Perhaps if IUP took on the mantra of Taylor Swift, they could compete outside of the Region. After all, Taylor Swift is pulling in 8-10 million dollars a night on tour, and if you correlate your analogy to Shepherd, they are the only team in SR1 in this era to get legitimately close, like dangerously close, since the 2007 Cal team. Money talks. And money wins. So perhaps the Swifties are opening the checkbooks with their revenge posts. The one time IUP sniffed that stage, they were not competitive.

I know, I know... Max Redfield.

[IUP24]

Man that hype train is rolling! This might be the best offense in D2 history. Ferris State better buckle up!

To be frank, I'm off the hype train (or not adding weight or momentum to it, should I say). I'm excited and optimistic for potential of a great team, but it ends there for me. There have been 1-2 other recent IUP teams hyped up considerably like this. Those didn't end well. Curt had one. So too did Tort. Football has a lot of moving parts, and players get hurt. IUP has a ton of new faces coming in. No telling how that materializes.

They could lose week one to Ashland. People will scoff and argue about that, but they could wake up that Friday morning 0-1.

The caveat argument is that plenty of teams in the PSAC, and the stronger teams around the region, have had some turnover. Shepherd obviously. Ashland too. I never count out SRU from having an extremely strong or competitive team both in the PSAC and in the Region. People have called Cal dead for years, but they still find a way each and every season to be a thorn in IUP's side, and mostly be in the mix all season. Reality is that all those teams have resources too, and some have plenty of them at that. They have players on scholarship, and coaches who are paid to do a job. And those guys all want to win as well. I think IUP could be a great team this year, but I'm not guaranteeing anything outside of them playing 11 games in the regular season. Too many things can happen. And guys are bound to get hurt.

[IUPNation]

It's the narrative of July 11.

We can talk about football hype, or Bobby Huggins, schools shrinking or why Indiana Jones flopped.

Come on, Shepherd's offense last year was the best ever (until it left SR1).

I can’tvunderstand how a program that is 6-2 vs IUP is always in need of some sort of revenge. It’s just so exhausting like a Taylor Swift revenge song

:-)

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Is that the narrative that will be played in Shepherdstown to get the players all mad? IUP is too hyped and we are upset and must get revenge!!


:-)

It's the narrative of July 11.

We can talk about football hype, or Bobby Huggins, schools shrinking or why Indiana Jones flopped.

Come on, Shepherd's offense last year was the best ever (until it left SR1).

[IUPNation]

Man that hype train is rolling! This might be the best offense in D2 history. Ferris State better buckle up!

Is that the narrative that will be played in Shepherdstown to get the players all mad? IUP is too hyped and we are upset and must get revenge!!


:-)

[Ram040506]

Man that hype train is rolling! This might be the best offense in D2 history. Ferris State better buckle up!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

From what I have seen on film, Hunter only needs to get it close. Each of the receivers have good speed, jumping ability and the mindset that a ball in the air is theirs. Can't wait to see Coach Wilsons overall offensive scheme. High School video of Zinoble shows 360 dunks. Staying healthy will be the key.

Zinobile is a monster -- and he had some big games against IUP while at Clarion. He was just on some bad teams there.

Hilton Ridley catches everything. He turned a lot of wild throws last year in to great catches.

They are all big, too. Ridley is close to 6'4", Lockhart is 6'2" and Zinobile is 6'2" -- the latter two are also very physical WRs.

[PSAC Fan]

From what I have seen on film, Hunter only needs to get it close. Each of the receivers have good speed, jumping ability and the mindset that a ball in the air is theirs. Can't wait to see Coach Wilsons overall offensive scheme. High School video of Zinoble shows 360 dunks. Staying healthy will be the key.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I'm excited -- and interested -- to see the WRs.

It's pretty rare to have (3) No. 1 WRs on a roster. Derek Lockhart, Hilton Ridley and Quinn Zinoble ... that's just a sick trio at this level.

Those aren't 'what if' guys ... they are all proven stars at this level. All three are big, too.

Behind those three, there are some studs in waiting -- Isaiah Houser, Daniel Deabner, Omar Stewart, etc. Stewart, my opinion, is going to be a superstar here very shortly.

They are going to be a nightmare to prep against (and play against).

This will be a very exciting position group to watch. As you said, they’re a proven group and routes are routes so it’s a little different than OL. Hunter has to get the ball to them though. All I have is video to go by and I’m not convinced yet he’s going to be the passer we’ve seen here the last few years. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t be the best overall QB but clearly we’re not going to see the classic drop back guy that can put the ball on a dime. He’ll get it done in a less traditional way. More like a young Ben Roethlisberger style.

Assuming these receivers stay healthy, what team in the PSAC is going to have three great DB’s to match up with these guys if they’re all on the field at the same time? We haven’t even talked about the tight ends. It’s a very gifted group for sure.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Wait and see is always the best approach. As far as the OL goes, the mantra at IUP has always been to develop the OL as a group within the system over time. It will be interesting with the new players. There is a lot to be excited about, though.

I'm excited -- and interested -- to see the WRs.

It's pretty rare to have (3) No. 1 WRs on a roster. Derek Lockhart, Hilton Ridley and Quinn Zinoble ... that's just a sick trio at this level.

Those aren't 'what if' guys ... they are all proven stars at this level. All three are big, too.

Behind those three, there are some studs in waiting -- Isaiah Houser, Daniel Deabner, Omar Stewart, etc. Stewart, my opinion, is going to be a superstar here very shortly.

They are going to be a nightmare to prep against (and play against).

[iupgroundhog]

I’m still in a wait and see mode. There are an awful lot of new faces in town and football in particular doesn’t suit itself well to plug and play at this scale. The offensive line in particular is challenging. There’s knowing the plays and where you’re supposed to be and then there’s knowing each other and how to adjust on the fly working in unison. The way teams play defense these days, where a defender starts a play and where he moves to on the snap isn’t the same place. It’s not like the old days of teams playing a 4-3 and occasionally bringing a linebacker. This unit will need a lot of reps together regardless of the talent coming in. There’s also the change of scenery. These are still kids that need to adjust to living in a new place, working with new coaches and teammates, etc. That’s a lot to figure out in a short period of time.

Wait and see is always the best approach. As far as the OL goes, the mantra at IUP has always been to develop the OL as a group within the system over time. It will be interesting with the new players. There is a lot to be excited about, though.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I’m still in a wait and see mode. There are an awful lot of new faces in town and football in particular doesn’t suit itself well to plug and play at this scale. The offensive line in particular is challenging. There’s knowing the plays and where you’re supposed to be and then there’s knowing each other and how to adjust on the fly working in unison. The way teams play defense these days, where a defender starts a play and where he moves to on the snap isn’t the same place. It’s not like the old days of teams playing a 4-3 and occasionally bringing a linebacker. This unit will need a lot of reps together regardless of the talent coming in. There’s also the change of scenery. These are still kids that need to adjust to living in a new place, working with new coaches and teammates, etc. That’s a lot to figure out in a short period of time.

The big guy from Syracuse is also in the mix although he was injured in the Spring. I'm not sure of his current health status.

The OL is the one position group at IUP that I rarely worry about ... they may have the best OL coach around. Mike Campolo is the definition of no-nonsense. If anybody can get new pieces up to speed quickly, it's him. "Enthusiastic" may be a good way to describe him lol.

[Fightingscot82]

I’m still in a wait and see mode. There are an awful lot of new faces in town and football in particular doesn’t suit itself well to plug and play at this scale. The offensive line in particular is challenging. There’s knowing the plays and where you’re supposed to be and then there’s knowing each other and how to adjust on the fly working in unison. The way teams play defense these days, where a defender starts a play and where he moves to on the snap isn’t the same place. It’s not like the old days of teams playing a 4-3 and occasionally bringing a linebacker. This unit will need a lot of reps together regardless of the talent coming in. There’s also the change of scenery. These are still kids that need to adjust to living in a new place, working with new coaches and teammates, etc. That’s a lot to figure out in a short period of time.

Yep - and I'd argue in the long run adjusting to a higher level of play in the PSAC vs MEC and SAC.