THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPNation]

This I can agree with. I’ve never really liked Heinz…I mean Acrisure…for that matter. It’s just a weird vibe.

It’s also not all about infrastructure. The experience is part of the mix. Best overall game experience to me goes to Penn State and LSU. Notre Dame is its own thing and there is something to seeing the gold helmets take the field even if you’re not fan. I haven’t been to Clemson or Virginia Tech (in the hay day), but they’re supposed to be really good. You’d be surprised how boring Ohio State and Michigan are. Michigan State is in a nice setting and a decent experience, but the stadium isn’t great. I forgot to mention Georgia, where I’ve also been. It’s a really nice stadium and the campus is beautiful. The hedges are a bigger deal on television than in person, but still a neat amenity. Game day is just “okay” for me, but I saw a blowout. I’d love to go to the Rose Bowl someday.

Game Day Experiences are another matter and we agree on that. Penn State is better than The Overrated State University and Meatchicken but they don’t dominate them. So I think getting the best players is just more than who has the nicest toys. They want to win. I think that’s why IUP stays good because kids know our stadium sucks but we have more money to offer and we don’t lose often.

[EyeoftheHawk]

My point was that most colleges don't have state of the art show palaces at every level. You can count on one hand the brand new stadiums in the Power 5 conferences that aren't schools playing in NFL stadiums like Real Pitt and Temple. Minnesota and Baylor are the only two I can think of off the top of my head. Some of the Group of 5 schools have newer, smaller stadiums (San Diego State comes to mind) but for the most part...the Power 5 plus Real Notre Dame play in the same lipstick on the pig dumps they always played in...

This I can agree with. I’ve never really liked Heinz…I mean Acrisure…for that matter. It’s just a weird vibe.

It’s also not all about infrastructure. The experience is part of the mix. Best overall game experience to me goes to Penn State and LSU. Notre Dame is its own thing and there is something to seeing the gold helmets take the field even if you’re not fan. I haven’t been to Clemson or Virginia Tech (in the hay day), but they’re supposed to be really good. You’d be surprised how boring Ohio State and Michigan are. Michigan State is in a nice setting and a decent experience, but the stadium isn’t great. I forgot to mention Georgia, where I’ve also been. It’s a really nice stadium and the campus is beautiful. The hedges are a bigger deal on television than in person, but still a neat amenity. Game day is just “okay” for me, but I saw a blowout. I’d love to go to the Rose Bowl someday.

[IUPNation]

Pitt has a track.

My bad.

[Predatory Primates]

West Florida is a top program...go look at their field. It's no longer the baseball stadium and it's not what you would have expected. They have to be planning to build a real one.

West Texastan A& M has the best stadium in D2. It's really impressive.
Grand Valley has a nice facility. It's piecemealed and the large stands behind one end zone is odd...but it's way better than anything in the Pee Sack.
Fake Pitt in Kansastan has a nice stadium too. It too has been added on over the year but it looks good.
Northwest Misery had the facility that IUP should try to emulate because it has a track unlike the three above. The place looks good and if we had the exact same stadium it would be the best in the Pee Sack.

Pitt has a track.

[IUPNation]

As someone who’s actually been to many DI stadiums across the country, if you think Beaver Stadium is a dump you need to get out more. I have been to nearly every BIG stadium as well as Notre Dame, Auburn, Louisville, and LSU. There isn’t a single one of them that I would say is “nicer” than Beaver Stadium. If it weren’t for the luster of Notre Dame football (to some), you could call it a dump. Have you ever been to South Bend? Yikes! The Horseshoe is not nicer than Beaver Stadium and neither is The Big House. That said, you won’t find a prettier campus than what you find in Ann Arbor.

In addition to Beaver Stadium, there’s the incredible ease with which one can get in and out of the place even though there are more than 100,000 people there. Yes, you’re parking in cow pastures, but who cares? I’ve gone to several Pitt games as well and one of the challenges is I can be sitting in my seat in Beaver Stadium faster than I can at Pitt even though it’s a much further drive. I’d go to more Pitt games if it wasn’t such a hassle and I think that’s part of the challenge with their attendance. I miss the old Pitt Stadium. That place wasn’t fancy but it was cool.

I’m getting off track here but had to point out that once again you are talking out your a$$.

No I'm not...you just disagree.

They are all dumps that have had some upgrades over the years.

Beaver Stadium is still mostly the erector set that it was the time I saw Frank bring West Virginia there in 1979.

They added a second deck over the end zones with some amenities and built a building of suites on the one side.

It still has the same old press box it's had for years.

This video of the concourse doesn't scream state of the art to me..

...and obviously others agree with me...the place needs a major renovation....especially the facade...nobody needs to see a mish mash of erector set meets blank concrete and none of it meshes together.

https://nittanysportsnow.com/2023/02...me-upgrade-ya/


My point was that most colleges don't have state of the art show palaces at every level. You can count on one hand the brand new stadiums in the Power 5 conferences that aren't schools playing in NFL stadiums like Real Pitt and Temple. Minnesota and Baylor are the only two I can think of off the top of my head. Some of the Group of 5 schools have newer, smaller stadiums (San Diego State comes to mind) but for the most part...the Power 5 plus Real Notre Dame play in the same lipstick on the pig dumps they always played in...

[EyeoftheHawk]

But Beaver Stadium is still mostly a dump. Ferris Bueller has an okay stadium and they are dominating. I don’t think you need every bell and whistle but The Cig could look 100 percent better with just a few changes.

As someone who’s actually been to many DI stadiums across the country, if you think Beaver Stadium is a dump you need to get out more. I have been to nearly every BIG stadium as well as Notre Dame, Auburn, Louisville, and LSU. There isn’t a single one of them that I would say is “nicer” than Beaver Stadium. If it weren’t for the luster of Notre Dame football (to some), you could call it a dump. Have you ever been to South Bend? Yikes! The Horseshoe is not nicer than Beaver Stadium and neither is The Big House. That said, you won’t find a prettier campus than what you find in Ann Arbor.

In addition to Beaver Stadium, there’s the incredible ease with which one can get in and out of the place even though there are more than 100,000 people there. Yes, you’re parking in cow pastures, but who cares? I’ve gone to several Pitt games as well and one of the challenges is I can be sitting in my seat in Beaver Stadium faster than I can at Pitt even though it’s a much further drive. I’d go to more Pitt games if it wasn’t such a hassle and I think that’s part of the challenge with their attendance. I miss the old Pitt Stadium. That place wasn’t fancy but it was cool.

I’m getting off track here but had to point out that once again you are talking out your a$$.

[IUPNation]

There are a couple D2 stadium palaces just as there are a couple D2 basketball palaces.

By and large, especially in the PSAC, all the football stadiums are mostly awful.

Nobody in the West has an advantage over the other in football facilities. They range from high school-ish fields (that we call stadiums), a kickball field (Gannon) and literally a high school stadium (SH). Mercyhurst may have the nicest and they stink.

West Florida is a top program...go look at their field. It's no longer the baseball stadium and it's not what you would have expected. They have to be planning to build a real one.

West Texastan A& M has the best stadium in D2. It's really impressive.
Grand Valley has a nice facility. It's piecemealed and the large stands behind one end zone is odd...but it's way better than anything in the Pee Sack.
Fake Pitt in Kansastan has a nice stadium too. It too has been added on over the year but it looks good.
Northwest Misery had the facility that IUP should try to emulate because it has a track unlike the three above. The place looks good and if we had the exact same stadium it would be the best in the Pee Sack.

[IUPNation]

At some point doesn’t the university or state system have to say geez that stadium is really old, outdated, not handicap sufficient. I mean how old is the stadium???? I am sure they razed dorms that were not as old and built new ones. In addition the stadium is freaking ground zero on campus u would think the state or college would want a crown jewel there and not an eye soar in the middle of campus. I have been following since 1995 and only 2 things have changed visitors side due to insufficient handicap access and a new scoreboard. No change across the board regarding everything else. Tort should play the handicap coach card and say the coach needs Booth access. See how they handle that one. 🧐

It's 62 years old. I'm pretty sure it opened in 1961 replacing the previous field where the old Tri-Dorms used to be located along Grant Street.

The only problem is if Harrisburg builds IUP a new stadium...they have to build everyone one.

How The Godfather got the state to build Mon Valley U the AngeloDome when they put a gun to IUP's head to fundraise for the KCAC...is beyond me. I mean they now really are on the hook to renovate or replace every gym at each school.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There are a couple D2 stadium palaces just as there are a couple D2 basketball palaces.

By and large, especially in the PSAC, all the football stadiums are mostly awful.

Nobody in the West has an advantage over the other in football facilities. They range from high school-ish fields (that we call stadiums), a kickball field (Gannon) and literally a high school stadium (SH). Mercyhurst may have the nicest and they stink.

[Iupgh]

But Beaver Stadium is still mostly a dump. Ferris Bueller has an okay stadium and they are dominating. I don’t think you need every bell and whistle but The Cig could look 100 percent better with just a few changes.

At some point doesn’t the university or state system have to say geez that stadium is really old, outdated, not handicap sufficient. I mean how old is the stadium???? I am sure they razed dorms that were not as old and built new ones. In addition the stadium is freaking ground zero on campus u would think the state or college would want a crown jewel there and not an eye soar in the middle of campus. I have been following since 1995 and only 2 things have changed visitors side due to insufficient handicap access and a new scoreboard. No change across the board regarding everything else. Tort should play the handicap coach card and say the coach needs Booth access. See how they handle that one. 🧐

[IUPNation]

Todd is a pro. He's going to say he would take scholarship dollars over stadium dollars.

Regarding Penn State, read my post again. Football is part of Penn State's self identity. They embrace it from top to bottom. Beaver Stadium is the home of that identity. That is not the case for IUP. I think Driscoll loves IUP and is a great president for this present moment, but a guy who sees athletics (especially football) as a university brand he is not.

For a major redo of Miller, there would have to be a scion donor who cares that much about IUP football to go to the school and say they'll underwrite a good portion of it or no deal. That type of donor would be someone already known to them and who goes to enough games to notice Miller's shortcomings. I don't believe IUP has that type of person.

But Beaver Stadium is still mostly a dump. Ferris Bueller has an okay stadium and they are dominating. I don’t think you need every bell and whistle but The Cig could look 100 percent better with just a few changes.

[Fightingscot82]

But has anyone asked the IUP AD? There has to be some facility plan for it's upkeep.

The Centre County Community College still has it's 65 year old erector set of a stadium intact with it's crappy restrooms and lousy concessions.

IUP doesn't need a tear down and rebuild.

They need to get rid of that ugly perimeter fence and build up the home side. Even if you don't tear down the home side stands...build up behind it with a new press box building and gut the underneath.

A nice head house entrance with a real ticket office would be nice too.

Todd is a pro. He's going to say he would take scholarship dollars over stadium dollars.

Regarding Penn State, read my post again. Football is part of Penn State's self identity. They embrace it from top to bottom. Beaver Stadium is the home of that identity. That is not the case for IUP. I think Driscoll loves IUP and is a great president for this present moment, but a guy who sees athletics (especially football) as a university brand he is not.

For a major redo of Miller, there would have to be a scion donor who cares that much about IUP football to go to the school and say they'll underwrite a good portion of it or no deal. That type of donor would be someone already known to them and who goes to enough games to notice Miller's shortcomings. I don't believe IUP has that type of person.

[IUPNation]

A project like that has to get buy-in from the AD who sells it several layers above. The fact that we've gone on so many years with the home side and larger complex untouched says that its not seen as a priority. Plus I would imagine everyone if asked would tell you they'd much rather have scholarship dollars than stadium dollars. Most D2 schools with upper level stadiums have football in their campus identity (like Grand Valley or West Texas A&M) or a scion megadonor (like Ashland or West Liberty).

But has anyone asked the IUP AD? There has to be some facility plan for it's upkeep.

The Centre County Community College still has it's 65 year old erector set of a stadium intact with it's crappy restrooms and lousy concessions.

IUP doesn't need a tear down and rebuild.

They need to get rid of that ugly perimeter fence and build up the home side. Even if you don't tear down the home side stands...build up behind it with a new press box building and gut the underneath.

A nice head house entrance with a real ticket office would be nice too.

[Fightingscot82]

It would be nice to know from Torts or the AD is there is going to be any sort of fund raising campaign to address The Cig. Harrisburg isn’t going to pay for it.

A project like that has to get buy-in from the AD who sells it several layers above. The fact that we've gone on so many years with the home side and larger complex untouched says that its not seen as a priority. Plus I would imagine everyone if asked would tell you they'd much rather have scholarship dollars than stadium dollars. Most D2 schools with upper level stadiums have football in their campus identity (like Grand Valley or West Texas A&M) or a scion megadonor (like Ashland or West Liberty).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah, it’s a shame when good ole’ taking pride in what you do and putting in hard work gets in the way. It really is impressive how well the football program has done with getting players and the consistency of winning they’ve had given the resources they’re working with. Then there are the other sports at IUP. Talk about no love. If you didn’t have a Twitter account you’d barely know they existed.

Maybe our expectations aren’t realistic.

What exactly is the sports marketing department at IUP?

To my knowledge, it is the over-run SID and several student interns.

It should be a full-time position. It would pay for itself and then some.