THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPalum]

In fairness, last year's Ferris State team may have been the best DII team I ever saw. They had no weaknesses. Granted, Shepherd could have played better and it didn't need to be that bad, but nobody was beating Ferris.

IUP had its chances against West Florida in the 27-17 loss but as IUPbigIndians pointed out, IUP's best player was lost for the season the previous week. West Florida got out fast, IUP responded, but in the end couldn't make enough plays.

Every year is different so you never know.

You obviously are forgetting the Grand Valley team that destroyed the Eyerman lead IUP team. Grand Valley made that IUP squad look like the were a lowly single A high school team.

[ShepFan1]

They both better enjoy this game. The winner typically becomes the Final Four version of Clarion the following week.

Barring any big upsets in the other regional finals, this is the Super Bowl for both teams. Defiantly not saying the winner between Shepherd and IUP can’t win the following week, but the way it has been going with the exception of 2015, when Shepherd made it to the NC, SR1 hasn’t fared to well in the semis.

[Ram040506]

In fairness, last year's Ferris State team may have been the best DII team I ever saw. They had no weaknesses. Granted, Shepherd could have played better and it didn't need to be that bad, but nobody was beating Ferris.

IUP had its chances against West Florida in the 27-17 loss but as IUPbigIndians pointed out, IUP's best player was lost for the season the previous week. West Florida got out fast, IUP responded, but in the end couldn't make enough plays.

Every year is different so you never know.

Agreed, that Ferris team was incredible. Their pass game might have been a weakness, but since Shepherd couldn't stop literally anything, they only threw maybe 2 passes the whole game so we'll never know. Shepherd had 9 seniors and graduate students on that defense that are gone... and the defense improved immensely once they left. I can't help but think they didn't play well together as a team and it was just time for them all to move on.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In fairness, last year's Ferris State team may have been the best DII team I ever saw. They had no weaknesses. Granted, Shepherd could have played better and it didn't need to be that bad, but nobody was beating Ferris.

IUP had its chances against West Florida in the 27-17 loss but as IUPbigIndians pointed out, IUP's best player was lost for the season the previous week. West Florida got out fast, IUP responded, but in the end couldn't make enough plays.

Every year is different so you never know.

And, most would probably argue the two best are playing each other this weekend. So, one of them is gone.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Shepherd did pretty well prior to joining the PSAC, perhaps its a PSAC curse?

2010 against Delta St 29-17, if not for that lightning delay, could have been an upset!
2015 against Grand Valley State, won 34-32
2016 against North Alabama, lost 23-13

2021 against Ferris St, good lawd have mercy 55-7 big L.

In fairness, last year's Ferris State team may have been the best DII team I ever saw. They had no weaknesses. Granted, Shepherd could have played better and it didn't need to be that bad, but nobody was beating Ferris.

IUP had its chances against West Florida in the 27-17 loss but as IUPbigIndians pointed out, IUP's best player was lost for the season the previous week. West Florida got out fast, IUP responded, but in the end couldn't make enough plays.

Every year is different so you never know.

[Ram040506]

Never know. Ferris and GVSU are going to smash each other this weekend.

And, it's no secret they call drawing SR1 in the Final Four the 'bye' week.

There are certain years we have good enough teams to perhaps catch one sleeping.

Sans the Max injury the week prior in 2017 may have been much different.

But, we've also seen first hand many, many blowouts.

Shepherd did pretty well prior to joining the PSAC, perhaps its a PSAC curse?

2010 against Delta St 29-17, if not for that lightning delay, could have been an upset!
2015 against Grand Valley State, won 34-32
2016 against North Alabama, lost 23-13

2021 against Ferris St, good lawd have mercy 55-7 big L.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

You're such a killjoy! LOL

The truth hurts sometimes though. I'll be rooting for whoever wins. I like the rivalry that's developing with Shepherd but that goes out the window if they advance. I think just playing a competitive game in the semis would be a win for SR1, as sad as that is to say.

Never know. Ferris and GVSU are going to smash each other this weekend.

And, it's no secret they call drawing SR1 in the Final Four the 'bye' week.

There are certain years we have good enough teams to perhaps catch one sleeping.

Sans the Max injury the week prior in 2017 may have been much different.

But, we've also seen first hand many, many blowouts.

[EyeoftheHawk]

They both better enjoy this game. The winner typically becomes the Final Four version of Clarion the following week.

You're such a killjoy! LOL

The truth hurts sometimes though. I'll be rooting for whoever wins. I like the rivalry that's developing with Shepherd but that goes out the window if they advance. I think just playing a competitive game in the semis would be a win for SR1, as sad as that is to say.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Shepherd is Jawja with Tom Brady at QB. We may never recover.

They both better enjoy this game. The winner typically becomes the Final Four version of Clarion the following week.

[IUPNation]

Shepherd is Jawja with Tom Brady at QB. We may never recover.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

No coincidence that the two games since the PSAC championship game Ronnie Brown has had 20+ carries per game. The most in any two game stretch all season.

Obviously, the Shepherd coaches werent happy with themselves. I'd be surprised if he doesnt have his season record for carries (22) on saturday and record for touches overall (26).

I heard one coach used to keep a pc of paper and make a mark when his playmakers got the ball just to make sure they got enough touches and it wasnt lost in the chaos of the game.

I assume this game is for a trip to Michigan next week.

There are two sides to every story. IUP is very difficult to actually run the ball against. They have some serious run-stuffers up front along with very fast, hard-hitting LBs.

It probably is safe to assume the winner of the game will travel next week ... but, you never know. Remember, West Florida is a No. 3 seed in their Region.

[EdinboroFB]

No coincidence that the two games since the PSAC championship game Ronnie Brown has had 20+ carries per game. The most in any two game stretch all season.

Obviously, the Shepherd coaches werent happy with themselves. I'd be surprised if he doesnt have his season record for carries (22) on saturday and record for touches overall (26).

I heard one coach used to keep a pc of paper and make a mark when his playmakers got the ball just to make sure they got enough touches and it wasnt lost in the chaos of the game.

I assume this game is for a trip to Michigan next week.

[IUPNation]

I imagine the O and D lines down in Shepherdstown are hearing all week about how they got handled in the last meeting. They’ll be motivated. That said, I can’t imagine they weren’t motivated in the last game. All I know is what I saw and I’m not sure it will be different this time around. That doesn’t mean Shepherd won’t win because they’re capable in many ways.

Shepherd is the unstoppable juggernaut. Why even play the game. :-)

[EyeoftheHawk]

I absolutely agree with EyeoftheHawk. The line play on both sides of the ball was significant in the first game. I wouldn't expect that to be different. On the other hand, Shepherd has a potential 2-time Harlon Hill winner. Should be just as interesting as the first matchup.

I imagine the O and D lines down in Shepherdstown are hearing all week about how they got handled in the last meeting. They’ll be motivated. That said, I can’t imagine they weren’t motivated in the last game. All I know is what I saw and I’m not sure it will be different this time around. That doesn’t mean Shepherd won’t win because they’re capable in many ways.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I’ll gladly eat the crow later this week, but I’m having a hard time believing the Rams are just inferior on the line play. IMO it was just their worst game of the season. They can move IUP off the ball and they’ll need to at times in order to move to the next round.

I don’t think it needs fixed, just needs opportunity. Brown must have 20-25 touches, otherwise I don’t know what they are doing. Bagent will be that much better if they just give it a chance… which they have the last 2 weeks and Brown has dominated.

Three weeks ago might as well be three years ago. What happened that day is irrelevant. Players are back. Others are now out. List goes on.

Only thing any of us dopes know is the ball is kicking off Saturday at 1 p.m. -- rain, sun, snow, wind, whatever. They are both good. Somebody has to win.