"HURST OUT OF PSAC?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Anyone else have any insight to any schools picking up a game to replace Mercyhurst?

I can only offer insight on the IUP front ... and, Tort pretty much said they are not looking to play an 11th game.

The IUP vs Mercyhurst game was scheduled very late in the season. IUP also opens the year with three consecutive road trips. So, even if they had a dance partner, there's no chance IUP would have agreed to a road game (and start the year with four straight away from Miller).

Had the stars aligned and they could have got a 'tune-up' type home game prior to Ashland, I'd have been all for it. But, as always, my opinion doesn't mean a thing.

[Fightingscot82]

Anyone else have any insight to any schools picking up a game to replace Mercyhurst?

Unfortunately it looks like the schools were given a little too much independence to manipulate their schedules to accommodate finding replacement games. Several schools are switching up weeks where they can. The new Week 0 rule helps a lot, too. Its not really as straightforward as finding school X to fill the gap in Week Y.

On the list of mundane things Tort struggles with is scheduling non-conference games, so it doesn't surprise me he's not going to put forth the effort.

[ESU Warrior]

I can only offer insight on the IUP front ... and, Tort pretty much said they are not looking to play an 11th game.

The IUP vs Mercyhurst game was scheduled very late in the season. IUP also opens the year with three consecutive road trips. So, even if they had a dance partner, there's no chance IUP would have agreed to a road game (and start the year with four straight away from Miller).

Had the stars aligned and they could have got a 'tune-up' type home game prior to Ashland, I'd have been all for it. But, as always, my opinion doesn't mean a thing.

This one I understand and don't disagree with.

[IUPNation]

Unfortunately it looks like the schools were given a little too much independence to manipulate their schedules to accommodate finding replacement games. Several schools are switching up weeks where they can. The new Week 0 rule helps a lot, too. Its not really as straightforward as finding school X to fill the gap in Week Y.

On the list of mundane things Tort struggles with is scheduling non-conference games, so it doesn't surprise me he's not going to put forth the effort.

Uh…he has Ashland on the schedule which is probably the best non conference team anyone else was playing.

You guys are just too critical of IUp. Sorry.

Maybe Mercyhurst should have been sued by The Home Office to honor their schedule…that is who dropped the ball..not Tort.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Uh…he has Ashland on the schedule which is probably the best non conference team anyone else was playing.

You guys are just too critical of IUp. Sorry.

Maybe Mercyhurst should have been sued by The Home Office to honor their schedule…that is who dropped the ball..not Tort.

If Tort finishes this Ashland contract as HC, he'll have opened with them 6 times. That's not a cupcake opener.

[Fightingscot82]

Uh…he has Ashland on the schedule which is probably the best non conference team anyone else was playing.

You guys are just too critical of IUp. Sorry.

Maybe Mercyhurst should have been sued by The Home Office to honor their schedule…that is who dropped the ball..not Tort.

Nah I'm being fair to him. I'll always criticize schools that choose to play just 10 games. I understand that New Mexico Highlands may not fit into the budget and that a beatdown by West Florida may not be attractive to the boosters living up at Beacon Ridge. This year Tort gets a pass because its difficult to find games this late in the year and our coaches aren't used to having to plug mid-season schedule holes - as long as there's an effort to find someone.

[Ram040506]

Uh…he has Ashland on the schedule which is probably the best non conference team anyone else was playing.

You guys are just too critical of IUp. Sorry.

Maybe Mercyhurst should have been sued by The Home Office to honor their schedule…that is who dropped the ball..not Tort.

To FS82's point... he's scheduled one program for non conference his entire tenure. Kudos for sure for the quality of that one program in Ashland as it's a great inter regional game.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nah I'm being fair to him. I'll always criticize schools that choose to play just 10 games. I understand that New Mexico Highlands may not fit into the budget and that a beatdown by West Florida may not be attractive to the boosters living up at Beacon Ridge. This year Tort gets a pass because its difficult to find games this late in the year and our coaches aren't used to having to plug mid-season schedule holes - as long as there's an effort to find someone.

I think there's a reality to it, also. He knows he's already playing Ashland and California on the road and Slippery Rock at home.

With the trip to Ashland in Week 1, he's sure as hell not booking a tough game in Week 0. As of now, they also open with three straight on the road. So, IUP would have insisted on a home game in Week 0.

Two years ago when they didn't play in Week 1, they tried to get a ton of programs to come to Miller (or, IUP would travel). They got turned down left and right. Charleston chose to drive an extra 3 hours north to Erie. Glenville State didn't even entertain it. There were others, too.

Signing this four-year deal with Ashland just made things much easier. It's a very tough opener but it's almost guaranteed not to be an anchor (like many choose to play). IUP and Ashland deserve credit for agreeing to this series. This isn't like Slippery Rock opening with freaking Wayne State for so many years, or Cal scheduling AB types. IUP vs Ashland is a pretty marquee D2 match-up most years.

Don't forget, also, the late-season Mercyhurst game being cancelled potentially comes at a tremendous time for IUP. If things go right and they are in position to play in the State Game, that 'bye' week could have perfect timing. Every team is beat up by then.

Obviously this becomes an 'IUP topic' like every other discussion but the whole West got hit with this little nugget. I'd have been fine with Tort scheduling some East meatball in Week 0 as a tune-up game. I am glad to see Millersville and Clarion decided to play.

All in all, I think way too much fuss gets made about playing 10 games or 11 games. Playing 11 games isn't a requirement. It may bite a school come Selection Sunday ... but that's their choice and they know the potential consequences going in.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

To FS82's point... he's scheduled one program for non conference his entire tenure. Kudos for sure for the quality of that one program in Ashland as it's a great inter regional game.

In the Tort era, he is 4-0 vs Ashland ... and is about 4 plays away from being 0-4. It's been a wild series. He's had two 'walk-off' wins -- the 48-yard FG and the Zinobile bomb last year.

Note: Before I get corrected, yes, I know the Zinobile bomb technically wasn't a 'walk-off' as they had to kick-off afterward.

[Ram040506]

In the Tort era, he is 4-0 vs Ashland ... and is about 4 plays away from being 0-4. It's been a wild series. He's had two 'walk-off' wins -- the 48-yard FG and the Zinobile bomb last year.

Note: Before I get corrected, yes, I know the Zinobile bomb technically wasn't a 'walk-off' as they had to kick-off afterward.

Yes, it's been a fun series to kick off the season most years. I give credit to both programs for taking on the challenge.

[Fightingscot82]

Yes, it's been a fun series to kick off the season most years. I give credit to both programs for taking on the challenge.

Same. Ashland is about as good as it gets for consistently decent teams within a tolerable radius of IUP - and the 4 year deal is huge. Both schools know how difficult it is to schedule non-conference games at this level. Ashland may have a fancy stadium, but they aren't any richer than the average D2 school. They've got a budget for travel. They're not Carnegie Mellon or Case Western with a seemingly endless pit of money.

[IUPNation]

Nah I'm being fair to him. I'll always criticize schools that choose to play just 10 games. I understand that New Mexico Highlands may not fit into the budget and that a beatdown by West Florida may not be attractive to the boosters living up at Beacon Ridge. This year Tort gets a pass because its difficult to find games this late in the year and our coaches aren't used to having to plug mid-season schedule holes - as long as there's an effort to find someone.

He had 11 games.

Mercyhurst was sleazy and bolted.

The Home Office did nothing about it.

The arrow of blame for everyone points to Lock Haven.

[Fightingscot82]

He had 11 games.

Mercyhurst was sleazy and bolted.

The Home Office did nothing about it.

The arrow of blame for everyone points to Lock Haven.

I honestly don't think anyone anticipated this happening - especially on this timeline. They definitely stepped in it by not having a process for schools to leave the conference that protects the other members. Probably never thought a school would want to leave the conference. I've heard some big numbers that Mercyhurst has to pay (in the tens of $thousands) but I doubt it. This was an opportunistic decision for Mercyhurst to fix their enrollment and finance problems.

[Tdobson]

I thought the PSAC was or would be getting frostburg or other teams from the MEC. Is that not happening now or what?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I thought the PSAC was or would be getting frostburg or other teams from the MEC. Is that not happening now or what?

Those (b)itches in Erie screwed them over for this upcoming year. I suspect the PSAC will add going in to the following year.