"HURST OUT OF PSAC?

[IUPNation]

Who knew? You actually do better in these things if some of your programs other than football or basketball are competitive. As far as the flagship programs go, I don't imagine Ship's worst men's and women's basketball seasons in many years combined with a bad football season was much help. Shepherd, as one of their fans pointed out above, is currently an example of what happens in sports program evaluations when you're good at football and not much else.

The Dixon Trophy is still bogus.

Slimey Pebble wins it but is way down the list on the Directors Cup.

[Ship69]

It was a pretty strong year at IUP -- oddly aside from the two flagship programs. Keep in mind Tort and Joe were both still above .500 in their 'disaster' seasons. It did feel like both were winless at times. But, if your 'train-wreck' season is still above .500 ... things can always be worse.

Who knew? You actually do better in these things if some of your programs other than football or basketball are competitive. As far as the flagship programs go, I don't imagine Ship's worst men's and women's basketball seasons in many years combined with a bad football season was much help. Shepherd, as one of their fans pointed out above, is currently an example of what happens in sports program evaluations when you're good at football and not much else.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

What you meant to say the Dixon Trophy is a bunch of crap and this is more indicative of a strong athletic program.

IUP did better than most despite our top two programs being floaters in the toilet by our standards this year.

It was a pretty strong year at IUP -- oddly aside from the two flagship programs. Keep in mind Tort and Joe were both still above .500 in their 'disaster' seasons. It did feel like both were winless at times. But, if your 'train-wreck' season is still above .500 ... things can always be worse.

[IUPNation]

Obviously the Director's Cup isn't the be-all end-all when it comes to the strength of an athletic program but it can be a decent enough measuring stick. Mercyhurst ended up fine, but not really with a point total that screams "D1-caliber" (especially since 90 of those points came in... women's rowing?). Meanwhile, Grand Valley State sits at the top with 983 points, and that's with several sports being removed due to scoring in more than the maximum of 15 sports.

19. Gannon	537.50 points
36. Kutztown	408.50 points
T-39. West Chester	393.00 points
T-39. IUP	393.00 points
62. East Stroudsburg	298.50 points
65. Mercyhurst	284.50 points
79. Millersville	244.50 points
89. Shippensburg	221.50 points
99. Slippery Rock	209.50 points
107. Clarion	191.50 points
127. California	157.00 points
128. Seton Hill	153.50 points
147. Pittsburgh-Johnstown	121.50 points
161. Bloomsburg	102.00 points
162. Edinboro	101.50 points
169. Lock Haven	96.50 points
T-238. Shepherd	25.00 points

What you meant to say the Dixon Trophy is a bunch of crap and this is more indicative of a strong athletic program.

IUP did better than most despite our top two programs being floaters in the toilet by our standards this year.

[Ram040506]

Obviously the Director's Cup isn't the be-all end-all when it comes to the strength of an athletic program but it can be a decent enough measuring stick. Mercyhurst ended up fine, but not really with a point total that screams "D1-caliber" (especially since 90 of those points came in... women's rowing?). Meanwhile, Grand Valley State sits at the top with 983 points, and that's with several sports being removed due to scoring in more than the maximum of 15 sports.

19. Gannon	537.50 points
36. Kutztown	408.50 points
T-39. West Chester	393.00 points
T-39. IUP	393.00 points
62. East Stroudsburg	298.50 points
65. Mercyhurst	284.50 points
79. Millersville	244.50 points
89. Shippensburg	221.50 points
99. Slippery Rock	209.50 points
107. Clarion	191.50 points
127. California	157.00 points
128. Seton Hill	153.50 points
147. Pittsburgh-Johnstown	121.50 points
161. Bloomsburg	102.00 points
162. Edinboro	101.50 points
169. Lock Haven	96.50 points
T-238. Shepherd	25.00 points

Although it suits my selfish interests... Shepherd's athletic program is really bad right now beyond football. Football gets most of the attention, rightfully so as well and they shouldn't take anything from it.

Basketball:
Mens team has been the same .500 or so 20 years. Definition of mediocre.
Womens team is 7-47 over the last 2 seasons. Horrendous.

Soccer:
Men's team has been bad for as long as I can remember. Think they've won 9 games since 2017, its pathetic.
Womens team has gone from being awful, to average. Which regarding the overall sports success at the school, is a good thing.

Baseball has gone from conference contender in the MEC, to an average program around .500 in the PSAC.

Softball has been a mirror image of the baseball team, contender in the MEC to another average program in the PSAC.

Women's Lacrosse has been a cellar dweller for about 6 years or so now.

Volleyball was our golden egg on the women's side for the most part of the last decade.

Golf is a train wreck, Tennis and CC are just enrollment boosters rarely winning anything.

I don't know really how to feel about it all. I guess just be happy that the football team has done well and continues to get pretty decent support.

[Fightingscot82]

Grand Valley is possibly the best athletic program in the country at any division. Yes, they're larger and adjacent to a thriving small city. But they're larger because athletics has increased their profile so much. And they're very good at most programs and able to find the resources to sustain it.

[EastStroud13]

Obviously the Director's Cup isn't the be-all end-all when it comes to the strength of an athletic program but it can be a decent enough measuring stick. Mercyhurst ended up fine, but not really with a point total that screams "D1-caliber" (especially since 90 of those points came in... women's rowing?). Meanwhile, Grand Valley State sits at the top with 983 points, and that's with several sports being removed due to scoring in more than the maximum of 15 sports.

19. Gannon	537.50 points
36. Kutztown	408.50 points
T-39. West Chester	393.00 points
T-39. IUP	393.00 points
62. East Stroudsburg	298.50 points
65. Mercyhurst	284.50 points
79. Millersville	244.50 points
89. Shippensburg	221.50 points
99. Slippery Rock	209.50 points
107. Clarion	191.50 points
127. California	157.00 points
128. Seton Hill	153.50 points
147. Pittsburgh-Johnstown	121.50 points
161. Bloomsburg	102.00 points
162. Edinboro	101.50 points
169. Lock Haven	96.50 points
T-238. Shepherd	25.00 points

[iupgroundhog]

When I UP left, did they play independent or were they in a conference?

They were Independent.

[boatcapt]

Definitely PASSHE created solidarity. But IUP was Independent from 1966-1973. When the NCAA formed 3 different Divisions in 1973, IUP opted back to the PSAC and D2.

When I UP left, did they play independent or were they in a conference?

[iupgroundhog]

I do think that the creation of PASSHE likely had a role. A show of solidarity to all be in both the same system and same conference. I imagine they also recognized that they didn't have the fundraising capacity. Until our schools were terrible at fundraising until the last 25-30 years (they're still not great). But also until the 90s, most of our alumni were teachers making decent middle class salaries. Not exactly major gift prospects or able to create a pay-for-prestige program like most D1 schools have.

Definitely PASSHE created solidarity. But IUP was Independent from 1966-1973. When the NCAA formed 3 different Divisions in 1973, IUP opted back to the PSAC and D2.

[Finchwidget]

Would still love to hear if anyone was able to find a game to replace Mercy? Good opp for the PSAC to pick up a non-traditional opponet.

At this point the only non-conference openings left in D2 are either multiple states away or are in the NE-10, whose teams seem to prefer playing 10 game schedules anyway. Clarion, Millersville, Bloom, and Edinboro were wise to pick each other up, but there's no more East teams left for the other West teams to crossover with, so I think you might see other teams just keep the bye week on their schedule

[Fightingscot82]

I think IUP was the first to leave in the 60’s.

Then we came back and then Walk In U left in the 70’s until they came back in the early 80’s …both had fleeting aspirations on moving on up…but I think the creation of the state system locked them into the Pee Sack for good.

It’s not like Cheyney left..they ceased athletics. IUP and WCU actually left.

I do think that the creation of PASSHE likely had a role. A show of solidarity to all be in both the same system and same conference. I imagine they also recognized that they didn't have the fundraising capacity. Until our schools were terrible at fundraising until the last 25-30 years (they're still not great). But also until the 90s, most of our alumni were teachers making decent middle class salaries. Not exactly major gift prospects or able to create a pay-for-prestige program like most D1 schools have.

[IUPNation]

I think their decision to leave the PSAC was the right one. They probably should have made it long before they did. My issue was with the PSAC Commissioner saying that Mercyhurst was the first PSAC school to leave the conference. Clearly that was a CYA move to cover for their lack of preparation. While this board is not the font of all knowledge, the Mercyhurst is going to leave rumor has been bandied about for a couple of years. It's hard to believe the home office had ZERO knowledge until the Mercyhurst press release.

I think IUP was the first to leave in the 60’s.

Then we came back and then Walk In U left in the 70’s until they came back in the early 80’s …both had fleeting aspirations on moving on up…but I think the creation of the state system locked them into the Pee Sack for good.

It’s not like Cheyney left..they ceased athletics. IUP and WCU actually left.

[BlueBlood]

I cannot think of another NCAA program that changed conferences with that short of a turnaround.

I would agree that it used to almost never happen. However, it seems like it is becoming more commonplace recently. Stephen F. Austin did it yesterday (with even shorter notice).

[Fightingscot82]

Edinboro dropped their schedule this morning. Looks like they swapped their ESU game to the Thursday of Week 0 and added Bloomsburg in Week 3 (where ESU had been). Still open Week 5 where Mercyhurst was, but that gives them an open week before playing IUP for Homecoming. 6 home games

Thurs August 29 - East Stroudsburg
Sat September 7 - at Robert Morris
Sat September 14 - at Kutztown
Sat September 21 - vs Bloomsburg
Sat September 28 - at Slippery Rock
Sat October 5 - OPEN
Sat October 12 - IUP
Sat October 19 - at Clarion
Sat October 26 - vs Gannon
Sat November 2 - vs Seton Hill
Sat November 9 - at Cal
Sat November 16 - at Millersville


Looks like they're sticking with the 12pm kickoffs. My son is playing pee wee football this fall so that likely means I'll only see 3 Edinboro games this year - the night games at RMU & Slippery Rock and the IUP game when he'll miss his game for Boro Homecoming. 12pm kickoffs eliminate your fans with kids playing sports.