THE IUP Football Thread

[Fightingscot82]

The fake punt was the initial grudge.

Deep down Dr. Evil knows that without the IUP Rule he doesn’t go on that 97-99 run.

I think the IUP Rule just sped up what would have eventually happened anyway: before Cal had its run as Thug U, IUP football was full of questionable characters who did a lot of things that got swept under the rug.

[IUPNation]

The IUP Rule changed everything.

But, the QB Dr. Evil landed during that run helped, too.

That was a great era to be a fan.

Would he have gotten McKavish if there was no IUP Rule? The kid was under Frank’s nose in Ebensburg. Well he’s no kid now.

[iupgroundhog]

I think the IUP Rule just sped up what would have eventually happened anyway: before Cal had its run as Thug U, IUP football was full of questionable characters who did a lot of things that got swept under the rug.

The IUP Rule came first. The thugs probably came as a result of the IUP Rule. If the IUP Rule would not have been implemented, there is a good chance Frank would have won the NC. Maybe more than 1.

[iupgroundhog]

Administrator prerogative.

It doesn't make sense to me. Thousands of comments and conversations in there. Just whitewashed with no explanation. I don't like it.

[Fightingscot82]

The IUP Rule came first. The thugs probably came as a result of the IUP Rule. If the IUP Rule would not have been implemented, there is a good chance Frank would have won the NC. Maybe more than 1.

Maybe? Without knowing things behind the scenes - did the IUP Rule make Frank reach on guys who caused problems or did a lawless culture around IUP football do that? Frank wasn't an altar boy.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Maybe? Without knowing things behind the scenes - did the IUP Rule make Frank reach on guys who caused problems or did a lawless culture around IUP football do that? Frank wasn't an altar boy.

This is a thread in itself.

The context of time is the key element here. D2 football in the 90s - especially near the top - was a vastly different world than it is today.

IUP thrived on second chance (and third chance) D1 guys (from major conferences). Hell, I remember one year in particular IUP's roster was like a Big East alumni team. In the modern set-up, IUP wouldn't have got any of those guys. They'd have just bounced to other D1 schools. From his time at West Virginia (and Frank Jr. being in the D1 game), he had a funnel of contacts sending him players. The D1 players could come down back then and not have to sit out a year.

Furthermore, the current administration at IUP wouldn't have admitted many of them. Let's just say it was easier to get some of the problem children admitted back then.

To be fair, Frank's teams 'generally' were pretty well-behaved on campus. Did they have some infamous incidents? Yes. Did things get covered up (like everywhere else)? Some, yes.

At the core of the IUP Rule ... was eliminating the Yankees being in a division full of Royals. Frank was so far ahead of everybody else when it came to fundraising. He could just buy way better players than anybody else in the league. With that, the cast of characters took on a D2 version of the old Miami Hurricanes persona.

Frank worked tirelessly on raising (corporate) money while others were checking the mail and hoping for a couple $50 checks.

Looking back, it was criminal what the league did. IUP should have left the PSAC at that moment. It was big enough at the time. IUP was penalized for beating everybody to the punch.

Some of his teams in the 90s ... totally different level than today. His two teams that made the national championship game would have probably beat the 2017 team by 28-35 points. It was just a different level of depth, size, talent, skill, etc.

Those days are long gone. I sure wish they weren't.

[EyeoftheHawk]

It doesn't make sense to me. Thousands of comments and conversations in there. Just whitewashed with no explanation. I don't like it.

Just following the lead of our federal and some state governments I suppose. I’m guessing someone with a badge on this forum probably read something they didn’t like so they just got rid of it with no logical explanation. Regardless, I don’t think many people were going back through the archives to read what people were talking about.

[EyeoftheHawk]

This is a thread in itself.

The context of time is the key element here. D2 football in the 90s - especially near the top - was a vastly different world than it is today.

IUP thrived on second chance (and third chance) D1 guys (from major conferences). Hell, I remember one year in particular IUP's roster was like a Big East alumni team. In the modern set-up, IUP wouldn't have got any of those guys. They'd have just bounced to other D1 schools. From his time at West Virginia (and Frank Jr. being in the D1 game), he had a funnel of contacts sending him players. The D1 players could come down back then and not have to sit out a year.

Furthermore, the current administration at IUP wouldn't have admitted many of them. Let's just say it was easier to get some of the problem children admitted back then.

To be fair, Frank's teams 'generally' were pretty well-behaved on campus. Did they have some infamous incidents? Yes. Did things get covered up (like everywhere else)? Some, yes.

At the core of the IUP Rule ... was eliminating the Yankees being in a division full of Royals. Frank was so far ahead of everybody else when it came to fundraising. He could just buy way better players than anybody else in the league. With that, the cast of characters took on a D2 version of the old Miami Hurricanes persona.

Frank worked tirelessly on raising (corporate) money while others were checking the mail and hoping for a couple $50 checks.

Looking back, it was criminal what the league did. IUP should have left the PSAC at that moment. It was big enough at the time. IUP was penalized for beating everybody to the punch.

Some of his teams in the 90s ... totally different level than today. His two teams that made the national championship game would have probably beat the 2017 team by 28-35 points. It was just a different level of depth, size, talent, skill, etc.

Those days are long gone. I sure wish they weren't.

This sums it up. I’ll add that the “misbehaving” of the IUP football players of the 90’s has been overstated. I was a student then and also continued to live in Indiana for several years afterward so I was quite aware of what was going on. There were incidents like there are on any college campus. I’m sure there were things the public never saw, just like on any college campus. The football team was in the spotlight though. I actually think the baseball team was worse during that time depending on one’s definition of misbehaving, but I’ll leave it at that.

And yes, sadly we’ll never see the collection of talent around here again like we enjoyed 30 years ago. It was truly a great time to be a student and fan for sure.

[Matt Burglund]

Frank wasn't an altar boy.

Could you please elaborate on this? I’m curious.

[Fightingscot82]

Could you please elaborate on this? I’m curious.

I'm not talking about Frank Cignetti the human.

[Matt Burglund]

I'm not talking about Frank Cignetti the human.

Frank Cignetti, the robot?

[Fightingscot82]

Frank Cignetti, the robot?

I'm not accusing him of being shady, but he also didn't have a spotless career at IUP. As AD, he was sued and found in violation of Title IX. As football coach, he had countless issues with players he should have never brought in or had trouble disciplining. I also don't like that he supported players lawyering up and sue the PSAC when they were suspended for fighting Slippery Rock players, I assume because it significantly reduced the handicap he had going into the playoffs.

I have zero sentiment or romantic feelings about IUP football and Frank Cignetti, so I'm shooting straight.

[iupgroundhog]

Just following the lead of our federal and some state governments I suppose. I’m guessing someone with a badge on this forum probably read something they didn’t like so they just got rid of it with no logical explanation. Regardless, I don’t think many people were going back through the archives to read what people were talking about.

I understand that but what's the point?

[Matt Burglund]

I'm not accusing him of being shady, but he also didn't have a spotless career at IUP. As AD, he was sued and found in violation of Title IX. As football coach, he had countless issues with players he should have never brought in or had trouble disciplining. I also don't like that he supported players lawyering up and sue the PSAC when they were suspended for fighting Slippery Rock players, I assume because it significantly reduced the handicap he had going into the playoffs.

I have zero sentiment or romantic feelings about IUP football and Frank Cignetti, so I'm shooting straight.

Read up on the Title IX case. They found that indeed his cuts violated the law, but there was no malicious intent to harm anyone. The IUP Athletics budget had been cut and he was making the moves he felt were needed to keep the department strong.

The rest of that is your opinion. Granted, that’s what a message boards are built on. But did you know Frank? Ever sit down and talk to him? Ever find out his philosophy on athletics and college? Ever talk to him about the benefits of sports to kids who needed discipline? He had his faults but who doesn’t? I’m curious if you knew him at all.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I understand that but what's the point?

I was agreeing with you. Not really trying to make a point.