THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

??? I really don't want to be "that guy" in this situation, but the reactions puzzle me. Everybody *****in' and moanin' about the coaching and then when it comes down to it the question is "Who would be better?" Fellas, you got multiple coaches in the PSAC, even in their own Western Division of the PSAC, who outcoach IUP every time. As mentioned, it IS similar to Penn State in that the performance is pretty good but when it comes down to getting to where they want to be it always falls short.

I think the program is at a crossroads right now. If BIG changes aren't made now the next step is true mediocrity. The program history will be just that - history.

I look at IUP football in historical terms. There were two (2) big surges for IUP football that make IUP football into IUP football. The first was in the mid-1960's. "Indiana" (as it was known then, 60 years ago), always had above average teams, but when the institution separated itself from the pack and became a full-fledged university, the football program rose with it, actually became known in national football circles, and left (was kicked out) the PSAC. After those higher aspirations were abandoned in the mid-1970's, IUP became a .500 team. Then, somewhere around 1980, a group of people in the IUP football community decided to make a push to restore the old glory. Frank Cignetti, Sr. came in as AD, he hired George Chaump as HC, landed a big time transfer QB (the late Rich Ingold), and they were on their way to the top echelons of D2 football.

IUP football is falling. If the program doesn't find a way to reignite itself, it will not even be sharing West Division titles and making early exits from the regional playoffs.

There are other HC's in the PSAC doing more with less and everybody knows that. When I heard Frank, Jr. earlier in the year in an interview with Jack Benedict talking about a renaissance in the IUP football program I thought it was inspirational and motivational. When I heard brother Curt talking to the national media about playing 60 minutes every game it was motivational.

This is what I think. There needs to be a groundswell of support across several different groups to get back to where we were. I don't see that happening now. I was there when we had the "Penn State in '88" fervor. We never played Penn State but it started a run that is what many of us identify with IUP football.

Of course, it needs the support of the administration, which I don't think it has. Not to mention that a good part of the "administration" is not even based in Indiana.

And don't get me started on the "Athletic Director." The AD office appears to be dysfunctional.

The thing I keep asking myself is simple:

WHY does IUP lose so many close games? What is the actual problem?

This is at epidemic level now. This isn't at the fluke stage anymore.



Further question:

WHY does IUP keep blowing second half leads? What is the actual problem?

All (4) losses this year ... IUP led at halftime.

[IUPFan69]

The 2025 season came to an end on Saturday with a tough playoff loss to Assumption. When you step back and look at where this program was projected to finish in the preseason, it’s hard not to call this a successful year. IUP won the PSAC West Title and took the #3-ranked team in the country (Kutztown) down to the wire in the conference championship—losing by just four points—and earned a return trip to the NCAA Playoffs. Most objective fans would’ve signed up for that in August. I genuinely believed this group had the pieces to win a first-round game and get to the Sweet 16, so falling short stings for the program and fans but it doesn’t erase what they accomplished.

Bigger picture: anyone who lives in the area and attends games regularly knows the level of institutional support this football team receives from the university and athletic department is, frankly, embarrassing for a program with the history and tradition. Winning a division title and making the national playoffs under those constraints is solid in my opinion. Tort and his staff deserve a credit for what they accomplished this year.

One last thing that’s been eating at me: Saturday’s crowd for a home playoff game. This team had strong attendance all season—great averages, an electric Homecoming, a packed house for the Coal Bowl. So what in the world happened this weekend? That was one of the most disappointing turnouts I’ve ever seen for a postseason game at IUP. Somebody has to own it—whether it’s marketing, ticket office execution, administration prioritizing the wrong things, or even the community not showing up when it mattered most. (NCAA PLAYOFFS) Can someone answer that for me? It was a bad look, and it’s a conversation that needs to happen, because the IUP program and those players deserved a packed house.

[Fightingscot82]

The 2025 season came to an end on Saturday with a tough playoff loss to Assumption. When you step back and look at where this program was projected to finish in the preseason, it’s hard not to call this a successful year. IUP won the PSAC West Title and took the #3-ranked team in the country (Kutztown) down to the wire in the conference championship—losing by just four points—and earned a return trip to the NCAA Playoffs. Most objective fans would’ve signed up for that in August. I genuinely believed this group had the pieces to win a first-round game and get to the Sweet 16, so falling short stings for the program and fans but it doesn’t erase what they accomplished.

Bigger picture: anyone who lives in the area and attends games regularly knows the level of institutional support this football team receives from the university and athletic department is, frankly, embarrassing for a program with the history and tradition. Winning a division title and making the national playoffs under those constraints is solid in my opinion. Tort and his staff deserve a credit for what they accomplished this year.

One last thing that’s been eating at me: Saturday’s crowd for a home playoff game. This team had strong attendance all season—great averages, an electric Homecoming, a packed house for the Coal Bowl. So what in the world happened this weekend? That was one of the most disappointing turnouts I’ve ever seen for a postseason game at IUP. Somebody has to own it—whether it’s marketing, ticket office execution, administration prioritizing the wrong things, or even the community not showing up when it mattered most. (NCAA PLAYOFFS) Can someone answer that for me? It was a bad look, and it’s a conversation that needs to happen, because the IUP program and those players deserved a packed house.

Because everyone had to pay to go. A surprising amount of most schools attendance is free or on a season pass as a donor or sponsor. Maybe that's too crass of a perspective but I'm sure its a decent factor.

[IUP24]

The thing I keep asking myself is simple:

WHY does IUP lose so many close games? What is the actual problem?

This is at epidemic level now. This isn't at the fluke stage anymore.



Further question:

WHY does IUP keep blowing second half leads? What is the actual problem?

All (4) losses this year ... IUP led at halftime.

I just don't think their roster or talent level is good enough. Sometimes it's not deeper than that. We can dissect it a lot of ways, but it's probably pretty simple.

Teams that are above average to good (but not great) seem to win a lot of games in the aggregate. But those same teams tend to really struggle in games against teams with equal or better talent levels. And they seem to struggle in games where the game script is seemingly tight or on edge. I tend to think that's who IUP is... They're going to win most of their games. They're going to split games against teams at their level like Assumption. They're going to lose the majority of the games against teams like SRU, Kutztown, and Cal who have passed them up. And unless there's surge of money to change who they can recruit, where they can recruit, etc., I just don't see that changing.

You are asking the "why" questions... Why can't they finish games? Why can't they hold a lead? Why can't they put teams away? Those are valid.

I tend to think that teams with tangibly more collectively talent than the teams they are going up against have the ability to more frequently make the next play that helps puts the game away. In hockey, they often talk about "the next goal." IUP can't seem to make "the next play" to win those close games, or make a 20-10 game 27-10 against an equal team. Whether that be a key third down conversion on offense. Getting a sack to disrupt a drive on defense. Etc. We can talk about bad luck and breaks, but there's plays out there that can sway the game in their favor that they don't make in some of these losses. Better talent probably wins you those games.

I think they are probably closer to talent level to Assumption than we want to believe. I don't think they are as talented as SRU, Cal, or Kutztown. It's why they blow those leads to those types of teams who are better. It's probably why they allow an about equal Assumption team back in the game when they're up 10. If you had more talent, I tend to think you're going to more frequently make the next critical play in the script of the football game that nets you a positive outcome.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Because everyone had to pay to go. A surprising amount of most schools attendance is free or on a season pass as a donor or sponsor. Maybe that's too crass of a perspective but I'm sure its a decent factor.

Sad but true.


I also ran into some friends Saturday night at dinner. One asked when IUP's playoff game was and against whom.

I thought that summed up the awful gate pretty well.

[IUPFan69]

I just don't think their roster or talent level is good enough. Sometimes it's not deeper than that. We can dissect it a lot of ways, but it's probably pretty simple.

Teams that are above average to good (but not great) seem to win a lot of games in the aggregate. But those same teams tend to really struggle in games against teams with equal or better talent levels. And they seem to struggle in games where the game script is seemingly tight or on edge. I tend to think that's who IUP is... They're going to win most of their games. They're going to split games against teams at their level like Assumption. They're going to lose the majority of the games against teams like SRU, Kutztown, and Cal who have passed them up. And unless there's surge of money to change who they can recruit, where they can recruit, etc., I just don't see that changing.

You are asking the "why" questions... Why can't they finish games? Why can't they hold a lead? Why can't they put teams away? Those are valid.

I tend to think that teams with tangibly more collectively talent than the teams they are going up against have the ability to more frequently make the next play that helps puts the game away. In hockey, they often talk about "the next goal." IUP can't seem to make "the next play" to win those close games, or make a 20-10 game 27-10 against an equal team. Whether that be a key third down conversion on offense. Getting a sack to disrupt a drive on defense. Etc. We can talk about bad luck and breaks, but there's plays out there that can sway the game in their favor that they don't make in some of these losses. Better talent probably wins you those games.

I think they are probably closer to talent level to Assumption than we want to believe. I don't think they are as talented as SRU, Cal, or Kutztown. It's why they blow those leads to those types of teams who are better. It's probably why they allow an about equal Assumption team back in the game when they're up 10. If you had more talent, I tend to think you're going to more frequently make the next critical play in the script of the football game that nets you a positive outcome.

You do realize IUP beat Cal and went further than Slip this year, right?

[IUPFan69]

Sad but true.


I also ran into some friends Saturday night at dinner. One asked when IUP's playoff game was and against whom.

I thought that summed up the awful gate pretty well.

If that’s truly the case, then who bears the responsibility—the university as a whole, or the athletic department specifically? The AD? This game deserved promotion across all of Indiana all week long, radio spots, social media blitzes, etc Instead, it feels like it was barely mentioned with the crowd that showed up. What a missed opportunity and a real disappointment for the program and the fans. Shameful.

[IUP24]

You do realize IUP beat Cal and went further than Slip this year, right?

Yes. That's not the point.

I care about the big picture. Is IUP closer to the real goal or destination than SRU? No. They were a few plays away from playing in the national championship game a year ago. And they are better equipped to reload in the current environment (and have shown that) than IUP.

I'd agree that IUP is close to Cal and probably about level with them, but what's that telling you? Every time something happens, posters repeatedly claim "Cal is dead." They never are. And they continually match up extremely well against IUP and continue to do well in the PSAC. If you are .500 against a program that everyone likes to say is going in the wrong direction everything some happens to them or around them externally, does that indicate you are taking steps forward? I don't think it does. And Cal is still playing. IUP isn't.

If you aren't going to make the playoffs every year, that's okay. But when you have a "build up" year, like we were led to believe this was for IUP, you need to do something in your trip to the postseason. If this was their best team of the last couple years, I'm not sure that's a good indicator for the direction they are heading or the talent level they have.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

OK. I'll play along.

So, IUP actually has MORE resources than Cal and SRU. So, we can't blame things on the mighty dollar.

I 100% cannot be convinced either Cal or SRU had more talent than IUP this season. Equal. Sure. More? No way.

IUP gave SRU that game 15 different ways. But, you win or you lose. No asterisks. If there was, the past two years we'd have a hell of a lot of asterisks. IUP (here we go) 'should have' won the past two games against SRU. Instead, IUP lost both.

Nobody showing up Saturday is a completely different conversation. End of the day, what happened on the field is the more important item.

I fully understand you can't win every close game. You can't hold every lead. But, this sure has happened a lot lately. Why?

[iupgroundhog]

I just don't think their roster or talent level is good enough. Sometimes it's not deeper than that. We can dissect it a lot of ways, but it's probably pretty simple.

Teams that are above average to good (but not great) seem to win a lot of games in the aggregate. But those same teams tend to really struggle in games against teams with equal or better talent levels. And they seem to struggle in games where the game script is seemingly tight or on edge. I tend to think that's who IUP is... They're going to win most of their games. They're going to split games against teams at their level like Assumption. They're going to lose the majority of the games against teams like SRU, Kutztown, and Cal who have passed them up. And unless there's surge of money to change who they can recruit, where they can recruit, etc., I just don't see that changing.

You are asking the "why" questions... Why can't they finish games? Why can't they hold a lead? Why can't they put teams away? Those are valid.

I tend to think that teams with tangibly more collectively talent than the teams they are going up against have the ability to more frequently make the next play that helps puts the game away. In hockey, they often talk about "the next goal." IUP can't seem to make "the next play" to win those close games, or make a 20-10 game 27-10 against an equal team. Whether that be a key third down conversion on offense. Getting a sack to disrupt a drive on defense. Etc. We can talk about bad luck and breaks, but there's plays out there that can sway the game in their favor that they don't make in some of these losses. Better talent probably wins you those games.

I think they are probably closer to talent level to Assumption than we want to believe. I don't think they are as talented as SRU, Cal, or Kutztown. It's why they blow those leads to those types of teams who are better. It's probably why they allow an about equal Assumption team back in the game when they're up 10. If you had more talent, I tend to think you're going to more frequently make the next critical play in the script of the football game that nets you a positive outcome.

They probably have more talent than everybody, with the exception of Kutztown. Now health of the players is somewhat uncontrollable and I do think health was a factor by the time the postseason rolled around.

[IUP24]

OK. I'll play along.

So, IUP actually has MORE resources than Cal and SRU. So, we can't blame things on the mighty dollar.

I 100% cannot be convinced either Cal or SRU had more talent than IUP this season. Equal. Sure. More? No way.

IUP gave SRU that game 15 different ways. But, you win or you lose. No asterisks. If there was, the past two years we'd have a hell of a lot of asterisks. IUP (here we go) 'should have' won the past two games against SRU. Instead, IUP lost both.

Nobody showing up Saturday is a completely different conversation. End of the day, what happened on the field is the more important item.

I fully understand you can't win every close game. You can't hold every lead. But, this sure has happened a lot lately. Why?

“IUP gave SRU that game 15 different ways.” I’m not going to disagree. But teams with higher levels of talent and more resolve don’t do that. They make the next play and extend the lead, or squash the life out of SRU. They didn’t do that.

Again, I believe we overestimate how talented we think the roster is as a whole. Understand why people disagree and how that my position may be upsetting to some.

[IUP24]

They probably have more talent than everybody, with the exception of Kutztown. Now health of the players is somewhat uncontrollable and I do think health was a factor by the time the postseason rolled around.

By what metric do you come to that conclusion?

[IUP24]

OK. I'll play along.

So, IUP actually has MORE resources than Cal and SRU. So, we can't blame things on the mighty dollar.

I 100% cannot be convinced either Cal or SRU had more talent than IUP this season. Equal. Sure. More? No way.

SRU put together a more talented roster with less resources last year that was a few plays away from reaching the national championship game (and probably winning it). IUP with supposedly equal talent couldn’t beat the worst SRU team in probably a decade this time around in what we all called IUP’s “build up year.”

I get there’s other factors and nuances to things. But they aren’t at the same level as where SRU is at right now. In fact, I don’t think they’re close.

If the powers that be all allowed for IUP to make changes everywhere in question (AD’s office, football staff, etc.), I would support those happening. But I think the biggest solution is finding a way to get better and more talented players than every other team in your region that you are chasing.

[IUPNation]

I realized the attendance numbers were transposed after I posted it. I guess I didn't think it mattered either way.

Losing halftime leads is further along than a pattern. It is more of an expectation these days.

As far as the nonexistent promotion of the game, isn't that ultimately the responsibility of the AD? He isn't doing his job and we knew that before the season started.

..too busy doing other stuff.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Reserve defensive players Julian Jeffries and Rylan Jeter have entered the Portal.