THE IUP Football Thread

[Fightingscot82]

That's a whole different can of worms (and a thread in itself).

In a nutshell, they want both to be up front.

Same school ... very different followings (i.e. boosters).

They are kind of two different worlds.

That said, I think this is Joe's last push. He has a strong team this year (and should next year, too, if they all stay). When he retires, it will be interesting what direction they take. Tort is also nearing retirement (one could assume a few more years).

Make no mistake, there was a run there that Joe far surpassed the football program.

It's odd but they are really just different programs. They have largely different followings, etc. Obviously there are some people who follow both.

That may be somewhat unique about most other PSAC schools. The only thing I can think of that compares is wrestling at the D1 schools brings people out of the woodwork who have possibly never attended a football game or a basketball game. That's tough because what I recall a lot of those football & basketball regulars are also bigger boosters, right?

[EyeoftheHawk]

Posters have hit on the various problems and I agree with a lot of what has been said. The overarching issue is IUP has leadership voids in key positions. I’m not going to point fingers as it should be obvious. Pretty much all of what has been said on this topic are symptoms of the lack of leadership from the dilapidated football stadium to the lack of game/team promotion to the men’s basketball team getting bumped from the KCAC to the campus looking like a dump all summer and extending into the first three weeks of the semester, etc.

Someone might be tempted to say, “Well, the money…” I don’t want to hear it. It’s a lack of leadership. Leaders get things done. They find a way. Athletic programs and academic departments have been swimming upstream for quite a while now and eventually that takes a toll.

[iupgroundhog]

Posters have hit on the various problems and I agree with a lot of what has been said. The overarching issue is IUP has leadership voids in key positions. I’m not going to point fingers as it should be obvious. Pretty much all of what has been said on this topic are symptoms of the lack of leadership from the dilapidated football stadium to the lack of game/team promotion to the men’s basketball team getting bumped from the KCAC to the campus looking like a dump all summer and extending into the first three weeks of the semester, etc.

Someone might be tempted to say, “Well, the money…” I don’t want to hear it. It’s a lack of leadership. Leaders get things done. They find a way. Athletic programs and academic departments have been swimming upstream for quite a while now and eventually that takes a toll.

That is absolutely correct. You have to look at this stuff in organizational terms. If there is a problem below, it is often a symptom of a problem above.

[Fightingscot82]

On a more positive topic, is Rueve the best of the string of transfer QBs IUP has brought in? Congrats to him on being a Harlon Hill nominee.

[iupgroundhog]

On a more positive topic, is Rueve the best of the string of transfer QBs IUP has brought in? Congrats to him on being a Harlon Hill nominee.

It's not negativism, it's being objective.

[Ram040506]

On a more positive topic, is Rueve the best of the string of transfer QBs IUP has brought in? Congrats to him on being a Harlon Hill nominee.

He's good, but I think the guy they had before Covid in Quinton Maxwell was their best so far in this transfer run of QB's. He threw for 3130 yds 34 tds and 9 picks.

[Ship69]

For comparison, Shepherds tickets are higher:

Reserved seating $30 per game, $140 for season tickets reserved.
General Admission for adults is $15, $5 for K-12 age. Season tickets for GA is $75.

Slippery Rock's website has GA tickets at $10, chair back reserved seating at $15.

Shippensburg is straight $10 to enter according to their site.

I can confer that Ship is $10 (actually $5 for seniors). It's very reasonable to attend Ship games, which might be one reason they still get good crowds on occasion (a couple well over 4,000) this season despite fielding a weak team in recent years. Perhaps going up five bucks or so might not be a bad idea to bring in a little more loot for the program. Contribute enough to the Raiders Club and you get free passes for both football and basketball. Interesting that Shepherd is getting $30 for some of their tickets.

[Ram040506]

I can confer that Ship is $10 (actually $5 for seniors). It's very reasonable to attend Ship games, which might be one reason they still get good crowds on occasion (a couple well over 4,000) this season despite fielding a weak team in recent years. Perhaps going up five bucks or so might not be a bad idea to bring in a little more loot for the program. Contribute enough to the Raiders Club and you get free passes for both football and basketball. Interesting that Shepherd is getting $30 for some of their tickets.

Shepherd is overpriced, but I do think it's a well done event most of the time. Family day in the past they've had multiple bounce houses out near the tailgate lots so all the kids just go over there while the parents hang out prior to going into the game. They have multiple vendors inside serving different types of food, so it's not all just pizza and burgers/dogs. It's not cheap, but it is a fun day most of the time.

[iupgroundhog]

So, there appears to be some form of censorship going on with the board now. Is the IUP AD on the payroll? Not good.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Posters have hit on the various problems and I agree with a lot of what has been said. The overarching issue is IUP has leadership voids in key positions. I’m not going to point fingers as it should be obvious. Pretty much all of what has been said on this topic are symptoms of the lack of leadership from the dilapidated football stadium to the lack of game/team promotion to the men’s basketball team getting bumped from the KCAC to the campus looking like a dump all summer and extending into the first three weeks of the semester, etc.

Someone might be tempted to say, “Well, the money…” I don’t want to hear it. It’s a lack of leadership. Leaders get things done. They find a way. Athletic programs and academic departments have been swimming upstream for quite a while now and eventually that takes a toll.

Little things could be done to the stadium (all the track gear could be cleaned up, etc.) but beyond that you're talking millions of dollars. I just don't see them spending that kind of money right now.

[iupgroundhog]

Little things could be done to the stadium (all the track gear could be cleaned up, etc.) but beyond that you're talking millions of dollars. I just don't see them spending that kind of money right now.

What is their budget? It's all about priorities and it's always been at the bottom of the list.

[IUPalum]

On a more positive topic, is Rueve the best of the string of transfer QBs IUP has brought in? Congrats to him on being a Harlon Hill nominee.

I'd take Quinton Maxwell over Rueve.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'd take Quinton Maxwell over Rueve.

Don't forget about Sexton tossing 100 mph heat. He did win a PSAC title.

I liked Harry Football, too. But, he missed some games.

Lenny also had a great career.

Tough call.

[Fightingscot82]

What is their budget? It's all about priorities and it's always been at the bottom of the list.

I think one of the problems from a historical perspective going back decades (so no real blame on the current AD) is that most IUP long range plans have been for entirely new stadiums. None of those plans have gained any traction. A new football stadium was a minor detail slipped into a full campus master plan. So for far too long, the big u "University" has been looking past Miller towards dreams that never happened and would never have sunk money into a facility that was going to be repurposed or bulldozed. I think the fact that Miller hasn't had a major upgrade in years could mean that few if any of IUP's stable of major donors don't value football, nor do any of the major business leaders who might want to put their name on it let alone propose a gonzo gift to force it to the top of the priorities list. I imagine replacing or refurbishing Miller is at or near the top of the AD's wish list.

[IUPNation]

I think one of the problems from a historical perspective going back decades (so no real blame on the current AD) is that most IUP long range plans have been for entirely new stadiums. None of those plans have gained any traction. A new football stadium was a minor detail slipped into a full campus master plan. So for far too long, the big u "University" has been looking past Miller towards dreams that never happened and would never have sunk money into a facility that was going to be repurposed or bulldozed. I think the fact that Miller hasn't had a major upgrade in years could mean that few if any of IUP's stable of major donors don't value football, nor do any of the major business leaders who might want to put their name on it let alone propose a gonzo gift to force it to the top of the priorities list. I imagine replacing or refurbishing Miller is at or near the top of the AD's wish list.

Well bulldozing the current stadium and rebuilding it would accomplish the old goal. The homestand is now 64 years old. It's served it's purpose. I don't know where they would build a new stadium. The south athletic fields? That would be a mistake. Most of the students probably don't even know the baseball field is over there. There is nowhere else on the campus to build it. It needs to be a tear down and rebuild.