×

IUP slotted third in PSAC West preseason poll

LOCK HAVEN — The IUP football team wants to get back on top in the West.

The Crimson Hawks are a contender to do that as they were slotted to finish third in the PSAC Western Division in the preseason poll.

The Crimson Hawks received one of the eight possible first-place votes to finish third in the list when the PSAC released its preseason polls Monday at Lock Haven University. It’s only the second time in the past eight years that IUP was not selected first It snapped a three-year streak atop the preseason poll for the program as well.

Defending PSAC West champion Slippery Rock finished first in the poll with six first-place votes, while Cal got one first-place vote and came in second. After IUP, Mercyhurst, Edinboro, Gannon, Clarion and Seton Hill rounded out the preseason poll.

“When you look at what happened last year with Slippery Rock winning the conference, Cal beating us, the returning players that they have – it’s probably the way it should have been,” IUP head coach Paul Tortorella said. “You can’t take anything for granted. We came in here last year ranked No. 1 in the conference, ranked fourth in the country, all the great superlatives coming off our year in 2017. But, it doesn’t mean anything. You have to play the games.”

In the East Division, West Chester, last year’s PSAC champ, received six first-place votes to lead that poll. It its first year in the PSAC after joining from the Mountain East Conference, Shepherd picked up the other two first-place votes and is second. Kutztown, Shippensburg, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Millersville and Lock Haven round out the East.

The Crimson Hawks return 16 starters — nine offense, seven defense — from last year’s 8-3 team that just missed a fourth-straight NCAA playoff berth. IUP finished tiedCal for second in the PSAC West with a 5-2 mark.

The Crimson Hawks begin the season with two of their first three games at home. The team opens the year Sept. 7 when it welcomes New Haven, then visits Millersville the following Saturday. The team returns home to take on Lock Haven on Sept. 21 and visits Mercyhurst on Sept. 28. Cal pays at visit to IUP on Oct. 5 for the 11th Annual Coal Bowl. The Crimson Hawks hit the road for most of the second half of their schedule. They visit Slippery Rock on Oct. 12 and Clarion on Oct. 19. Gannon treks to IUP on Oct. 26. The Crimson Hawks travel to Seton Hill on Nov.2 and welcome Edinboro on Nov. 9. The team wraps up the regular season on Nov. 16 with a game at Shippensburg. That finale could change if IUP wins the West and plays in the conference championship game.

As part of college football’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2019, the PSAC unveiled a list of 150 student-athletes, coaches and contributors who helped shape the conference’s rich football history.

Nine former IUP standouts were among those on the list, including Frank Cignetti Sr. (coach, player), Chuck Klausing (coach), Jim Haslett (player), Jai Hill (player), Michael Mann (player), Dave Smith (player), Chris Villarrial (player), Jack Benedict (contributor) and Dan Radakovich (contributor).

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today