ECAC Release

CENTERVILLE, MA – The IUP football team has been selected as the winner of the 2012 Lambert Meadowlands Division II poll as it was recently announced by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

This is the 11th time that IUP has won the Lambert Poll, the most all-time. It's the first poll win for IUP since the 2003 season.

The Crimson Hawks win the award after a season in which they finished 12-2 overall, advancing to the Super Region I Championship, ultimately losing at Winston-Salem State 21-17. IUP won its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) football championship game since 1986, flying past Shippensburg 41-10 on November 10.

A total of 16 players or coaches received post season recognition, including PSAC West Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti and PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary). Cignetti wrapped up his second year at the helm of the Crimson Hawks, quickly rebuilding IUP back into a national contender. An outgoing senior running back, Tuck leaves as the school's second all-time leading rusher with 4,294 yards.

Defensive Coordinator Paul Tortorella was also named Division II's Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.

IUP's last Lambert poll win came after a 10-1 season in 2003. The program also earned recognition in 1987, 1989-1991, 1993-1994, 1999, and 2001-2003.

The Lambert Poll has been conducted in Division II since 1982 as IUP is just one of 11 schools that have ever earned the award. New Haven was the 2011 recipient and has won it four times. West Chester has also earned the award four times.