LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP was picked to finish third in the Western Division as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released preseason coaches' polls at its 2019 Media Day Monday afternoon.
The PSAC and Lock Haven University hosted the event as all 16 football playing schools in the conference came together at one location.
IUP received one of the eight possible first place votes in the voting. Defending division champion Slippery Rock is the overwhelming favorite to repeat with six first place votes. Cal U came in second in the poll with one first place vote.
The remainder of the West is Mercyhurst in fourth, Edinboro in fifth, Gannon in sixth, Clarion in seventh and Seton Hill in eighth.
"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," said Coach Tortorella about the poll results.
"You can't take anything for granted," continued Coach Tortorella. "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 new-look East Division, last year's conference champion West Chester received six first place votes to lead the pack while Shepherd picked up the other two and is second. Shepherd is in its first year in the PSAC after joining from the Mountain East Conference. The rest of the divisional poll includes Kutztown (third), Shippensburg (fourth), Bloomsburg (fifth), East Stroudsburg (sixth), Millersville (seventh) and Lock Haven (eighth).
PSAC 150
In celebration of college football's 150th anniversary celebration in 2019, the PSAC unveiled a list Monday of 150 student-athletes, coaches and contributors who helped shape the conference's rich football history.
Nine former IUP standouts were included on that 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).
The release and bios can be found on IUPAthletics.com. A complete PSAC FB 150 list can be found on PSACsports.org.
2019 IUP outlook
The Crimson Hawks return 17 starters from last year's 8-3 team that finished in a tie for second in the PSAC West at 5-2.
Nine of those starters can be found on the offensive side, including four linemen and a pair of running backs who have helped IUP average 242 rushing yards per game over the last three seasons. Senior
Samir Bullock and junior
Justice Evans have combined for more than 4,400 yards and nearly 40 touchdowns on the ground and are both former all-league performers.
Defensively the Crimson Hawks return seven starters, including senior linebacker and 2017 All-American
Damon Lloyd. Senior edge rusher
Dondrea Tillman (12 sacks last year) and senior corner
JR Stevens (2017 All-American) also return.
"We have 17 returning starters and 11 of them are going to be seniors, so we have a very experienced group coming back," said Tortorella. "We've got a lot of good players back who have performed. We have 14 guys on the roster who played two years ago in the national semifinal game, so we do have a lot of experience playing in big games and we're a veteran team."
IUP kicks its 2019 season off September 7 at home against New Haven.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
2019 PSAC Preseason Coaches' Polls are below (# of first place votes)
EAST
1) West Chester (6)
2) Shepherd (2)
3) Kutztown
4) Shippensburg
5) Bloomsburg
6) East Stroudsburg
7) MIllersville
8) Lock Haven
WEST
1) Slippery Rock (6)
2) Cal U (1)
3) IUP (1)
4) Mercyhurst
5) Edinboro
6) Gannon
7) Clarion
8) Seton Hill
