LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP was picked to finish second in the Western Division as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its 2021 preseason football coaches' polls Wednesday afternoon.
The Crimson Hawks received three of the eight available first place votes, trailing division favorite Slippery Rock with four votes. Cal U received one first place vote and was third in the voting.
The rest of the division poll included Mercyhurst in fourth, Edinboro in fifth, Seton Hill in sixth, Gannon in seventh, and Clarion in eighth.
In the West, Shepherd is the overwhelming favorite with six first place votes. West Chester came in second in the voting with Kutztown trailing in third, both teams picking up one first place vote apiece.
This fall marks a return to action for IUP football and the PSAC after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 season. The Crimson Hawks are coming off a 2019 season in which they finished 10-2 overall and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the 19th time in program history.
IUP is set to return 10 starters from that 2019 team, including three preseason All-Americans: senior offensive lineman
Josh Dauberman, redshirt junior receiver
Duane Brown, and redshirt senior cornerback
Nazir Streater. They will highlight the first roster list, which will be released prior to the start of fall camp in less than two weeks.
Head coach
Paul Tortorella enters his fifth year (fourth playing season) at the helm of the program and boasts a 31-6 overall record since taking over in 2017. His team's .838 win percentage since then leads all PSAC programs and is the seventh-best in Division II.
Tortorella and the Crimson Hawks kick off their 2021 season Saturday, September 11 against Kutztown at George P. Miller Stadium.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
2021 PSAC Preseason Poll
WEST (# of 1st Place Votes)
1. Slippery Rock (4)
2. IUP (3)
3. Cal U (1)
4. Mercyhurst
5. Edinboro
6. Seton Hill
7. Gannon
8. Clarion
EAST
1. Shepherd (6)
2. West Chester (1)
3. Kutztown (1)
4. Bloomsburg
5. Shippensburg
6. East Stroudsburg
7. Millersville
8. Lock Haven
