Coming off yet another successful season under head coach Curt Cignetti, the IUP football team is ranked 20th in the preseason American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll, released on Monday.
This is the second time in as many seasons that the Crimson Hawks garner a top 25 preseason ranking, posting a 21-4 overall record under Cignetti since 2012.
IUP is one of three teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) that show up in the AFCA poll, joining West Chester at No. 10 and Bloomsburg at No. 24. Both schools compete in the Eastern Division while IUP is in the Western Division.
The Crimson Hawks – who are the preseason favorite to win the PSAC West – return 10 starters from last year’s 9-2 team. 10 more players with starting experience and a host of young, talented players give IUP its largest and deepest team in the Cignetti era.
IUP opens the 2014 season on Sept. 6 with a 12 p.m. kickoff against Saint Augustine’s (N.C.) at Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium.
VIA IUP Athletics
Dates to Know
PSAC Football Media Day – Aug 11
Student-Athletes report – Aug 13
Scrimmage – Aug 21
IUP Football Media/Photo Day – Aug 24
2014 Season Opener – Sept 6
PHOTOS VIA @SKINNZTV
Photographer @SkinnzTV has some exclusive photos from the Hawks practice! Check them out below!
