The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference held its Media Day over social media earlier today in anticipation for the 2021-22 football season – the first season since 2019.
The Voice of the Crimson Hawks, Jack Benedict, has the recap.
IUP, which finished with a 6-1 record in conference play in 2019 – the last time they played football – is picked to finish second in the west. The Crimson Hawks received three first-place votes and return with a roster featuring three Lindy’s Preseason All-Americans: offensive lineman Josh Dauberman, wide receiver Duane Brown and defensive back Nazir Streater.
IUP Head Coach Paul Tortorella said in his Media Day session that veterans like Dauberman and Streater have stepped up to help teach the younger players and newcomers on the team during the past few months.
Tortorella added that, despite the long road back to competition, his Hawks are ready to fly on the gridiron.
IUP will open its season with a home matchup against Kutztown, who was picked to finish third in the PSAC East, at 2 p.m.
California (Pa.), who return 11 players from 2019, was picked to finish third. The Vulcans come off their seventh consecutive winning season – the longest active streak among PSAC teams.
Rounding out the bottom of the PSAC West rankings is Mercyhurst at four; Edinboro at five; and Seton Hill, Gannon and Clarion round out the bottom three.
In the East, Shepherd was picked as the favorite to win the division with six first-place votes, the most among all PSAC schools.
The full preseason rankings for both the East and West can be found below.
