After losing in the NCAA quarterfinals last season, the IUP Crimson Hawks are looking to make an even farther run this upcoming football season. The Hawks know that hard work and preparation in the spring will go a long ways, and that starts today.
For the Hawks, a big part of the upcoming season will have to do with forgetting about last season and focusing on the new. It’s hard to forget about a 12-2 season that brought a national ranking with it, but head coach Curt Cignetti believes that’s what his team needs to do this spring.
“We’re starting over. We’re anxious to get on the field,” Cignetti told the Indiana Gazette.
While it’s hard enough to forget about a losing season, the Crimson Hawks will have the tough task of forgetting about a 21-17 loss to Winston Salem in the Super Regionals of the NCAA tournament. But Cignetti isn’t worried about that one bit.
Coming into the spring, the coaches will be looking for guys to step up, especially at running back.
Last season, PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year Harvie Tuck ran for 1,698 yards and 16 touchdowns. But with Tuck now graduated, someone needs to prove themselves in the spring and make a run for the starting job. It could be De’Antwan Williams, who’s awaiting the verdict on his request for another year of eligibility from the NCAA. Williams ran for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns, filling in for Tuck when he was injured. If Williams isn’t granted another year, the position is wide open.
IUP ran for 3,630 yards last season, so their running game is important. Finding the right back to handle the ball will be a key part this spring for Cignetti and his offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, the focus will be on the linebackers and pass rush. A big help this off-season was the pickup of Alkwan Williams, a transfer from Temple. Williams is a big, fast linebacker who can provide help with the rush. The Hawks had 37.0 sacks last season.
Coach Cignetti said the team was unlikely to hold a spring game this season due to the low numbers on the roster.
Photo Credit: IUP Athletics
