SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray and Associate Commissioner Will Adair hosted the PSAC-Western Division Football Media Day at Slippery Rock University at Noon on Monday.
(Photo on left: Mike Deirick, Coach Jay Foster & Julian Howsare.)
IUP was installed as the pre-season favorite to win the Western Division according to the pre-season coaches poll. Clarion was picked to finish seventh.
The Golden Eagles, who report to Fall camp on Wednesday, enter the 2014 season under ninth year head coach Jay Foster returning 19 starters and 44 lettermen from a team that finished 4-7 overall last year and notched a 2-5 mark in the rugged PSAC-Western Division.
“We’re excited about getting the 2014 Fall camp started,” said Foster. “I like the team we’ve assembled this year and think we are improved in all aspects. Every team would like to start the season with a high pre-season ranking, but my focus is on where we finish the season. That’s what really counts. We’ve proven we can play with these teams, it’s up to us to get the job done.”
IUP garnered five of eight first place votes, while California was predicted to finish second and had three votes for a first place finish. Rounding out the eight team field in order of finish was Slippery Rock third, Mercyhurst fourth, Gannon fifth, Edinboro sixth, Clarion seventh and Seton Hill eighth.
Slippery Rock won the PSAC-West last year with a 6-1 division record, while IUP was second at 5-2 and Mercyhurst, California and Gannon were next with 4-3 records.
Clarion was represented at the media day by senior All-America defensive end Julian Howsare (Altoona) and senior tight end Mike Deitrick (Upper St.Clair).
Howsare, a consensus pre-season All-American, was the PSAC-West Defensive “Player of the Year” with 83 tackles, 10 sacks, 18 tfl’s, 4 blocked kicks, 2 int’s and 2 fumbles caused. A 2013 and 2012 FB Gazette All-American, he shows career numbers of 170 tackles, 41 tfl’s, 28 sacks, 9 break-ups, 7 blocked kicks, 6 fumbles caused and 2 int’s.
Deitrick, a talented tight end who is a 2-year returning starter, led the golden Eagle offense with 24 catches for 239 yards and 2 td’s a year ago. He is ready for his best season to date.
Coach Foster begins his ninth season leading the Blue and Gold. He was the 2009 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” leading the 2009 team to an 8-3 overall record, a second place finish in the PSAC-West with a 6-1 mark and earned an 8th place ranking in the NCAA Div. II East Region’s final poll.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion opens 2014 with 3 road games and doesn’t play its first home game until September 27th when the Eagles host Gannon for the annual Homecoming Game. Other home games are on October 11 vs Edinboro, October 25 vs California, November 8 vs Slippery Rock and November 15 vs Kutztown…. West Chester was selected to win the PSAC-East, followed by East Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg.
WESTERN DIVISION
1. IUP (5)
2. California (3)
3. Slippery Rock
4. Mercyhurst
5. Gannon
6. Edinboro
7. CLARION
8. Seton Hill
EASTERN DIVISION
1. West Chester (7)
2. East Stroudsburg (1)
3. Bloomsburg
4. Shippensburg
5. Kutztown
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney
