Paul Tortorella has enjoyed continuity that many college football coaches never get to experience.
He just started his 23rd year with the Crimson Hawks, but this is his first as head coach after a 22-year stint as defensive coordinator. Though many aspects of his job haven’t changed significantly, the games themselves feel different.
Tortorella has experienced numerous playoff wins and exits, coached hundreds of players and outlasted three head coaches. But none of that could quite prepare him for the feeling of coaching a game where the final result, win or lose, falls on you.
“You can study for months and all of a sudden you have to take the test,” Tortorella said.
It’s early, but IUP has yet to miss a beat since Tortorella took over for Curt Cignetti, who departed for Elon after six seasons at the helm. The Crimson Hawks have won their first two games and are ranked No. 6 in this week’s AFCA Coaches’ Top 25 poll. They play host to Cheyney at noon Saturday.
“Those two games are really what you’re graded on,” Tortorella said. “The bottom line is it’s a business where you can do all the right things, but if you don’t win you’re not successful. Until you play the games, you can’t be judged as a head coach since your resume is what your win-loss record is.”
For Tortorella, there was no period of wondering whether or not he wanted the head coaching job when he found out Cignetti stepped down in December. In Tortorella’s mind, he knew he was the right guy. He also valued the continuity that came with it — not only with the staff and players, but with his family, which he has had the luxury of raising in one area for more than two decades.
Tortorella was named acting head coach and was promoted to head coach not long after.
He said he’s had plenty of opportunities to depart for other jobs prior to this year. But the payoff was worth the wait.
“There’s probably every other year where there’s an opportunity to leave or take another job,” Tortorella said. “I always weighed it against is it the right thing for not only me but for my family. You win a lot of games here, the quality of life is great, and then sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.”
Duquesne
Following a rough opener against South Dakota State, the Dukes bounced back with a 45-40 victory against Valparaiso on Saturday. Duquesne used a strong ground game, led by sophomore running back A.J. Hines, to build a 38-21 lead early in the second half. Hines tallied 91 of Duquesne’s 234 rushing yards and added a pair of touchdowns. Dukes defensive back Brandon Stanback nabbed an interception with less than a minute left to seal Duquesne’s first win. The Dukes will face Dayton on the road at 1 p.m. Saturday
Robert Morris
The Colonials will return home this weekend to face the Virginia Military Institute after suffering a 30-0 shutout on the road against Youngstown State. Robert Morris was held to 147 yards of total offense, and quarterback Jimmy Walker completed 6 of 16 passes for 83 yards.
Omari Sankofa II: osankofa@post-gazette.com and @omarisankofa
First Published: September 14, 2017, 11:30 a.m.
