Quote from: ADL70 on September 19, 2014, 12:03:34 PM
Returning starters, Jr CB Marting and Sr LB Oluokun were first team UAA and So DE Novak was second team.  But I believe they are the only returning starters playing this season.

That is pretty accurate.  Bednar is apparently out for the season and the other returning starter Cody Deterding missed the last two games with an injury - not sure on his expected return.  Several freshman and sophomores seeing significant playing time.  Have to hope those players mature as the season goes on.  Played better this past weekend against North Park, but I don't think North Park was the same caliber of offensive team as ONU and Rhodes.  Centre will be a big challenge this weekend.

Tough start for the Bears against a good Ohio Northern team.  Went up 17-0 early in 2nd quarter and then ONU scored 31 straight.  A couple long pass plays (1 was a short pass that turned into a long touchdown) started things rolling then they turned it over to their big running back and controlled thing on the ground after that.  Impressive showing by the new WashU quarterback - looked very solid and composed.  Defense struggled to stop the run in the second half.  Don't know that it would have made a difference, but they apparently lost their starting free safety (captain) for the year to injury in the last preseason scrimmage.  Tough one this week in Memphis against Rhodes.

Terrible news at CWRU

On a more optimistic note, the UAA pre-season projections came out today.

http://uaa.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/uaapreseason

Nice story about a neat tradition Coach Kindbom has for the upcoming seniors at WashU.  I am sure the other schools have similar traditions, but thought I would share this with everyone.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20140818cmmv5v

Better late than never - Wash U officially announces freshman class - 36 guys from 19 different states.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20140714vf9zmo

Spring ball started at 6:45 a.m. this morning for the Bears!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151921868547821&set=vb.162416397820&type=2&theater

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on November 24, 2013, 07:44:59 AM
Congrats to Coach Kindbom and WashU on their playoff appearance and acquitting themselves quite well yesterday.  Franklin has a very powerful offense and the Bears shut them down, as they have done all season.  That WashU defense must go down as one of the best units in the conference's history.  14 points allowed in the three UAA games; 127 overall in 11 games (86 in 10 if you remove the Hendrix shootout); and holding some very, very, very good opponents to just 17 (UWW, Franklin) meaning that they could shut down very good teams as well as their peers.  I haven't looked at their two-deep to see how many defensive starters return next year but if a fair number do, they will be a tough out again.  Bears, get yourself some offense!  I want to see what that defense can do if you can give'em 20 points a game!

Very exciting game on Saturday.  Once again, one more long scoring drive by the offense would have helped tremendously.  The weather played a major factor also - very windy and cold.  Wash U controlled the third quarter with the wind and went up 10-7.  The fourth quarter was all Franklin with Wash U being unable to turn the field and consistently having to punt into the wind.  I think Franklin's  worst starting field position in the 4th quarter was about their own 45.  Even on the final TD,  the Franklin QB was quoted as saying he was actually throwing to another receiver and the ball carried  to the other guy.  Great year for the Bears and lots of reasons to be very optimistic about next year with a slightly more favorable schedule.

The Bears will lose 6 starters on defense, including 3 linemen, 1 linebacker and 2 db's.  One thing Coach Kindbom does well is rotate a lot of players in, so the first line of replacements for these six all have considerable playing time under their belts.  Only losing 3 starters on offense including the QB.  Back-up QB at the end of the year was a freshman who looked pretty good in limited action.

Great to see the Bear's grab a Pool B bid.  Shows that strength of schedule is still important - at least  this year.  Looks  like the Franklin match up will be a high powered offense vs. a stingy defense.  Looking at the Franklin season, struggling to understand the Blufton loss.  Great to get in and hope to do  the UAA proud!

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 15, 2013, 11:02:16 AM

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on October 15, 2013, 10:04:11 AM

Quote from: jaybird44 on October 12, 2013, 08:01:40 PM
Wash-U survived a shootout in Conway, Arkansas this afternoon, as the Bears outlasted Hendrix 45-41.  Both teams' defenses were scrambling to keep up with the opposing offenses, and the game went down to the final play before it was decided.

Wash-U (4-2) scored the go-ahead TD with 51 seconds left, on a 17-yard pass from Eric Daginella to freshman Zach Strittmatter.  But, Hendrix drove to the Wash-U 35-yard-line and called timeout with 3.4 on the clock.  A Hail Mary pass was caught by Hendrix freshman Spencer Smith at the Wash-U 1-yard-line, but Bears CB Andrew Skalman make the tackle at the buzzer to give them a hard-fought win.

Wash-U outgained Hendrix 524-448, including 304 yards rushing and averaging 6.2 yards per carry.  Hendrix (2-3) tossed the ball for 316 yards and a TD.

Bears QB Eric Daginella compiled 220 yards passing and a career-best 83 yards on 10 carries and 2 TDs.  RB Zach Lonneman also enjoyed a career-high 137 yards on 21 attempts and a TD.  Cody Ratermann had 2 TDs and 47 rushing yards.

Wash-U has a bye next week, and travels to Macalester in two weeks.  Following that game, the UAA schedule begins.  This football season is going to become much more entertaining...

Thanks for the report jaybird.  WashU offense has found its footing against a few lesser defenses.  CMU's been a shade disappointing, CWRU is off for a little while, but to me WashU looks like a clear-cut favorite now, although Chicago is a decent contender.  If WashU can run the table, they'll have a decent shot at Pool B.  Not sure that Chicago will since their losses are not quite as good as WashU's; the Bears will get a big SOS assist if UWW and/or Coe win their respective conferences.  It is conceivable that their losses will both come by 10-point margins against undefeated conference champs; while they're still a marginal playoff candidate, I could see them squeezing in if they are able to run the table and either UWW or Coe wins out.

Agree with this.  I'm not currently projecting WashU into the playoffs, but that's mostly because I'm doing a minimum of forecasting future results.  On the side though, yes, WashU is going to have a real shot at making the field. 

A quick Pool B breakdown here...I think Wesley is pretty safe, assuming they don't faceplant against Rowan.  So that leaves two more spots and basically seven teams: Millsaps, Texas Lutheran, Framingham State, Centre, Rhodes, Chicago, and WashU. 

Let's eliminate Chicago because in our hypothetical, WashU wins out which leaves Chicago with (at best) a two loss record and a loss to WashU...so they'd be out.  Table Framingham for the moment...we'll get back to them.  Millsaps, Centre, and Rhodes...worth looking at remaining schedules here:
Millsaps: @Birmingham-Southern, @Sewanee, Berry, Centre, @Rhodes
Centre: Sewanee, @Rhodes, Hendrix, @Millsaps, Birmingham-Southern
Rhodes: Centre, @Birmingham-Southern, @Hendrix, Millsaps

There's not a whole lot of gimmes on that list for anybody in the SAA. I think there are two scenarios likely here.  One is that one of these three emerges as either unbeaten or with one loss and is in good shape. The other is that they wipe each other out. 

Texas Lutheran...remaining schedule is: @Sul Ross State, @MissColl, Louisiana College, @Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne.  Sul Ross and Howard Payne don't look to provide a lot of resistance here.  Any of the other three I could see going either way.  The other thing here is that this group will help TLU's SOS some, but they won't all of a sudden have a top 30 schedule because of it.  If TLU can get through this with just one loss, I think they are pretty locked in.  Two losses and I don't think they'll have the SOS or any quality wins to get in. 

So that leaves Framingham State.  Remember now that last year the NEFC landed an at-large bid, controversially, and it happens because those teams have a decent SOS.  Now, we've got half of that group that is broken off but FSU is still carrying a big SOS.  It will temper some over time, but if they get through this thing and only have the single loss to Rowan, they become a serious player for a Pool B spot. 

So after all of that, I think what you're really looking at here is the SAA champion, WashU, and Framingham State in play for the third Pool B spot.  Those three teams are playing for two spots if TLU loses twice.  That's my long term Pool B analysis. 

Wally - you obviously have given this a lot of thought.  Throwing out Framingham for now, how do you think the selection committee would look at a 2-loss Wash U versus a 1-loss Centre or Rhodes given that 1 loss is to Wash U?

Some observations from St. Louis yesterday.  Wash U offense still struggling.  They ran the ball well yesterday, especially some big runs in the fourth to get the tying touchdown and then a 15 yd. run on 3rd and long in the second OT to set up a much easier winning field goal.  Passing game was out of sync all day.

Defense looked good again, but gave up a 99 yd drive for the one Rhodes touchdown.  Rhodes found some success with a running game in the middle, but the defense was able to stop them when they had to.

Heading to Coe next week, offense has got to step it up for the Bears to have a good chance for a big road win.

Quick follow-up from Whitewater.  Two very good defensive teams on display.  Wash U's first drive was an impressive mix of run and pass, but they couldn't do much of anything after that even when they had good field position.  Wash U defense was equally impressive keeping UWW outside the Wash U 40 until the fourth quarter.  In the stands, you could sense that the Wash U offense needed to string together some first downs to give the defense a breather on a warm day as the game got into the fourth quarter.  Unfortunately that didn't happen and the field position turned on the punt interference call and then the fumbled punt.  A great effort by the Bears and certainly something to build on, but it all means nothing unless they come home and take care of Rhodes on Saturday.

I would agree that the Bears looked good on Saturday but Greenville wasn't exactly sharp so one can't read too much into the scrimmage.  I agree with Jaybird that  the offense looked good both passing and running - I think the running game should be stronger than last year and will need to be to allow the play action passing game to work.  Defense had its moments but is a little banged up.  Hopefully everyone gets back to health this week and we are at full strength for what will certainly be a challenge at Whitewater.  Game notes are posted on the WashU site http://bearsports.wustl.edu/Sports/Football/Documents/Whitewater.pdf

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151523009832821&set=vb.162416397820&type=2&theater

Thought everyone might enjoy seeing just a brief glimpse of what all the UAA players are going through this week.  The camaraderie and brotherhood of D3 football is what makes it so worthwhile. Best of luck to everyone for a successful and healthy season!

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on August 14, 2013, 09:07:33 AM
On the contrary, we will be GLAD to have a Wash U representative!!! Welcome aboard and feel free to introduce yourself - what's your connection to Wash U?

My son is on the Wash U team, and absent an injury we will make most if not all of the games so I'll be glad to provide some post game reporting.  The guys reported yesterday and I know there is a lot of optimism after the way last season ended and with so many returning starters.  Road games at Whitewater and Coe in the first three weeks will go a long way in defining this team.  The schedule gets a little easier in the middle including two first year programs in Hendrix and Berry before we hit the UAA games, two of which are in St. Louis.  Glad to be on board!

Hope everyone won't mind if a Wash U fan joins the board.  Unfortunately, it appears we have been under represented in the past. Looking forward to a very promising year with a ton of returning starters.  Hope we can keep the momentum going from the end of last year.  Defense should lead and hope we can find enough play makers on offense.