University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

Looks like Nick Spring is back on campus, albeit unable to play because of injury.  He's coveing the football team for the campus paper.
http://observer.case.edu/Archives/Volume_41/Issue_2/Story_2816/

Unfortunately this week's article provides no answers to how the OL and LB holes will be filled.  As far as OL only "We have a couple of good freshman that are young, but developed well during camp. We also have a couple veteran guys than can step up..."  And LB "There has been a lot of competition this year and nothing is set in stone."  The only new player mentioned by name is Dale English DL from Holy Name.

From today's PD:
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1220603590159570.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

Both of these articles misspell Bill Deitmen's name.

[blue4now]

I think they will be fine.  Some of the new guys have both size and quickness.  With all of the returners it should be easier working the new guys into the mix of things.

Spring is back and has had the itch to return however his injury wont let it happen any longer.  He is still involved so that helps both him and the team.

Still wondering how Sujtca and Kingscott will be used and if it will be on D.  Baum was Whalens backup during the JCU scrimmage but he is small.  Cowdrick said he is the emergency QB.  Lets hope the OL does its job to keep Danny on his feet. 

GO SPARTANS!!!   GO CASE!!!   GO BLUE!!!

[ADL70]

I'm much more curious than I am worried.  Depth is a great thing.  Having back-ups work with the #1 unit is a plus.  If they can rotate in fresh players of equivalent ability they can wear down the other team.

Baum is listed at 6'1 195, was it the freshman Baz who was the backup?

Kingscott now has the DB like #21.

[blue4now]

breon is out but that should be it.........

[BDTartan]

I could see where some people, such as the Plain Dealer writer, could make a case for CMU being weak on O.  Losing two RBs that amassed 1000 yards on the ground the past two years definitely leaves you with question marks.  I personally think they will be all right.  I think the system has proven it can produce.  CMU has been running it for decades.  They have a capable FB replacing Sivek in Sr. Ryan Phillips.  He's a very strong downhill runner who breaks tackles well and gains maximum yardage.  I think Sr. Greg Pitts will play at RB as well as Jr. David Babcock.  Jr. Phil Pantalone will start at QB.  He started the last 5 or 6 games last year, winning the last five games including the ECAC Southwest bowl.   

Again, the D is their strongest unit this year.  Lots of experienced players returning all over.  Not a whole lot of depth at D-line, but they have plenty of that in the LB corp.  Could see a steady rotation of LBs.  They also return all 4 starters in the defensive backfield.  Led by big hitting Sr. Steve McGovern and Jon Scholl, a 5th yr. senior and the teams leading tackler last year, they should be able to give the D-line and LBs plenty of time to make a play in the backfield.  They'll miss Matt Adams at the P position......but things would have to be pretty bad to start worrying about your punting game.

Go Tartans!!  And good luck to the rest of the UAA.

[ADL70]

Go Spartans and Tartans and Bears!!!

I was giving WUStL a slight edge over CMU, but no way will Chicago beat CMU.

[ADL70]

UAA 3-0

CWRU 62   Kenyon 27
CMU 35  OWU 7
WUStL 22  Greenville  0

Cover jinx?  Co-captains Brian Calderone and Dan Whalen were on the Media Guide cover and both left the game in the second quarter with injuries.

Whalen was 11-14-0-199  2TDs  5 rushes for 40 yds

Joey Baum finished the second quarter and the only possession in the third quarter.  He was 10-13-0-117 2 TD  passes and 1 rushing (sneak).  Two freshmen mopped up the fourth quarter when the bench was cleared.  Six different RBs and three QBs carried the ball and eight different receivers had catches.

A couple of new fronts were shown on D.  Freshmen Derrick Sharp (CB) and Tony Opperman (LG) started and Brian Metlesitz ran the ball, caught a pass, played DB, and had a TD KO return called back.  Former RB Lee Sasala started at LB.

All the Lord's scoring was in the fourth quarter and against the back-ups also aided by a snap over the QB's head recovered by Kenyon at the 4.

[BDTartan]

OWU wasn't a bad football team,  other than a drive where stupid mistakes setup OWU's only score, CMU's D lived up to what I expected.  They were all over the place and the secondary looked like they were ready to roll in June.  The secondary caused all of OWU's turnover's....3 picks, two of which returned for TDs, and a FF by a DB.  And as I thought, the O was solid.  Phillips ran well and broke a lot of tackles that I don't remember seeing Sivek break.  A very strong 35-7 victory.  If they keep playing this way it could be a cause for concern for you Spartan fans.  A healthy, on-point D may have something to say in Cleveland this year.  Remember, last year's game wasn't a high scoring affair, and I think CMU's D is a few steps ahead of the 07 version.  Time will tell though.  

[ADL70]

The Bishop's used two freshman QBs who were picked off three times.  Discussion on the NCAC board doesn't say why they had tu o use them.

[DagarmanSpartan]

How badly injured are Whalen and Calderone?

Will they play next week?

It would definitely hurt to lose the people considered to be our best players on both sides of the ball.

[ADL70]

Calderone came back for a few plays, but had ice on his knee (left, if I remember correctly) in the second half.  Whalen was up and standing shortly after he went out.  He had gone down awkwardly getting out of bounds on a three yard scramble.  He was on crutches after the half though.

Baum was impressive throwing the ball, I don't think he's as mobile as Whalen though.

Cowdrick also only played a series or two.  He was on the sidelines without pads after the half.

[PlaidMan]

The little bit I saw on streaming video of CMU was impressive. They look to be in mid-season form, especially on defense. That's the first time I saw them play. I liked what I saw.

[blue4now]

Cowdrick and Whalen are hamstring injuries.  Time will tell how they recover.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Any updates on whether Whalen and Calderone will play this weekend?

[ADL70]

Waiting for Whalen's SI blog tomorrow.