University Athletic Association

ExTartanPlayer · November 14, 2009, 05:57:34 PM

Better Red,

I believe the NCAC-UAA games for the first two seasons in the scheduling agreement (2008 and 2009) were preset when the plan was first devised. The plan was first hatched/announced in 2006, before Case even had its first undefeated season, let along its third straight. So at the time the schedule was devised, nobody would have anticipated CWRU as the team that needed a challenge from the NCAC - that designation was far more likely to go to WashU or CMU at that time.

wabashcpa · November 14, 2009, 07:23:19 PM

Quote from: MajorSpartan on November 04, 2009, 05:24:03 PM
Raider 68,

I'm hoping that this season is the year that we finally break our "Wabash Curse."

They've ended our playoff runs each of the last two seasons.

We'll find out tomorrow if you get your chance - it just might happen.

ADL70 · November 14, 2009, 10:27:09 PM

I think Wabash will likely be a 5 seed and go to IWU, unless there is a lot of inter-region movement. Spartans would host Trine as previously proposed.

As far as the schedule goes, what I have heard is that the schools have little or no say in who they play in the NCAC-UAA schedule. At least as far as the games within the NCAC, I know that less strong teams get a weaker schedule. If the same philosophy carried over to the inter-league games, the Bears would get a tougher schedule based on their UAA dominance 2001-2004. CWRU's schedule gets tougher next year as John Carroll and Allegheny replace Ohio Wesleyan and Kenyon. I wish Hiram had been replaced instead.

ADL70 · November 14, 2009, 11:57:41 PM

Now the gurus are predicting the re-rematch in Cleveland. Third times a charm?

http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/2009/11/14/final-2009-playoff-projection/

ADL70 · November 15, 2009, 04:35:22 PM

Trine, then Witt-MSJ winner

wabashcpa · November 15, 2009, 04:45:29 PM

Quote from: ADL70 on November 15, 2009, 04:35:22 PM
Trine, then Witt-MSJ winner

About as good a route as you could want - no cakewalks, but all winnable games.

ADL70 · November 15, 2009, 10:12:27 PM

Per my earlier post, I'm quite pleased.

jam40jeff · November 16, 2009, 01:58:26 PM

So do we know much about Trine? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Do they provide any matchup problems for us? Are they similar to anyone else we have played? Will our stadium be packed with Hoosiers?

Raider 68 · November 16, 2009, 04:12:02 PM

Quote from: jam40jeff on November 16, 2009, 01:58:26 PM
So do we know much about Trine? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Do they provide any matchup problems for us? Are they similar to anyone else we have played? Will our stadium be packed with Hoosiers?

jam40jeff,

Ask Former3db on the MIAA board, he knows Trine and former player at Hope (very knowledgeable).

From what I know of Trine and the MIAA, they are well coached, won the MIAA the last two years, are a balance team, so CWRU should not take
them too lightly!

BoredatWork56 · November 17, 2009, 09:43:35 AM

Quote from: Raider 68 on November 16, 2009, 04:12:02 PM

Ask Former3db on the MIAA board, he knows Trine and former player at Hope (very knowledgeable).

Formerd3db is the guy to talk to about most things in the MIAA, but as a former Trine player myself, I can provide some insight. Trine's offense is very balanced and explosive. They have a great running game with a mobile quarterback and a mix of small fast running backs, and big strong full backs. They dont utilize the passing game as much as they could, but they pick their spots and use it well. The quarter back is very efficient and accurate. If this game turns into a shootout, the passing game can be dangerous.

The defense is a little undersized, but very athletic. They can get pressure with the front three, leaving the linebackers to make plays in the passing game. The numbers are slightly misleading as they struggled early in the year, and have since made personel canges and have been playing much better as a unit.

Their special teams have been solid as they have one of the better kickers in the country. He has a huge leg, but struggles with accuracy at times. You can expect the stands to be packed as the fans travel very well.

This is an up and coming program that has lost only 1 regular season game in the last two years, that coming this year at Franklin. This was a one point loss in a game where the best running back missed the game due to a death in the family. I am very excied about this match up and think it will be a very good game.

Any thoughts about the game and any information on Case?

Raider 68 · November 17, 2009, 10:32:51 AM

Quote from: BoredatWork56 on November 17, 2009, 09:43:35 AM
Quote from: Raider 68 on November 16, 2009, 04:12:02 PM

Ask Former3db on the MIAA board, he knows Trine and former player at Hope (very knowledgeable).

Formerd3db is the guy to talk to about most things in the MIAA, but as a former Trine player myself, I can provide some insight. Trine's offense is very balanced and explosive. They have a great running game with a mobile quarterback and a mix of small fast running backs, and big strong full backs. They dont utilize the passing game as much as they could, but they pick their spots and use it well. The quarter back is very efficient and accurate. If this game turns into a shootout, the passing game can be dangerous.

The defense is a little undersized, but very athletic. They can get pressure with the front three, leaving the linebackers to make plays in the passing game. The numbers are slightly misleading as they struggled early in the year, and have since made personel canges and have been playing much better as a unit.

Their special teams have been solid as they have one of the better kickers in the country. He has a huge leg, but struggles with accuracy at times. You can expect the stands to be packed as the fans travel very well.

This is an up and coming program that has lost only 1 regular season game in the last two years, that coming this year at Franklin. This was a one point loss in a game where the best running back missed the game due to a death in the family. I am very excied about this match up and think it will be a very good game.

Any thoughts about the game and any information on Case?

BoredatWork56,

Very Good analysis!!

wally_wabash · November 17, 2009, 10:57:57 AM

Quote from: BoredatWork56 on November 17, 2009, 09:43:35 AM
Trine's offense is very balanced and explosive. They have a great running game with a mobile quarterback and a mix of small fast running backs, and big strong full backs. They dont utilize the passing game as much as they could, but they pick their spots and use it well. The quarter back is very efficient and accurate. If this game turns into a shootout, the passing game can be dangerous.

Trine does NOT want this to turn into a whose-qb-can-improvise-best type of shootout. I think there are a number of ways that Trine can win this game, but that isn't one of them. Whalen is far too good for that.

OhioFootball00 · November 17, 2009, 08:12:28 PM

Agreed...heres a synopsis on CWRU

Offense

Backs/Receivers- very deep, four running backs are rotated fairly evenly and each have their own strengths, receivers are very reliable and run great routes each can be a deep threat

QB- Gagliardi Finalist last year, multiple time offensive mvp of uaa, best asset may be his elusiveness as he never gets tackled one on one, very accurate, hard to believe there is a better running/passing quarterback in the country

Line- left side is very solid, right side is inexperienced but has performed well this year, line is built quick and athletic and are very good runners

Defense

Line- all four are very fast and athletic, they make it difficult for the line to get to get to the backers, number 56 cannot be blocked by just one man the whole game

Backers- Middle linebacker may be best you have seen this year, not the biggest but very athletic and has very good instincts, olbs are very sound players

Dbs- One AFCA preseason all american at corner, he rarely gets tested because he will pick it off, the other dbs have combined for 11 ints this year and are rarely out of position

Special Teams

Kicker- very accurate, was schools all time field goals made leader by end of sophomore year, has big leg and can kickoff into the endzone consistently

Punter- Is the QB, at times has a booming leg, a one time would have been leading the country in yards per punt if he had enough punts to qualify

also i look forward to continue to post and look forward to some good debates

Mr. Ypsi · November 17, 2009, 08:25:56 PM

I'm very intrigued by Whalen. Am I correct that he could be this year's Chad Rupp - i.e., take a good, but not great, team and carry them a couple of rounds further than anyone could reasonably have predicted?

wally_wabash · November 17, 2009, 08:32:48 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on November 17, 2009, 08:25:56 PM
I'm very intrigued by Whalen. Am I correct that he could be this year's Chad Rupp - i.e., take a good, but not great, team and carry them a couple of rounds further than anyone could reasonably have predicted?

That's a great comparison. Having seen both Rupp and Whalen, I'd say that Rupp is probably the better passer of the two, but Whalen is just so tough to stop. Given CWRU's draw, regional finalist certainly isn't out of the question.