University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

I love that we have posts on here today and NCAC has none on its board (well maybe on the pick-'em).  Go UAA!!!

[scotty]

stop gloating 

[ADL70]

Did I mention that CWRU is 2-0 v NCAC (soon to be 3-0)?

Just trying to encourage continued discussion here.  We've still got a long way to go to catch even MIAA's posts.

[scotty]

like the little old lady who peed in the river...every little bit helps 

[BDTartan]

Back from Chicago finally.  Driving is a bear in and around the city.  But I am from a small town in central Ohio so it may just be me, but some of the signs were confusing.  We made it though.

Formerd3db - We drove around U of C but never really checked it out.  Wanted to see the locale for when the Tartans go there in 07.

CWRU70 - If you wanted me to identify my brother, all you had to do is ask.  My brothers name is Clay Crites.  6'1" 235 DL from Tuscarawas, OH.

Yeah, and CMU is also 2-0 and soon to be 3-0 unless they underestimate Westminster.

[formerd3db]

martin:

Thanks for the additional info.  Glad the renovations are in progress.  Also, I could be wrong, however, I believe that the old Stagg Stadium was taken down in 1957.  There is a photo of that in progress in the book "The Idea of the University of Chicago" as I recall, but I don't have my copy right in front of me and/or accessable right now.  I can check it out and let everyone know in the near future... "just for the record".

BDTartan:

Yes, the driving is crazy in Chicago.  But glad you had a safe trip.  You can visit the Athletic archives and Heisman when your team goes there next year as you mention!

jaybird:
Indeed a lot of great history.

frank and martin:
Jesse Harper, ND's coach right after his Wabash and Alma stints (Alma 1907 and 1908) played for Stagg at U of C.  Just one of many former players who went on to the coaching ranks as you mention.  Anyway, thanks everyone for sharing the interesting info.

[79jaybird]

Augh,  the driving in Chicago's not too bad. 

Where else can you hop  on the expressway during rush hour and reach your destination 2 hrs later. 
I avoid the expressways as much as possible and NEVER  during rush hrs.
I took this right out of my "25 of the best College Football Marches"  piano book:
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
The World's Fair of 1893 brought visitors from far and near to the Midway Plaisance... a broad, tree-lined drive on Chicago's South Side.  Many rode on the giant Ferris Wheel.  Others saw "Little Egypt" do her famous dance.  And some went to look at the few scattered limestone buildings of the new University of Chicago along the north side of the Midway.  There, unperturbed by the excitement, William Rainey Harper, the University's 1st President, worked long and hard on his plans for the youngest of the world's great universities.
Although barely a year old, Chicago had already gained international recognition, largely because John D. Rockefeller's generous financial support and the original ideas and enthusiasm President Harper who introduced many educational innovations now taken for granted:  a 4 quarter system, coeducation at all levels, women faculty members, a Press as part of the University, the Junior College, and a full-time Medical Program (Doc Todd  )
The new University's faculty glittered with illustrious scholars.  9 were former Presidents of other colleges and universities.  Physicist Albert A. Michelson was to become America's 1st Nobel Prize Winner, and in succeeding years the list of other Nobel Prize Winners at the University lengthened steadily:  Robert A. Millikan, Dr. Alexis Carrel, Arthur Holly Compton, James Franck, Enrico Fermi, and Harold C. Urey.
During WWII, the University took over the basic scientific research necessary to build an atom bomb.  In an old squash court under the West stands of Stagg Field, a group of scientists directed by Enrico Fermi, built an atomic pile and on 12/2/42 achieved the world's first self-sustained nuclear chain reaction...thereby introducing the Atomic Age.  At the war's end the University, anxious to retain the distinguished scientists assembled to work on the atomic pile, organized the Institutes for Basic Research.
Wave the Flag can still be heard after winning Maroon athletic events.

[frank uible]

Yes, Rockefeller was a robber baron but gained redemption in small part by endowing the great University of Chicago. Would that all robber barons have done similarly.

[BDTartan]

I know I am a rookie, but I didn't know this was a history lesson.  We have 8 months of off-season to talk history.  Let's talk some football.  I happened to notice on the UAA home page that CMU has had a Co-Defensive POW each of the first two weeks and I believe CWRU has had POWs each of the first 2 weeks.  And the running back from Chicago had a huge day at Concordia.  4 TD's and nearly 200 yds.

[martin]

BD Tartan - Don't complain - just post and start a discussion.  We talked about some of those issues earlier this week.  We got bored and began to amuse ourselves.  We can multitask and do many things at once - even talk football and history at the same time.  A UAA board should be at least as erudite as the CCIW boards - which have more (and better) post than all the other boards combined.  Hang around there (basketball more so than football) and see how a good board works.

You also seem to be lazy.  You complain that we did not talk about the UAA Athletes of the week - but could not be bothered to name them.  So here they are:

Offense
* Nick Schey (Chicago): The junior tailback scored a school-record tying four rushing touchdowns in leading the Maroons to a season-opening 55-0 win over Concordia University (IL).  Schey scored on a pair of two-yard runs, a three-yard carry, and a nine-yard run to become only the third Chicago modern era (since 1969) running back to score four times in a game.  On the day, Schey gained 191 yards on 25 carries for his fifth 100-yard effort in his last six games, dating back to 2005.

Defense
* Jonathan Bodnar (Carnegie Mellon): The junior outside linebacker made 10 tackles and forced a fumble at the one-yard line with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter to help solidify a  28-0 shutout over Grove City College.  Bodnar and the Tartan defense held the host Wolverines to 157 yards on offense.

* Tom Brew (Case): The senior linebacker registered a pair of safeties on quarterback sacks in leading the Spartans to a 27-14 victory at Denison University, to improve to 2-0 on the season.  Brew also led the team in tackles with 10.

Special Teams
* Brian Calderone (Case): The sophomore averaged 39.9 yards on nine punts, including a long of 56 yards, as the Spartans defeated host Denison University, 27-14.  Two of his punts put Denison inside their two-yard line, setting up a pair of Spartan safeties.


Other Top Performances

* Gaby Fernandez  (Chicago): The junior linebacker led the Chicago defense in holding Concordia University (IL) to minus-8 yards rushing and 87 yards passing in a season-opening 55-0 victory.  Fernandez collected two tackles-for-loss, one sack, and an interception as Maroons held the opposition to fewer than 10 points for the sixth straight game dating back to 2005.

* Robert Gimson (Carnegie Mellon): The junior running back was successful on every carry earning 140 yards on 14 attempts in the Tartans 28-0 victory over Grove City College. He had a long run of 54 yards and found a huge hole for a 13-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the Tartan lead to 22-0.

* Chaz Moody (Washington): The senior punter averaged 40 yards per punt on five kicks in the Bears' 61-0 win over Westminster College (MO). Moody recorded a long of 44 yards and pinned the Blue Jays inside their 20-yard-line on three occasions. He also kicked off ten times, holding the opponent to an average of the 23-yard line for drive starts.

* Jon Scholl (Carnegie Mellon): The junior made three punt returns for 52 yards, including one for 35 yards to the opponent's 18-yard line to set up the Tartans last scoring drive in a 28-0 triumph over Grove City College.

* Drew Wethington (Washington): The senior made three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for lost yardage, and an interception return for a touchdown in the Bears 61-0 win over Westminster College (MO). Wethington and the Bears' defensive unit held the Blue Jays to 93 yards of total offense, marking the second consecutive game the Bears has held their opponent under 100 yards.

* Dan Whalen (Case): The rookie quarterback completed 17 of 32 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns as Case improved to 2-0 on the year with a 27-14 win at Denison University .

[martin]

Frank -

I am sure to anger BD but here are some more robber baron schools: Stanford, Duke (some good from all those lung cancer deaths), Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon (a merger of two robber baron schools), the Case part of CWRU.

This process is still going on today.  The most important force in biomedical research is the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.  It got all of the aviator's money - the endowment of HHMI is not $15 billion.  And Bill Case is giving away his (and Warren Buffet's) money - much of it to education.

[martin]

To make BD really happy, here are the UAA Athletes of the Week from week 1:

Football — Offense

Dan Whalen  —  Case Western Reserve University  —  Willoughby, OH (Willoughby South)

Freshman quarterback Dan Whalen of Case Western Reserve University passed for 231 yards and accounted for the winning score on a one-yard run in overtime to lead the Spartans to a 29-23 season-opening win over Oberlin College.  Making his collegiate debut in the second-half, Whalen completed 13 of 20 passes, throwing for a pair of touchdowns, and ran the ball 10 times for 28 yards.  He was instrumental in a game-tying 13 play, 71 yard drive, completing four of eight passes for 52 yards and running four times for 23 yards.


Football — Defense

Jamie Ploetzner  —  Carnegie Mellon University  —  Rathdrum, ID (Lakeland)

Senior linebacker Jamie Ploetzner of Carnegie Mellon University registered a game-high nine total tackles, including three solo and a tackle for lost yardage, in helping the Tartans to a 27-6 win over Hiram College.  Ploetzner and the defense, which held Hiram to 167 yards of offense, stopped an early scoring drive by the Terriers on fourth-and-one from the Carnegie 36-yard line midway through the first quarter.

Drew Wethington  —  Washington University  —  Dexter, MO (Dexter)

Senior defensive lineman Drew Wethington of Washington University made a team-high eight tackles, including five tackles for lost yardage, as the Bears posted their sixth consecutive win on the road with a 21-6 triumph over Lake Forest College.  Wethington led a defense that held Lake Forest to 98 yards of total offense.


Football — Special Teams

Brian Calderone  —  Case Western Reserve University  —  Brecksville, OH (Brecksville/Broadview Heights)

Sophomore kicker Brian Calderone of Case Western Reserve University kicked three field goals, including a game-tying 26-yard attempt with 21 seconds left in regulation, in helping the Spartans to a season-opening 29-23 win in overtime over Oberlin College.  Calderone also connected from 20 and 29 yards out in the second quarter.

[frank uible]

martin: Wasn't Amasa Stone a railroad robber baron (but not to the degree that Commodore Vanderbilt was) - he lived in the robber baron era? Eight tackles for losses by a DL during a single game is truly unusual!

[ADL70]

Martin - I don't recall Leonard Case's "robber baron" past.  I'm sure we Redcats would have made something of it if we had known.

Frank - Those without WRU connections might not know that Stone was a WRU benefactor.  And supposedly WRU turned down Rocefeller's endowment, before it went to Chicago.  Not sure the reasons had to do with any stain attached to the cash though.  Campus is next to Rockefeller Park after all.  Not to dimish the effort, but Wethington (DE) had 8 tackles, 5 for loss.  And WUStL's defense has a 4 man front.  Those DE's are often much like OLB's in a 3-4.  Again, still a great accomplishment.

And for my part, any UAA discussion is welcome.  We're still way more "on task" than some of the boards.

[martin]

CWRU - The Case who actually gave the money (Leonard Case Jr.) was not a robber baron.  His father (Leonard Case Sr.) was the robber baron who actually made the money that junior gave away.  From the CWRU Visiting Case page:
"The elder Mr. Case had begun life as a farmer, but turned to the study of mathematics, surveying and law after an illness that left him permanently crippled. He became a banker and railroad promoter and over time amassed what was then the largest fortune in Cleveland."

The whole thing is at:
http://www.case.edu/visit/history/case.html

Interesting to see another freshman QB from Ohio do well in his first game.  I hope the young Mr. Whalen stays at CWRU and does not suffer from the swollen head that Nathan Szep had after his outstanding freshman year at Wash.  I know Szep left Wash to try to walk on at Ohio State.  He seems to have disappeared.  Did his football career end after his one year in St. Louis?

I listed the robber baron schools quickly and off the top of my head.  I am sure there are many more.  I did not know that Amasa Stone helped found the WR part of CWRU. 

Evidently Amasa was a common name in the 19th century.  Biblical names are big today for babies so maybe Amasa will make a comeback.

The founding benefactor of Stanford was Amasa Leland Stanfrod.  The school is actually named for his son who died as a teenager - Leland Stanford Junior.  The school's official name is the LSJ University.  The infamous Stanford band is the LSJUMB - which they say as the Leland Stanford Junior (Pause) University Marching Band, just to make sure the Junior goes with the name and not the university.

Senior was president of the Central Pacific Railroad and hammered in the golden spike at Promontory, Utah, completing the transcontinental railroad.  When Stanford dropped the Indians nickname in 1972, the students voted overwhelming to adopt "Robber Barons" as the new nickname.  The school vetoed that idea and went with Cardinal.