University Athletic Association

[DagarmanSpartan]

Case and WASHU ranked in Top 20. http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/best-hospitals-2013-14-honor-roll#19

Not only that, but the Cleveland Clinic, which also has a sort of affiliation with Case's medical school, is among the nation's top five hospitals.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Thanks for the compliments.  I think I've pulled together a decent little preview for the UAA and its respective schools, although I still have to speak to a few of the head coaches to confirm that all the guys listed on current rosters are back and catch any last-minute injuries, dismissals, etc.

Since I've now spent a few hours poring over the returnees from each roster, statistics, and a few highlights from last year, here are a couple of BROAD thoughts that stand out as "teasers" for the full Kickoff preview (in order of last year's conference finish):

1) I think WashU could be very, very good this year IF the offense takes a big step up from last year's mediocre performance.  Starting a senior QB with some experience should help.  The Bears did have a really tough defense last year and virtually everybody is back.

2) Case has a lot back on offense and very little back on defense.  As mentioned, will be interesting to see how QB is shared between Beecher and Olson.  Very solid backfield tandem with Riordan and Sicre and experience at WR.  The defense will have a bunch of new faces.

3) CMU brings back a good fistful of players on both sides, including a few high-impact guys on offense.  QB Kalkstein might be the league's best offensive player and he's got two nice deep threats back.  Will a new face step up to spearhead the running game?  Will the defense take a step forward?

4) Chicago looks to be bringing up the rear.  Changing coaches this late in the game will make it tough, although the Maroons bring back plenty of veterans on defense.  Could see them improving as the season goes on once things settle down.

5) One broad observation which bodes well for overall quality of play in the league: every team has a senior QB with plenty of experience.  This generally leads to better offense and more entertaining football games.  Barring injuries, we could see some nice offensive output this year.

6) Overall: I could see any of WashU, CWRU, or CMU realistically winning the conference.  Chicago looks like a pretty distant fourth from the other three.  Of course, since my affiliation with the UAA began, Chicago has twice won the conference in seasons where the same could have been said entering the season (2005 and 2010).

Purposely being a little vague here so as not to "scoop" the stories before releasing them in the Kickoff preview.  If you want more detail, it'll have to wait until Kickoff!

[DagarmanSpartan]

Speaking of realignment, what are the odds that the UAA may someday add MIT or another AAU Division III member in order to become the "Nerdy Nine" once again?

[SpartanMom_2016]

How do you buy kickoff?

[Pat Coleman]

How do you buy kickoff?

SpartanMom,

You can order it from the page on our site:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2013/06/get-kickoff-2013

Major credit cards accepted, etc. A password gets emailed to you and you can use it to log in to Kickoff on Aug. 27 when it's released!

[SpartanMom_2016]

Thank you!

[ADL70]

http://www.d3football.com/top25/2013/preseason

UAA oponents:
Linfield #5  CWRU
Whitewater #9   WUStL
Coe #21   WUStL
Elmhurst #22   UChi
Trinity (TX) 10pts   CWRU
Concordia (IL) 3pts   UChi     

[ADL70]

Congrats XTP on your "Kickoff" role

Here's the All-UAA selections each team returns:

CMU
1st Team     Cheek Sr G  2nd Team South Region
                  Kalkstein Sr QB  POY
                  Kitka   Sr WR
2nd Team    Erra-Hernandez Sr FB
                  Krause Sr G
                  Pardoe Sr TE
                  Jok Sr DL

CWRU
1st Team     Abbott Sr G
                  Sicre Jr RB
                  Riordan RB  2011 selection-injury in 2012
2nd Team    Hartig Sr OT
                  Lapcevic Jr WR
                  Banky Sr S

UChi
1st Team    Cifer Sr DL
2nd Team   Ross-Nash Jr RB
                 Beltrano So CB  ROY
                 Mainquist Jr DL
                 Montefalco Jr OLB
               
WUStL
1st Team     Byers Sr S
                  Lowery Sr LB
                  Nwumeh  Sr DL
                  Oluokun  Jr OLB 
                  Skalman  Sr CB  3rd Team South Region
2nd Team    Bartholomew  Sr WR
                  Daginella  Sr QB
                  Meneough Jr OT
                  Deterding  Jr S
                  Goad So OLB
                  Seager  Jr QB
                  Wight  Sr DL
                  Hallwachs  So K

CMU has not posted a 2013 roster, so can't verify their selections returning for this season.


[EDIT]  CWRU Sr QB Olson was 2nd team for 2011

CMU's Nathan Cheek 2nd Team d3.com 2013 Pew-season All-American.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Two coach interviews down, two to go.  Must say that Coach Kindbom and Coach Debeljak were extraordinarily friendly on the telephone and very forthcoming about their expectations for this season, and it makes me all that much prouder of the conference which I played in that the head coaches are such outstanding men.  Next up, my alma mater, which I'll handle in person.  Kinda silly to call on the phone when I live a mile from the football office 

[wildcat11]

Making my flight reservations this week for the Linfield/Case game.  It should be a great experience.

[ExTartanPlayer]

One piece of information I got from Coach Lackner today: DB Liam McGrath, a second-team all-UAA selection, will be back for a graduate year (he did not play as a freshman due to a shoulder injury).  McGrath led the Tartans in INT's last year.  That's a big bonus for our pass defense, I didn't realize that he was coming back.

[ADL70]

Making my flight reservations this week for the Linfield/Case game.  It should be a great experience.

Here's hoping the Spartans put up a fight worthy of your travels.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Assuming Linfield comes in ranked in the Top Four, when was the last time that Case played such an opponent at home.

It seems almost unprecedented!

[DagarmanSpartan]

Gang,

This may sound like a silly question, but after this coming season, we will still have a UAA football discussion board? 

I mean, won't the UAA no longer be sponsoring football at that point?

[D3MAFAN]

Gang,

This may sound like a silly question, but after this coming season, we will still have a UAA football discussion board? 

I mean, won't the UAA no longer be sponsoring football at that point?

The conference will always be there for those who played and supported it. I am sure ExTartan would agree.