University Athletic Association

[DagarmanSpartan]

Gang,

Since I'm in Afghanistan right now, I was wondering if someone could let me know TWO things:

1) who they think that CWRU's two-deep for this upcoming season will be; and in particular at QB.

2) Who the Sporting News has picked as their Division III pre-season Top 25, AND

3) What CWRU's prospectus for this season is.

If someone could post material that answers those three questions, I sure would appreciate it.  Thanks in advance!

[ADL70]

JS

TSN

http://www.uwwsports.com/custompages/football/2011/2011%20Preseason%20Article%202.pdf

Too soon to answer about 2011 Spartans, esp QB.

Quote from Debs re: newcomers: "we also feel there are a number of guys who can come in and compete for significant playing time this season."

Incoming talent at QB may be such that Snyder can go back to CB.

Defense will return lots of experience.  Beyond Metlesitz, OL, and TE the O will consist of untested players.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Mega-Thanks ADL70!!!

I'm glad to see that "Case Western" was mentioned as one of the "others to watch."

I sure hope we can re-capture the magic that we had in our three straight playoff seasons.  Without a proven QB, however, it'll be a tough row to hoe.

[jhughes98]

The two schools I could see going after would be MIT and Tufts.  MIT is an AAU member, and while I don't believe Tufts is, their profile is much more like the UAA schools than the NESCAC.  Tufts does have a few sports that the UAA doesn't offer however.

Those two, plus UofR would make seven for football and therefore the AQ.

I too can't see expansion outside the current footprint. 

San Antonio is 900 miles from St Louis, closest current UAA member.  A travel partner for Emory would be  desirable, but I don't really see a candidate.

Other schools that might be interested would be McDaniel (just outside of Baltimore) and Catholic University in DC.

[DagarmanSpartan]

I don't think that McDaniel fits the UAA profile, that of an urban private research university.

Catholic U. is a possibility, but if we took CUA, we'd be in the same situation that we would be in if we were to take Tufts: we'd no longer be able to boast of being the only sports conference in America made up exclusively of AAU schools.......a true mark of distinction indeed!

I like the MIT idea especially, but I just don't see them abandoning their East Coast roots.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Gang,

Case now has a new athletics website that is SUPER-KEWL!!!

CHECK IT OUT!!!

http://athletics.case.edu

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think that McDaniel fits the UAA profile, that of an urban private research university.

Catholic U. is a possibility, but if we took CUA, we'd be in the same situation that we would be in if we were to take Tufts: we'd no longer be able to boast of being the only sports conference in America made up exclusively of AAU schools.......a true mark of distinction indeed!

I like the MIT idea especially, but I just don't see them abandoning their East Coast roots.

Considering my alma mater pulled out of the AAU (still not happy about that, along with other alumni), I hope we try to get into the UAA and get rejected.

[DagarmanSpartan]

What was CUA's motivation for pulling out?

Why WOULDN'T CUA want that mark of distinction?

[Pat Coleman]

You. Got. Me. 

[DagarmanSpartan]

ADL70,

What do you think the odds are that THIS new recruit will be our starting QB next season?

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/bios/olson_erik_n53b

He's a junior transfer from a Division II school (Cal. U. of Pa), is 6'3" and 215 lbs., and had a STELLAR high school career, having played for regional champion teams in Pennsylvania, and having once been named ESPN's athlete of the week as a junior in HS.

I wonder how quickly he can learn Debaljak's offense?

[ADL70]

I raised the possibility of Olson coming in and starting about three weeks ago.  As I recall, when Mirando transferred in (2005 I believe, those archives are not accessible in the new site), he started right away, but he was on campus going to school in the summer and was able to work out with other players.  Not sure if that is the case with Olson.  There is a sizeable cadre of receivers in the Pittsburgh area, perhaps he could work out with them.

From these highlights looks like he was an I-formation QB in HS, not sure what his previous college team ran.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBE1BUiAaBU

Did you see the new QB coach, Joey Baum?

[ExTartanPlayer]

Mildly notable:

CMU names a new full-time strength and conditioning coach today.  Guy spent the last three years with the Browns.  Not sure how much this impacts the football program - see below.

CMU first hired a full-time S & C coach, Kevin Schultz,  in the spring of 2008 (I was a graduating senior; I served as a student rep on the search committee along with a graduating women's volleyball player). 

Coach Schultz is a great guy, and I got to know him a little bit through the interview process and over the next few years (I still drop by the CMU gym every now & then to play some pickup basketball).  I would have loved to see him running the football team's weight-training routine.  However, it was my understanding that the football coaches would continue designing the conditioning program for football players; Coach Schultz's responsibilities were primarily to the other umpteen sports at CMU. 

(FWIW, I heard nothing but great things about Coach Schultz from the girls' b-ball players and a few other guys that I stayed in touch with over the past)

I'm not sure if that changed over the last couple years or not; certainly, it would be great to have some input from a former NFL coach on the S&C program for the football guys.

[martin]

What was CUA's motivation for pulling out?

Why WOULDN'T CUA want that mark of distinction?

Membership in the AAU is not a mark of distinction - there are membership requirements.  Nebraska was kicked out earlier this year - much to the chagrin of the Big T1e2n. Syracuse is quitting before it too is tossed.

There is controversy about the AAU - who gets in and why.
Story 1
Story 2

CUA quit the AAU in 2002.  It was one of the 14 founding members of the AAU back in 1900.  Clark, another founding member, quit in 1999.  The both resigned before being asked to leave.  Neither had fit the AAU requirements for quite some time but were cut slack since they were both original members. CUA's letter of resignation, at the bottom of the President's letter:

Dr. Nils Hasselmo
President
Association of American Universities
1200 New York Avenue, N.W.
Suite 550
Washington, D.C. 20005

Dear Dr. Hasselmo:

The Catholic University of America (CUA) developed and approved an institutional strategic plan in December 2001. The process that preceded the adoption of the strategic plan provided all members of the institution with the occasion to study its past and present accomplishments with a view toward building its future direction as a graduate research institution with a strong undergraduate component both aspects of which emphasized the humanities. It was an intensely gratifying experience that, I believe, mobilized all levels of the university community to embrace the future with vision, courage and enthusiasm.

As you know, CUA was one of the fourteen founding members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1900. Since beginning my service as president of CUA in 1998, I have had the privilege of participating in various meetings of the presidents and chancellors of AAU institutions. I have found the experience both interesting and informative as my colleagues discussed many of the issues that research universities in the United States face in the current academic environment.

In recent years and among other things, AAU has focused upon clarifying criteria for new and continuing membership. The approval and subsequent publication of "AAU Membership Principles" in 1999 and "AAU Membership Indicators" in 2000 provided all of us in AAU with the opportunity to reflect upon our own membership and our place within AAU. Coupled with the efforts of my own institution to engage in a serious process of strategic planning, discussions occurring within AAU have led me to review CUA's continuing membership with members of my administration, including the chief academic officer and all of the university's academic deans.

While all of us believe that CUA is well positioned to fulfill its academic research mission, it has become clear that CUA and the vast majority of AAU institutions are moving forward but on different trajectories. That becomes evident as one studies the various membership indicators that can be identified by both AAU and CUA. Our institutional emphases and energies are different than those of most of our colleague institutions in AAU. As president of CUA, I believe that the university community here must focus its attention on its mission, reflected in those emphases and energies, in a consistent, concentrated and comprehensive manner. For that reason, I write to notify you that CUA will withdraw from membership in AAU, effective October 20 of this year, the date of the beginning of the AAU Fall Membership Meeting.

CUA takes great satisfaction in its long and historic relationship with AAU and in its special role as a founding member. The university will always refer to that relationship and role with much gratitude and pride. I thank you for your personal support and for your efforts to provide quality leadership for this great organization. With every best wish, I am

Sincerely yours,
Very Reverend David M. O'Connell, C.M.
President

[DagarmanSpartan]

The strange thing about that letter is that it talks about how CUA and the AAU supposedly have divergent trajectories, or words to that effect, but it doesn't specify what the trajectories of either entity are, much less how they would diverge or be incompatible.

Could someone here who is "in the know" elaborate on that?

[ADL70]

Second big off-season loss for the Spartans?  Kyle Snyder no longer on the roster?