University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

2004 roster had 54.

At this time in 2007 there were similar roster numbers, but by the first game attrition had dropped the roster to just under 100.

Lindy's has Dan Calabrese as 2nd team all-American.

AD Diles will not be leaving for Northern Michigan.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Glad to hear that Diles is staying.

Our entire athletic program appears to have experienced a renaissance while on his watch.

I can remember back in my time (1990-1994), the notion that any team at Case would make the Division III playoffs was considered laughable.  In fact, if it weren't for a few individual national contenders in wrestling, track, and swimming, we would have been regarded as among the nation's most mediocre DIII sports programs.

MY GOD how things have changed for the better!  We're now a perennial playoff contender in several sports, including football.

[formerd3db]

Glad to hear that Diles is staying.

Our entire athletic program appears to have experienced a renaissance while on his watch.

I can remember back in my time (1990-1994), the notion that any team at Case would make the Division III playoffs was considered laughable.  In fact, if it were for a few individual national contenders in wrestling, track, and swimming, we would have been regarded as among the nation's most mediocore DIII sports programs.

MY GOD how things have changed for the better!  We're now a perennial playoff contender in several sports, including football.

2004 roster had 54.

At this time in 2007 there were similar roster numbers, but by the first game attrition had dropped the roster to just under 100.

Lindy's has Dan Calabrese as 2nd team all-American.

AD Diles will not be leaving for Northern Michigan.

I forgot that Diles was your AD.  I remember when he was at Central Michigan, U of Michigan and then Eastern Michigan (and Auburn before that).  Indeed, he has done a great job at CWRU. 

I should know these next two questions, however, for some reason, my mind is "blank" on this right now (it must be one of those "senior moments"  seriously).  Nonetheless, please remind me of... a) how was it that he came to CWRU - why there after leaving Eastern after being at all those DI level schools and being a Michigan native? (not that there is anything wrong in being from Michigan and then going to Ohio  ) and b) wasn't his father a noted/famous college football person/announcer?  I can't remember.  Thanks for refreshing/jogging my memory.

It is good to hear about the enthusiasm and continued improvement in Case's football program and the numbers.  Also, this has been discussed here before, however, I like the new stadium complex - it has a neat feeling - I like the enclosed type of look.  Butler University has done that similar type of design when they recently renovated the old Butler Bowl.

[ADL70]

Not sure how Dave Diles, the son, ended up at CWRU.  You are correct, his dad Dave L. Diles was a national broadcster.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Case appears to have made a GREAT hire in wrestling:

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/wrest/2012-13/releases/20120611uxstfv

Of course, it's sad that we've experienced the recent passing of Bob DelRosa, a man who had made his entire coaching career at CWRU, and had largely become an institution.

But I have a feeling that this new coach will do great things as well.  Welcome aboard!

[ADL70]

Quote from Hawald on the Ohio Wrestling site:

This first year, I am just going to go kind of nuts recruiting and get 20 new recruits so we have the depth.  After that, it’s baby steps toward greater success, but we have to think big as well.  With these new Regionals, there is no reason that we can’t get somebody to nationals in my first year.  The second year, I expect to be more competitive. I was able to do it at Mount Union, where we went from a last in our conference in my first year to second in the conference the following year.  I don’t want to settle for a slower building of the program, I expect to do it more quickly this time.  If we don’t have the firepower to get it done now, I want to recruit guys who can be All-Americans next year.

If I were to quantify it, I expect to have a National Qualifier the first year, an All-American the second year, and then in the third year a highly competitive team with multiple All-Americans and a team that can finish in the top ten. The fourth year, who knows where we can be by then?



Back on topic, I have read of three incoming Spartans who played in all-star games over the summer.

LB Kyle Graham started at LB for the West in the Greater Cleveland game and recovered a fumble and forced a safety.

DE Dayton Snyder was a late addition to the Indiana North-South game and recorded four tackles.

Michael O'Donnell played in the Penn-Ohio Classic (not the Big 33 game), but I haven't seen any stats for him.

[ADL70]

CWRU and CMU will participate in this year's PAC football media day on August 2.

http://www.pacathletics.org/Media%20Day%207-11-2012.pdf

Interesting addition to WUStL's roster, Sam Van Doren, Soph QB transfer from Trinity (CT).  His bio says he lead the State of Missouri in passing yards and TDs his senior year.  Didn't see any action for the Bantams.

CWRU also has an interesting addition, senior K BenYabrow, two time all UAA goalkeeper for Spartan soccer.  He has used his soccer eligibility, but is returning from his summer job, playing for AFC Ceveland of the NPSL.

If you include the two QB/Ps there will be six players competing to get their kicks for the Spartans.

Recruit Scott Suren was chosen Brunswick HS athlete of the year.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Will there be an internet broadcast or podcast of this media day?

Also, will the UAA hold its own football media day?

[ADL70]

Spartan Football Preview

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20120719ve5crb

Only news is Magister lost to injury.  Could mean we will see both Sicre and Riordan in the same backfield at times.  FB thus is the position freshmen might make the most impact.

With the linebacker abundance, will we see more 3 man fronts this year?

[DagarmanSpartan]

I just signed up for yet another year of "Kickoff."

It'll be interesting to see where they rank us this season.  With Olson, Sicre, and other key offensive players, together with a stout defense returning from a 9-1 team, I think that we could be a "sleeper" to make the post-season.

I think that a lot is going to ride on the Wittenberg game.  That should tell us if we're "playoff" material.

[E.115]

CWRU also has an interesting addition, senior K BenYabrow, two time all UAA goalkeeper for Spartan soccer.  He has used his soccer eligibility, but is returning from his summer job, playing for AFC Ceveland of the NPSL.

Very interesting.  Why did this not make the preview? 

I presume the guy can completely boot the ball.

[ADL70]

Maj, surpised to see the Spartans got one more vote than Witt in the pre-season poll.  As has been pointed out on the NCAC board, the Spartans will get Witt at a propitious time: CWRU homecoming and the next week after Witt plays Wooster and the week before Wabash.

115, this was in the preview:

In the kicking game, Debeljak sees a trio of freshmen competing for the job along with senior Ben Yabrow (Marietta, Ga./George Walton Comprehensive), who was a two-time All-UAA goalkeeper for the Spartan men's soccer team.

We know he can kick a round ball, but can he kick one that bounces funny?  Queery; all things being equal, do you make Yabrow or a freshman the #1?

[NCF]

Maj, surpised to see the Spartans got one more vote than Witt in the pre-season poll.  As has been pointed out on the NCAC board, the Spartans will get Witt at a propitious time: CWRU homecoming and the next week after Witt plays Wooster and the week before Wabash.

115, this was in the preview:

In the kicking game, Debeljak sees a trio of freshmen competing for the job along with senior Ben Yabrow (Marietta, Ga./George Walton Comprehensive), who was a two-time All-UAA goalkeeper for the Spartan men's soccer team.

We know he can kick a round ball, but can he kick one that bounces funny?  Queery; all things being equal, do you make Yabrow or a freshman the #1?

Go with the senior but get your freshmen some experience when you can.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Interesting question because there may be some team dynamics at work there.  Depends how the senior soccer player fits in with the football team, his reasons for coming out, etc.  For example, if he's really popular with the football players and that's the whole reason he came out for the team this year...if he is really equal to or better than the incoming freshmen, I'd be inclined to give him the job.  Also, if they hope to keep an open pipeline from the soccer team, presumably you'd want that kid to do the kicking this year.

One other option is a KO specialist and a FG specialist, if one of the kids is more of a boomer and one is more accurate.  Perhaps the soccer player will make the best kickoff guy, but one of the designated football kickers will be more accurate on PATs.

[ADL70]

XTP

I had thought of the option you suggest.  Punting and KO are more similar to the kicks a goalkeeper makes than kicking thru uprights with a holder.  I wonder about his toughness for kick coverage though.

I haven't seen anything to indicate that he participated in workouts in the spring.