University Athletic Association

[hopefan]

Anybody know why the Wash U - Whitewater kickoff is so late?  (8:30)  Is something special going on at the campus prior to the game?

[badgerwarhawk]

I don't know that it's the reason but there is a men's soccer match between the two schools scheduled prior to the football game. 

[Pat Coleman]

I understand that is indeed the reason.

[E.115]

Thanks ADL70.

Case Western vs Marietta preview:

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/201208288q59zm

[ExTartanPlayer]

Well...I'll take a crack at writing a mini-conference-preview.

Carnegie Mellon

I'm very optimistic about this year's Tartans.  On paper the offense looks better than any unit since 2007: CMU has a QB entering his third year as the starter, an experienced and productive backfield returning essentially intact (Blanks is a special player), and a deep offensive line (all five guys up front with a good deal of starting experience.  The defense also returns a number of key players, including a few very experienced ones in DL Hartman, OLB Karabin and DB's Thompson and Butler.  The first four games are all against decent competition, but all are winnable, so a fast start will be key. 

Best-case: Fast start gets CMU to 4-0 entering the Wabash game, play Wabash tough on the road, bounce back to beat Denison and OWU and enter UAA play at 6-1.

Projection: 5-2 entering UAA play

Case Western

CWRU has been the overall top dog for the last several years (even with the 2010 hiccups) and again is the likely favorite.  With a returning starter at QB, a pair of accomplished RB's, and experience all over the defense, they should be strong again.  The first four games are winnable before a pair of NCAC toughies (Wittenberg and Wooster).  However, CWRU has generally handled Wooster pretty well the last few seasons, and this year the game is at home.  Wittenberg has been curiously bad on the road the last few seasons, so I'd call that a winnable game as well.

Best-case: 7-0 entering UAA play

Projection: 6-1 (hiccup against Wittenberg or MAYBE Wooster).

Chicago

The Maroons also look formidable on paper if one QB steps forward.  Brizzolara is probably the league's most dangerous offensive player and the OL has quite a bit of experience.  The defense looks a little thinner, but they've got some experience in the front seven.  The schedule looks similar to what's described above - four competitive-but-winnable games to start off, a few tests (Allegheny and Wittenberg) and then another winnable NCAC foe (Oberlin) before the league schedule.  Chicago was 5-2 entering UAA play last year and that looks doable again.

Best-case: 5-2 entering UAA play (losses to Witt and one of Allegheny/Concordia/Elmhurst)

Projection: 4-3 (Just have a hunch that it'll be tough to win all three of those toss-ups)

Wash U

Wash U has the fewest returning starters of anyone in the UAA, but they do bring back their leading passer and rusher, plus the team leaders in sacks and interceptions.  So the quality is still there.  Is the depth?  I wouldn't count the Bears out.

Opening with UWW is a guaranteed loss, but also can serve as a nice marker of where the team stands.  Fortune has often smiled on teams that scheduled one of the Purple Powers to open the season in recent years.  The next several games certainly look winnable on paper, and while hosting Wabash is a tough game the Bears have certainly held their own against the LG's the last two seasons (upset in 2010, competitive in 24-3 loss in 2011 ).

Best-case: 6-1 entering UAA play

Projection: 5-2 (losses to UWW and Wabash)

I know that I've projected winning records all around, but the UAA has accomplished that each of the last two seasons (everyone has gone 4-3 or better in nonconference play).  Once the UAA schedule starts, all bets are off.  I'll probably revisit this analysis around Week 5-6 to choose my projected order of finish in conference play.

Personal Note:

Five years removed from my last game, with a new sport (marathon running) and a "career path" taking shape (cardiovascular research), I feel far enough removed from the game to attend/watch some Division III football without really "missing" the game, so I'll be attending as many CMU home games as I can this year, perhaps journeying to a CWRU game if there's a particularly attractive one that I can make it to.  Any UAA fans that are coming to Pittsburgh, let me know & I'll see if we can meet up before/during the game.  And if you're a CWRU fan that's willing to host a guest for a night or two that weekend, let me know, perhaps we can arrange something.

[NCF]

Well...I'll take a crack at writing a mini-conference-preview.

Carnegie Mellon

I'm very optimistic about this year's Tartans.  On paper the offense looks better than any unit since 2007: CMU has a QB entering his third year as the starter, an experienced and productive backfield returning essentially intact (Blanks is a special player), and a deep offensive line (all five guys up front with a good deal of starting experience.  The defense also returns a number of key players, including a few very experienced ones in DL Hartman, OLB Karabin and DB's Thompson and Butler.  The first four games are all against decent competition, but all are winnable, so a fast start will be key. 

Best-case: Fast start gets CMU to 4-0 entering the Wabash game, play Wabash tough on the road, bounce back to beat Denison and OWU and enter UAA play at 6-1.

Projection: 5-2 entering UAA play

Case Western

CWRU has been the overall top dog for the last several years (even with the 2010 hiccups) and again is the likely favorite.  With a returning starter at QB, a pair of accomplished RB's, and experience all over the defense, they should be strong again.  The first four games are winnable before a pair of NCAC toughies (Wittenberg and Wooster).  However, CWRU has generally handled Wooster pretty well the last few seasons, and this year the game is at home.  Wittenberg has been curiously bad on the road the last few seasons, so I'd call that a winnable game as well.

Best-case: 7-0 entering UAA play

Projection: 6-1 (hiccup against Wittenberg or MAYBE Wooster).

Chicago

The Maroons also look formidable on paper if one QB steps forward.  Brizzolara is probably the league's most dangerous offensive player and the OL has quite a bit of experience.  The defense looks a little thinner, but they've got some experience in the front seven.  The schedule looks similar to what's described above - four competitive-but-winnable games to start off, a few tests (Allegheny and Wittenberg) and then another winnable NCAC foe (Oberlin) before the league schedule.  Chicago was 5-2 entering UAA play last year and that looks doable again.

Best-case: 5-2 entering UAA play (losses to Witt and one of Allegheny/Concordia/Elmhurst)

Projection: 4-3 (Just have a hunch that it'll be tough to win all three of those toss-ups)

Wash U

Wash U has the fewest returning starters of anyone in the UAA, but they do bring back their leading passer and rusher, plus the team leaders in sacks and interceptions.  So the quality is still there.  Is the depth?  I wouldn't count the Bears out.

Opening with UWW is a guaranteed loss, but also can serve as a nice marker of where the team stands.  Fortune has often smiled on teams that scheduled one of the Purple Powers to open the season in recent years.  The next several games certainly look winnable on paper, and while hosting Wabash is a tough game the Bears have certainly held their own against the LG's the last two seasons (upset in 2010, competitive in 24-3 loss in 2011 ).

Best-case: 6-1 entering UAA play

Projection: 5-2 (losses to UWW and Wabash)

I know that I've projected winning records all around, but the UAA has accomplished that each of the last two seasons (everyone has gone 4-3 or better in nonconference play).  Once the UAA schedule starts, all bets are off.  I'll probably revisit this analysis around Week 5-6 to choose my projected order of finish in conference play.

Personal Note:

Five years removed from my last game, with a new sport (marathon running) and a "career path" taking shape (cardiovascular research), I feel far enough removed from the game to attend/watch some Division III football without really "missing" the game, so I'll be attending as many CMU home games as I can this year, perhaps journeying to a CWRU game if there's a particularly attractive one that I can make it to.  Any UAA fans that are coming to Pittsburgh, let me know & I'll see if we can meet up before/during the game.  And if you're a CWRU fan that's willing to host a guest for a night or two that weekend, let me know, perhaps we can arrange something.

Good luck with the marathons! You'll have to try Chicago sometime-it's my favorite.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Thanks!  I've been at it for several years, actually; since graduating from CMU, I've run one full and seven half-marathons, with an alltime personal best of 1:27 in the half and a brutal 4:16 full (I knew going in that I was not adequately trained, but stubbornly ran anyway just to say that I did it).  I've found that I can hold up pretty well in a half-marathon even on a modest amount of mileage - this spring, only running about 20 miles per week, I managed a 1:34 half.  I've put in some more mileage over the summer and I'm registered for another half in October, where I except to challenge that old PR.

I may try Chicago sometime once I feel a little better at the full marathon.

[NCF]

Thanks!  I've been at it for several years, actually; since graduating from CMU, I've run one full and seven half-marathons, with an alltime personal best of 1:27 in the half and a brutal 4:16 full (I knew going in that I was not adequately trained, but stubbornly ran anyway just to say that I did it).  I've found that I can hold up pretty well in a half-marathon even on a modest amount of mileage - this spring, only running about 20 miles per week, I managed a 1:34 half.  I've put in some more mileage over the summer and I'm registered for another half in October, where I except to challenge that old PR.

I may try Chicago sometime once I feel a little better at the full marathon.

I've never run a half, but only ran Chicago because an athlete of mine wanted to try it. My best was 3:41 and since I was only hoping to break 4 hrs, I felt pretty good. I got hooked after the first one, but have yet to break the 3:30 mark and probably won't until I can train properly again. If you've been training you should be able to PR-have fun!

[SpartanMom_2016]

I am a new CWRU football parent.  I know that CWRU provides an audio feed of away games.  Does anyone know if the away team (Marietta) provides a video feed?  I am not sure my son will travel this season but I would love to get a look at the team.

[NCF]

I am a new CWRU football parent.  I know that CWRU provides an audio feed of away games.  Does anyone know if the away team (Marietta) provides a video feed?  I am not sure my son will travel this season but I would love to get a look at the team.

Welcome to the boards and enjoy the ride. Four years will fly by. Check theMarietta athletic/football page. That information should be posted there.

[SpartanMom_2016]

Welcome to the boards and enjoy the ride. Four years will fly by. Check theMarietta athletic/football page. That information should be posted there.

Thanks.  I am sure that it will fly by.  I still remember him as a pee wee player, with no teeth.  He is excited to be at CWRU and seems to be enjoying his experience.  So far I have only heard from him when he needs food.

[SpartanMom_2016]

I found it!  It looks like there will be video!

http://pioneers.marietta.edu/schedule.aspx?path=football

[ADL70]

Welcome Mom!

I'm an old alum, but have made the acquantance of a few players' Dads the last couple of years.  There was a fairly active parents' group that tailgated before the games, home and away.  Not sure who has picked up the flag for this year, as the sons of those I knew have graduated.

As I recall, Hiram, OWU, Oberlin, and Chicago all stream video.

On the OAC pick-em board they are giving 12.5 pts to Marietta.  So far only 1 of 10 is taking the points.   I predict 24-7.

[mustang]

As the parent of a CWRU senior player I can attest to the time flying by Mom. Seems like yesterday that I was looking for ways to see/hear about the team because he wasn't travelling.

I have enjoyed reading the posts on this board, especially from ADL70, who provides some good info, insight and opinions.

For Saturday's game may I suggest (if possible) watching the Marietta feed while listening to the audio from Case. I think the Case announcers do a very good job calling the games and providing commentary.
Welcome to CWRU football!

[ExTartanPlayer]

I also say welcome, SpartanMom, and please feel free to post any and everything to the boards during the season.  There are only a couple of us regulars here on the UAA board, but between us we've got a couple of unique perspectives - older alums, other parents, former players.  There are more CWRU forumites, it seems, than any of the other UAA schools.

I'll introduce myself as a 26-year-old CMU graduate (thus the handle ExTartanPlayer), a former offensive tackle that's now about two-thirds the man that I used to be.  If you have any more "private" questions about your son's experience, feel free to PM me; as an ex-player of fairly recent vintage, I can offer some perspective on the many emotions a high school "star" can experience in the tougher/deeper college environment.  I went from starting a few games a freshman to getting benched in the midst of a crappy sophomore season to starting every game for an 11-1 playoff team as a junior and a 7-4 team as a senior...so I certainly went through the whole wash/rinse/dry cycle of emotions over my four years!