University Athletic Association

[Wizardman]

Well, CMU's lack of a difficult schedule would definitely explain why they're not in the top 25 yet.
Part of me really wants to see the CMU-Case game, not just sine I have friends at Case, btu i was interested in all 4 schools, applied to 2, got accepted to 1, and now instead of liking them for academics I'd rather watch engineering students play football.

Yeah, that was useless trivia... Could CMU go undefeated though?

[Superfoot Wallace]

Theres a very good chance CMU goes undefeated and deep, very deep into the playoffs.  That being said, it is not out of the spectrum to think that WUSTL CWRU or Chicago could beat them.  Really a testament to where the UAA is heading and come from.

Was probably most impressed with the margin of voctory and game management against F & M.

What CMU has going for it is seniority in the offensive trenches.  Besides ball security, the backs at CMU are expected to block.  The running will virtually take care of itself.

With as intricate an offense as CMU plays in the run game, two aspects are important:  hide the ball (read:quarterbak footwork) and diagnose the play.  This on field diagnosis is something that has been lost in football since the advent of two platoon...  The great centers and linebackers of the golden era were as lauded as diagnosticians as anything....

Now, with all the flying into the backfield with reckless abandon and the improvisation on the go, diagnositics have become a rare gem.  CMU keeps this hole card to the right moment and they win a few down the road that nobodys expecting.

Have known some coaches sons in my playing time that were great diagnosticians.  The yardage showed this as well.

signed,
900 King Motion right, 26 gut, Y reverse

[BDTartan]

cwru70 - thanx for clarifying that for me, I was a bit confused on where you were going with the schedule thing.  Which by the way, we will see what CMU does with next year's shcedule as they only have 9 games right now with an open date.  Maybe with a good season this year, they can get at least a little tougher opponent next year.

Wizardman - I have said in previous statements that I don't expect CMU to crack the top 25 until they win a couple UAA games.

MacLeod - I completely agree with you to a point.  Any of the other UAA teams could beat CMU, but I think that only happens if CMU helps beat itself.  And unless I misunderstand your word usage, you are wrong about the offensive line as they have a junior center, soph. offensive tackle, a junior guard, and a soph guard.  There are two seniors who play on the line as well.  Also, you are right on the money with the intricate wing-T which Coach Erdelyi runs as I have seen the O play book last year when my brother was on that side of the ball.  And another good point as well about coaches sons as CMU has an OLB who is the D coordinator's son and although he is not the most athletically gifted he makes a lot of plays because he can "diagnose" better than most kids on the team.

With all that said, I am crossing my fingers and hoping these kids keep their great attitude going and play to their capabilities the rest of the year. 

[ADL70]

MacLeod CMU benefits from an O that most teams don't see that often.  Can be a difference "all other things being equal."

CMU's playof would start 11/11 w/Thiel.  Could be a "play-in" game for each.

[BDTartan]

You make an excellent point cwru70, but I must say this:  Most kids playing college football have seen or defended the Wing-T a handful of times if not more in high school.  Or they played on a team that ran the Wing-T.  CMU does a good job of passing out of it though which you don't see in high school.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Just assumed CMUs Oline was veteran.  Being sophomores and juniors doesnt necessarily mean theyre not veteran, but if they are veteran at that age, the rest of the nation might want to take notice, and all the aspiring high school d3 fullbacks might need apply.  Shocking just shocking what assumptions will set you up for.

Is CMU passing out of shotgun or are they staying true to the form of the wing t and using ball deception from under center?  Paterno took to Mack Browns Vince Young shotgun Offense because of its wing t roots last year.

Interested to see the sizes and number of letters earned by each of the CMU linemen. 

best regards,
Hunk Anderson

[ADL70]

That's true BDT, it's not like when Denison still ran the single wing.   

As far as improving the schedule, Delaware Valley (in region I think, under the latest modification) shows an open date on 9/15.  But unless you've got Thiel another week, it would mean dropping them.  So that's only a marginal improvement.

[scotty]

cwru70, way too much football analysis on here...let's get back to logarithims or exponentials...btw, there is no logical reason why your Karma is twice mine unless you have a secret Karma Fairy...

[BDTartan]

Hey scotty, what's wrong with some actual football discussion on here???  Maybe it will attract some newbies who have no clue about logarithims and exponentials.

That's a good one cwru70.  I don't know for sure what the exact date that CMU has open is.  It will look a little different as the UAA and NCAC will be playing a sort of combined schedule.  But I think CMU should definitely look for some stiffer competition because I really think they are a team that is on the rise with some good youth mixed with experience.

[ADL70]

Scotty

Wish I could remember the old Case cheer, something like: "Secant, tangent, cosine, pi ...

As to karma logic...are you Mr. Spock in disguise?

And one of my favorite bumper stickers: "Your karma ran over my dogma"  One version is someone here's signature.

[ADL70]

The UAA-NCAC schedule doesn't start until 2008, not that CMU might not phase it in.  Hiram is on for 2008 so they probably would be for 2007 as well.  The open dates link here has 9/15 and 11/10 as CMU's open dates in 2007.

[BDTartan]

btw cwru70, do you think you could give me driving directions to CWRU's field???  I would be coming north from the Canton/Akron area.  I don't mean to trouble you, but I hate going to mapquest or yahoo because you can never pinpoint a field.  They always give you directions to the campus.

[BDTartan]

Yes cwru70 you are right.  I lost my marbles there for a second.  I'm not sure what CMU's plans are.  I do know that a couple of the players are lobbying for a date with a California team but I don't think they have much pull when it comes to scheduling.  I know one DB in my brother's class really wants to go out to California because he is from there, but I told him a couple weeks ago that it is probably not likely as there are so many more D3 schools in PA and the states in the immediate vicinity.  I have a couple friends who play at Mount and they keep telling me they want to see CMU play them(one kid in particular because his dad played at CMU with Coach Lackner) but I am sure that would be a disaster.

[BDTartan]

MacLeod, if I offended you I am sorry.  Yes, I would say that the starters are all veterans.  If you get a chance to check CMU out over the next couple years take a good look at a tackle by the name of Brian Freeman, a soph. from Independence Ohio, who at 6' 5" and 275 just mows over defenders.  Against Colorado I personally saw him get at least 10 pancakes.  He started and lettered last year as a freshman.

CMU only uses the shotgun on 3rd and long situations.  Other than that they stay true to form and use ball deception and play-action which works well when you can pound out 300 plus yards a game on the ground.

[BDTartan]

MacLeod, these are the six O-lineman who play a good majority.  I don't have their info on letter's but here is how they are listed on the roster.

51   J.P. White  Sr.  OG  6-2  245
58   Jameson O'Donnell  Jr.   OG  6-2  255
61   Kurtis Meyer  So.  OG  6-2  235
73   Andrew Althouse  Jr.  OT  6-1  260
74   Brian Freeman  So.  OT  6-5  275
76   Anthony Ciotti  Jr.  OC  6-2  280

There guards are a little small, but you wouldn't expect big old hogs to pull and get out in front of the backs as designed in the Wing-T