University Athletic Association

[DagarmanSpartan]

I'm hoping that this will be our first ever SWEEP of the UAA, and our first berth in the NCAAs!!!

[ADL70]

That will be a tall order with what CMU returns.  But last year Case's D held the Tartans to 205 yds rushing (55 below their season average) and the offense gained 45 yds more than CMU averaged giving up.  Take away a couple of interceptions and the score could have been even.

And even sweeping the UAA, playoffs would still be a long shot, unless the opponents have some big wins.

I see a couple of number changes.  Whalen will wear 5 and Meyer 25 this year.

[BDTartan]

A wise old man once told me to never count your chickens before they hatch......being a Browns fan has taught me much more than just that.  What paper looks like a week before training camp is great, but let's have them line it up on the field and get a couple games under their belts before we go predicting or hoping for anything.  All I can ask for is that CMU improves on their 06' campaign.  That will likely be a very tough task, but they do have a wealth of experience coming back.

CWRU70 - That game last year was at Case and I give CWRU credit for hanging tough like it seemed they did all year, but from my perspective CMU was in control for most of the game.  Besides, this year's game is at Gesling.  I wish your Spartans all the luck in the world, but come Academic Bowl time, I'll be bleeding Tartans.

[formerd3db]

BDTartan:

You've been a contributor to these boards for a year now, and I noticed no one has given you any +karma.  You deserve at least some of that for your loyalty to your Tartans!  So, here is one for you!  Anyway, good luck to your team - do I recall correctly that you have a brother playing there and if so, is he still there or graduated?

[DagarmanSpartan]

Who's your pick to win the Nerdy Eight?

[ADL70]

BTD I was just saying that hanging tough last year gives a hope for this year.  As I said, unseating CMU will be a tall order.

d3db  His karma took a hit last year when he ventured onto other boards to promote the Tartans.  I'm glad to see he's back.

Maj  You mean the Nerdy Eight minus four.  I don't think it takes UAA calibre SATs to see CMU is a hands down favorite to repeat.

The roster now confirms Chris Dominiak as the All-Ohio DE/TE from Toledo Catholic Central.  He played on the 2005 DII state champs.

[formerd3db]

cwru:

Thanks for the explanation (re: BTD).  Indeed, though, we want to support all you good guys (including myself !).  See you around the boards.

[BDTartan]

formerd3db...thanks for the karma.  It doesn't matter much to me.  I didn't mind some of the beatings I took.  I thought CMU had a fantastic year last year, in fact, it was the best in school history(a pretty fabled early history for a d3 program, with 2 wins over Knute Rockne's Notre Dame in the early part of the 20th century.)  Most wins in a single season at 11-1 last year was pretty impressive for a team that most people had doubts about.  I looked at it this way, when it was all said and done they didn't get it done with the big boys, but they made an outstanding turnaround from a .500 season in 05'.  They've made a step forward and now with alot of that team returning can they improve upon it?? 

Anyways, yes my brother plays for CMU.  He will be a Jr. this coming season and will likely start at DL.  He had a pretty decent season as a reserve last year.  I know what he is capable of and if he stays healthy I think he can have a very productive year for the Tartans.

cwru70, I know what hope is about and saw it come to its fruition last year.  I watched the 05' Thiel @ CMU game when my brother was a freshman and that 3 OT thriller gave me hope for 06' and it turned over and they had a good ride.  Maybe the same thing will happen with CWRU this year.  I haven't seen many of the schedules, but I would assume that its going to be another competitive year in the UAA.

We'll see how much CMU releases this year to the media......cuz' they didn't release much last year.

[ADL70]

BDT you're sandbagging a little on your bro'...after all pretty decent was good enough for second team UAA.

CMU will have any questions answered early as two of the first three oponents made post season appearances last year.  CMU was last of the UAA teams to post its '07 roster, but the website has undergone a nice makeover.

Will CWRU build on its last game win over ODAC champ W&L?  That was a big win coming after the dissapointing loss to GCC.  New WRs and RB need to step up.  And Whalen and Mirando need to cut down ints and fumbles.

WashU also has a tough sched with two playoff teams again.

[formerd3db]

Nice to see that U of Chicago put in new synthetic turf at Stagg Field.  Did they have that last year or will this be the first season.  BTW, their website relates that their media guide/program last year was rated in first place being chosen by "the powers that be" for that format.  It indeed is very nice including their "storied" history from their "big time" days many years ago.

[BDTartan]

cwru70 - Don't get me wrong, I love my brother.  But in no way am I about to get on here and speak for his game and tout his skill.  We come from a family where you keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut.  We basically let our work speak for ourselves.  Therefore, I let my brother go out and play the games and let people decide on their own what they think of him.  I'll be on here all year cheering him and the rest of the Tartans on to victory but I'll not brag them up.  I didn't even think I was bragging them up last year, but I learned my lesson just as well.

And yes, all of the questions will be answered early.......by the way, those two games you are speaking of are AWAY.  So yes, If they answer those questions, I think they will be all right.  And I did notice alot of the overhauls on CMU's website.

I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping that the offense starts clicking right away again cause that is what I believed fueled CMU's run last year.  Even with some injuries to the QB and OL they were able to keep offensive momentum throughout the season until they ran into Wesley.

[plaidfanatic]

I agree with Bdtartan questions about CMU will be answered early.  They are returning a seasoned quarterback and most of the OL. 

[BDTartan]

Allow me to be the first to welcome you to our small family on the UAA board plaidfanatic.....I assume from the name that you are a CMU fan?

By the way, a seasoned QB is great to have, but I'm more excited about the rest of the backfield.  Both running backs and the fullback are seniors who have either started or played together since they were sophomores.  I even believe Sivek started as a freshman.

Its going to be tough to make those two games in NY for me so I'm going to have my questions answered over a webcast of those games.  Can't wait to see em' in action at home against GCC though.

[plaidfanatic]

thank you and yes i am a cmu fan.  i certainly should have mentioned sivek and gimson along with kolby whitman who may not have the numbers of the other two but has been a regular producer.

[BDTartan]

Part of the reason he doesn't have the numbers the other two do is because he was injured a bit last year and Cakert played alot which was great because he did a hell of a job as a blocker coming in motion and on some other specifically designed plays.  I think that Colby can turn the corner just as good if not better than Gimson.  In fact, when those guys were sophomores, he scored quite a few TD's going around the edge but I've still never seen anyone run the ball like Gimson....not in person at least....he won't blow your doors off, he won't run you over, and he won't juke everybody out of their supporters but MAN he is one tough little cookie with the rock in his hands.  Its hard for anybody on the other side of the ball to bring him down with out much of a fight.