University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

Hey!  Tartans still have second straight UAA title to shoot for.  Both CWRU and WUStL seem to be improved over last year's teams and should prove a challenge.

[BDTartan]

On that subject, you are correct, but some of the Tartans better get their heads out of the sand.  I mean, you can't play sloppy football and expect to win your conference.  The thing about all of this is that all of these guys know what they are capable of.  Alot of the starters are returning from an undefeated regular season and a playoff run in 06'.  There is just no excuse for the play of some of these guys.  I don't wanna knock on anybody or put people down, but experienced players don't make these kinds of mistakes.  I must also say that the absence of departed All-UAA PK Nat Greenstein has really, REALLY hurt.  CMU missed a 2nd quarter FG that had the distance by far, just went wide right.  I know hindsight is 20/20, but for the last two weeks if the kicking game is executed the games would have at least been extended, if not won.  Like I said, I hope the bye week allows these guys to clear their heads and get back to basics.

[ADL70]

My point exactly.  Time to refocus on the goal of winning the UAA.  You know WUStL wants the title back and the Spartans are hungry and can smell "blood in the water."  On the kicking situation a clear magin there for CWRU.  Coffey is 5/7 in FGs and has made 95% of PATs.  Only one other kicker has a FG and all the rest are under 90% in PATs.

[BDTartan]

Well, I hope it does fuel some type of inspiration for the Tartans.  I'm saying it right now though, if they play sloppy football they can kiss the UAA goodbye.  It sounds like CWRU and WUStL are too good to play like that and hope to win.  On the other hand, CMU is probably that much better than those two if they play up to their capabilities.  Anyways, I was speaking to a couple of the CMU players over the weekend about our discussion on recruiting.  Well, I received an interesting e-mail from one of them this morning.  Here is a portion of it.........

"CMU does indeed actively recruit.  We make phone calls to hundreds of kids
during the season trying to find high school football players that are also
good enough students, and we stay in touch with them.  Coach Lackner sends our
recruits weekly e-mails about our season, the school begins sending them
application information, our athletic department begins sending them
information, et cet.  I have a work-study job for Coach L. where I sit in his
office for 1-2 hours every day after practice and just call players from a list
of guys that he has information about, so he knows who to add to his list of
potential recruits.  By the end of the season, we have a list of 500 or more
potential recruits - then Coach Lackner plans out his time on the road to visit
as many as he can at their schools.  In Division 3, with no scholarships, the
only way to get players is to plant a LOT of seeds and see what we come up
with."

"Although MajorSpartan said that he thinks most of the CWRU kids are kids that
the coaches just called up over the summer once they found out they were into
the school, he is badly mistaken.  I know because many of the kids that visit
us in the spring are also being recruited by Case and many have told me they
already had a football visit to CWRU or they are going the week after they
visit us.  Maybe that's how it was 10 or 15 years ago - but now I'm sure that
all of the UAA schools definitely recruit, which is the way it should be.  The
football teams shouldn't be completely made up of walk-ons."

A couple interesting tid-bits in there should put MajorSpartan's argument to rest.  Especially the part about CMU's recruits having visits with and being recruited by CWRU.

[plaidfanatic]

It was kind of ironic this weekend.  Sitting in front of me in the bleachers was a high school student invited by Lachner.  During the half time, a former CMU player specifically came and found him to tell him about his experiences at CMU.  he talked to the kid for the entire half. 

[ADL70]

One other milestone from Saturday in Cleveland.  The win evened Debeljak's record at 17-17.  Next week should get him above .500.  A feat accomplished by only two other CWRU coaches!

[DagarmanSpartan]

cwru70,

Question.

What did Joe Perella and Jim Chapman leave?

Chapman coached us during our "glory years," and Perella is the only other coach with an above .500 record.

[ADL70]

Not sure I understand the import of your question.  Each was followed by a protoge former coordinator.  Chapman had 5 yrs, all winning seasons.  His last was 7-1-1.  He was followed by Stuckey who immediately dropped to 3-6 and had two winning seasons out of 7.  Perella was 5-5, 6-4, and 5-5.  Debeljak started 5-5, then the injury plagued 3-7, and 5-5 again.  Six wins is pretty much a lock this year, anything less than 7 wins would be dissappointment. 

[DagarmanSpartan]

cwru70,

Sorry.  Wrong word.

I meant to ask WHY they left.  That "what" was a mistake.

My apologies for the confusion.

Where did each coach move to?  Did each continue coaching beyond Case?

Why was Chapman so successful, and Stucky so unsuccessful? 

Stuckey, BTW, was the coach when I was in school, and he even contacted me and asked me if I wanted to come out prior to enrolling my freshman year.  Knowing I didn't have anywhere near the talent to be successful beyond high school (where I had only had limited success), I declined.

[ADL70]

Chapman applied for HC job at OU (his alma mater) he returned to hs as an administrator I believe (adding to his state teacher's retirement).  A couple of years later he ended up at Mercyhurst (then d3) as HC where he was 1-8,5-4, and 5-4-1.  His biggest win (in the words of Gordon Gee) probably was a 20-20 tie with Wittenberg.

I think Perella left to become AD at Beechwood HS.  He came to CWRU from JCU which hired CWRU's Regis Scafe (I would guess Perella was an applicant as well).  As I recall he was in his 60's.

I don't have any real insight into "why" but there's more "what."

[ADL70]

Congrats to the UAA TOW-ers:

Chicago  FR DL Justin Kaderabek and SR LB Gaby Fernandez

WUStL  FR LB Dan Mulholland

[ADL70]

CWRU's all-time scoring record (70 pts v Oberlin 1998) might be in jeopardy this weekend.  Not sure they'll take enough players to DC to keep the score lower.

The season record of 371 (2002 & 2003) is likely in jeopardy as well.

[BDTartan]

I'm not trying to stir the pot here because CMU hasn't performed as well as some thought they would, but we will find out just what kind of team the Spartans have when they stop playing NCAC cupcakes and get into the meat of the schedule when they start UAA play.  Let's be honest, they are two different teams, but I think CMU would be sitting just as pretty if they had played CWRU's schedule.  Its also hard to remember that CMU is probably 3 or 4 plays away from being 4-0, but that is why the game is played and 2-2 is better than 0-4 so........

[UAA Follower]

Careful, BD, because the schedule is what it is. I seem to recall some questioning the strength of CMU's schedule last year but, to its credit, CMU ran the table. Let's give credit to Case where it is due. If they are soundly winning games against weaker opponents, they are demonstrating their strength to date. Sure, tougher games remain that will test them but, until then, let's give Case the acclaim that they are due. Just because CMU isn't getting the job done this year doesn't mean we should take anything away from Case's effort until now.

[ADL70]

BDT  No dis of CMU or UAA intended.  From the beginning I've said this year's CWRU schedule was weaker than last year's.  The two games on either side of the CMU game are against teams even weaker than the weakest of the NCAC teams they've played.  Those six games should have 250 pts or more.  They only need to average 30 pts in the remaining four games.  I think they can break 20 against CMU and WUStL and maybe 28 against UChi.  But I grant you the UAA Ds are tough.  This week may give a better indication of OWU's strength.  And the Spartan's have to squash that turnover bug that showed itself in the Woo game.