University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

WOW   I hope it's not next week.

Gimson had a tough game, fumbled twice.  Facemeyer 1-5 and sacked twice.  Only 1 CMU sack, that  by one Clay Crites.  Gave up 377 yards TO.  On the + side did get a FG.

[northwr87]

Just wanted to get the conversation going and get everyones thoughts on the UAA openers this weekend.

[BDTartan]

Well, to be honest....I think WUStL is the only team doing what was expected of them.  Nobody was real sure about Chicago and I'm still not sold on them.  CMU was coming off of an undefeated season and a playoff win yet they have a losing record as of right now.  I don't think anybody thought CWRU would be sitting undefeated right now so........I would have to say flip a coin my friend.  To quote American Dad from last nights episode....Predicting this weekend's UAA games "would be like a Campbell's soup can telling Warhol where to get his drugs."  My heart says CMU by a frog hair.  And my common sense says WUStL wins by a couple scores.

[ADL70]

BDT I gotta disagree with your take on the year so far.  I think most folks would have given CWRU a better chance to beat Wooster, than for WUStL to beat North Central.  That win could be big for whoever wins the UAA, assuming they win out.

I gotta go with CWRU 24-20.  The difference?  Coffey FG and missed CMU PAT.  But the team that best protects the pigskin will win.

I'd agree with Bears by a couple of scores, although Chicago remains a mystery.  They've played a FR QB the last couple of games and he's played well.  But it was not against stiff competition.

[ADL70]

CMU is adding video to its website.  Great news.  They're one upping CWRU by showing soccer as well.  Come on CWRU step up for soccer.  They couldn't even do last weekind when soccer was at home and no FB.

[BDTartan]

I'm not a CWRU fan.......most of the folks you are talking about are probably a Spartan fan or more familiar with their program than the rest of people.  I was just saying that most people "outside" of the CWRU program probably didn't expect them to be sitting at 5-0 coming into the Academic Bowl.  And everyone who knows UAA understands that WUStL always fields a good team and the fact that they faced two ranked teams and came away 1-1 in those games just proved that point.  You can say 24-20 all you want, but I really think the Tartans are tired of losing while CWRU is getting all of the love.  As I mentioned before, I spoke to some of the Tartan players including my brother........who would love nothing more than to get ahold of the Spartans and ruin their unblemished record.  I think the Tartans will be more fired up for this game than they have been since the Millsaps game last year.  Besides, you said it yourself, CMU did hit a FG in the RMU game and that may lend confidence coming into this game.

[UAA Follower]

BD, I have followed your instructions and reviewed your recent posts before writing this. Hopefully, I will not "burn you by making points that you have already made" and will do my best not to "echo what you have already posted".

I could not help but notice in my review of your posts that you stated after a loss that the Tartans are "back on track" and we would "see a major difference" in their play. And, perhaps they took a team too lightly. Stated like a true fan and I applaud you for that.

Unfortunately, CMU lost yet again a game they might have won were it not for making mistake after mistake. RB Gimson, a senior you stated would be a team leader, fumbled twice. Another senior, of course, dropped the 2-point play that would have won the Hobart game a few weeks ago.

You also stated that the QB doesn't really matter in the Wing-T offense. But, Facemeyer this year has a passing efficiency of 87.21 compared to Mulkern last year who had a rating of 155.32 in 7 games. Facemeyer already has been sacked 9 times while CMU was only sacked 8 times all of last year.

Turnovers have also been a major factor this year with CMU now giving the ball away twice as many times as they have taken it for a -7 ratio. Last year's team finished the 11-game season +14.

Comparatively, CWRU's Whalen has a 159 efficiency rating and the Spartans are well-balanced between the run and pass, averaging over 200 yards per game in each. He has thrown only 2 picks (Facemeyer has thrown 3 in far fewer attempts). Case has been sacked 13 times but, of course, has thrown over 100 more attempts than CMU to this point. The CWRU veteran defense is ranked #1 in the UAA and among the top defenses in the nation against the run. The Spartans are +7 in the turnover category.

All that said, CMU has played a tougher schedule with its opponents currently 15-12, but has not beaten a team with a winning record. CWRU's opponents are 7-18, none with a winning record. As with the Tartans last year, can CWRU use the momentum and confidence it has built versus an inferior schedule as a springboard to a UAA Championship and perhaps even a coveted playoff spot?

Wash U is 5-1, its opponents 15-18 (including undefeated Wheaton and winless LaGrange) and has defeated 2 schools with a winning record. Chicago is 3-1, its opponents 9-12.

It should be an exciting next three weeks. I don't make game predictions but I do believe that the road to the league championship, as usual, goes through St. Louis. Chicago had to beat the Bears two years ago to win the league while CMU had the OT thriller last year to capture the crown. CWRU has its work cut out for it as it has to play at CMU and at Chicago while hosting Wash U.

Good luck to all teams over the next 3 weeks. And, I commend you as always for your academic and athletic skills. You are true scholar-athletes.

[ADL70]

I too thought CMU would rebound against AC and R-M, but since they didn't, well...

The CWRU schedule was weak, but they dominated those oponents.  AC only on be a couple of scores against weaker teams.

The Academic Bowl will be close.  As I said whoever protects the pigskin better (as I should have said) will win.

I agee that WUStL is a strong program, but the d3.comKickoff ranks had them at 105 while North Central as 18th.  In contrast CWRU was 113 and Wooster 90.  Which result was least likely to the "gurus"?  And the NCAC pickem had CWRU favored over Wooster.  Although that wouldn't have happened if Wooster hadn't lost its first two.  And CWRU has pretty much owned those other NCAC teams.

Let's have a great game.  Go Spartans! 

[UAA Follower]

I agree CWRU that the Spartans have had very convincing wins against the teams they have played as well they should if they are truly a good team themselves. Seems to me that CMU made the same claim last year as they soundly beat most of the teams on their schedule. That leads me to suspect that something special might be brewing for Case this season.

I give little credence to D3football's pre-season rankings after the first 30 or 40 teams. Though the staff does a miraculous job of researching the myriad schools in DIII, it is impossible for anyone to predict the variables of a great season such as those we have been discussing (i.e. strength of schedule, team chemistry, etc). I would hope even the gurus of D3football would admit that they might miss the rise of some programs and the fall of others. Take for example Wash U and Wooster, as you named. Or add to the list CMU (now 2-3) and North Central (now 3-2).  D3football's post-season summaries give tribute to such surprises of the season.

Should be a great Academic Bowl this year. And, the Wash U-Chicago game should be telling, too.

Best of luck to all the teams and players.

[BDTartan]

Well follower, all I can say is this........Facemeyer's passer rating isn't bad, but the majority of his attempts have come when CMU is down and trying to come back, not to mention that his completion percentage is abysmal compared to Mulkern last year, which by the way, Mulkern only played in 6 regular season games in 06' because he was hurt in the Academic Bowl(game 6).....that said, the mistakes that have been made this year HAVE been costly.  Gimson's fumbles, according to my dad...who attended the game, were purely from him trying to get extra yardage.  As was Babcock's fumble.  I'm never going to fault Gimson or anbody else for being a hard ass runner and when you run like that you take a chance that somebody is going to get their mits on the ball while you're fighting for that extra yard.  Those guys ran just as hard last year and they caught some breaks and took care of the ball.  As far as saying the two teams CMU has beaten has losing records......Rochester plays in the LL where wins can be tough to come by and even GCC has some pretty tough opponents in the PAC......it also looks like RMU could make a run at the ODAC.  Look, they've lost three games in a row and I can guarantee that the entire Tartan team is trying to figure out a way to get back on track.  These next three games are now circled for me because if they run off three straight they establish two things......they keep the .500 or better streak going AND they defend the UAA.  I have a tiny little bit of insight that has nothing to do with the team or anybody affiliated, but I believe there might be quite a few things done differently by CMU in these UAA games.  They've got to find something else because the same old stuff ain't getting the job done.

cwru70.......any word on whether or not you'll be attending the Academic Bowl??

[BDTartan]

By the way UAAfollower, while you were perusing Facemeyer's stats did you happen to see that he has rushed the ball only ten fewer times than he has thrown it??  Obviously, the Tartans aren't getting it done in the passing game and that leads to having to convert first downs with the run.  When you already run for 300 yards a game as a team the opposing D is stacking it up anyways so.........that also leads to giving the ball up quickly and this gasses the D.  Numerous times the D played well all game and then there was a drive late in the game that killed them with alot of yardage PLUS a score because those guys have been on the field for quite some time.  In the long run time will only tell, but I think this year is going to be a growing pain for some players who might use it as incentive for the future.

[UAA Follower]

BD, not to dicker with you but the stats show Mulkern played in 7 games last year. Perhaps you are forgetting that he returned from his injury to go 2-9-1 versus Wesley in the final game.

I would respectfully disagree that Facemeyer's passer rating isn't bad. Not many successful QBs have ratings in the 80s. But I will agree that for a wing-t team to be throwing alot late in a game while trying to win that game is not a prescription for success. Wing-T offenses are usually not known for the ability to come back from deficits by throwing alot as they spend so much more time practicing the run game.

That begs the question of why the play selection has not allowed hiim to throw more earlier in the game using play action set up by the run. Only the coaches know the answer to that. My only point of contention with you is that the QB can make a big difference in such an offense and I believe the stats and record proved it after researching the past two QBs' performances. We can just agree to disagree, ok?

No doubt that if CMU wins the next three games, that would go a long way to cleansing the bad taste that they must have now after the tough losses the team has suffered. And, no doubt that some of the mistakes they have made may have come by trying too hard and giving that extra effort though, in my opinion, veterans and leaders can't make many of those mistakes if the team is to succeed.

We'll see if the insight you have into any changes the team makes is accurate and, even more important, if they work. I'm sure the staff at Case is going to try to have a few things up their sleeves, too.

That's the great thing about the UAA. Four great programs that are well-coached. The next three weeks will be interesting.

[plaidfanatic]

Well I have to agree with that post.  The fact is neither side is playing as well as it should.  last year, cmu defense gave up only 8.4 point per game in the regular season vs. 17.5 this year.  that is a big difference.  cmu offense in the regular season averaged 28.7 pts per game and this year the average is only 21.  The wing T offense does not lend itself to big plays.  when the offense has the ball and is moving well, it can eat up 10 minutes or more of the clock.  this means that an average of 20 something points is all that can be expected therefor unfortunately it falls to the defense to keep the score low.  CMU offense had the ball 28 minutes versus CMU defense being on the field for 31 minutes so there was no reason for the defense to be that much more tired in the Randolph Macon game than the offense.  CMU actually had one more first down than RM but offense wasn't able to capitalize and our defense didn't do as good a job stopping their offense.  CMU's problems unfortunately are not all facemyer or the offense.  Some of it is certainly playcalling and not using all the weapons as you pointed out in a previous post but it is certainly not just the quarterback or the offense.

CWRU -- congrats to the spartans and I am glad to see their great season.   until all the UAA teams start to have these kind of starts and seasons the UAA will not get  much respect.  Sorry can't wish your team good luck this week as my heart and soul belong to cmu but hope you win out after this.

[UAA Follower]

Plaid, it was not my intent to put all of it Facemeyer and the offense and I apologize if that was the way it came across. I was only trying to discuss with BDTartan that the QB's performance can and does play a major role in a wing-t offense. But, certainly, football is a team game and a win or loss never comes down to one player.

That is what is mystifying about this year's CMU team to those of us who follow the UAA. With almost all of the offense and much of the defense returning from last year's outstanding team, we thought that they would be up to facing the more challenging schedule and, possibly, make a name for not only CMU but the UAA, too. They have hardly been outmanned or blown out of any of their losses, so it must get down to execution and mistakes on the part of all. I'm sure the coaches and players are doing their best to improve on that as they enter league play.

Your interesting point about possession time inspired me to go back to CMU's stats. In the three losses, the Allegheny game was the only game that had more than a 5 minute difference in possession time. Against Hobart, CMU actually had the ball slightly more than its opponent. For the season, CMU has a greater possession time than its opponents.

Regarding respect for the UAA, at least on D3football it is earning more respect as it placed 15th out of 25 conferences in its "Ranking the Conferences" of Sept 27th. I don't recall where the league placed in past years but I'm sure it wasn't that high. That is what a playoff team from last year and great starts on the part of all the schools this year will earn you, I guess.

[BDTartan]

We can agree or disagree, no difference the way I see it.  Look, all I was trying to get at is the way the offensive gameplan has been going the QB is about the least effective weapon they have and when he is put into a position to make a play its usually in long yardage.  Facemeyer has had 86 plays called for him this season.....38 rush, 48 pass.  He has done much better running the ball, therefore because our discussion was centered around CMU passing the ball I said the QB is not the playmaker in the Wing-T that he is supposed to be in every other offense.  Don't get me wrong, he can be, but when you're producing 300 yards of rushing with a three headed attack the QB is not who the Wing-T flows through.  plaidfanatic said it, the Wing-T does not lend itself to big plays.  If it is not a run that's busted for a big gain then any other big play has to be done by the QB......

As far as Mulkern coming into the Wesley game......if he was healthy enough to play then why didn't he start??  Either A.) Too much rust and maybe not fully healthy.  OR B.) the coaches felt that Facemeyer was there best chance to win given what he did the previous 5 games.  Including taking care of the ball and managing the WUStL game very well.  To be honest with you, I don't think quarterbacks go to a school with the Wing-T.  It always seemed to me that running QBs were best suited for that offense and that seems to be the case at CMU.

By the way follower I totally agree with you that the play calling should allow him to mix in the pass to get a feel for it.  I mean, this guy has to start chucking it when they're down when he only threw a couple passes in the previous parts of games??  How is that effective.

The T.O.P thing was in general.  I didn't even look at the RMU stats.  I know I was at the Allegheney game and it seemed like the D was on the field alot more.  Don't forget what you said either plaid, a wing-t offense eats up clock.  CMU hasn't played a slow-em-down team like themselves.  I haven't looked it up, but I'll bet the D has more plays than the O this year.