University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

Doesn't look like I'll make it to P'burgh.  Hope the CMU video comes thru.

The team that wins will be the team that brings it on game day. DUH

Heidelburg, AppSt, and Stanford have reminded us that almost anything can happen.

One telling stat for CMU may be that their leading tackler (and UAA leader) is a DB.

I cited the d3kickoff ranking to demonstrate that WUStL's win over NCC would have surprised the gurus more than CWRU's win over Wooster, not just CWRU fans.  I wasn't saying they proved accurate necessarily.

Not sure if Whalen's being CWRU's leading rusher was mentioned here, but that's because five different RBs have split the carries.  And they total more than double his yards.

As I recall before last year the UAA was something like 24th of 26 conferences.

Safe game to all and may the teams that play hardest win!!

[BDTartan]

I'm sorry you won't be able to make the trip.  And I'm sorry it came off like I jumped you, I just was speaking in general terms for those few people who roam this board that aren't familiar with the expectations of the UAA teams.  Let's say this: anybody who just follows the UAA loosely and doesn't get the Kickoff or delve any deeper probably didn't expect such a strong start from the Spartans.  Also, if its any consolation....Aaron Lewis led the team in tackles the 3 or 4 previous years from the exact safety position Scholl is playing.  I think its more predicated on the type of 3-4 Bodnar runs at CMU.  I think his best tackling DB is almost always playing that position as a center fielder/run stopper.  Almost like an extra LB in a way.  Don't quote me though as I have only been following CMU for a couple years now.

Well, good luck Tartans!  Play mistake free football and the victories will start coming again.

[ADL70]

NBD BDT  I never meant the CWRU statrt wan't unexpected.  Just that WUStL's win was bigger ane more of a surprise.

It has been reported that CWRU will be bussing students to Gesling, so there should be agreat atmosphere for the game.  There's a great shot on CMU's site of the crowd for the AC game only one section wasn't full.

As we said back in the day:  Cleveland Rocks, Pittsburgh Socks (G version)

[TartanFann]

Good Luck Tartans!

[ADL70]

Great game in Gesling!!  Great to have the video, but if they can't patch in the radio audio can't they at least have a mike for PA and crowd noise?

Neither team protected the pigskin, 14 of CMU's points were from turnovers.  CMU lost a fumble with goal to go.  The stats were as close as the game.  Pantalone didn't fare much better than Facemyer has.  Tough loss Tartans.

Looks like the UAA will be decided in Cleveland on 11-3!

Props to Coach Lackner in going for 2 still early in 3Q. 

[DagarmanSpartan]

CASE WINS!!!!!

SIX AND OH BAYBEE!!!!!!

We'll definitely be 7-0 after the next game!!!!

I hate to jinx us, but WE COULD RUN THE TABLE!!!!!!!!!

[ADL70]

Can't look past St. Vincent.  They may be a first year program (and lost to Galludet) but seem to be improving.  They were even with Thomas More after 3.

CWRU garners first votes in d3.com poll since early in 2003.

WUStL gets 30th most votes.

The Baird Bros Stringer and Academic Bowl will reside in University Circle for the first off-season since 1988.

[UAA Follower]

Congratulations to the Spartans and Bears for victories in the first week of UAA play. Wash U. capitalized on 7 first-half turnovers to build its lead against Chicago. Two of the turnovers went for touchdowns.

Meanwhile, it looks like turnovers and an inconsistent kicking game did in CMU again though much credit should go to CWRU for overcoming its own mistakes in regulation to pull it out in overtime. Also interesting was the decision by the Tartan coaches to go with the backup QB who seemed to fare no better than the starter in CMU's meager passing attack.

Though it may appear the UAA will be decided on 11-3, am I not correct that if CMU beats Chicago and Wash U these next two weeks, and Wash U beats Case in Cleveland, assuming Case has already defeated Chicago, that three of the four teams would then have one loss? And Case would eliminated from that mix if they don't beat Chicago? Therefore, I would suggest it's a little earlier to be predicting the league will be decided in November. There are still alot of games to play though certainly CWRU and Wash U are in the driver's seat.

[plaidfanatic]

Congratulations to the Spartans.  they played a great game and deserved the win.  I put the loss squarely on the shoulders of the coaches.  With a minute and 36 seconds left, did they try to win with their two minute drill.  no didn't use it.  didn't use their time outs. Why change quarterbacks if you aren't going to change play calling??  how many plays did they run?? not that many.  not as many as the wing T with bright ( and we know they are bright since they got accepted at CMU) players can learn and execute.  Yea  mistakes were made in execution but when the fans sitting in the stands can call the next play, you know darn well the defense for the other team can too!!!!!  How do you think it makes the players feel when the coaches didn't have enough faith in their offense to try to win the game in regulation play.  yea they might have lost--but at least they lost trying to win the game.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Case by four touchdowns or more against hapless St. Vincent's.

[ADL70]

CMU tried to open up with 4 min left and threw a pick.  They had terrible field position at then end of the game.  With their offense I'd give them a better chance in OT than putting together a long drive in a short time.  What's the cliche'..play for tie at home win on the road?  CWRU seemed to have a D game plan to keep position on the outside to stop the counters and reverses and give Sivek what he could get inside.  21 tackles for Brew in the middle.  One advantage the extra week gave the Spartans was the luxury of taking one day to do nothing but teach the CMU offense to the scout team.

Tough loss for the Tartans.  Game was close, even thought it was 300-240 advantage to CWRU.  Adams had a poor punting day.  Even the winning FG was tipped.  I was right about margin of victory, but CMU redeemed the missed PAT by making a 2 pointer.

I will confess that my 11-3 comment was based upon discounting Chicago and figuring WUStL and CWRU to battle for the out right title.  Upon review though, with the two teams that play on 11-3 winning in UAA week one, the title cannot be decided until then.  Either CMU or Chicago will have two losses after this week and be eliminated.  CWRU and WUStL can have no more than one loss going into their meeting.  So the winner will get at least a share.  But a 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 0-3 finish is possible.

BDT hope you'll get your head up and give us your thoughts.  As noted above, beat Chicago and WUStL and a share is possible.  BTW I understand that there are a bunch of wing T QB's in WPa for CMU to recruit.

[BDTartan]

My thoughts shall be welcome, but my head is not down.  My bro came home for the weekend and I spent a little time with him and then I got caught up watching Ken Burns' documentary on WWII with my dad.  I'll tell you like this, I give CWRU all the credit in the world for winning that game....that is, not losing it.  I lay the blame at the coaches feet as well, but not for the same reasons as plaidfanatic.  Yes, they could have gave a more valiant effort and shown that they were trying to win in regulation by using their timeouts at the end, but CWRU was running a prevent/zone type D and just letting CMU get 7-8 yards a pop up the gut.  I wasn't sure that we would get close enough for a FG anyways.  For me, it all comes down to one boneheaded coaching decision late in the 3rd quarter.  As you all know, CMU got two quick turnovers which gave them 14 points and a 7 point lead.  Now, late in the 3rd CMU forces CWRU to punt.  At this point CMU has all the momentum.  They march the ball down the field up the gut as cwru70 said they weren't getting much out of the outside runs.  Anyways, its 3rd and 3 inside the 5 and Sivek had been busting them.  At this point, Erdelyi decides to run some type of delayed handoff where the QB fakes the FB and PAUSES in the backfield waiting on a wingback to come through.  It was a brainless call as CWRU had to be stacking the run up the middle waiting on Sivek, which they did, they shot the gaps, hit the QB, fumble.....momentum swing to CWRU and CMU couldn't get it back.  I don't know about you, but I feed the horse that you rode to the goal line and give it Sivek.  If he doesn't get the 1st, kick a FG.  Hindsight is 20/20, but if they get points out of that drive GAME OVER!

[ADL70]

Glad to have you back.

Gotta figure the coaches were in a bit of a conundrum about the call you refer to.  Send Sivek against a D likely to be stacked against him, or try something else.  Fake inside and run a reverse or counter, perhaps, but CWRU was stopping those plays.  Perhaps they expected that faking to Sivek wouold bottle up the D inside and buy time for the delayed play to develop.  FG not a given.  CWRU didn't do anything on the next two series, so can't say MO had shifted yet, at least not the to the O.  An uncharacteristic poor punt gave CWRU great field position for their 59 yard drive.  They almost turned it over on the first play of the drive, but recovered.  Were there two forward passes on that play?  I give CMU credit for taking away the deep threat and limiting YAC. 

I'll be rooting for CMU the rest of the way, if for no other reason that your fans post here.

So... Go Tartans!!

Heard that Derek Bush leading RB broke a bone or bones in his foot in the Wooster game and is out for the season.  Somehow that hasn't stopped him being listed as a starter in the last two games, thus unfairly reducing his YPG.

I got a chuckle out of CWRU being ahead of Mount Union in the OWP standings.   

[BDTartan]

I don't know about a conundrum because CWRU was stacking it against Sivek for most of that drive and were stacking the run from the start of the game for that matter.  And I worded it wrong, that fumble KILLED CMU's MO and gave CWRU the opportunity to get it back.  I don't know, I like our kickers chances from the 10 yd line in the 3rd quarter better than trying to kick it from the 30 to win it in OT.  Besides, he hasn't been kicking as poorly lately and the only way I see it not going in is a blocked kick.  And, OH YES.....Adams had a very off day compared to what I've seen him do punting the football.  I don't think I saw a single punt that looked like a Matt Adams' punt. 

For what its worth this season hasn't been a total drag for me because my brother is still playing good, consistant football.  I see him getting a lot of double teams.  I know, its a 3-4 and there are less people to block at the point of attack, but that's usually reserved for the NG.  I think teams are showing him some respect.  My brother might be listed at 245 but that's dripping wet with 10 pounds of lead in his shoes.  He's giving up anywhere from 50-100 pounds a week and he's still performing so I don't really have a reason to have my head down.  Yes, I would like to see the team doing better, but at this point those guys have to want it as much as my brother and some of the other guys do.  There is nothing I can say to change that.  I'm going to continue cheering them on and hope they win and my bro does well and stays healthy.  Other than that, its all up to the football gods!!

[ADL70]

42-0 CWRU, Whalen didn't even finish the first half.  He was 13-17 with 1 TD.  Incredibly SIX QBs saw action.

Oh and they seem to have found something in preparing for CMU.  They ran 4 WB reverses for 29 yards.

509 yards 335 rushing

Way to go Tartans!!!  Still in the championship hunt!