University Athletic Association

[BDTartan]

Yeah, that big pass play you're talking about.......I don't know how they got sucked up in the play-action because during that drive CMU was pounding it, pounding it, pounding it getting 1st downs all with the run.  I kept asking myself in the stands, "When's it coming?  When's it coming?"  Sure enough it came.  It's pretty much the same play CMU always runs when they want to try and hit a big play except this time the sell on the play-action was the best I've seen since I've been watching CMU.  That was Pantalone who hit that TD pass by the way.

I still think WUStL is going to be one pissed off ball club and ready to play for a share, only because they were sitting pretty good at 6-1 with the lone loss coming by way of Wheaton before Saturday's loss at Gesling.  The Spartan's big key should be limiting their turnovers against the Bears.  CMU did that by only turning the ball over once.  I'll tell you, the Bears D is fast and very aggressive and they will go for the strip on every single play from whistle to whistle.

[UAA Follower]

Well, I certainly must admit how wrong I was in my prediction of the CMU-Wustl game though I did figure CWRU to win big over Chicago. My congratulations to the Tartans for the big win and, in reading the game story and stats, it appears that with the exception of one lost fumble, they avoided turnovers and capitalized on big plays offensively and defensively. This has to take some of the sting out of earlier disappointing losses where turnovers and mistakes were the keys in defeat.

What a great showdown this weekend in Cleveland. Though I wish both teams luck, I have to admit I am pulling for the Spartans to keep their perfect season intact and finish strong with a playoff bid. That would be two years in a row for the UAA and counting. Though certainly, as BD said, it is going to be tough because Wash U is going to be highly motivated.

Good Luck to both teams!! And, best of luck to CMU and Chicago as they finish their seasons.

[DagarmanSpartan]

I just read on the Case website that the University President has declared Friday "Blue and White" day.  All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to wear blue and white to show their support for the football team.

Gosh.  We NEVER had that kind of school spirit back in my time!

It's amazing what a winning football program can do for a school, even at the Division III level!

[Pat Coleman]

Amazing what recruiting can do for a football program.

[ADL70]

Pat Coleman, the man of dry wit and long memory.   

The game in Cleveland will be a battle, but the Spartans have shown the ability to shake off its demons and the ability to rise from adversity (turnover caused deficits to Wooster and Carnegie Mellon) and win.  The game pits the #5 and #6 coaches in the LM vote.

[edit-make that #4 v # 6, as Coach Debs is todays top vote getter and has jumped over the legendary Coach Gagliardi into fourth]

Maj I don't get why it's blue and white not blue and gray.  I've been puzzled by the absence of gray, especially with the scarlet and gray down state and over in Lake County.  In the 70s they had gray helmets.  They need to include the men's soccer team in that celebration, too.  They have a big game against Rochester on Saturday as well.  They've managed to stay first in the Great Lakes region, but this is an important game for their playoff hopes.

Good games Tartans and Maroons.  And good game Bears, but you'll come up short.

[BDTartan]

CMU @ Bethany tomorrow should be interesting whether folks think so or not.  The score and stats have never been indicative in this series but from what I've seen the last couple years and what I've heard, the Bisons always play the Tartans tough.  Not to mention the fact that I really enjoy Bethany's location.  Its nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians and it just has that down-home country high school vibe to the campus.  When my brother was a freshman and CMU played there everybody was so nice even if you were an opposing fan.  To be honest, the people and the place really remind me of my hometown.

Good luck Tartans.  And Maroons.......and the Bears.  Gotta pull for that share fellas, I'm sorry.  Not just that I guess, I really think WUStL can win, just as CMU was capable of putting the Spartans away.  Its just a matter of whether the Bears can pull the trigger and do it.

[formerd3db]

Pat Coleman, the man of dry wit and long memory.   

I'll second that!

Amazing what recruiting can do for a football program.

You've got that right, Pat!

[ADL70]

Looks like WUStL will be without the UAA's leading interceptor Tim Machan today.

Looks like the live video will be a slide show again this week.   

I thought this would be a low scoring game, but it's 7-6 CWRU after only 6 minutes!

Machan is in the game, wonder why he wasn't in the two-deep?

[DagarmanSpartan]

YES!!!  YES!!!!  YES!!!!

35-27 BAY-BEE!!!!!!!

First win over Wash U. since my sophomore year of college (1991)!!!!!

First ever UNDISPUTED UAA title for Case!!!!

Come on fellas.  Let's whip OWU and get our first ever DIII playoff bid!!!

SPARTANS............TONIGHT..........WE DINE........IN HELL!!!!!

AHOO!!!  AHOO!!!  AHOO!!!

[bashbrother]

Congrats to Case on a big win!

[ADL70]

Maj--Now you can gloat about your prediction.  Costly win though if Cowdrick is out.  Glad there's a barn full of quality WRs.

I still can't believe they punted on the last play.   What were they thinking?  I'm sure Whalen could run around for 6 ticks, then throw it away, take a knee, or take a safety.

Next week is for history!!!

Two Top 25 teams have lost and at least one is losing.  Could CWRU crack the "well respected"Top 25?

The stupidity of that punt gets worse.  PD reports Whalen was in on the tackle (although not credited in stats).

Forum in PD reports that Cowdrick has a fracture.   

Wheaton's loss should move CWRU to #3 in North Region (The only ranking that maters).  Beating the Bishops should mean hosting first round.

[As of Monday morning Coach Debs is #3 in the LM voting]

[4u]

cwru70,
Does having a kid run around for six ticks, with a possibility of a fumble, make more sense than punting the ball down and out of bounds?  Yes, I am aware the ball did not go out of bounds, but I am quite certain that was the plan.  So here are some things to consider:

1) Case Western likely works on punting, punt coverage, and punting out of bounds weekly. 

2) I doubt CWRU works on having their QB/P run around for 6 seconds (with 50 yards of turf behind him)while HIGHLY securing the football with 11 defenders in hot pursuit.

Teams should do the things they are familiar with-- the things they practice.  Yes, in the future, maybe Case will work on that situation and approach it differently.  Good coaching staffs-- staffs that are 9-0-- do what they practice.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it does not.  Saturday, it ultimately worked.
Can you imagine what you would be saying had Whalen done an excellent job of eluding players for six seconds, lost his footing, only to fumble?  You probably would be saying, "they should do what they practice" or... "Why didn't they kick it out of bounds and give Wash U one play with 80-90 yards of field?"

Anyway, those are just my points to ponder...
4u

[ADL70]

4u--I respect you and your connection to the games is closer and more recent than mine and I agree that you ought to do what you've practiced rather than an ad hoc strategy.  But while punting and punt coverage have been practiced, I doubt that they've practiced against the rugby riot that was sure to ensue.  And there are negatives with the punt that did not happen; ie, fumble while putting the ball out for the punt or punt block.

Whalen got the snap at about the 30 and Washington was at the 46.  I'd guess Whalen's 40 time is no more than 5 sec.  If he gets the ball and runs straight to the end line there's one second left and at best the nearest WUStL player is at the goal line.  Given reaction time to stop the clock and no replay, he could step out with 0.5 left and time would expire.  I'd trust the ball to arguably my best athlete
who has demonstrated a great ability to scramble and has done well at holding on to the rock ather than the uncertainty of the rugby return.  If the punt had gone OB would WUStL still have had a chance to run a play?

To my mind, either way they're doing something that they haven't fully practiced.  It worked out and Whaelen didn't get hurt.  Whew!!! 

And whatever I think doesn't diminish the amazing job Coach Debs has done!!!

[BDTartan]

Congrats to Case......go get that playoff berth and see what you can do.

Maj. Spartan, I just want to let you know that you can have your cake and eat it too.....This year.  By the way, I am Greek and I didn't think you last comment was appropriate.  It's kind of proposterous to compare a football team to the ancient warriors from Sparta with their Pancracean fighting style.  I'm pretty sure a phalanx of Spartan warriors would not have liked to be compared to athletes.  Their lives were a matter of life or death.  They believed death in battle was the highest glory.  I don't think any football player wants to die during the course of a game.........

Now that the season is dying down and only a handful of teams will play an 11th game does anybody have any thoughts on post-season awards?  There seem to be a couple locks for UAA teams.  Such as Whalen, Brew, Sivek, Machan to name a few.  I'm willing to bet CWRU's coach will get similar accolades to Lackner in 06'.

[4u]

cwru70,
I believe the plan was to punt the ball out of bounds and potentially give WashU one more play with 70-80 yards to play.  I also believe Case works on punting the ball out of bounds; I did not suggest they worked on covering an onset of pitches.  The play did not work as planned-- much the way that having Whalen run around to kill the clock "could" have not worked as planned.
I realize there were other options.  They are insignificant now and Case is UAA champs.  I was simply defending a staff that I think has made miracles happen in Cleveland.
4u