FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[E.115]

On another note, DiSanto's new artificial turf is complete.

Looking great.  Thanks for posting.

[ADL70]

A few updates for Case Western Reserve I've seen:



2) Incoming Freshman class consists of 45 players from 14 different states (the largest class in recent memory) http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20170505gcni5c

This number is interesting as I seem to recall Debeljak's first year starting at CWRU he had approximately 45 total players.

They'll be joining 71 returning players.



4) Two of last year's captains who were injured/lost at the beginning of the season last year are returning (Cody Calhoun SS and Zech Medved TE).   http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/roster

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/roster?view=list

The number of players returning from last season is down to 63, but still 110 are anticipated to report in August, the largest number that I can recall.

In addition to the 45 freshmen, Andrew Rossman, who pitched for four seasons for the Spartans is going to give football a try as a grad student.  Also, Jake Vent is a transfer from D2 St Joseph's (IN), which ceased operation at the end of this school year.

Others who return after missing all or most of last season include WR Luke DiFrancesco, who has the second highest number of receptions of active receivers and  OLB Zach Lyon, who started the first two games of his senior season last year before a season ending injury and has been granted a medical extra year of eligibility.

[E.115]

Neat media feature on the 2009 Spartans and QB Dan Whalen:

Best individual football seasons the past 25 years: No. 5, Case Western Reserve QB Dan Whalen, 2009

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170726/best-individual-football-seasons-the-past-25-years-no-5-case-western-reserve-qb-dan-whalen-2009

[ADL70]

CWRU Preview:

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170801i548o3

Kevin Burke is new RB coach. Also joining the staff are former JCU players Jake Schaefer  (QB) and Anthony Ciccione (S).  New WR coach is former NFL WR Micha Johnson.

[E.115]

CWRU Preview:

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170801i548o3

Kevin Burke is new RB coach. Also joining the staff are former JCU players Jake Schaefer  (QB) and Anthony Ciccione (S).  New WR coach is former NFL WR Micha Johnson.

Those new Case Western Reserve coaching staff members come with some seemingly interesting sports bios:

From: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170731p1faef

Burke gained notoriety across the Division III level as the quarterback for the University of Mount Union, where he was a three-time All-American and the first-ever two-time Gagliardi Trophy winner, awarded to the best D-III football player each year, weighing in athletics, academics and community service.  He led his team to the National Championship game each season as a starter, winning the title in 2012, and compiled an overall record of 43-2.  Since graduating from Mount Union in December 2015 with a major in Business Administration, he has served as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater for the last two seasons, while also playing in the Austrian Football League, where he recently led the Vienna Vikings to the league's championship, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the title game.

Cicione was a defensive back in college, starting his career and earning an All-Ohio Athletic Conference honor at Capital University, before finishing his career at John Carroll University.  He played in nine games his senior season for the team that reached the NCAA semifinals, recording an interception against Otterbein.  Cicione also worked as an assistant coach at St. Vincent St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio from 2014-15.  He will graduate from John Carroll with a major in Sports Studies and Coaching & Recreation in December of 2017.

Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinatti Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers from 2007-09, most recently served as the Head Coach at Joy Christian High School in Glendale, Arizona from 2014-16, going undefeated and winning two state championships.  Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach for quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends at NCAA D-III Grinnell College, helping to guide an offense that ranked in the top-10 in passing three years from 2010-13.  In addition to his time in the NFL, Johnson also played in the Canadian Football League as a wide receiver for the BC Lions.  He graduated from South Dakota State University as a Biology major in 2007, where he was an all-conference receiver.

Schaefer comes to Case Western Reserve after a stint as a player/coach and team captain of the Munich Cowboys of the German Football League.  While there, he assisted in weekly game planning, in addition to serving as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of a U-19 football team.  Schaefer also worked at his alma mater, John Carroll University, as the assistant quarterbacks coach.  He was a four-year member of the football team at John Carroll from 2012-15, starting at quarterback for the Blue Streaks and serving as a team captain during his senior year.  Schaefer graduated from John Carroll in May 2017 with a degree in Forensic Psychology.

[SaintsFAN]

Cincinnati?

[WashJeff68]

Preseason review by W&J coach Sirianni. Lots depends on how the new starting QB does, but he has a lot of support. Rowse is a third generation W&J student. His great uncle and I were fraternity brothers and great friends back in the day.


Jeff in Tennessee

http://gopresidents.com/news/2017/8/1/w-j-returns-wealth-of-experience-entering-2017-football-season.aspx

[E.115]

I'm surprised to see absolutely no talk on the PAC media day today from Latrobe, PA.  Here is the LINK: http://www.pacathletics.org/news/2017/8/1/headlines-pac-preseason-football-poll.aspx

As in past years, each team was highlighted.  I am only able to find the Case Western Reserve interview of Coach Greg Debeljak and QB Rob Cuda:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHwS5I7Omh8

Here is how the PAC voting turned out:

2017 PAC Football Preseason Poll (Predicted order of finish)
School (first-place votes)   Points   2016 Record (PAC)
1. Thomas More College (23)                 345   9-2 (8-0)
2. Washington & Jefferson College (6)         308   9-2 (6-2)
3. Case Western Reserve University (3)      302   9-1 (7-1)
4. Westminster College (1)                        271   8-3 (5-3)
5. Carnegie Mellon University                 255   7-4 (6-2)
6. Saint Vincent College                         189   5-5 (3-5)
7. Bethany College                                 139   3-7 (2-6)
8. Thiel College                                       115    4-6 (3-5)
9. Geneva College                                 101   3-7 (2-6)
10. Waynesburg University                        80   2-8 (2-6)
11. Grove City College                           73   0-10 (0-8)

2017 PAC Football Players to Watch

Bethany
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Dustin Hess   Sr.   TE   Upper St. Clair, Pa. | Upper St. Clair
Colin Johnston   So.   LB   Belle Vernon, Pa. | Belle Vernon
Chase Kinemond   Sr.   QB   Shadyside, Ohio | Shadyside
Khalid Pierce   Sr.   DE   Youngstown, Ohio | Ursuline
Raekwon Wright   So.   RB   Baltimore, Md. | Patterson 

Carnegie Mellon
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Sam Benger   Sr.   RB   Hingham, Mass. | Hingham
Stanley Bikulege   Sr.   LB   Greer, S.C. | Saint Joseph's Catholic
Kyle Brittain   Sr.   LB   Largo, Fla. | Clearwater Central Catholic
Drew Fitzmorris   Sr.   S   Omaha, Neb. | Westside
John Prather   Sr.   WR   Olney, Md. | Our Lady of Good Counsel 

Case Western Reserve
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Gage Blair   Sr.   C   Elyria, Ohio | St. Edward
Jacob Burke   Sr.   FB/P   Johnstown, Ohio | Northridge
Cameron Brown   Jr.   DE   Westlake, Ohio | Westlake
Rob Cuda   Sr.   QB   Bartlett, Ill. | South Elgin
Ryan DeMarinis   Sr.   G   Western Springs, Ill. | Westwood (Mass.)

Geneva
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Nick Fickes   Sr.   DL   Imler, Pa. | Claysburg-Kimmel
Jared Hogue   Sr.   DB   Freedom, Pa. | Freedom
Trewon Marshall   Jr.   RB   Leetsdale, Pa. | Quaker Valley
Joe Shively   Jr.   DB   Monaca, Pa. | Central VAlley
Bryan Stafford   Sr.   QB   Sharpsville, Pa. | Sharpsville 

Grove City
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Jacob Armbrecht   Sr.   DE   Streetsboro, Ohio | Streetsboro
Brett Laffoon   So.   QB   Irwin, Pa. | Penn-Trafford
Nick Ponikvar   So.   WR   Bridgeville, Pa. | South Fayette
Andrew Seifert   Sr.   S/LB   Kettering, Ohio | Archbishop Alter
Wesley Schools   So.   RB   Sparrowbush, N.Y. | Port Jervis 

Saint Vincent
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Damon Black Jr.   Sr.   WR   Lakeland, Fla. | Lakeland
Jean Cherilus   Sr.   LB   Sunrise, Fla. | South Plantation
Dalton Dietrich   Sr.   WR   Finleyville, Pa. | Thomas Jefferson
Jhanard Dorsett   Jr.   RB   Wellington, Fla. | Palm Beach Central
DJ Oceant-Kelly   Sr.    WR   Fort Myers, Fla. | Bishop Verot 

Thiel
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Nick Barca   Jr.   RB   Pittsburgh, Pa. | Baldwin
Jake Elk   Sr.   LB   Pittsburgh, Pa. | Baldwin
Ryan Rowland   Sr.   TE   Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington
Joe Serratore   Sr.   SS   Pittsburgh, Pa. | South Park
Cody Wagner   Jr.   DL   Pittsburgh, Pa. | Brasher
 
Thomas More
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Daylin Garland II   Sr.   WR   Newport, Ky. | Newport
Cam Hansel   Jr.   DL   Covington, Ky. | Simon Kenton
Brenan Kuntz   Sr.   QB   Independence, Ky. | Simon Kenton
Johnny Lammers   Sr.   DB   Cincinnati, Ohio | Elder
Logan Winkler   Jr.   WR   Independence, Ky. | Simon Kenton 

Washington & Jefferson
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Tom Marra   Sr.   DL   Moon Township, Pa. | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Luke Merhaut   Sr.   DB   Gibsonia, Pa. | Pine-Richland
Nick Murgo   Sr.   LB   Warren, R.I. | Mount Hope
Alex Rowse   Sr.   QB   Beaver, Pa. | Beaver
Jesse Zubik   Sr.   WR   Sewickley, Pa. | Avonworth 

Waynesburg
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown | High School
Brett Blacharczyk   Sr.   LB   Claysville, Pa. | McGuffey
Ben Ciero   Jr.   RB   Honor, Mich. | Ramstein (Germany)
Bobby Grishaber   So.   WR   Charleston, W.Va. | George Washington
Tristin Sandrosky   Sr.   LB   Dunbar, Pa. | Uniontown
Justin Willkow   Jr.   DB   Somerset, Pa. | Somerset 

Westminster
Name   Yr.   Pos.   Hometown |High School
CJ Armstrong   Sr.   LB   Lake Worth, Fla. | Park Vista Community
Jametrius Bentley   Sr.   WR   Lake Worth, Fla. | Park Vista Community
Todd Jeter   Sr.   CB   Monro eville, Pa. | Gateway
Dominique McKinley   Sr.   RB   Greensburg, Pa. | Greensburg Salem
Bobby Noble   Sr.   DE   Murrysville, Pa. | Greensburg Central Catholic

[E.115]

I don't know the connections behind this (logistically HOF game related at least), but the Dallas Cowboys were practicing at Case's DiSanto Field this past weekend:

https://mobile.twitter.com/CWRUFootball/status/893942699593781249

Ex Browns QB Bernie Kosar was also there tweeting about it:

https://mobile.twitter.com/BernieKosarQB/status/893892194729439234

[SaintsFAN]

So what is the outlook for W&J?  Judging from their list of players to watch, it seems like they'll be a strong defensive team early on... as the new QB gains experience. 

Its a QB-friendly offense, though.  I don't believe it will take long for new guy to get into a rhythm. 

Both TMC and W&J start their seasons off with playoff-caliber opponents. 

Thomas More has 78 FY players scheduled to be participants in 2017 and two transfers (RB and WR).  Looking closer at this class, there has been a shift to both northeast Ohio and "SEC Country" for the school in addition to strong recruiting in Cincinnati, Lexington and Indianapolis.  It will be interesting to see if the kids from these new regions buy into the program. 

Specifically; there are losses on the OL and at DL to replace.  The kids they have highlighted as replacements aren't AS BIG but are very talented players and aren't far off size-wise.  Thomas More returns Pitts and Zajac at RB and I have heard rumblings about a local kid transferring down to play RB.   Of course, the Saints return QB1 and he's within striking distance of the all-time passing yardage record.  It will be interesting to hear how the mix of new kids, transfers and returning letterman works and how long it takes them to come together will largely determine if they  return to the playoffs again, given they have Franklin, at W&J, at CMU and Westminster in their first 5 games. 

[E.115]

Additional local media coverage as a CWRU preview:

Case Western Reserve football No. 22 in preseason poll, set to scrimmage John Carroll Aug. 26

By: Mark Podolski

Optimism surrounding the Case Western Reserve University football team hasn't been this high since the Dan Whalen years.

That's the message from Coach Greg Debeljak as the Spartans are about a week away from the start of preseason camp.

The elimination of two-a-day practices across college football mean Case opens its season a bit earlier than usual. The Spartans start Aug. 11.

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170803/case-western-reserve-football-no-22-in-preseason-poll-set-to-scrimmage-john-carroll-aug-26


Case Western Reserve: Kevin Burke, two-time Gagliardi Trophy winner, joins coaching staff

By: Mark Podolski (mpodolski@news-herald.com)

He's back in Northeast Ohio at his home in Westlake, and to fill the gap until his next football venture, Burke, 24, has a unique opportunity - playing in the offseason and coaching in the fall.

The former two-time national player of the year from Mount Union will be the running backs coach this season for Coach Greg Debeljak at Case Western Reserve University. The position will be part-time to allow Burke to continue playing.

"It's a great pick-up for us," said Debeljak. "We are excited."

Burke has one of the best resumes of any football player in the history of Ohio.

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170809/case-western-reserve-kevin-burke-two-time-gagliardi-trophy-winner-joins-coaching-staff

[DagarmanSpartan]

ADL70 or E115,

Any predictions on who the starting five O-Linemen will be?

[ADL70]

It was mentioned in the preview that Bachie, Blair, and DeMarinis will be back at their respective positions and that Merlau will move from T to G with Clontz joining the four returners at T.

[DagarmanSpartan]

OK.  Just read Kickoff.

Case gets a good pre-season prognostication: 10-0 and a playoff berth.

Let's hope that we live up to the hype!

Last season ended with such a disappointment.  I'm hoping that we exact some revenge this year.

[SaintsFAN]

I'm very anxious to see how TMC starts the year. 

They are absolutely loaded at RB and WR but have to replace most of the OL.  The guys they have starting are capable but not tested, as of yet. 

I know the program is very hungry to win the PAC in their final year;  It probably helps they were not picked by the website to win the Championship.  It had to have been hard to pick against reigning three-time conference champ... so I'm eager to see what W&J has up their sleeve for the kids. 

I'd like to see CWRU make the tournament...but very much prefer them to be 10-0 and in Pool C, unless TMC has been eliminated.

Maybe the NCAA would pit PAC#1 vs. PAC#2 in Round 1?

** don't bother looking up information on a new RB, Coach.  He wanted to be closer to home.