The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

2012 NCAA FBS Football Season Preview - National
Penn State starts 2012 where it ended 2011, and looks to become the first repeat champ since 2003-04 USC

Preseason Top 10

1.) Penn State (6-star program; A+ overall, A+ offense, A defense, A+ special teams)

Penn State, the reigning national champions, has ruled college football two of the last three seasons and looks to become the first repeat winner since USC did it in 2003 (Associated Press only) and 2004. The Nittany Lions bring a bevy of talent back, starting with redshirt senior quarterback Star Jackson (174.1 QB rtg., 212-328, 2,996 yards, 39 TD [1 rush], 9 INT). Classmate Marvin Jones (31 catches, 353 yards, 3 TD) gets the first shot at the top wide receiver spot, with number one recruit Stefon Diggs likely to make an immediate impact. Fifth-year Curtis McNeal (60 carries, 441 yards, 4 TD; 21 catches, 242 yards, 6 TD) is slated to take the leading tailback role in place of now Arizona Cardinals runningback Jamie Harper. On defense, PSU has a pair of senior stars at linebacker in Gerald Hodges (54 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Jelani Jenkins (72 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR), with BCS Championship MVP cornerback Jeff Butler (21 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 TD) and junior safety Demar Dorsey (32 tackles, 2 INT, 2 FF) potential All-American candidates in the secondary.

2.) LSU (6-star program; A+ overall, A+ offense, A- defense, A+ special teams)

LSU could boast the nation’s best offense, with third-year starter Mike Glennon (166.5 QB rtg., 274-410, 3,578 yards, 40 TD, 12 INT) back for a final season at quarterback and former five-star recruit and Texas Tech transfer Terrelle Pryor behind him. Pryor could factor into the wide receiver mix, though sophomore duo Mike Evans (74 catches, 956 yards, 9 TD) and Jarvis Landry (52 catches, 865 yards, 5 TD), and junior pair Justin Hunter (32 catches, 361 yards, 5 TD) and Kenny Stills (15 catches, 119 yards) seem to be enough talent there. At runningback, the Tigers have an All-SEC First Team pick from 2010 in senior Lamar Miller (87 carries, 567 yards, 1 TD) and a 2011 Second Team selection in redshirt junior Jamaal Berry (183 carries, 1,153 yards, 9 TD; 9 catches, 148 yards, 2 TD). On the other side of the ball, senior defensive end Dee Ford (43 tackles, 5 sack, 1 FR) is back and won the Rotary Lombardi Award in 2010, and linebackers Jessie Roach (75 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 INT 1 FR, 2 TD) and Jon Bostic (72 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD) were both All-SEC picks last season. One weakness for LSU could be the secondary, which will break in three new starters in fifth-year cornerback Andy Gibson, junior free safety Dominique Jones, and sophomore strong safety Jon McMahan.

3.) USC (6-star program; A+ overall, A offense, A- defense, A+ special teams)

USC has a bitter taste in its mouth following last season’s 42-24 loss to Penn State in the BCS Championship Game, and senior quarterback Derek Carr (168.1 QB rtg., 275-414, 3,790 yards, 47 TD, 18 INT) forgo entering the NFL Draft early for another shot at the title. He’ll have new starters at runningback in redshirt junior Marcus Mitchell (18 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD, wide receiver in fifth-year Charles Robinson (40 catches, 428 yards, 5 TD) and junior Kyle Prater (41 catches, 424 yards, 6 TD), and tight end in sophomore T.J. Brown. The Trojans defense brings back four All-Pac-10 selections in senior defensive end Devon Kennard (34 tackles, 2 sacks), senior defensive tackle Chris Walters (38 tackles, 5 sacks), redshirt junior linebacker Manti Te’o (54 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 TD), and senior cornerback William White (16 tackles, 7 INT, 2 TD).

4.) Texas (6-star program; A+ overall, A- offense, A defense, A- special teams)

Texas will rely on its defense if it wants to return to the BCS National Championship for the first time since the 2005 season. Redshirt senior defensive end Adam Goodwin (63 tackles, 10 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR) surprised everyone by returning to Austin for a final season after winning the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award, and he has All-Big 12 classmates Michael Mauti (46 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR), Roderick Little (45 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT), James Baldwin (61 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 FR) behind him at linebacker, and cornerback Brandon Boykin (30 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD) leading the secondary. First up at quarterback for the Longhorns looks to be redshirt junior Chris White, who beat out Case McCoy and David Schmidt in fall camp, while fourth-year junior Bobby Young (80 carries, 495 yards, 5 TD) slides into the starting tailback spot in place of Sam McGuffie. Senior wide receiver Terry Sowell (44 catches, 424 yards, 5 TD) was named the team’s offensive captain and should be White’s top target, while fifth-year tight end Joe Lupo (6 catches, 95 yards, 5 TD) was a red zone monster in 2011.

5.) Clemson (6-star program; A overall, A+ offense, B- defense, A+ special teams)

If now-Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert didn’t declare early for the NFL Draft, Clemson would have a good argument over LSU for the nation’s top offense. Alas, with Gabbert in the pros, it’ll be redshirt junior Derek Owen (9-12, 92 yards, 1 TD) who will be under center, as he beat out classmate Geno Smith for the job. The tailback position is loaded with All-American junior Marcus Lattimore (241 carries, 1,596 yards, 21 TD) and former four-stars Tre Mason, Lache Seastrunk, and Kenny Hilliard behind him, while sophomore Sammy Watkins (84 catches, 993 yards, 11 TD), senior Reuben Randle (54 catches, 527 yards, 7 TD), and senior Jordan Reed (17 catches, 247 yards, 1 TD) star at the pass-catching positions. The Tigers do have a bit of rebuilding to do on defense though, with three freshmen (Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler, Ryan Shazier) all slated to start.

6.) Miami (Fla.) (5-star program; A overall, B+ offense, B+ defense, A+ special teams)

Miami (Fla.) enjoyed a dream season for 14 weeks, only to see the BCS favor Penn State and USC ahead of conference championship weekend and then Clemson derail the Hurricanes’ undefeated season. Redshirt senior quarterback Curtis Lane (158.2 QB rtg., 235-373, 3,233 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT) stepped in for the injured Robert Marve and was outstanding, but he won’t have Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Kayne Farquharson, who graduated and will now suit up for the Cleveland Browns. Fifth-year runningback Jacquizz Rodgers (79 carries, 565 yards, 8 TD) slides into a leading role on offense, and true freshman Amari Cooper was listed as the team’s number one receiver on its depth chart. On defense, Miami returns seniors Kevin Green (39 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD), Vontaze Burfict (59 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD), and Christian Frederick (22 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FR).

7.) Virginia Tech (5-star program; A- overall, A offense, B defense, A- special teams)

If Clemson or Miami (Fla.) don’t win the ACC, it’ll be Virginia Tech. Quarterback Odell Pennington (170.3 QB rtg., 236-346, 3,007 yards, 36 TD, 9 INT) is the nation’s most experienced signal-caller, as he enters his fourth season as the starter. He’ll have returning starter Joey Parker (49 catches, 555 yards, 5 TD) to throw to, while the runningback position could be by committee with sophomore Jay Ajayi (16 carries, 93 yards) and redshirt junior Corey Bellamy (123 carries, 743 yards, 9 TD) set to get carries. The Hokies defensive performance will rest on redshirt seniors David Nunez (56 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR) and Derrick Davis (11 tackles, 1 INT) at linebacker, and junior Louis Nix III (15 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD) at defensive tackle.

8.) Texas A&M (6-star program; A overall, A offense, B+ defense, A+ special teams)

It’ll be one more go-around for senior quarterback Russell Shepard (162.2 QB rtg., 228-363, 3,419 yards, 35 TD, 21 INT; 127 carries, 572 yards, 8 TD) in 2012, with junior college transfer Carson Wentz and redshirt junior Denard Robinson looking to succeed him next season. Shepard and Texas A&M lost their two biggest skill position guys early to the draft in wide receiver Josh Gordon (1st round, 17th overall to the Detroit Lions) and runningback Dion Lewis (undrafted), and will have 6-foot-7 junior Todd Graham (25 catches, 282 yards, 4 TD) and sophomore Jerrell Leonard (13 carries, 57 yards) looking to replace them. The Aggies secondary is stacked with redshirt senior Jacques Dailey (28 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD), junior Tyrann Mathieu (29 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT, 2 FF, 1 TD), redshirt senior Jim Bush (9 tackles, 2 INT), and senior Charles Brown (40 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR) all returning, while at linebacker Adam Dukes (54 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 FR, 2 TD) steps into a bigger role after impressing as a freshman.

9.) Wisconsin (6-star program; A- overall; A+ offense, B defense, B special teams)

When you think Wisconsin, you think runningbacks and that will likely be the case again in 2012. Sophomore Melvin Gordon III (44 carries, 293 yards, 4 TD) is the school’s next star at the position and leads the offense, with redshirt senior John Boyd (95 carries, 641 yards, 10 TD) and sophomore James Wilder Jr. (10 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD) also factoring into the mix. Redshirt senior quarterback Jacory Harris (142.8 QB rtg., 16-23, 122 yards, 2 TD) received a medical redshirt after breaking his wrist in the Badgers’ opener last year, and threw 25 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 2010. The defense returns redshirt seniors Jeff Dargan (40 tackles, 4 sacks) and Steven Carpenter (44 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR), and looks to have sophomore strong safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (10 tackles, 2 INT) emerge as a playmaker in the secondary.

10.) Michigan (5-star program; A- overall, A+ offense, B- defense, A- special teams)

History was made last season when Michigan quarterback Johnny Manziel (157.2 QB rtg., 259-412, 3,383 yards, 42 TD, 17 INT; 137 carries, 688 yards, 10 TD) became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. He’ll have at least two more chances to join former Ohio State runningback Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners of the award, with his first attempt coming alongside 10 returning starters on offense. Senior runningback Eddie Lacy (133 carries, 850 yards, 7 TD; 16 catches, 285 yards, 1 TD), sophomore wide receiver Allen Robinson II (59 catches, 869 yards, 10 TD), and redshirt senior wide receiver Barry Rossner (44 catches, 674 yards, 9 TD) lead the skill position spots, and the entire offensive line returns in Danny Castillo (LT), Pierre Gipson (RG), Andy McDonald (C), Stan Thomas (RT), and Shane Wilson (LG). However, it’s a different story for the Wolverines defense with just three starters back in senior defensive tackle Jerrell Robinson (41 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 FF) and redshirt senior cornerback Antwaun Hunter (22 tackles, 4 INT) and Mark Frazier (29 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT).

Heisman Watch
Johnny Manziel, So., QB, Michigan | 157.2 QB rtg., 259-412, 3,383 yards, 42 TD, 17 INT; 137 carries, 688 yards, 10 TD in 2011
Derek Carr, Sr., QB, USC | 168.1 QB rtg., 275-414, 3,790 yards, 47 TD (5 rush), 18 INT in 2011
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 166.5 QB rtg., 274-410, 3,578 yards, 43 TD (3 rush), 12 INT in 2011
Russell Shepard, Sr., QB, Texas A&M | 162.2 QB rtg., 228-363, 3,419 yards, 35 TD, 21 INT; 127 carries, 572 yards, 8 TD in 2011
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 102 catches, 1,620 yards, 15 TD; 19 carries, 209 yards, 1 TD in 2011

Projected Conference Champions
ACC: Clemson
Big Ten: Penn State
Big 12: Texas
Big East: West Virginia
C-USA: Southern Miss
Ivy League: Yale
MAC: Kent State
Mountain West: TCU
Pac-10: USC
SEC: LSU
WAC: Boise State

Non-Conference Matchups to Watch

Week 1
Carnegie Mellon at #25 West Virginia

Week 3
#10 Michigan at #16 Notre Dame
#12 Ohio State at #6 Miami (Fla.)
#4 Texas at Syracuse

Week 4
#8 Texas A&M at Arizona State
#19 Washington at #25 West Virginia
#15 Nebraska at #12 Ohio State
Army at #9 Wisconsin

Week 5
Oregon at #2 LSU

Week 7
Hawaii at #16 Notre Dame

Week 9
Louisville at #2 LSU

Week 11
Army at #10 Michigan

Week 12
#25 West Virginia at #16 Notre Dame

Week 13
#16 Notre Dame at #3 USC

Week 14
BYU at #9 Wisconsin

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

2012 NCAA FBS Football Season Preview - MAC
Finishing 2011 with a perfect 14-0 record, Kent State is our pick to win the MAC – narrowly edging out Carnegie Mellon

East Division

1.) Kent State (34th in Preseason 119; 4-star program; C overall, C offense, C defense, A- special teams)

Kent State returns a bevy of talent from last year’s Cinderella 14-0 squad, including All-MAC First Team selection John Estes (126.0 QB rtg., 219-376, 2,605 yards, 23 TD, 20 INT; 116 carries, 660 yards, 9 TD) at quarterback. The Golden Flashes defense should be loaded with sophomore defensive end Markus Scott (44 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR) – the 2011 MAC Freshman of the Year and Associated Press Freshman All-American – leading the way, along with senior linebackers Chauncey Johnson (64 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Lorenzo Johnson (42 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF). Like last year, Carnegie Mellon does not appear on the Kent State’s schedule, making its road that much easier to reach Detroit for a second straight season.

2.) Carnegie Mellon (35th in Preseason 119; 4-star program; B- overall, B- offense, C+ defense, A- special teams)

Carnegie Mellon boasts the most talented team in the MAC, though the conference’s inexplicable scheduling error could keep them from returning to the MAC Championship Game for the first time since 2009. Redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams (102 catches, 1,620 yards, 15 TD; 19 carries, 209 yards, 1 TD) is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender, even with the quarterback carousel that is senior Kevin Wilson (131.5 QB rtg., 150-271, 2,271 yards, 15 TD, 17 INT), junior Gerald Culver (133.9 QB rtg., 95-173, 1,425 yards, 13 TD, 13 INT; 77 carries, 202 yards, 3 TD), and true freshman Eric Frederick. The Tartans also have All-MAC picks at runningback in junior Lawrence McIntire (208 carries, 1,217 yards, 16 TD; 17 catches, 232 yards, 2 TD), senior defensive end Zac Hood (40 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR), senior defensive tackle Matt Burnsides (36 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 FR), cornerbacks Jon Crowell (49 tackles, 5 INT, 1 TD) and Rob Jones (35 tackles, 1 sack, 4 INT, 1 FR), and junior return specialist Kelvin Butler (48 kick returns, 1,140 yards, 2 TD; 38 punt returns, 375 yards, 1 TD) – a two-time Randy Moss Award recipient.

3.) Akron (50th in Preseason 119; 4-star program; C overall, C+ offense, C- defense, B+ special teams)

If either Kent State or Carnegie Mellon slips up, chances are Akron will be to capitalize. The Zips have three foundational pieces back on offense in redshirt senior runningback Austin Barry (85 carries, 622 yards, 8 TD; 7 catches, 146 yards, 3 TD), fifth-year senior wide receiver Dan Davis (47 catches, 733 yards, 6 TD), and sophomore tight end Braylon Ford (17 catches, 330 yards, 4 TD). Ford was an Associated Press Freshman All-America and All-MAC Second Team pick last year, and he, Barry, and Davis will help redshirt senior Jeff Smith (135.8 QB rtg., 49-83, 681 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) in his first season as the starting quarterback. On defense, Akron brings back three-year starters in cornerback Shane Mills (39 tackles, 4 INT, 2 FF) and linebacker Terry Wilson (69 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 3 FF).

4.) Bowling Green (56th in Preseason 119; 3-star program; C overall, C+ offense, C- defense, A- special teams)

Bowling Green must replace wide receiver Andre Debose, who left early for the NFL Draft, but three-year starter Adam Gilmore (136.0 QB rtg., 232-409, 3,031 yards, 32 TD, 18 INT) will have reliable targets returning in senior Andrew Joseph (55 catches, 815 yards, 6 TD) and redshirt junior Jon Brown (17 catches, 353 yards, 4 TD). On defense, sophomore defensive tackle Joey Reid (55 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF) was an Associated Press Freshman All-American in 2011, and senior linebacker Marshall Ham (88 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 2 FF) was selected to the All-MAC Second Team. Third-year linebacker Keith Miller (14 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD) had the coaching staff raving over the summer after being medically redshirted last season.

5.) Miami (Ohio) (66th in Preseason 119; 3-star program; C- overall, C offense, D defense, A- special teams)

Miami (Ohio) has two good and experienced wide receivers in redshirt seniors Greg Hoyte (61 catches, 669 yards, 5 TD) and Willie Vincent (47 catches, 565 yards, 6 TD), both serving as reliable targets for new starting quarterback Tyler Byers, who has thrown for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first four years on campus. The defense has a lot of new faces, but senior linebacker Edward Palmer (52 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR) for his fourth season as the starter in the middle.

6.) Ohio (108th in Preseason 119; 2-star program; D+ overall, D+ offense, D defense, A- special teams)

Redshirt junior Ron Britton (146.4 QB rtg., 10-13, 92 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) edged out redshirt freshman Jesse Jones for the Ohio starting quarterback job, and his blind side should stay clean with junior left tackle Kevin Stanley returning. Junior linebacker Andrew Ross (67 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD) made the All-MAC Second Team last season, and senior free safety Stephen Marshall (14 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD) is back after missing part of 2011 with an injury.

7.) Buffalo (116th in Preseason 119; 1-star program; D overall, D offense, D+ defense, B+ special teams)

A huge rebuild awaits Buffalo as it enters the 2012 season as one of the worst programs in NCAA Division I FBS competition. The Bulls have some key pieces returning in senior wide receiver James Carter (61 catches, 791 yards, 8 TD) and redshirt senior linebacker Ben Mann (62 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR), and redshirt junior linebacker Ethan Reed (4 tackles) is said to have had a great summer. The quarterback battle features four competitors, with redshirt sophomore Andrew McDonald or true freshman Marcus Washington likely to emerge as the winner.

West Division

1.) Central Michigan (70th in Preseason 119; 3-star program; C overall, C+ offense, C defense, B- special teams)

Central Michigan has three All-MAC selections back in senior runningback Tanner Phillips (228 carries, 1,168 yards, 12 TD), wide receiver Will Mobley (64 catches, 887 yards, 8 TD), and defensive tackle Corey Taylor (54 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR), as well as playmaking senior linebacker James Hodge (34 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD). The Chippewas have two capable quarterbacks, but redshirt senior David Green (113.4 QB rtg., 214-407, 2,636 yards, 20 TD, 20 INT) seems to have beaten out sophomore Michael Bennett for the starting job.

2.) Ball State (77th in Preseason 119; 3-star program; C- overall, C offense, C- defense, B+ special teams)

Despite sanctions involving a reduction in scholarships (25 to 10) and a ban from television and postseason bowls for two seasons, Ball State has one of the better teams in the MAC West division. Senior right tackle Xavier Willis is one of the nation’s top mid-major offensive linemen with a 91.0 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), and redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hicks (133.1 QB rtg., 128-228, 1,776 yards, 14 TD, 10 INT) returns for his third year as the starter. On defense, the Cardinals have 2010 Associated Press First Team All-American linebacker Pat Yates (81 tackles, 6 sacks, 6 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR, 1 TD in 2010) back as well as All-MAC Second Team pick Troy Jackson (49 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) at free safety.

3.) Toledo (100th in Preseason 119; 2-star program; C- overall, C- offense, C defense, B- special teams)

Hampered by sanctions – including an extended two-year television ban – from its 2009 undefeated season, Toledo continues to rebuild with a pair of talented juniors in wide receiver Dustin Kane (46 catches, 790 yards, 5 TD) and linebacker Lawrence Henry (63 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF). The Rockets’ defense also has three-year starter and captain Jimmy Ealy (70 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR) at middle linebacker. Redshirt junior pocket passer Chris Tepper (86.6 QB rtg., 13-24, 101 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT in 2010) beat out his classmate and more mobile option A.J. Beckford for the starting quarterback job.

4.) Northern Illinois (107th in Preseason 119; 2-star program; C- overall, D offense, C- defense, B+ special teams)

Northern Illinois’s quarterback battle featured four freshmen, but it looks like incoming dual-threat Chad Andrews won out over redshirt holder over Jason Anderson. Andrews will have a key piece returning on offense in redshirt senior runningback Jared Collins (123 carries, 746 yards, 5 TD). Defensively, the Huskies secondary is very experienced with the return of three redshirt senior starters in cornerback Tim Singletary (36 tackles, 1 sack, 4 INT, 1 FR), free safety Josh Scott (29 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF), and strong safety John Brown (34 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT).

5.) Eastern Michigan (113th in Preseason 119; 1-star program; C- overall, D+ offense, C- defense, B+ special teams)

Pro Football Focus loves Eastern Michigan senior defensive end Sam Miller, giving him a 92.0 grade despite only having 12 career sacks. The four-year starter leads a defense that includes classmate Brett Irby (78 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 INT, 2 FF, 1 TD) at linebacker, who is a two-time All-MAC selection who had 111 tackles in 2010 to lead the nation. The Eagles offense returns second-year starter Tom Bowie (109.8 QB rtg., 169-324, 2,021 yards, 13 TD, 13 INT) at quarterback and fellow junior Maurice Kearney (169 carries, 914 yards, 12 TD) at tailback.

6.) Western Michigan (115th in Preseason 119; 1-star program; C- overall, C offense, D+ defense, B special teams)

Western Michigan junior quarterback Aaron Smith has thrown more touchdowns (36) than interceptions (40) in his first two seasons as a starter, but his rushing ability (865 yards, 5 TD in career) could put him on the verge of a breakout in 2012. The Broncos offense will need it with that side of the ball turned almost completely over, including redshirt junior Jake Smith (no relation) taking over as the new starting runningback. WMU’s defense features senior defensive tackle Steve Scott (33 tackles, 1 FR), who was an All-MAC First Team pick in 2010 following an 11-sack campaign and sophomore defensive end Tom Patrick (47 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF).

[ZSmit88]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

I love those NFL updates. Vince Young becoming what we thought he could've been.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

I love those NFL updates. Vince Young becoming what we thought he could've been.

Appreciate it! The NFL element of this was originally to track my Carnegie Mellon pros when I had some in the league, but I really enjoy seeing the real-life busts become stars and vice-versa. VY's ascension to the league's top quarterback is particularly interesting, since when I was growing up, I don't remember a time his career simmed well. I could do without the CPU's boneheaded decisions in the draft and free agency (like Washington signing Brady and Roethlisberger when they have Chad Pennington) as well as the bloated overall ratings, but I love providing the reader additional context of this world with the NFL updates and am glad that they're enjoyed and appreciated!

We're just about ready for the start of actual games in Season 7 of this! I have an extensive full team preview, a brief CMU in the NFL preview, and West Virginia game preview still on the docket before I pick up the sticks again - can't wait to get this going!

[studbucket]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

How can Carnegie Mellon and Kent State be in the same division yet not be on each other's schedules?

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

How can Carnegie Mellon and Kent State be in the same division yet not be on each other's schedules?

Your guess is as good as mine. It seems to be a flaw or glitch in the game, as I'm always missing either Akron (2009, 2010) or Kent State (2008, 2011, now 2012) from my conference schedule. It's very irritating - particularly recently, since I had a good shot at beating them last year and think the same this year - but I have thrown around some storyline ideas should the lack of Kent State on my schedule ultimately cost me a MAC Championship Game bid. I'm not sure what the exact tiebreaker is, but my guess it's overall ranking and with KSU ahead of me (slightly) on the Preseason 119, I'll likely have to match them week-by-week to have a chance.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

2012 NCAA FBS Football Season Preview - Carnegie Mellon
Now entering its seventh season as a Division I returnee, expectations have never been higher at Carnegie Mellon



Redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams ranks fifth in the Athlon Sports Preseason Heisman Watch. (Ashley Black / Getty Images)

CARNEGIE MELLON TARTANS
Preseason 119 Rank: 35th | MAC East Projection: 2nd | Projected Record: 10-2, 7-0 MAC

Team Information
Head Coach: Jules Nottingham
Record at School: 8-5 (1 Season)
Career Record: 8-5 (1 Season)
Offensive Philosophy: Spread
Defensive Philosophy: 4-3 / Multiple
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Stadium: Gesling Stadium (30,000)
Returning Starters / Lost: 12 / 12

“We can’t get too – what do you call it here? Oh yeah, bigheaded. Expectations and predictions are just that – they do not matter in the grand scheme of things.”

Carnegie Mellon second-year head coach Jules Nottingham has read and heard how talented his team is, and the special things it can achieve in 2012. Campus is buzzing with optimism, and he shares the feeling that this Tartans team could defeat rival Pittsburgh for the first time since 1938 – the same season it faced No. 1 TCU in the Sugar Bowl – and win the Mid-American Conference (MAC). It’s easy to buy into those expectations when your team is coming off back-to-back bowl victories – including one against a BCS-conference opponent – returns All-Americans at wide receiver, defensive tackle, and the two-time reigning Randy Moss Award winner, and faces a schedule with just one opponent (No. 25 West Virginia) ranked ahead of it on the Athlon Sports Preseason 119.

Nottingham just doesn’t want his team to lower its standards and get complacent because of the hype. But ironically, that hype is what could make or break its season in 2012.

Because of an unexplained scheduling quirk, Carnegie Mellon will not face MAC East Division rivals Kent State for the second year in a row. Instead, the Golden Flashes – ranked 34th in the Preseason 119 and coming off a perfect 14-0 season in 2011 – and the Tartans will have to go tit-for-tat throughout the season to see who represents the division at the MAC Championship Game in Detroit. The conference office has informed both schools that if they share the same conference record at the conclusion of the regular season, their ranking in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll will determine who receives the bid to play the likely overmatched MAC West representative.

“I’m not happy about it and I’ll leave it at that,” said Nottingham.

Either way it shakes out, Carnegie Mellon – needing three more wins for 500 as a program – will be one of the nation’s most fascinating stories in 2012.

An opposing scout’s take on… Carnegie Mellon’s Offense:

Everything revolves around wide receiver Eddie Williams. It was a little surprising to see him not declare early for the NFL Draft, and he has a legitimate argument for the nation’s top receiver entering 2012. Williams’ presence is a boon to a tricky quarterback situation … Kevin Wilson should start after his bowl game performance, though I think that complicated things because he was very close to transferring … Gerald Culver gives them a different look with his mobility, but it’s hard to read if he’s going to complete 75 percent of his passes or 25 percent … I think they’d like to redshirt four-star Eric Frederick and give him four seasons as the starter, but neither Wilson nor Culver are reliable enough to set that in stone … Lawrence McIntire really got better as the season went on in 2011. He doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but finds a way to fall forward on every carry and helps in the passing game … Look for redshirt freshman Jeff Gilmore to factor into the offense this year as a change-of-pace back … After Williams, the team’s receiving targets are mid-to-upper tier in the conference. Travis Sledge had some flashes last season and could be a good top target post-Williams, but I think he relies a bit too much on Williams’ presence to get open … Kelvin Butler has very inconsistent hands, though his speed will give him a bigger role on offense … I think the true freshman Chris Smith is one to watch for. Maybe he won’t too much this season, but I could see him being the guy come late 2013 … They don’t really use their tight ends much, so Leon Razzano and Brian Pittman will have to take advantage of any opportunities they receive … I don’t think people are talking enough about how worrisome this offensive line could be. Joey Muhammad, the center, is the only one I have any confidence in and they’re replacing both tackles with a true freshman in Yusef Hagen and sophomore Philip McClover.

An opposing scout’s take on… Carnegie Mellon’s Defense:

I really love their secondary. Jabari London had a good first season at free safety, but I’ve heard he had an excellent spring and fall camp and should be an all-conference candidate this season … I’m excited that Bobby Magnum will finally get the chance to start. He did a great job as their do-it-all Swiss Army knife with snaps at corner and strong safety … The corners tend to give up a fair bit of big plays, but the coaching staff also trusts them and leaves them on an island frequently. Jon Crowell is more of a Hayden Temple than Calvin Burton, but he still is one of the best cover corners in the MAC … Rob Jones commanded a lot of respect for making All-MAC as a slot corner last season. He may have growing pains moving to the outside, but the talent is there … This program is loaded at defensive tackle. It feels like Matt Burnsides has been there forever, but he’s as consistent as they come. Not sure if the NFL scouts like him much, but Carnegie Mellon will take a dominant force in the middle any day … Mario Williams could be the next Burnsides. He supplanted P.J. Ryan as the other starting tackle, which is impressive because Ryan was good in his role. Williams and Brian Adams, who they are redshirting, will be a great duo for years to come … I heard Jordan Gibson has been okay with the move to defensive end, but no one will confuse him for the graduated David Brown … Zac Hood is all effort, all the time. He’s not the most talented guy by any stretch, but no one will outwork him … It’s impossible to replace Mark Toth in the middle, but I think Matt Butler will fare just fine there. He’s athletic but isn’t the surest tackler, so I could see teams having success on the ground against the Tartans … Brandon Williams has done very well in a reserve role, and I think he’ll do well now as a starter on the outside … Jason Ervin is undersized but has some athleticism. I’d suspect they opt for more packages with two linebackers rather than giving Ervin a full workload.

An opposing scout’s take on… Carnegie Mellon’s Special Teams:

Kelvin Butler absolutely has a chance to make it to the NFL as a return specialist. Think about guys like Dante Hall and Tamarick Vanover – I think Butler is better than them. His vision is just as impressive as his speed … Andy Fitzhugh is a very consistent punter; in fact he’s punted exactly 46 times in each of the last three seasons. Eerie … Joseph Love may have a bigger leg than the graduated Jon Foster, but his accuracy will need some work … It’s funny that Jon Crowell was a Freshman All-American as a return specialist in 2009 and got replaced. Albeit, it was due to injury, but there are plenty of schools who would welcome someone like him in that role … Kyle Holland isn’t the most explosive guy on kickoff returns, but I think the coaches are just looking for someone not to do too much in that spot besides Butler.

Returning Leaders
Passing: Kevin Wilson (131.5 QBR, 150-271, 2,271 yards, 15 TD, 17 INT), Gerald Culver (133.9 QBR, 95-173, 1,425 yards, 13 TD, 13 INT)
Rushing: Lawrence McIntire (208 carries, 1,217 yards, 16 TD)
Receiving: Eddie Williams (102 catches, 1,620 yards, 15 TD)
Tackles: Jon Crowell (49 tackles)
Sacks: Matt Burnsides (9 sacks)
Interceptions: Crowell (5 INT)
Kicking: None
Punting: Andy Fitzhugh (46 punts, 42.6 avg., 12 inside 20)
Kick Returning: Kelvin Butler (48 kick returns, 1,140 yards, 2 TD)
Punt Returning: Butler (38 punt returns, 375 yards, 1 TD)

Schedule
09/01 | at #25 West Virginia (3:30 PM)
09/08 | IDAHO (3:30 PM)
09/15 | at Pittsburgh (1:00 PM) – Steel City Showdown
09/22 | BUFFALO * (12:30 PM)
09/29 | at Central Michigan * (12:30 PM)
10/04 | BOWLING GREEN * (6:00 PM)
10/13 | MIAMI (OHIO) * (12:30 PM)
10/20 | at Akron * (12:30 PM)
11/03 | at Ohio * (12:30 PM)
11/10 | NAVY (3:30 PM)
11/17 | at Western Michigan * (12:30 PM)
11/22 | NORTHERN ILLINOIS * (8:00 PM)

Depth Chart
QB: #12 Kevin Wilson (Sr.) | #10 Gerald Culver (Jr.)
HB: #22 Lawrence McIntire (Jr.) | #18 Jeff Gilmore (R-Fr.)
WR: #15 Eddie Williams (R-Jr.) | #85 Issac Schroeder (Sr.)
WR: #88 Travis Sledge (Jr.) | #85 Issac Schroeder (Sr.)
WR: #11 Kelvin Butler (Jr.) | #84 Chris Smith (Fr.)
TE: #46 Leon Razzano (Fr.) | #83 Brian Pittman (So.)
LT: #72 Yusef Hagen (Fr.) | #63 Cory Kemoeatu (R-Fr.)
LG: #73 Collin Bell (So.) | #79 Gavin Hawkins (So.)
C: #65 Joey Muhammad (Sr.) | #62 DeMarcus Nichols (R-Fr.)
RG: #70 Ricky Fields (R-Jr.) | #77 Kevin Doucette (So.)
RT: #78 Philip McClover (So.) | #75 Andrew Graham (Fr.)
LDE: #36 Jordan Gibson (R-So.) | #95 Nathan Ford (R-Sr.)
RDE: #98 Zac Hood (Sr.) | #94 David Watkins (Fr.)
DT: #29 Matt Burnsides (Sr.) | #40 Travis Silva (R-Jr.)
DT: #91 Mario Williams (Fr.) | #97 P.J. Ryan (Sr.)
LOLB: #23 Jason Ervin (Sr.) | #56 Chris Harris (R-Fr.)
MLB: #42 Matt Butler (So.) | #54 Tyler Wright (Jr.)
ROLB: #21 Brandon Williams (Jr.) | #58 Justin Williams (R-Jr.)
CB: #32 Jon Crowell (R-Sr.) | #26 Graham Taylor (R-So.)
CB: #34 Rob Jones (Jr.) | #2 Robert Wall (Fr.)
FS: #6 Jabari London (R-So.) | #30 Matt Gonzalez (R-Fr.)
SS: #9 Bobby Magnum (R-Sr.) | #26 Graham Taylor (R-So.)
K: #19 Joseph Love (Fr.)
P: #49 Andy Fitzhugh (Sr.)
KR: #11 Kelvin Butler (Jr.) | #33 Kyle Holland (R-So.)
PR: #11 Kelvin Butler (Jr.) | #32 Jon Crowell (R-Sr.)

[ZSmit88]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Love everything about that preview! Nice write-up. Could be a make or break game against Dub-V right out of the gate! Really can set the tone with a big win...

But a loss could just as easily send the team into a spiral. Two tough road games in those first three games.

[JasonForTheWin]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Really love the layout. Especially with the preview. Makes me think I am actually reading an Athlon Magazine.

Jabari London is going to be a stud.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Love everything about that preview! Nice write-up. Could be a make or break game against Dub-V right out of the gate! Really can set the tone with a big win...

But a loss could just as easily send the team into a spiral. Two tough road games in those first three games.

WVU is a huge game - while I don't think CMU is expected to win, this is the first time that we should be competitive in a game like this. As you'll see in the game preview in a few posts, WVU has monster talent at some positions, but they'll be breaking in a new quarterback and that makes them vulnerable.

And even though this is the best chance CMU has had to beat Pitt in this report's history and we probably own the talent edge, I can't count that as a win until we do it. That MAC slate should be relatively easy, but funnily enough WVU and Pitt are the games I probably need to win to get to the MAC title game, since Kent State's schedule is easy and we don't face them in the regular season.

Really love the layout. Especially with the preview. Makes me think I am actually reading an Athlon Magazine.

Jabari London is going to be a stud.

Appreciate the kind words on the layout and writing! It's my goal to make this feel as real as it can (as much as the story of a Division III school competing at the FBS level can anyway, lol), and I'm proud of the effort into keeping that feeling within all the updates in this.

London is a special one, for sure. He may not reach the heights that Todd Andriano (former CMU safety that was drafted in the Madden portion of this) hit at free safety, but he's very reliable and should be one of my best defensive players in due time.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Tartans to the League: 2012 Season Preview
Carnegie Mellon enters the 2012 NFL season with six former players on teams, including a pair on the Chicago Bears



Detroit Lions free safety Todd Andriano was a fourth-round pick from Carnegie Mellon in the 2011 NFL Draft. (Marlee Ubecht / Getty Images)

It’s good to be a Carnegie Mellon fan right now.

The current Tartans squad is set to make noise in 2012, garnering a second-place projection in the MAC East division with a realistic shot at capturing the school’s first MAC title, and boasts a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams. And with a matchup against No. 25 West Virginia set for this Saturday, CMU has a chance to showcase its program and impressive growth to a national audience.

Within that ascendancy is the contingent of former Tartans now playing in the NFL. Ahead of the start of the NFL regular season, CMU is set to have six of its former players on rosters, with four listed as starters on their respective depth charts.

Todd Andriano, FS, Detroit Lions (#1 FS on depth chart, 85.0 PFF grade)

A fourth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, Todd Andriano was a nailed-on starter for the Detroit Lions at free safety throughout his rookie season, compiling 32 tackles, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He won the job last year over former Florida State safety Anthony Leon, who was picked ahead of him in the third round, and is listed ahead of him and 11th-year pro Tank Williams to begin the 2012 season.

Calvin Burton, CB, New Orleans Saints (#3 CB, #2 KR, #2 PR on depth chart; 82.0 PFF grade)

Formerly a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Calvin Burton has had a limited role with the reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints but should make more of an impact in 2012. He had five tackles and an interception defensively last year and returned his only punt for 21 yards. Burton is listed as the third corner behind ninth-year pro Jason David and seventh-year pro Kelly Jennings, and is second in line on kick and punt returns behind NFL MVP runningback Reggie Bush.

Matt Fitch, G, Houston Texans (#4 LG on depth chart; 69.0 PFF grade)

Matt Fitch made the Houston Texans final roster as an undrafted free agent in 2011 but spent the entire year on the practice squad and never played in a regular-season game. He figures to hold the same role in 2012 as he was placed on the practice squad once again. Fitch’s contract runs out after the season.

Matt Johnson, OLB, Tennessee Titans (#1 LOLB on depth chart; 84.0 PFF grade)

Matt Johnson enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign in 2011, making the Pro Bowl after collecting 82 tackles, 10 sacks, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles. The former undrafted free agent won a preseason battle for the starting left outside linebacker job last year and is listed as the top guy at that spot in 2012, ahead of third-year pro Freddie Fairchild and rookie John Jones out of Florida.

Jim Manning, HB, Chicago Bears (#1 RB on depth chart; 81.0 PFF grade)

A seventh-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, Jim Manning led the Chicago Bears rushing attack in his second season with 1,128 yards and four touchdowns. The Bears struggled to a 1-15 season and are undergoing a rebuild, but Manning is set to keep his starting job ahead of fifth-year pro Kregg Lumpkin and second-year pro Noel Devine.

Mark Toth, MLB, Chicago Bears (#1 MLB on depth chart; 81.0 PFF grade)

Selected in the fifth round of the most recent NFL Draft, Mark Toth was in a position battle for the starting middle linebacker job and won it over a pair of veterans in 15th-year pro Jeremiah Trotter and 11th-year pro Brad Kassell. Chicago Bears head coach Tom Coughlin noted that he loves how Toth flies around the ball, even if he finds himself out of position at times.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Carnegie Mellon Tartans (0-0) at #25 West Virginia Mountaineers (0-0)
Saturday, September 1, 2012 | 3:00 PM
Morgantown, W.Va. – Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium | ESPN2

Record vs. Opponent: 2-3-0
Last Five Meetings
1943 – West Virginia 32, Carnegie Tech 0
1927 – Carnegie Tech 13, West Virginia 6
1926 – Carnegie Tech 20, West Virginia 0
1908 – West Virginia 16, Carnegie Tech 0
1906 – West Virginia 51, Carnegie Tech 0

The Lowdown
Carnegie Mellon has the opportunity to make a national statement this Saturday when it heads down to Morgantown, W.Va. to face perennial power West Virginia in both teams’ season openers. The No. 25 ranked Mountaineers were picked to win the Big East according to a poll of the league’s coaches, but haven’t done so since 2009 when they finished with the fourth of four consecutive conference crowns. WVU went 27-1 in league play over that stretch and played in the 2007 and 2009 BCS National Championship Games, losing to Utah (31-28 in 2007) and Penn State (28-14 in 2009), but dropped four conference contests across the 2010 and 2011 campaigns and haven’t played in a BCS bowl since.

For the Tartans, a win here would not only be the program’s biggest since returning to NCAA Division I competition, but it could be crucial towards the team’s Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship hopes. With reigning MAC champion Kent State absent from CMU’s schedule, the East Division representative could be determined by the two teams’ national rankings – which the Golden Flashes likely hold a current edge in, considering they went 14-0 and finished No. 21 in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. With an upset over the Mountaineers, the Tartans should move ahead of Kent State and be in the early driver’s seat for a December trip to Detroit.

Scouting West Virginia
The Mountaineers are led offensively by senior runningback Trent Richardson, an All-Big East Second Team pick last season who compiled 1,278 scrimmage yards (977 rushing, 301 receiving) and 13 total touchdowns (8 rushing, 4 receiving, 1 punt return). Richardson earned a 99.0 grade on Pro Football Focus (PFF) despite battling injuries in his career, but NFL scouts currently slot the senior back as a first round selection in next April’s NFL Draft. He enjoys running behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines, with three guys above a 90.0 PFF grade and just one new starter. The tackle positions have redshirt seniors Roshaun Simpson and Brian Edwards, the latter being an Associated Press Freshman All-American in 2008 and two-time All-Big East pick. Classmate Derek Yates is a two-year starter at center and redshirt junior Ryan Robinson returns as a starter at right guard, with sophomore Chad Hardy being the only new piece. That kind of stability will help redshirt sophomore Brad Denman (159.6 QB rtg., 84-138, 1,294 yards, 15 TD, 11 INT; 39 carries, 215 yards, 2 TD in 2011) in his second season as the starting quarterback, particularly when he only has one returning wide receiver with more than four career catches in redshirt senior Bob Cobb (27 catches, 188 yards, 1 TD in 2011; 39 career catches).

Defensively, WVU has five projected starters above a 92.0 PFF grade, but also features first-stringers with little to no experience. Defensive captain Daniel Sims is a four-year starter with 10 career interceptions at cornerback and was named a Freshman All-American and All-Big East First Team in 2009. Junior linebacker Jordan Hicks collected 54 tackles and three sacks in his first season as a starter in 2011, and he’ll line up beside redshirt senior Victor Gay (24 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT in 2011), who until this season was stuck behind New Orleans Saints linebacker Don’ta Hightower on the depth chart. Also returning is senior defensive end Brett Carey, an often-injured but talented pass rusher with a 95.0 PFF grade and sophomore defensive tackle Antwaun Woods, who was a Freshman All-American last year after collecting 40 tackles and eight sacks. However, the Mountaineers are set to break in new starters at left outside linebacker in redshirt senior Frank James, and safety in redshirt freshman Marcus Nakfoor and true freshman William Carter.

Did You Know?
This will be Carnegie Mellon’s seventh shot at upsetting a nationally-ranked foe since moving up to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) play ahead of the 2008 season. The first six tries haven’t gone well, with the average margin of defeat being 22.5 points and only one of those matchups – the 2009 MAC Championship Game against No. 16 Toledo – being a single-digit game. The other attempts were against No. 18 Wisconsin (10-43) in 2008, No. 25 Rutgers (7-34), No. 16 Toledo, and No. 14 Iowa (20-23) in 2009, No. 1 Penn State (14-45) in 2010, and No. 15 Nebraska (20-45) in 2011.

Prediction
While it’s easy to see a battle-tested Carnegie Mellon team go toe-to-toe with a national power in West Virginia, it’s hard not to see the talent disparity eventually winning out. The Mountaineers have All-American candidates on both sides of the ball, and their depth pieces feature more three and four-star guys than what the Tartans have on their roster. CMU manages to keep it close for a while, but WVU should win somewhat comfortably in the end. No. 25 West Virginia 34, Carnegie Mellon 24.

[ZSmit88]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

What a roster. You definitely have your hands full here...

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Turnovers Doom Tartans at #25 West Virginia
Carnegie Mellon turned the ball over five times – three interceptions, two fumbles – in a season-opening loss to the Mountaineers



CMU wide receiver Eddie Williams takes advantage of a blitzing cornerback to score a touchdown in the first quarter. (Buck Davis / Getty Images)

by Jayson Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Three interceptions and two lost fumbles hampered Carnegie Mellon in a prove-it contest at No. 25 West Virginia, as the Mountaineers capitalized on the mistakes to defeat the Tartans, 52-31, in both teams’ nationally-televised season opener.

Carnegie Mellon (0-1) took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on touchdown passes of 85 and 71 yards, but it would be the visitors’ only lead of the afternoon. West Virginia (1-0) responded with three consecutive scoring drives to carry a 28-14 advantage into the break, then with the score 28-24 midway through the third quarter, scored 24 unanswered points to squash any upset bid.

“We definitely have raised our level over the last few years, but that only goes so far,” said CMU head coach Jules Nottingham. “You can see the talent gap shrinking and I think we have the athletes now that can match up with a perennial power like West Virginia. But today we gave the ball away too many times to come away with the win, and while we don’t have to play perfectly now to win these types of games, we do have to be perfect in key moments when the game can be hanging in the balance.”

The Tartans’ first mistake came after its defense forced a second straight three-and-out, as Kelvin Butler muffed the ensuing punt and the Mountaineers pounced on the 24-yard line. Two plays later, Brad Denman connected with Luke Williams for a 16-yard touchdown to put WVU up 7-0. CMU answered with an extended drive highlighted by a 36-yard pass from Kevin Wilson to Eddie Williams on third down, but Joseph Love pushed a field goal wide to keep the visitors scoreless.

On the Tartans next drive, it was the Mountaineers’ time to make a mistake. WVU dialed up a cornerback blitz on third and 10 from the CMU 15-yard line, but that decision allowed Williams to be wide open and the redshirt junior wide receiver raced 85 yards to paydirt to tie the game at 7-7. Jon Crowell then picked off Denman to begin the second quarter, and Butler redeemed himself from the muffed punt by getting behind the defense on third and 24, scoring a 71-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 in favor of the visitors.

The hosts cleaned it up after Butler’s long score, as Denman threw touchdown passes of 46 yards to Russell Cannon and 33 yards to Bob Cobb, with a Trent Richardson 26-yard trip to the end zone in between. The three consecutive touchdowns made it 28-14 at halftime, but the Tartans had a pair of answers with a Wilson five-yard scoring toss to Williams on fourth and goal, and a field goal from Love of 47 yards.

CMU kept momentum when Jabari London forced Denman’s second interception at the visitors’ 32-yard line, but it was short-lived when Wilson was intercepted two plays later by Marcus Nakfoor. That led to a Richardson one-yard plunge to make it 35-24, and the score quickly changed to 42-24 after Victor Gay jumped an out route and ran it back 43 yards.

Wilson’s third interception came in the fourth quarter, as the pressure forced an early throw that was corralled by Frank James. Richardson cashed in on that drive with his third rushing score of the game – this time of 14 yards – and the Mountaineers tacked on a field goal a few minutes later after Gerald Culver fumbled the ball away on the option. Clay Armstrong’s one-yard dive with 1:35 remaining made the scoreline a bit more respectable, though the outcome wasn’t in doubt for most of the second half.

“We have to be able to block better up front,” added Nottingham. “I thought Kevin (Wilson) played well and made some tough throws, but he was under duress too often and doesn’t move that well to avoid the pass rush. Our (offensive) line couldn’t hold blocks and that limited the running game, which also didn’t allow Gerald (Culver) to make an impact with the read option attack. I know that we’re breaking in some new guys and West Virginia has some impressive athletes in the trenches, but we have to be better there in order to be successful this season.”

West Virginia owned a 403-356 edge in total offense, thanks in part to a 188-4 difference in rushing yards.

Wilson finished the afternoon with 352 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions on 20-of-34 passing. His favorite wide receiver was Williams as usual, as the Heisman candidate had 192 receiving yards and two scores on nine catches. Lawrence McIntire was the best of CMU’s subpar rushing attack, as he totaled 20 yards on 13 carries.

Richardson rushed for 98 yards and three scores on 20 carries for the Mountaineers, and Denman had 215 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions on 13-of-25 attempts.

Matt Burnsides had two sacks defensively for the Tartans. Matt Butler led all players with 11 tackles in his first career start.

Carnegie Mellon hosts Idaho next on Saturday, Sept. 8, with the clash set for a 3:30 p.m. start from Gesling Stadium.

Carnegie Mellon Tartans at West Virginia Mountaineers
Sep 1, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Carnegie Mellon Tartans (0-1)	7	7	10	7	31
#25 West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0)	7	21	14	10	52

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		CMU	WVU
7:04	(WVU) Brad Denman 16-yard pass to Luke Williams (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	0	7
0:34	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 85-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	7	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		CMU	WVU
13:45	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 71-yard pass to Kelvin Butler (Joseph Love kick)	14	7
9:41	(WVU) Brad Denman 46-yard pass to Russell Cannon (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	14	14
4:11	(WVU) Trent Richardson 26-yard run (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	14	21
0:02	(WVU) Brad Denman 33-yard pass to Bob Cobb (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	14	28
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		CMU	WVU
12:16	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 5-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	21	28
6:29	(CMU) Joseph Love 47-yard field goal	24	28
1:54	(WVU) Trent Richardson 1-yard run (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	24	35
0:40	(WVU) Victor Gay 43-yard interception return (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	24	42
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		CMU	WVU
11:25	(WVU) Trent Richardson 14-yard run (Maurice Zeppuhar kick)	24	49
7:47	(WVU) Maurice Zeppuhar 29-yard field goal	24	52
1:35	(CMU) Clay Armstrong 1-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	31	52

Carnegie Mellon Tartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kevin Wilson 20/34 352 3 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Lawrence McIntire 13 20 1.5 0 Jeff Gilmore 2 6 3.0 0 Clay Armstrong 3 5 1.6 1 Eddie Williams 3 -4 -1.3 0 Gerald Culver 2 -4 -2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Eddie Williams 9 192 21.3 2 Kelvin Butler 3 75 25.0 1 Travis Sledge 3 51 17.0 0 Chris Smith 3 30 10.0 0 Lawrence McIntire 2 4 2.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Matt Butler 11 0 0 0 Brandon Williams 9 0 0 0 Jon Crowell 6 0 1 0 Bobby Magnum 6 0 0 0 Zac Hood 6 0 0 0 Jabari London 4 0 1 0 Matt Burnsides 3 2 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Joseph Love 1/2 4/4 7 47 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Andy Fitzhugh 4 172 43.0 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 5 142 28.3 0 Kyle Holland 3 51 17.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 3 68 22.6 0

West Virginia Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Brad Denman 13/25 215 3 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Trent Richardson 20 98 4.9 3 Brad Denman 9 51 5.6 0 Bishop Sankey 5 21 4.1 0 Terrence Montgomery 1 16 16.0 0 Jason Busch 1 5 5.0 0 Tim Cook 1 4 4.0 0 Luke Williams 1 3 3.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Mark Martin 5 74 14.8 0 Bob Cobb 4 61 15.2 1 Russell Cannon 1 46 46.0 1 Luke Williams 1 16 16.0 1 Jason Busch 1 11 11.0 0 Terrence Montgomery 1 7 7.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Stanley Lane 7 0 0 0 Jordan Hicks 7 0 0 0 Daniel Sims 6 0 0 0 Kelvin Collins 5 0 0 0 Victor Gay 4 0 1 1 Frank James 4 1 1 0 Brett Carey 3 1 0 0 Marcus Nakfoor 1 0 1 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Maurice Zeppuhar 1/1 7/7 10 29 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Derrick Porter 5 223 44.5 2 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Daniel Sims 3 61 20.3 0 Trent Richardson 2 47 23.5 0 Terrence Montgomery 1 25 25.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Terrence Montgomery 2 23 11.5 0 Trent Richardson 1 9 9.0 0

-----------------------

* Author's Note: Apologies for the low(er than usual) image quality from this game recap - had an awful glare while playing this game and the next one, and had to Photoshop it out.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

Around the NCAA – Week 1 Edition
There were no surprises in the first week of the NCAA Division I FBS season, with all 21 teams inside the Top 25 winning

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
Semester’s First Test – Lane and Miami prepare for their ACC opener against Boston College.

No. 6 Miami (Fla.) begins its ACC schedule this weekend when it travels to Boston College for their annual rivalry. The Hurricanes opened the season with a 58-10 shellacking of Tulsa, while the Eagles were down 10-0 in the second quarter to Arkansas-Pine Bluff before coming away with a 27-10 victory over the FCS foe. Miami’s game was highlighted by the performance of true freshman wide receiver Amari Cooper, who had nine receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut. Redshirt senior quarterback Curtis Lane – now the official starter after leading Miami most of last season following Robert Marve’s injury – had 332 yards and five touchdowns on 23-of-28 passing.

USA Today Coaches’ Top 25
1 | Penn State [38 first-place votes] (1-0)
2 | LSU [21] (1-0)
3 | USC [1] (1-0)
4 | Texas (1-0)
5 | Clemson (1-0)
6 | Miami (Fla.) (1-0)
7 | Virginia Tech (1-0)
8 | Texas A&M (1-0)
9 | Wisconsin (1-0)
10 | Michigan (0-0)
11 | Florida (1-0)
12 | Ohio State (1-0)
13 | UCLA (0-0)
14 | Texas Tech (1-0)
15 | Nebraska (1-0)
16 | Notre Dame (1-0)
17 | Arkansas (1-0)
18 | Georgia (1-0)
19 | Washington (0-0)
20 | Oklahoma (1-0)
21 | Virginia (1-0)
22 | Missouri (1-0)
23 | Tennessee (1-0)
24 | Boise State (0-0)
25 | West Virginia (1-0)

Others Receiving Votes: Syracuse (166), Iowa (104), California (74), Maryland (45), Auburn (18)

Heisman Watch
Johnny Manziel, So., QB, Michigan | No stats
Derek Carr, Sr., QB, USC | 131.5 QB rtg., 15-31, 197 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 211.1 QB rtg., 18-27, 331 yards, 5 TD (1 rush), 1 INT
Russell Shepard, Sr., QB, Texas A&M | 133.3 QB rtg., 20-35, 278 yards, 1 TD; 18 carries, 127 yards, 2 TD
Star Jackson, R-Sr., QB, Penn State | 227.7 QB rtg., 28-34, 400 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., HB, Navy | 29 carries, 209 yards, 5 TD in 40-0 win against Idaho
Defensive: Jared Smith, R-Sr., SS, Louisiana Tech | 7 tackles (2 TFL), 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 TD in 42-21 win at Princeton

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Curtis Lane, R-Sr., Miami (Fla.) (240.7)
Passing Yards: Jordan Jennings, R-Jr., Boston College (421)
Passing Touchdowns: Star Jackson, R-Sr., Penn State; Chris White, R-Jr., Texas (6)
Passing Interceptions: 4 tied with (4)
Rushing Yards: Jay Ajayi, So., Virginia Tech (252)
Rushing Touchdowns: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., Navy (5)
Receptions: Alshon Jeffery, Sr., South Carolina (13)
Receiving Yards: Amari Cooper, Fr., Miami (Fla.) (200)
Receiving Touchdowns: 6 tied with (3)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (18)
Sacks: 5 tied with (3)
Interceptions: 9 tied with (2)
Made Field Goals: 25 tied with (2)
Net Punting Average: Zach Riley, Sr., Northern Illinois (52.0)
Kick Return Average: Larry Washington, Sr., New Mexico (54.6)
Punt Return Average: Curtis McNeal, R-Sr., Penn State (23.0)

Injury Report
Seth Doege, R-Sr., QB Texas Tech | Broken jaw (10 weeks)
Tim Rawls, Sr., HB, Ball State | Broken femur (season)
Marcus Miller, Jr., HB, Ohio | Strained back (11 weeks)
Austin Barry, R-Sr., HB, Akron | Broken wrist (9 weeks)
Dan Davis, R-Sr., WR, Akron | Torn groin (7 weeks)
Sean Spence, R-Sr., OLB, Florida | Broken wrist (season)
David Bowling, Sr., OLB, Western Michigan | Broken collarbone (10 weeks)

Week 1 Notable Top 25 Scores
#6 Miami (Fla.) 58, Tulsa 10
#9 Wisconsin 18, UNLV 15
#11 Florida 35, Cornell 7
#1 Penn State 55, Penn 17
#25 West Virginia 52, Carnegie Mellon 31
#12 Ohio State 42, Akron 2
#2 LSU 66, Western Michigan 21

Week 2 National Broadcasts
Maryland (1-0) at #25 West Virginia (1-0) | 9/7, 3:30 PM (Rivalry Game)
Oregon State (1-0) at #9 Wisconsin (1-0) | 9/8, 12:30 PM (Game of the Week)
Alabama (1-0) at #1 Penn State (1-0) | 9/8, 12:30 PM
Syracuse (1-0) at #24 Boise State (0-0) | 9/8, 1:00 PM
Ohio (1-0) at #16 Notre Dame (1-0) | 9/8, 1:00 PM
#14 Texas Tech (1-0) at TCU (1-0) | 9/8, 3:30 PM
#20 Oklahoma (1-0) at Florida State (1-0) | 9/8, 6:00 PM
#6 Miami (Fla.) (1-0) at Boston College (1-0) | 9/8, 8:00 PM (Rivalry Game)