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

[Careless Whisper]

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

by Jeff Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon insider for Rivals.com

Williams named new team captain on offense

CMU head coach Jules Nottingham has announced a change of captaincy on the offensive side of the ball, with redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams set to lead the group moving forward.

Williams takes over for former starting quarterback Kevin Wilson. The senior signal-caller has thrown for 634 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2012, and was benched midway through the Tartans’ 28-25 win at Pittsburgh. Wilson has reportedly been sulking after the benching, but will remain the backup quarterback to junior Gerald Culver, as Nottingham does not want to burn the redshirts off freshmen Eric Frederick or Cody Foster.

Williams has been one of the favorites for the Heisman this season, compiling 45 receptions, 857 yards, and 13 total touchdowns (11 receiving, 2 rushing) over CMU’s first five games.

Backup offensive tackle suspended three games

Carnegie Mellon’s offensive line depth will thin for the remainder of the month, as second-string offensive tackle Andrew Graham was suspended three games for a violation of team rules.

Graham has played little this season behind sophomore Philip McClover at right tackle and is graded at 72.0 by Pro Football Focus. Redshirt freshman Cory Kemoeatu will become the McClover’s primary backup during Graham’s suspension.

Allen to make official visit to CMU on Thursday night, trims list to three finalists

The Tartans will receive their first official visit of the in-season recruiting period on Thursday night, as four-star safety Robert Allen (Oxford, Ohio) is set to attend the game against Bowling Green before spending the whole weekend on campus.

Allen, a six-foot-two, 213-pound defensive back from Talawanda High School, loves the history and prestige behind Carnegie Mellon. The Tartans are the overwhelming favorite for his commitment according to Rivals.com recruiting experts, with Michigan and Virginia Tech currently the other two schools that he is considering.

Jones keeps Tartans in top five

Carnegie Mellon continues to make a good impression on its in-season recruiting targets, as four-star defensive end Jeremy Jones (Cudahy, Wisc.) has kept the Tartans in his top five.

Jones, a six-foot-two, 225-pound pass rusher from Cudahy High School, is also considering Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. He reportedly isn’t concerned with a program’s prestige or early playing time, but scouts rave about his potential and attitude.

Carnegie Mellon In-Season Recruiting Targets
Robert Allen, SS, **** (6’2”, 213 lbs.; Oxford, Ohio / Talawanda) – Top 3, Official Visit 10/4
- Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, Michigan
Joshua Byrd, OLB, **** (6’0”, 217 lbs.; North Bethesda, Md. / Georgetown Prep) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State, Harvard
Jamaal Dodds, FS, **** (6’1”, 190 lbs.; Fort McKinley, Ohio / McKinley) – Top 5
- Notre Dame, Clemson, Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, Ohio State
DeShawn Russell, CB, **** (6’2”, 180 lbs.; Rockville Centre, N.Y. / South Side) – Top 5
- Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame
Doug Dunbar, CB, **** (5’11”, 170 lbs.; Cumberland, Md. / Fort Hill) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Virginia, Clemson, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon
Jeremy Jones, DE, **** (6’2”, 225 lbs.; Cudahy, Wisc. / Cudahy) – Top 5
- Michigan, Nebraska, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin, Ohio State
Quinton Smith, C, **** (6’1”, 277 lbs.; Odessa, Texas / Permian) – Top 5
- Texas Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Nebraska, Texas, LSU
Don Glover, WR, *** (6’4”, 208 lbs.; Pennsauken, N.J. / Pennsauken) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Virginia, Penn State Carnegie Mellon, Clemson
Josh Greene, MLB, *** (6’1”, 225 lbs.; Dundalk, Md. / Dundalk) – Top 5
- Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Virginia, Notre Dame
Carlton Norton, DE, *** (6’3”, 225 lbs.; Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic) – Top 5
- Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Virginia, Ohio State
Aaron Simon, OLB, *** (5’11”, 225 lbs.; Cambridge, Ohio / Cambridge) – Top 5
- Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State
Andrew Harper, OLB, *** (6’0”, 248 lbs.; Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Notre Dame
Mark Davis, MLB, **** (5’11”, 237 lbs.; Enid, Okla. / Enid) – Removed
Lawrence Clark, CB, *** (6’2”, 182 lbs.; New Brunswick, N.J. / New Brunswick) – Removed
Greg Taylor, OLB, *** (6’3”, 213 lbs.; Mercedes, Texas / Mercedes) – Removed

[Careless Whisper]

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

Bowling Green Falcons (2-3, 2-0 MAC) at Carnegie Mellon Tartans (4-1, 2-0 MAC)
Thursday, October 4, 2012 | 6:00 PM
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Gesling Stadium | ROOT Sports Pittsburgh

Record vs. Opponent: 3-1-0
Last Five Meetings
2011 – Carnegie Mellon 64, Bowling Green 50
2010 – Carnegie Mellon 42, Bowling Green 41
2009 – Carnegie Mellon 45, Bowling Green 31
2008 – Bowling Green 49, Carnegie Mellon 21

The Lowdown
Carnegie Mellon doesn’t have long to celebrate its 35-21 victory at Central Michigan from last Saturday, as the Tartans are back in action just five days later when they host Bowling Green. After falling 49-21 in their first meeting during the 2008 season, CMU has won three straight against the Falcons in the series, with all three victories coming in roller coaster fashion. In 2009, the Tartans defense forced six turnovers in a 45-31 home win, then a year later used a blocked extra point with 1:02 remaining to escape with a 42-41 road victory. Last year’s bout saw 114 points scored – 48 coming in the second quarter alone – and six touchdowns of 40 yards or more, but CMU was able to hold off Bowling Green, 64-50.

This is a key game in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division race, with Bowling Green entering at 2-0 in the conference and 2-3 overall. The Falcons opened the season with an ugly 21-12 loss at Rice before blowout defeats to Washington (35-7) and No. 10 UCLA (66-6), but since entering MAC play, they have defeated Northern Illinois (21-10) and Eastern Michigan (35-25). BGSU is one of three conference unbeatens remaining in the MAC East with Carnegie Mellon and No. 23 Kent State.

Scouting Bowling Green
Despite a relatively slow start offensively, Bowling Green can still boast one of the MAC’s top units on that side of the ball. Redshirt junior quarterback Adam Gilmore (118.8 QB rtg., 80-153, 1,047 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT) was an Associated Press Freshman All-America selection in 2010 and has thrown for 6,683 yards and 66 touchdowns in his third season as the starting signal-caller. His top target, senior wide receiver Andrew Joseph (33 catches, 381 yards, 2 TD), boasts an 88.0 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, but Gilmore will be without redshirt junior Jon Brown (15 catches, 152 yards, 1 TD), who is nursing a sprained elbow. Senior tailback Robert Bush (43 carries, 248 yards, 3 TD) is a quick runner in his first year as a starter, and he and Gilmore will be protected by an offensive line with a trio of three-year starters, including redshirt senior right tackle Justin McPhearson, who is a four-year stalwart.

The defense suffered some key losses recently with All-MAC Second Team linebacker Marshall Ham and senior cornerback Dwayne Todd suffering season-ending injuries, and freshman defensive end Jay Thomas serving an academic suspension. Sophomore defensive tackle Joey Reid (17 tackles, 1 sack) is the Falcons’ biggest interior threat after recording 55 tackles, five sacks, and an interception last season en route to All-MAC Second Team and Associated Press Freshman All-America honors. In the middle of the defense is the nation’s leading tackler, redshirt sophomore Keith Miller (55 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 FF, 1 FR), who has excelled after medically redshirting in 2011. The secondary has two three-year starters in junior cornerback Reggie Powers (15 tackles, 1 INT) and classmate Randall Sanders (14 tackles) at safety, but inexperienced redshirt freshman E.J. Lowe (8 tackles) is set to step in for Todd and could be someone the Carnegie Mellon offense keys on throughout the game.

Did You Know?
In the last meeting against Bowling Green on Oct. 8, 2011, Carnegie Mellon scored 64 points, which is the most it has scored since the 1930 season and the fifth most in school history. The Tartans’ record came in the 1915 season when they defeated Waynesburg, 88-0. The other games in which CMU had scored more than 64 points are as follows: 75-2 vs. Buffalo in 1930, 68-0 vs. Grove City in 1916, and 65-0 vs. Ashland in 1928.

Prediction
Judging by the last few seasons, the easiest prediction in a Bowling Green-Carnegie Mellon matchup is to expect fireworks. The Falcons boast a dynamic offense with a veteran quarterback leading the charge, but the Tartans are more talented on both sides of the ball. The Gesling Stadium crowd should be charged up on a Thursday night and give the home team an extra boost to secure the victory. Carnegie Mellon 42, Bowling Green 31.

[Careless Whisper]

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

Tartans Top Falcons, 47-35, to Remain Unbeaten in MAC
Carnegie Mellon outrushed Bowling Green, 227-22, and owned a major possession advantage of 41:18 to 18:42



CMU runningback Lawrence McIntire rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns. (Ashley Black / Getty Images)

by Alicia Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Another frantic matchup between Carnegie Mellon and Bowling Green had the explosive plays its predecessors had, but it didn’t have the same amount of late drama as the Tartans kept their unbeaten Mid-American Conference (MAC) record alive with a 47-35 win over the Falcons on Thursday night.

Carnegie Mellon (5-1, 3-0 MAC) never trailed in the contest and kept Bowling Green (2-4, 2-1 MAC) at arm’s length by keeping the ball for 41:18 of the game’s 60 minutes. The Tartans owned a 518-436 edge in total offense – highlighted by a 227-22 difference in rushing yards – and forced three turnovers, while also finding paydirt on a 92-yard kick return in the first quarter.

“I thought we handled the short week really well,” said CMU head coach Jules Nottingham. “We took it a little easier on the guys in practice to preserve their bodies, but really drilled them with work on technique and the mental side of the game. You saw that pay off offensively with how well we ran the ball. Lawrence (McIntire) had great vision and stamina, and the guys up front did an excellent job at clearing holes. We’re still susceptible to giving up some big plays on both sides of the ball, but I was really pleased with the effort and the concentration we had against a good Bowling Green side.”

CMU’s execution was on full display on its opening drive, needing just five plays to go 64 yards with a Gerald Culver 34-yard strike to Chris Smith making it 7-0. Bowling Green had a quick answer, using trickery to tie it up as tailback Robert Bush found a wide open Earl Lupo for a 48-yard score. That momentum shift was short-lived however, as two-time reigning Randy Moss Award winner Kelvin Butler took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to the end zone to put the hosts ahead 14-7.

Culver made his first mistake of the game near the end of the opening frame, missing Eddie Williams on an overthrow that was picked off by Randal Sanders. The Falcons couldn’t do anything with the gift though and punted it back, which led to a Joseph Love 34-yard field goal after seven plays to make it 17-7, but just a minute later Adam Gilmore connected on a deep ball to Lupo for a 68-yard touchdown.

The Tartans continued their methodical offensive approach, going nine plays on their next drive before Culver found Williams for an eight-yard hookup to make it 24-14. Again, the Falcons answered with a quick strike, with Gilmore finding Bush on a screen and the tailback racing untouched to paydirt from 35 yards out. CMU responded with another nine-play drive, ending in a Lawrence McIntire four-yard plunge to up the hosts’ lead to 30-21 following a blocked extra point. That advantage looked certain to grow at the end of the half after Brandon Williams forced and recovered a fumble on Bush, but Clay Armstrong gave the ball right back on the two-yard line with 22 ticks on the clock.

Jabari London forced Gilmore into his first mistake of the game to open the second half, snagging an errant pass to put the Tartans on the Bowling Green 45-yard line. One play later, McIntire took the hand-off and burst through the first level, running over Sanders en route to a 45-yard touchdown to make it 37-21. Bobby Magnum then interception Gilmore on a London blitz, leading to a 10-play, 63-yard drive that ended in a Love 21-yard boot through the uprights. The score remained 40-21 until the early stages of the fourth quarter when Bush found himself wide-open on a wheel route and hauled in a Gilmore pass for a 78-yard touchdown.

CMU worked seven minutes off the clock on its next drive, finishing with McIntire punching it in from eight yards out. Gilmore tossed his fourth touchdown of the evening on a 22-yard strike to Justin Thomas with 3:45 remaining, then the Falcons recovered the onside kick to keep hope alive. That comeback attempt was thwarted soon after however, as the Tartans defense forced a turnover on downs from their 25-yard line to seal the win.

McIntire finished with 218 all-purpose yards – 171 rushing, 47 receiving – and three touchdowns. Culver threw for 291 yards on 16-of-24 passing, with Eddie Williams again serving as his top target with seven receptions for 144 yards and a score.

Gilmore compiled 366 yards passing on 17-of-23 attempts with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Bush only had 13 yards rushing on eight carries, but recorded 130 yards receiving on three catches and two touchdowns, while adding the 48-yard passing score from the first quarter.

Carnegie Mellon will enjoy a couple of extra days to prepare for its next contest when it hosts Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Bowling Green Falcons at Carnegie Mellon Tartans
Oct 6, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Bowling Green Falcons (2-4, 2-1 MAC)	7	14	0	14	35
Carnegie Mellon Tartans (5-1, 3-0 MAC)	14	16	10	7	47

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		BGSU	CMU
12:32	(CMU) Gerald Culver 34-yard pass to Chris Smith (Joseph Love kick)	0	7
10:30	(BGSU) Robert Bush 48-yard pass to Earl Lupo (Fred Mathis kick)	7	7
10:21	(CMU) Kelvin Butler 92-yard kick return (Joseph Love kick)	7	14
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		BGSU	CMU
14:57	(CMU) Joseph Love 34-yard field goal	7	17
13:46	(BGSU) Adam Gilmore 68-yard pass to Earl Lupo (Fred Mathis kick)	14	17
8:23	(CMU) Gerald Culver 8-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	14	24
6:28	(BGSU) Adam Gilmore 35-yard pass to Robert Bush (Fred Mathis kick)	21	24
1:17	(CMU) Lawrence McIntire 4-yard run (XP blocked)	21	30
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		BGSU	CMU
14:46	(CMU) Lawrence McIntire 45-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	21	37
4:20	(CMU) Joseph Love 21-yard field goal	21	40
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		BGSU	CMU
13:17	(BGSU) Adam Gilmore 78-yard pass to Robert Bush (Fred Mathis kick)	28	40
6:12	(CMU) Lawrence McIntire 8-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	28	47
3:45	(BGSU) Adam Gilmore 22-yard pass to Justin Thomas (Fred Mathis kick)	35	47

Bowling Green Falcons PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Adam Gilmore 17/23 366 4 2 Robert Bush 1/1 48 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Tariq Brown 1 14 14.0 0 Robert Bush 8 13 1.6 0 Earl Lupo 1 5 5.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Earl Lupo 5 189 37.7 2 Lamar Butler 5 55 11.0 0 Robert Bush 3 130 43.3 2 Justin Thomas 2 29 14.5 1 Andrew Joseph 2 10 5.0 0 Brian Green 1 1 1.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Jay Smith 12 0 0 0 Marcus Alexander 10 0 0 0 Randall Sanders 7 0 1 0 Dallas Thomas 5 0 0 0 Keith Miller 5 0 0 0 David Reed 4 1 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Fred Mathis 0/0 5/5 5 -- PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Ben Williams 3 122 40.6 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Justin Thomas 5 98 19.6 0 Robert Bush 4 85 21.2 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Justin Thomas 1 2 2.0 0

Carnegie Mellon Tartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Gerald Culver 16/24 291 2 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Lawrence McIntire 30 171 5.6 3 Gerald Culver 8 27 3.3 0 Clay Armstrong 5 22 4.4 0 Jeff Gilmore 1 4 4.0 0 Eddie Williams 2 3 1.5 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Eddie Williams 7 144 20.5 1 Chris Smith 3 55 18.3 1 Travis Sledge 3 37 12.3 0 Lawrence McIntire 2 47 23.5 0 Kelvin Butler 1 8 8.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Brandon Williams 7 0 0 0 Bobby Magnum 5 0 1 0 Robert Wall 3 0 0 0 Matt Burnsides 2 1 0 0 Jabari London 2 0 1 0 Mario Williams 2 1 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Joseph Love 2/2 5/6 11 34 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Andy Fitzhugh 1 39 39.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 3 142 47.3 1 Kyle Holland 2 48 24.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 3 18 6.0 0

[studbucket]

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

It had to feel good to give your RB the ball 30 times in a game and have him just keep getting yards. Almost surprised you got so many points given how much clock that would chew up.

[Careless Whisper]

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

It had to feel good to give your RB the ball 30 times in a game and have him just keep getting yards. Almost surprised you got so many points given how much clock that would chew up.

Really was nice to be able to rely on the ground game to control the clock, and not that to worry whether I had good Culver or bad Culver under center. McIntire is nowhere near the game-breaker that Jim Manning was in the early days of this dynasty, but he's turned out to be a pretty reliable threat at RB, and that adds so much to this offense. His consistency makes the offense just that more explosive - especially in comparison to the rest of the MAC - even with how mistake-prone they can be.

It was nice to have a somewhat calmer Bowling Green game for once - even though they scored on a 48-yard HB pass and two deep QB-to-WR bombs! Never felt like I was in any trouble, which was a little bit of a surprise because there was a little extra time in between when I played the last two games.

[moose141]

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

Going to be replying as I read through the thread from when I last replied and keep going until I catch up to present time...

Up to end of page 91: Great to see Keyes finish out with a victory over Penn and a big performance, he's one of those players that even though he didn't win tons of awards and everything else, he's been with the program through so much of its buildup that you have to feel like he is still one of the first true CMU legends.

Should be interesting to see how this next season shakes out. I like the promotion of Nottingham to head coach, gotta keep the young hotshot coordinator happy to keep this offense running smoothly, especially with such a huge question mark at QB. A scheme change while losing your best QB option would spell disaster, so smart to avert that.

Also, the NFL is bonkers in those old games haha, so much free agency especially for guys late in careers. Seeing Hines Ward and Troy change teams made my heart hurt!

[studbucket]

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

Going to be replying as I read through the thread from when I last replied and keep going until I catch up to present time...

Up to end of page 91: Great to see Keyes finish out with a victory over Penn and a big performance, he's one of those players that even though he didn't win tons of awards and everything else, he's been with the program through so much of its buildup that you have to feel like he is still one of the first true CMU legends.

Should be interesting to see how this next season shakes out. I like the promotion of Nottingham to head coach, gotta keep the young hotshot coordinator happy to keep this offense running smoothly, especially with such a huge question mark at QB. A scheme change while losing your best QB option would spell disaster, so smart to avert that.

Also, the NFL is bonkers in those old games haha, so much free agency especially for guys late in careers. Seeing Hines Ward and Troy change teams made my heart hurt!

Ha -good luck catching up! I am on page 15 of yours and 168 of BHurt's baseball one. It's a lot to catch up with some of the video chises.

[Careless Whisper]

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

Going to be replying as I read through the thread from when I last replied and keep going until I catch up to present time...

Up to end of page 91: Great to see Keyes finish out with a victory over Penn and a big performance, he's one of those players that even though he didn't win tons of awards and everything else, he's been with the program through so much of its buildup that you have to feel like he is still one of the first true CMU legends.

Should be interesting to see how this next season shakes out. I like the promotion of Nottingham to head coach, gotta keep the young hotshot coordinator happy to keep this offense running smoothly, especially with such a huge question mark at QB. A scheme change while losing your best QB option would spell disaster, so smart to avert that.

Also, the NFL is bonkers in those old games haha, so much free agency especially for guys late in careers. Seeing Hines Ward and Troy change teams made my heart hurt!

I'll try not to spoil anything as I reply to your replies! Completely agree on Keyes - he didn't have the statistics or accolades that some of his classmates (Jim Manning, Matt Johnson, Calvin Burton) had, nor will he be a CMU hall of famer if/when I start that up down the road, but his ascent from his first two seasons to being an All-MAC selection as a senior is one of the best storylines from this report thus far.

Promoting Nottingham to head coach was something I had been hinting at throughout that season, from the early reports of Elliott's contract being up to Nottingham's success and the bigger schools sniffing around him as an OC option. It felt right to make that transition, especially with Elliott being an older coach and seeing the rapid growth the program made with the change of offensive philosophy.

Madden's sim engine is hilarious in every way, haha. The Steelers have unfortunately been gutted with some of their real-time stars leaving, but nothing will beat the Washington trio of [redacted], [redacted], and [redacted] at quarterback. Left out the names because I don't think you're quite there on your reading yet, but once you see it you'll wonder what the game was thinking.

Ha -good luck catching up! I am on page 15 of yours and 168 of BHurt's baseball one. It's a lot to catch up with some of the video chises.

I try to help out on that front by regularly updating all the game links and season synopses on the front page, but you really can only do so much on that front. Appreciate all of you who read or have read this!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NCAA – Week 6 Edition
USC takes over the No. 1 slot after previous holder LSU fell at No. 9 Florida, 28-21

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
Shocked! – In battle of Pac-10 opposites, Hawaii defeats #10 UCLA, 33-21.

Hawaii hasn’t had the dream Pac-10 start it envisioned since joining the league, but everything was clicking last Saturday at No. 10 UCLA as the Warriors upset the Bruins, 33-21. Coming off losses at Oregon (14-53) and Kansas State (24-34), Hawaii opened up a 24-7 halftime lead before coasting the rest of the way. Junior wide receiver Taylor Rose dominated the UCLA secondary with his six-foot-seven frame, compiling 15 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown. The Bruins’ star linebacker, redshirt senior Ryan Allen, had nine tackles (six for loss) and three sacks, but ultimately their BCS championship hopes took a hit with their first defeat of the season.

USA Today Coaches’ Top 25
1 | USC [34 first-place votes] (5-0)
2 | Virginia Tech [26] (6-0)
3 | Wisconsin [1] (5-0)
4 | Texas A&M (5-0)
5 | Florida (5-0)
6 | Michigan (4-0)
7 | LSU (5-1)
8 | Penn State (5-1)
9 | Nebraska (6-0)
10 | Oklahoma (5-0)
11 | Texas (5-1)
12 | Miami (Fla.) (5-1)
13 | Clemson (4-1)
14 | Ohio State (4-1)
15 | Georgia (5-0)
16 | Virginia (6-0)
17 | Missouri (5-0)
18 | Notre Dame (4-1)
19 | Boise State (5-0)
20 | UCLA (3-1)
21 | Arkansas (4-1)
22 | Tennessee (5-1)
23 | Texas Tech (4-2)
24 | West Virginia (5-1)
25 | Washington (2-2)

Others Receiving Votes: Central Florida (169), Oklahoma State (104), TCU (78), Oregon (61), Maryland (24)

Heisman Watch
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 52 catches, 1,001 yards, 14 TD (2 rush)
Star Jackson, R-Sr., QB, Penn State | 173.9 QB rtg., 137-213, 2,035 yards, 25 TD, 10 INT
Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., QB, Missouri | 191.5 QB rtg., 92-136, 1,282 yards, 19 TD, 1 INT; 48 carries, 362 yards, 6 TD
Kyle Parker, R-Sr., QB, Virginia | 168.7 QB rtg., 116-184, 1,600 yards, 20 TD, 3 INT; 64 carries, 264 yards, 3 TD
Michael Thomas, Fr., WR, Florida | 29 catches, 539 yards, 9 TD

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., HB, Navy | 35 carries, 201 yards, 4 TD; 3 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD in 42-13 win at Air Force
Defensive: Dominique Franklin, R-Fr., MLB, Tulsa | 2 tackles (1 TFL), 1 INT, 1 TD in 45-28 win at Marshall

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Gerald Culver, Jr., Carnegie Mellon; Dak Prescott, So., Florida (201.0)
Passing Yards: Star Jackson, R-Sr., Penn State (2,035)
Passing Touchdowns: Jackson (25)
Passing Interceptions: Aaron Jones, Jr., Marshall; Mark Powdrell, So., Kansas (16)
Rushing Yards: Jarvis Edwards, R-Jr., Vanderbilt (967)
Rushing Touchdowns: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., Navy (12)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (52)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,001)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (12)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (60)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan (9)
Interceptions: Bryson Harris, So., Brown; Craig Darby, R-Sr., Auburn; Jabari London, R-So., Carnegie Mellon (5)
Made Field Goals: David Smith, Sr., Vanderbilt; Nick Barrett, Jr., Tulane (9)
Net Punting Average: Landon Hill, Jr., Connecticut (41.5)
Kick Return Average: Ryan Frederick, R-Jr., Oklahoma (33.8)
Punt Return Average: Terry Sowell, Sr., Texas (17.1)

Injury Report
Cortez Bentley, R-Fr., QB, Cincinnati | Broken elbow (season)
Aaron Murray, R-Jr., QB, Georgia | Strained back (11 weeks)
Tate Forcier, R-Jr., QB, Baylor | Strained Achilles tendon (2 weeks)
Jerick McKinnon, R-So., HB, Connecticut | Knee cartilage tear (7 weeks)
Lamont Sutherland, Sr., FS, Pittsburgh | Dislocated elbow (5 weeks)
William Mitchell, R-Sr., SS, Virginia Tech | Broken tailbone (11 weeks)

Week 6 Notable Top 25 Scores
#12 Miami (Fla.) 28, Duke 24
#21 Arkansas 28, Auburn 3
#15 Georgia 28, Alabama 20
#24 West Virginia 28, Rutgers 10
#8 Penn State 42, Minnesota 7
#2 Virginia Tech 52, North Carolina 10
#19 Boise State 35, Boston College 15
#18 Notre Dame 35, Purdue 14
Hawaii 33, #20 UCLA 21
#10 Oklahoma 49, #11 Texas 17
#9 Nebraska 41, #23 Texas Tech 20
#5 Florida 28, #7 LSU 21
#1 USC 45, Washington State 7

Week 7 National Broadcasts
#3 Wisconsin (5-0) at #14 Ohio State (4-1) | 10/13, 12:30 PM (Game of the Week)
#4 Texas A&M (5-0) at Oklahoma State (4-2) | 10/13, 12:30 PM
#17 Missouri (5-0) at #11 Texas (4-1) | 10/13, 12:30 PM
#12 Miami (Fla.) (5-1) at #16 Virginia (6-0) | 10/13, 3:30 PM
#22 Tennessee (5-1) at #15 Georgia (5-0) | 10/13, 6:00 PM
#25 Washington (2-2) at #1 USC (5-0) | 10/13, 6:00 PM
Hawaii (3-2) at #18 Notre Dame (4-1) | 10/13, 8:00 PM
Florida State (2-3) at #2 Virginia Tech (6-0) | 10/13, 8:00 PM

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the MAC – Week 6 Edition
Kent State’s 18-game winning streak with 14-3 home defeat to Central Michigan

MAC East Standings
Carnegie Mellon | 5-1, 3-0 MAC
Kent State | 4-1, 2-1 MAC
Bowling Green | 2-4, 2-1 MAC
Buffalo | 1-5, 1-2 MAC
Akron | 2-4, 1-2 MAC
Miami (Ohio) | 4-1, 0-1 MAC
Ohio | 1-4, 0-1 MAC

MAC West Standings
Toledo | 3-3, 2-1 MAC
Ball State | 2-4, 1-1 MAC
Northern Illinois | 2-3, 1-1 MAC
Central Michigan | 2-4, 1-1 MAC
Eastern Michigan | 1-5, 1-2 MAC
Western Michigan | 2-4, 1-2 MAC

MAC Players of the Week
Offensive: Lawrence McIntire, Jr., HB, Carnegie Mellon | 30 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD; 2 catches, 47 yards in 47-35 win against Bowling Green
Defensive: Jimmy Ealy, R-Sr., MLB, Toledo | 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD in 48-20 win at Eastern Michigan

MAC Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Gerald Culver, Jr., Carnegie Mellon (201.0)
Passing Yards: Brett Hicks, R-Jr., Ball State (1,854)
Passing Touchdowns: Chris Tepper, R-Jr., Toledo (17)
Passing Interceptions: Jeff Smith, R-Sr., Akron (11)
Rushing Yards: Tanner Phillips, Sr., Central Michigan (893)
Rushing Touchdowns: Phillips; Jonathan Dukes, R-Sr., Ball State (9)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (52)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,001)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (12)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (60)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan (9)
Interceptions: Jabari London, R-So., Carnegie Mellon (5)
Made Field Goals: Kyle Dorsey, So., Akron; Sidney Smith, Fr., Toledo (7)
Net Punting Average: Zach Riley, Sr., Northern Illinois (39.2)
Kick Return Average: Kelvin Butler, Jr., Carnegie Mellon (29.3)
Punt Return Average: Dustin Kane, R-Jr., Toledo (12.4)

Week 6 Scores
Carnegie Mellon 47, Bowling Green 35
Central Michigan 14, Kent State 3
Buffalo 34, Akron 21
Western Michigan 38, Ball State 35
Ole Miss 47, Ohio 42
Toledo 48, Eastern Michigan 20

Week 7 Matchups
Miami (Ohio) (4-1, 0-1 MAC) at Carnegie Mellon (5-1, 3-0 MAC) | 10/13, 12:30 PM
Ball State (2-4, 1-1 MAC) at Toledo (3-3, 2-1 MAC) | 10/13, 12:30 PM
Kent State (4-1) at Kansas (2-4) | 10/13, 1:00 PM
Buffalo (1-5, 1-2 MAC) at Bowling Green (2-4, 2-1 MAC) | 10/13, 3:30 PM
Ohio (1-4, 0-1 MAC) at Western Michigan (2-4, 1-2 MAC) | 10/13, 6:00 PM
Northern Illinois (2-3, 1-1 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (1-5, 1-2 MAC) | 10/13, 8:00 PM

[studbucket]

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

With your QB-WR combo, I could see CMU getting ranked by the end of the season, which would be fantastic.

[Careless Whisper]

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

With your QB-WR combo, I could see CMU getting ranked by the end of the season, which would be fantastic.

Would be huge for the program if that were to happen! This game doesn't seem to care so much for the mid-majors - which I actually like, because it's realistic and makes my job building the program more difficult - but I think as long as I keep winning, that national ranking will come.

[Careless Whisper]

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

by Jeff Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon insider for Rivals.com

Kent State slips up, opens door for Carnegie Mellon

There was an audible cheer on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in the middle of the afternoon Saturday, as the team gathered to watch No. 23 Kent State fall at home to Central Michigan, 14-3, bringing the Golden Flashes’ 18-game winning streak to an end.

With the Kent State loss, the Tartans are now in sole possession of the MAC East Division at 3-0 and in control of their destiny to make it to the MAC Championship Game. Previously, CMU and the Golden Flashes were projected to win all of their conference contests, with the latter likely to get the bid to Detroit via a higher BCS ranking – however, that scenario will render itself meaningless if the Tartans continue to win out.

Allen commits to CMU after official visit

Carnegie Mellon received its first verbal commitment of the in-season recruiting period over the weekend as four-star safety Robert Allen (Oxford, Ohio) announced his pledge to the Tartans.

Allen, a six-foot-two, 213-pound defensive back from Talawanda High School, was also considering Virginia Tech and Michigan. He reportedly knew all along that he wanted to add to Carnegie Mellon’s rich football tradition, and scouts say he has potential to be a great safety at the collegiate level. With the graduation of Bobby Magnum after the season, there is an opportunity that Allen could immediately slot in as a starter in 2013.

McIntire claims MAC Offensive Player of the Week

For the second time in his career, junior runningback Lawrence McIntire was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league this week.

McIntire showed out last Thursday evening against Bowling Green, rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries, while adding two receptions for 47 yards. He previously won the award on Nov. 28, 2011 following a 276-yards, three-touchdown performance at Northern Illinois, and currently has 484 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season.

Four recruiting targets to make official visit this weekend

Carnegie Mellon will look to capitalize on momentum this weekend as it welcomes four of its biggest recruiting targets for official visits against Miami (Ohio).

Joshua Byrd (North Bethesda, Md.), a four-star linebacker from Georgetown Prep, is considering Virginia Tech and Penn State and has the Tartans third on his list. Byrd is looking for early playing time, something that he would likely receive at CMU.

Jamaal Dodds (Fort McKinley, Ohio), a four-star safety from McKinley High School, also has the Tartans third and is considering Notre Dame and Clemson. Dodds, like new CMU commit Robert Allen, loves the prestige and history of the program and is most drawn to that.

DeShawn Russell (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), a four-star cornerback from South Side High School, has the Tartans as an overwhelming favorite for his services, but also has Penn State and Michigan in his top three. Russell has been pretty quiet on what he is looking for in his college destination, just that CMU is the top school thus far.

Aaron Simon (Cambridge, Ohio), a three-star linebacker from Cambridge High School, is considering Virginia Tech and Michigan, but the Tartans have a slight edge. Simon’s recruiting process has been quiet, with no real information available.

Webb suspended three games for missing class

Redshirt sophomore cornerback Aaron Webb will miss Carnegie Mellon’s next three games after missing an excessive amount of classes.

Webb, a reserve defensive back that hasn’t recorded a stat this season, will not suit up for the Tartans’ games against Miami (Ohio), Akron, and Ohio. He will return on Nov. 10 against Navy.

Carnegie Mellon In-Season Recruiting Targets
Robert Allen, SS, **** (6’2”, 213 lbs.; Oxford, Ohio / Talawanda) – Verbal Commit
Joshua Byrd, OLB, **** (6’0”, 217 lbs.; North Bethesda, Md. / Georgetown Prep) – Top 3, Official Visit 10/13
- Virginia Tech, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon
Jamaal Dodds, FS, **** (6’1”, 190 lbs.; Fort McKinley, Ohio / McKinley) – Top 3, Official Visit 10/13
- Notre Dame, Clemson, Carnegie Mellon
DeShawn Russell, CB, **** (6’2”, 180 lbs.; Rockville Centre, N.Y. / South Side) – Top 3, Official Visit 10/13
- Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Michigan
Aaron Simon, OLB, *** (5’11”, 225 lbs.; Cambridge, Ohio / Cambridge) – Top 3, Official Visit 10/13
- Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, Michigan
Doug Dunbar, CB, **** (5’11”, 170 lbs.; Cumberland, Md. / Fort Hill) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Virginia, Clemson, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon
Jeremy Jones, DE, **** (6’2”, 225 lbs.; Cudahy, Wisc. / Cudahy) – Top 5
- Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State
Quinton Smith, C, **** (6’1”, 277 lbs.; Odessa, Texas / Permian) – Top 5
- Texas Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Nebraska, Texas, LSU
Don Glover, WR, *** (6’4”, 208 lbs.; Pennsauken, N.J. / Pennsauken) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Virginia, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Clemson
Josh Greene, MLB, *** (6’1”, 225 lbs.; Dundalk, Md. / Dundalk) – Top 5
- Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia, Clemson, Notre Dame
Carlton Norton, DE, *** (6’3”, 225 lbs.; Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic) – Top 5
- Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Virginia, Ohio State
Andrew Harper, OLB, *** (6’0”, 248 lbs.; Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) – Top 5
- Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame , Ohio State
Mark Davis, MLB, **** (5’11”, 237 lbs.; Enid, Okla. / Enid) – Removed
Lawrence Clark, CB, *** (6’2”, 182 lbs.; New Brunswick, N.J. / New Brunswick) – Removed
Greg Taylor, OLB, *** (6’3”, 213 lbs.; Mercedes, Texas / Mercedes) – Removed

[dfsJunkie]

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

If a few of these guys commit, we could be looking at a really solid defense in a few years.

[Careless Whisper]

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

If a few of these guys commit, we could be looking at a really solid defense in a few years.

We're now at the point as a program where I can actually have legitimate talent behind my starters and keep the roster at a competitive level for the MAC, especially now that my program prestige is high enough to recruit four-stars. This class is really shaping up to be my best one in this report though, particularly on the defensive side where I graduate some key pieces there and am a little weaker at certain spots (DE, LB).