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

[moose141]

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

Had the full newest season read up, but hadn't written up any thoughts... here goes!

Spoiler

Preseason: All revolves around Eddie for sure. However, if Wilson can put it together this season and limit the turnovers, then this team could be on the verge of 10 wins for sure, especially with what look to be at least 2 really winnable non-conference games.

Game 1 vs WVU: Just when I was talking about turnovers! I mean it wouldn't be a CMU game without a pick-6, lol. Shame because it seems like Wilson had an okay passing day otherwise. Huge day for Eddie as well, expecting a lot of that this season. Not ideal overall in the grand scheme of things with Kent StateWild seeing Trent Richardson on WVU, what a signing for them. Hate how good WVU seems to be in the Big East in this dynasty while Pitt seems to really be regressing like you have said.

Love how strong the in-season recruiting list is, what a breath of fresh air seeing players on the recruiting board who can come in and be real impact players right away! Huge to boost the overall team depth when you're getting constant 4 and 3 star recruits now.

Game 2 vs Idaho: Welp. So much for needing Wilson to step up. Culver may have just stolen the show, huge performance albeit against a weak opponent, but that may be the confidence booster you need. With Culver's mobility, I feel like his warts are better than Wilson's warts. Great game for Eddie as well, love seeing him involved in the rushing attack while still getting tons of yards receiving as well. Just what the doctor ordered.

Game 3 vs Pitt: It had to happen sooner or later. You better win the conference and make a huge bowl game or something to make this win worth it! Definitely seemed deserved though, I think CMU just outclasses Pitt at this point in your file and clearly the Panthers are falling behind the times. Broken record to say it but Eddie with a huge game again and I think Culver deserves the starting nod now after coming into the fire and coming out a diamond. Huge job to battle there, and at least good to see Wilson lose his job on the back of ANOTHER pick six, haha. Also, feel like "Super Mario" is a fitting name after that 4 sack performance.

Game 4 vs Buffalo: Talk about a beatdown. What a day for Eddie to get a 5 spot of TDs, certainly makes it easy for Culver when he can basically just toss it up and Eddie will find it. Cool milestone to hit, and now it's time to just get into rack up wins mode and try and run the table. No slip ups! Love to see that Sledge is making a big mark as the number 2 as well, having a sneaky good season behind Eddie.

Game 5 vs CMU: Had to sweat the CMU bowl out a little bit there, but the talent won out in the end. One of those games you just grind out and move on.

Game 6 vs BGSU: Those games end up crazier and crazier every season it seems like! What a score fest yet again, good to see Larry Mac finally get on track with a big rushing game. Feels like your rushing attack has struggled most of the year so having that option available is huge to open up even more air time to Eddie the Eagle.

Let's goooooo, that Kent State loss is massive. Even if they don't get to play the true CMU this season, it's good to see the "other" CMU take care of business against them for you! Just need to keep winning now.

Game 7 vs Miami OH: The twists and turns in this QB saga just will not end. Not even going to make any predictions about the future anymore, might as well just ride the hot hand on a game to game basis as long as someone is getting the job done! 3 TD game for Eddie again as well is huge for him in the Heisman race, would love to see a mid-major player really make a true run at this thing and he is definitely the guy to do it. Just needs that volume!

Great to see you getting votes in the poll now, hopefully that's a sign that we could see the Tartans earn a quality bowl bid if they can win out (not to count the chickens too early!). Just gotta hope that you don't burn Frederick's redshirt with another injury, wonder if you have any other emergency QB's on the roster?

Love the updates as always, looking forward to the rest of the season!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Appreciate it once again, Moose! Glad you're all caught up now and ready to follow the rest of this season in real time! My comments to your comments are in the spoiler below:

Spoiler

Preseason: Expectations are sky high heading into this season. Eddie is the catalyst and I'm thrilled he didn't try to test the NFL waters because he gives me a chance against anyone on my schedule. The Kent State saga - while annoying that I don't get to play them - is such a unique storyline I couldn't wait to track throughout the year.

Game 1 vs. WVU: I thought Wilson was pretty good, but because of his lack of mobility and my inexperienced offensive line, I definitely rushed some throws that led to turnovers. If Eddie can have a game like that against WVU, he's going to be in the Heisman race all season. Richardson at WVU is definitely one of the most random pairings this game has produced, haha.

Game 2 vs. Idaho: Just what the doctor ordered, that's so true! Agreed for the most part with Culver - his mobility is huge, maybe even more so with my offensive line, but his inaccuracy can be unplayable at times. He's such an awesome story though - one of the most unexpected contributors I've had in any NCAA game.

Game 3 vs. Pitt: I've been knocking on the door for a couple of years now, so a CMU win in the rivalry was due. I'm glad it happened in that way though, with it being such a close game and the storyline behind it even if the talent edge has shifted CMU's way. Wilson definitely deserved to lose his job after that performance and I'm slightly regretting not making him a grad transfer. "Super" Mario Williams is going to take the stud DT throne from Matt Burnsides pretty easily. (Have you noticed how many Williamses there are on the roster? Eddie at WR, Mario at DT, and Brandon at OLB - all starters and key contributors, haha.)

Game 4 vs. Buffalo: Eddie's complete disdain for Buffalo is such a fun storyline (his stats in the first two games against the Bulls are insane), and definitely played a part in me force-feeding him. Sledge is the perfect #2 WR in this offense and I'm pretty excited to see him as the #1 once Williams leaves.

Game 5 vs. Central Michigan: Definitely sweated out a result there. This was one where I think I would've been in more trouble if they rode Tanner Phillips even more than they did - I really had no answer for him on the ground.

Game 6 vs. Bowling Green: Adam Gilmore (BGSU's QB) really has my number it seems like, even if his team can't come away with a win. I again liked the realism behind this game, with being able to blame the short week for my defense's struggles. Agreed on Larry Mac - he's really been hampered with the offensive line play, so for him to put together a performance like that bodes well for the rest of the season.

Kent State blurb: Massive is understating it. Our destiny is completely in our hands now. Wish that, if we were to run the table, Kent State could be our opponent in the MAC title game because I think that would be an absolute classic.

Game 7 vs. Miami (Ohio): The QB situation is so unpredictable, haha. I know it's been said that if you have two starting quarterbacks you really have none, but Wilson and Culver seem to buck that mindset. Both clearly benefit from Eddie's superstardom, but to be able to make a switch - whether forced or not - and it usually pay off is a big reason why CMU is a top-tier program in the MAC. Eddie definitely will get the volume moving forward, so hopefully he stays healthy and the voters don't ding him for being a mid-major guy!

Receiving votes blurb: I'm curious of the bowl bid - since I just started receiving votes, I don't think I can put myself in the BCS at-large conversation by running the table. Can't look too far ahead though, as you said! As for the emergency QB, there's another true freshman on the roster named Cody Foster, who I'm also redshirting. In some situations, I rather use him as the backup so I don't burn Frederick's redshirt as he's the future, but with how the season is playing out and the expectations of winning a conference title, it'd be most realistic to force Frederick into action should I suffer another injury. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that!

Had the full newest season read up, but hadn't written up any thoughts... here goes!

Spoiler

Preseason: All revolves around Eddie for sure. However, if Wilson can put it together this season and limit the turnovers, then this team could be on the verge of 10 wins for sure, especially with what look to be at least 2 really winnable non-conference games.

Game 1 vs WVU: Just when I was talking about turnovers! I mean it wouldn't be a CMU game without a pick-6, lol. Shame because it seems like Wilson had an okay passing day otherwise. Huge day for Eddie as well, expecting a lot of that this season. Not ideal overall in the grand scheme of things with Kent StateWild seeing Trent Richardson on WVU, what a signing for them. Hate how good WVU seems to be in the Big East in this dynasty while Pitt seems to really be regressing like you have said.

Love how strong the in-season recruiting list is, what a breath of fresh air seeing players on the recruiting board who can come in and be real impact players right away! Huge to boost the overall team depth when you're getting constant 4 and 3 star recruits now.

Game 2 vs Idaho: Welp. So much for needing Wilson to step up. Culver may have just stolen the show, huge performance albeit against a weak opponent, but that may be the confidence booster you need. With Culver's mobility, I feel like his warts are better than Wilson's warts. Great game for Eddie as well, love seeing him involved in the rushing attack while still getting tons of yards receiving as well. Just what the doctor ordered.

Game 3 vs Pitt: It had to happen sooner or later. You better win the conference and make a huge bowl game or something to make this win worth it! Definitely seemed deserved though, I think CMU just outclasses Pitt at this point in your file and clearly the Panthers are falling behind the times. Broken record to say it but Eddie with a huge game again and I think Culver deserves the starting nod now after coming into the fire and coming out a diamond. Huge job to battle there, and at least good to see Wilson lose his job on the back of ANOTHER pick six, haha. Also, feel like "Super Mario" is a fitting name after that 4 sack performance.

Game 4 vs Buffalo: Talk about a beatdown. What a day for Eddie to get a 5 spot of TDs, certainly makes it easy for Culver when he can basically just toss it up and Eddie will find it. Cool milestone to hit, and now it's time to just get into rack up wins mode and try and run the table. No slip ups! Love to see that Sledge is making a big mark as the number 2 as well, having a sneaky good season behind Eddie.

Game 5 vs CMU: Had to sweat the CMU bowl out a little bit there, but the talent won out in the end. One of those games you just grind out and move on.

Game 6 vs BGSU: Those games end up crazier and crazier every season it seems like! What a score fest yet again, good to see Larry Mac finally get on track with a big rushing game. Feels like your rushing attack has struggled most of the year so having that option available is huge to open up even more air time to Eddie the Eagle.

Let's goooooo, that Kent State loss is massive. Even if they don't get to play the true CMU this season, it's good to see the "other" CMU take care of business against them for you! Just need to keep winning now.

Game 7 vs Miami OH: The twists and turns in this QB saga just will not end. Not even going to make any predictions about the future anymore, might as well just ride the hot hand on a game to game basis as long as someone is getting the job done! 3 TD game for Eddie again as well is huge for him in the Heisman race, would love to see a mid-major player really make a true run at this thing and he is definitely the guy to do it. Just needs that volume!

Great to see you getting votes in the poll now, hopefully that's a sign that we could see the Tartans earn a quality bowl bid if they can win out (not to count the chickens too early!). Just gotta hope that you don't burn Frederick's redshirt with another injury, wonder if you have any other emergency QB's on the roster?

Love the updates as always, looking forward to the rest of the season!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Carnegie Mellon Tartans (6-1, 4-0 MAC) at Akron Zips (2-4, 1-2 MAC)
Saturday, October 20, 2012 | 12:30 PM
Akron, Ohio – Rubber Bowl | ROOT Sports Pittsburgh

Record vs. Opponent: 4-1-0
Last Five Meetings
2011 – Carnegie Mellon 34, Akron 24
2008 – Akron 21, Carnegie Mellon 14
1951 – Carnegie Mellon 42, Akron 32
1950 – Carnegie Mellon 26, Akron 6
1938 – #16 Carnegie Tech 27, Akron 13

The Lowdown
Now on the national radar as a team, Carnegie Mellon looks to carry an unbeaten Mid-American Conference (MAC) record into its bye week when it travels to Akron this Saturday. The Tartans made news this week by receiving votes in both the USA Today Coaches’ and Associated Press Media Polls, coming in as the fifth team receiving votes in both. CMU last received votes in a Division I college football poll on Oct. 16, 1939, claiming the No. 15 spot ahead of a matchup at New York University, and is now the second MAC team to earn votes in a Top 25 poll, with Kent State previously ranked at No. 23 in the beginning of October.

The Tartans’ next test on their quest to capture an elusive MAC championship is a road contest against a struggling Akron side. The Zips enter at 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, topping Western Michigan, 41-18, for their only conference win to pair with losses versus Eastern Michigan (7-38) and Buffalo (21-34). Akron is one of CMU’s rare opponents to have a matchup history pre-Division I return, as the Zips and Tartans clashed three times between 1938 and 1951. CMU is 4-1 overall against Akron in its history, winning by double digits in 1938, 1950, 1951, and 2011, with a 21-14 road defeat in 2008 being the lone misstep.

Scouting Akron
Akron comes into this Saturday’s matchup a bit short-handed on both sides of the ball, as it is missing three starters due to injury. Redshirt senior tailback Austin Berry (85 carries, 622 yards, 8 TD in 2011) remains out with a broken wrist, while classmate Dan Davis (47 catches, 733 yards, 6 TD in 2011) will miss with a torn groin. Those two veterans are the Zips’ best skill position players via Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades, which will put more pressure on fifth-year southpaw Jeff Smith (113.7 QB rtg., 127-226, 1,455 yards, 9 TD, 11 INT) and the rest of the offense. Redshirt junior Cornelius Southall (95 carries, 421 yards, 7 TD; 16 catches, 317 yards, 4 TD) is a capable backup for Berry at tailback, while sophomore duo O.J. Richards (29 catches, 247 yards, 2 TD) and Benjamin Jones (41 catches, 483 yards, 1 TD) show promise at wide receiver. Second-year tight end Braylon Ford (7 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD) has hit a bit of a sophomore slump this season after being named an Associated Press Freshman All-American last year. The offensive line is one of the better ones in the conference, with senior left tackle Billy Gatewood boasting an 85.0 PFF grade, and junior right guard Justin Battle being a Preseason All-MAC selection entering the season.

The Akron defense will be missing starting free safety Brent Spence (31 tackles, 2 INT in 2011) with an upper arm fracture and reserve strong safety Scott Randle due to an academic suspension. Four-year starting linebacker Terry Wilson (42 tackles, 1 sack) is the heartbeat of the unit, accumulating 240 tackles, seven sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown over his career and owning a PFF grade of 88.0, while redshirt senior cornerback Shane Mills (13 tackles, 1 INT) has seven career interceptions and was a Preseason All-MAC pick. Moving past those two, however, the other starters are much less reliable. The rest of the linebackers in the Zips’ 3-4 defense have struggled, with junior Joe McCoy (27 tackles, 2 sacks), redshirt senior Barrett Andrews (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), and freshman Mike Coley (16 tackles) all sitting under 75.0 for PFF grades. In the defensive backfield, redshirt junior Frank Francis (18 tackles, 1 sack), redshirt sophomore Trevor Robinson (10 tackles), and sophomore Jeremy Luke (7 tackles, 1 INT) have combined to force just one turnover.

Did You Know?
In 1938, No. 16 Carnegie Tech clashed with Akron for the first time in program history, and the Tartans emerged with a 27-13 victory. The game against the Zippers (yes, that was Akron’s nickname before it was shortened to Zips) was sandwiched between Carnegie Tech’s two toughest regular-season contests – road games against No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 1 Pitt. The Tartans fell to the Fighting Irish, 7-0, before rebounding with the win over Akron, then upset the rival Panthers, 20-10. Carnegie Tech would win its final two regular-season contests against Duquesne and North Carolina State before falling to No. 1 TCU in the Sugar Bowl, 15-7.

Prediction
Returning to the road could pose a slight problem for Carnegie Mellon versus a desperate Akron team, but as it has been common this year in MAC competition, the Tartans own a massive edge in the talent department against their opponent. CMU could start slow – particularly with another starting quarterback switch as Kevin Wilson returns to the first huddle – but that shouldn’t affect the team too much as it moves to 5-0 in the MAC. Carnegie Mellon 38, Akron 20.

[moose141]

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

Did You Know?
In 1938, No. 16 Carnegie Tech clashed with Akron for the first time in program history, and the Tartans emerged with a 27-13 victory. The game against the Zippers (yes, that was Akron’s nickname before it was shortened to Zips) was sandwiched between Carnegie Tech’s two toughest regular-season contests – road games against No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 1 Pitt. The Tartans fell to the Fighting Irish, 7-0, before rebounding with the win over Akron, then upset the rival Panthers, 20-10. Carnegie Tech would win its final two regular-season contests against Duquesne and North Carolina State before falling to No. 1 TCU in the Sugar Bowl, 15-7.

Love the history lesson, fun to call back to the last "good times" for the program now that you're really making national waves. The injury bug should work in your favor this week, expecting a big win!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Big First Quarter Guides Tartans to Win Over Akron
Carnegie Mellon outscored Akron in the first quarter, 16-0, which proved to be the difference in a 43-27 win



CMU wide receiver Eddie Williams wrestles this touchdown catch away from an Akron defender. (Ashley Black / Getty Images)

by Alicia Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter

AKRON, Ohio -- Pacing its Mid-American Conference (MAC) competition and recently receiving national recognition from the Top 25 polls, Carnegie Mellon looked to enter its bye week riding a wave of momentum from a comfortable win. A 27-27 deadlock over three quarters seemed to squash those plans; however, the Tartans gave themselves a 16-point head start in the opening frame to claim a 43-27 victory over Akron.

Carnegie Mellon (7-1, 5-0 MAC) built its early lead thanks to a pick six and three interceptions in all over the opening 16 minutes, providing itself some cushion from the five turnovers it ultimately committed.

“I felt like we coasted a little after building that early lead,” said CMU head coach Jules Nottingham. “And that’s unacceptable. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is – we can’t afford to just go through the motions. Akron could have certainly beaten us if we didn’t take the job seriously, and for three quarters it played out just like that. Thankfully, we had the first quarter to go off of.”

Five plays into the contest, Joseph Love nailed a 34-yard field goal to put the Tartans ahead 3-0. That advantage grew to 9-0 just one offensive play later, as Jon Crowell jumped an errant pass from Akron (2-5, 1-3 MAC) quarterback Jeff Smith and ran it back 33 yards to the end zone. The Zips then followed that with a three-and-out, and it seemed as if the visitors would tack on more points on the next drive, only for Travis Sledge to fumble away a first-down catch. Nevertheless, Crowell picked off Smith on Akron’s next trek, and Kevin Wilson would cap a seven-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Williams to make it 16-0.

Smith threw interception number three on the first play of the second quarter, with Matt Butler being the lucky recipient this time around. That was matched by Wilson though, as a Jeremy Luke pick led to Akron’s first points on a Cornelius Southall four-yard plunge. CMU responded with a six-play, 47-yard drive that ended in a Clay Armstrong two-yard touchdown rush, while the Zips put together a nine-play, 56-yard drive that ended in a Kyle Dorsey 37-yard field goal. Wilson’s second interception closed the first half with the Tartans leading 23-10.

Robert Wall continued the pick party by stealing Smith’s first pass of the second half, leading to a Wilson 31-yard touchdown pass to Williams on the very next play. After the teams traded field goals, Akron’s Benjamin Jones found himself wide open for a 77-yard touchdown reception to make it 33-20. Wilson then tossed interceptions on the next two CMU drives, with the latter leading to another Zips score – this of 47 yards from Smith to Derrick McDonald to cut the deficit to 33-27.

Love, who accounted for a career-best 13 points on the afternoon, made it a two-score game with 6:58 remaining by connecting on a 51-yard field goal. The Tartans defense then held Akron to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and the offense went nine plays – highlighted by a Wilson 50-yard pass to Williams on third down – to score the game-sealing touchdown as Lawrence McIntire ran in from a yard out.

Williams continued adding to his Heisman candidacy, recording 286 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions, while Wilson finished with 335 yards passing on 20-of-40 attempts. On defense, CMU saw Butler and Crowell each pick off two passes, and Matt Burnsides, Mario Williams, and Jordan Gibson all collect a sack.

Southall rushed for 103 yards and a score on 16 carries for the Zips. Smith was just 14-of-34 passing for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Carnegie Mellon is off next week for its bye before completing a two-game road swing at Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Carnegie Mellon Tartans at Akron Zips
Oct 20, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Carnegie Mellon Tartans (7-1, 5-0 MAC)	16	7	10	10	43
Akron Zips (2-5, 1-3 MAC)	0	10	10	7	27

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		CMU	AKR
13:57	(CMU) Joseph Love 34-yard field goal	3	0
13:17	(CMU) Jon Crowell 33-yard interception return (run failed, snap aborted)	9	0
2:10	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 12-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	16	0
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		CMU	AKR
12:10	(AKR) Cornelius Southall 4-yard run (Kyle Dorsey kick)	16	7
7:47	(CMU) Clay Armstrong 2-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	23	7
3:08	(AKR) Kyle Dorsey 37-yard field goal	23	10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		CMU	AKR
14:51	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 31-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	30	10
10:52	(AKR) Kyle Dorsey 36-yard field goal	30	13
4:21	(CMU) Joseph Love 30-yard field goal	33	13
3:49	(AKR) Jeff Smith 77-yard pass to Benjamin Jones (Kyle Dorsey kick)	33	20
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		CMU	AKR
14:54	(AKR) Jeff Smith 47-yard pass to Derrick McDonald (Kyle Dorsey kick)	33	27
6:58	(CMU) Joseph Love 51-yard field goal	36	27
1:03	(CMU) Lawrence McIntire 1-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	43	27

Carnegie Mellon Tartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kevin Wilson 20/40 335 2 4 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Lawrence McIntire 22 73 3.3 1 Clay Armstrong 4 8 2.0 1 Jeff Gilmore 2 -2 -1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Eddie Williams 14 286 20.4 2 Travis Sledge 3 34 11.3 0 Lawrence McIntire 2 7 3.5 0 Chris Smith 1 8 8.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Bobby Magnum 6 0 0 0 Matt Butler 4 0 2 0 Matt Burnsides 4 1 0 0 Mario Williams 3 1 0 0 Jordan Gibson 3 1 0 0 Jon Crowell 2 0 2 1 Robert Wall 2 0 1 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Joseph Love 3/3 4/4 13 51 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Andy Fitzhugh 1 51 51.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 4 106 26.5 0 Kyle Holland 2 66 33.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kelvin Butler 2 9 4.5 0

Akron Zips PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Jeff Smith 14/34 229 2 5 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Cornelius Southall 16 103 6.4 1 Joe Wright 2 2 1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Derrick McDonald 4 80 20.0 1 O.J. Richards 3 43 14.3 0 Benjamin Jones 2 82 41.0 0 Braylon Ford 2 13 6.5 0 Joe Wright 1 5 5.0 0 Cornelius Southall 1 3 3.0 0 Malcom Gilmore 1 3 3.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Shane Mills 13 0 2 0 Joe McCoy 10 0 0 0 Doug Murphy 6 0 0 0 Jeremy Luke 4 1 1 0 Barrett Andrews 3 1 0 0 Travis Wilson 3 1 0 0 Steve Temple 1 0 1 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Kyle Dorsey 2/2 3/3 9 37 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Maurice Battle 3 124 41.3 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Cornelius Southall 5 104 20.7 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD O.J. Richards 1 8 8.0 0

[moose141]

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

Your receiving stats are one of the more bananas stat lines that I have ever seen, haha. That game for Eddie was insane and if he isn’t at the top of every pundits Heisman leaderboard then I don’t know what we’re even doing here. Great win, nice to spot yourself a lead and never have to play from behind, makes mistakes a little more manageable. Keep this train rolling!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Your receiving stats are one of the more bananas stat lines that I have ever seen, haha. That game for Eddie was insane and if he isn’t at the top of every pundits Heisman leaderboard then I don’t know what we’re even doing here. Great win, nice to spot yourself a lead and never have to play from behind, makes mistakes a little more manageable. Keep this train rolling!

Haha the receiving stats are a product of Williams' overall ability, the lack of quality at cornerback in the MAC, and the inconsistency of my quarterbacks. He's such a cheat-code in this game and really makes the offense run. I think the only time either Culver and Wilson have been intercepted when targeting Williams is if they overthrow him - everything else he has a chance at.

Was good to get out in front and not really have to look back - honestly, I probably oversold the closeness of the final three quarters because I didn't feel threatened that Akron would complete the comeback at all. Appreciate you checking in as always, Moose!

Author's Note: There might be a little bit of downtime in here after the upcoming NCAA + MAC weekly updates. February and early March is a busy time work-wise, plus with it being the bye week, I have plans on doing another player feature article before we get back to the games. I'm sure you can guess who it will be about.

My previous player feature articles are now available on the first page of the thread here: LINK

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NCAA – Week 8 Edition
No. 3 Florida withstood a 21-point fourth quarter comeback from No. 14 Georgia to win in overtime, 34-28

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
Flawless! – Florida stays unbeaten with a 34-28 win vs. conference rival Georgia.

A rivalry full of special moments produced another one this past Saturday, as No. 5 Florida outlasted No. 14 Georgia in overtime, 34-28, thanks to freshman wide receiver Michael Thomas’s 15-yard touchdown catch in the extra frame. The Gators and Bulldogs both arrived in Jacksonville with identical 6-0 records, and it was Florida who would go ahead 28-7 in the third quarter and seem destined for a comfortable win. However, Georgia answered with 21 fourth-quarter points – including a game-tying pick six from linebacker Khairi Fortt – to send the game into overtime. Thomas’s winning touchdown capped a special afternoon, as the Heisman candidate finished with six receptions for 225 yards and three scores.

BCS Rankings
1 | USC (7-0, 0.974)
2 | Wisconsin (7-0, 0.913)
3 | Florida (7-0, 0.886)
4 | Texas A&M (7-0, 0.836)
5 | Michigan (6-0, 0.761)
6 | LSU (7-1, 0.723)
7 | Nebraska (8-0, 0.695)
8 | Oklahoma (7-0, 0.684)
9 | Penn State (6-1, 0.649)
10 | Clemson (6-1, 0.616)
11 | Virginia Tech (7-1, 0.598)
12 | Virginia (8-0, 0.566)
13 | Missouri (7-0, 0.543)
14 | Boise State (7-0, 0.446)
15 | Texas (6-2, 0.406)

Heisman Watch
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 74 catches, 1,466 yards, 19 TD (3 rush)
Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., QB, Missouri | 192.5 QB rtg., 126-188, 1,772 yards, 27 TD, 1 INT; 83 carries, 552 yards, 8 TD
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 175.9 QB rtg., 171-257, 2,301 yards, 30 TD (1 rush), 4 INT
Michael Thomas, Fr., WR, Florida | 38 catches, 788 yards, 12 TD
Kyle Parker, R-Sr., QB, Virginia | 167.6 QB rtg., 143-225, 1,940 yards, 24 TD, 4 INT; 87 carries, 367 yards, 5 TD

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Stephen Rivers, So., QB, Harvard | 28-38, 484 yards, 7 TD in 56-42 win against Columbia
Defensive: Jon Crowell, R-Sr., CB, Carnegie Mellon | 2 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD in 43-27 win at Akron

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Dak Prescott, So., Florida (197.9)
Passing Yards: Matt Barkley, Sr., Hawaii (2,555)
Passing Touchdowns: Mike Glennon, R-Sr., LSU; Star Jackson, R-Sr., Penn State (29)
Passing Interceptions: Aaron Jones, Jr., Marshall; Mark Powdrell, So., Kansas (20)
Rushing Yards: Joe Henry, R-Sr., TCU (1,153)
Rushing Touchdowns: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., Navy (15)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (74)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,466)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (16)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (78)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan; Adam Goodwin, R-Sr., Texas (9)
Interceptions: Matt Elam, Jr., Arkansas (6)
Made Field Goals: Jonathan Avery, Fr., Baylor; Vincent Hendrix, Jr., Colorado State; Sam Young, So., UNLV (11)
Net Punting Average: Kevin Pittman, So., BYU (41.2)
Kick Return Average: Larry Washington, Sr., New Mexico (28.7)
Punt Return Average: Marcus Lattimore, Jr., Clemson (14.4)

Injury Report
Jason Slaughter, R-Jr., WR, Miami (Fla.) | High ankle sprain (9 weeks)
James Carter, Sr., WR, Buffalo | Foot stress fracture (5 weeks)
Mike Jackson, R-Sr., DE, Ole Miss | Torn shoulder muscle (9 weeks)
Vince Jean, R-Sr., OLB, USC | Broken jaw (10 weeks)
Mike Carter, R-Jr., OLB, USC | Broken tailbone (10 weeks)

Week 8 Notable Top 25 Scores
#12 Virginia 45, North Carolina 10
#6 LSU 49, Auburn 7
#7 Nebraska 42, Kansas State 7
#16 Ohio State 44, Iowa 21
#3 Florida 34, #18 Georgia 28 (OT)
#24 Washington 38, Oregon State 3
#1 USC 35, Arizona State 20
#13 Missouri 49, Oklahoma State 26
#10 Clemson 30, #11 Virginia Tech 14
#15 Texas 45, Texas Tech 20
#9 Oklahoma 41, Kansas 14
#19 UCLA 30, Oregon 15
#4 Texas A&M 42, Colorado 6
#2 Wisconsin 62, Purdue 14
#5 Michigan 42, Illinois 12
#17 Miami (Fla.) 49, Georgia Tech 17

Week 9 National Broadcasts
#4 Texas A&M (7-0) at Baylor (3-4) | 10/27, 12:30 PM (Rivalry Game)
#13 Missouri (7-0) at #7 Nebraska (8-0) | 10/27, 12:30 PM (Game of the Week; Battle for the Missouri-Nebraska Bell)
Iowa (4-3) at #8 Penn State (6-1) | 10/27, 12:30 PM
Louisville (5-2) at #6 LSU (7-1) | 10/27, 1:00 PM
Notre Dame (4-3) at Navy (4-3) | 10/27, 3:30 PM
#9 Oklahoma (7-0) at Oklahoma State (4-4) | 10/27, 3:30 PM (Bedlam Game)
Auburn (5-3) at #3 Florida (7-0) | 10/27, 6:00 PM
#24 Washington (3-3) at California (5-2) | 10/27, 6:00 PM

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the MAC – Week 8 Edition
Kent State quarterback John Estes produced 449 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a win at Ball State

MAC East Standings
Carnegie Mellon | 7-1, 5-0 MAC
Bowling Green | 4-4, 4-1 MAC
Kent State | 6-1, 3-1 MAC
Ohio | 2-5, 1-2 MAC
Miami (Ohio) | 5-2, 1-2 MAC
Buffalo | 1-6, 1-3 MAC
Akron | 2-5, 1-3 MAC

MAC West Standings
Eastern Michigan | 3-5, 3-2 MAC
Ball State | 3-5, 2-2 MAC
Toledo | 3-5, 2-2 MAC
Northern Illinois | 2-5, 1-2 MAC
Central Michigan | 2-5, 1-2 MAC
Western Michigan | 2-6, 1-4 MAC

MAC Players of the Week
Offensive: John Estes, R-Jr., QB, Kent State | 19-29, 274 yards, 3 TD; 28 carries, 175 yards, 2 TD in 40-13 win at Ball State
Defensive: Jon Crowell, R-Sr., CB, Carnegie Mellon | 2 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD in 43-27 win at Akron

MAC Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Gerald Culver, Jr., Carnegie Mellon (191.3)
Passing Yards: Brett Hicks, R-Jr., Ball State (2,256)
Passing Touchdowns: Hicks; Tyler Byers, R-Sr., Miami (Ohio) (19)
Passing Interceptions: Jeff Smith, R-Sr., Akron (16)
Rushing Yards: Tanner Phillips, Sr., Central Michigan (1,114)
Rushing Touchdowns: Phillips (12)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (74)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,466)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (16)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (78)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan (9)
Interceptions: Jabari London, R-So., Carnegie Mellon; Robert Wall, Fr., Carnegie Mellon (5)
Made Field Goals: Kyle Dorsey, So., Akron (9)
Net Punting Average: Zach Riley, Sr., Northern Illinois (39.0)
Kick Return Average: Kelvin Butler, Jr., Carnegie Mellon (26.9)
Punt Return Average: Dustin Kane, R-Jr., Toledo (10.7)

Week 8 Scores
Carnegie Mellon 43, Akron 27
Miami (Ohio) 42, Western Michigan 24
Kent State 40, Ball State 13
SMU 24, Northern Illinois 10
Navy 27, Toledo 14
Eastern Michigan 34, Ohio 33
Bowling Green 33, Central Michigan 28

Week 9 Matchups
Northern Illinois (2-5, 1-2 MAC) at Ball State (3-5, 2-2 MAC) | 10/27, 3:30 PM (Rivalry Game)
Bowling Green (4-4, 4-1 MAC) at Akron (2-5, 1-3 MAC) | 10/27, 12:30 PM
Kent State (6-1, 3-1 MAC) at Miami (Ohio) (5-2, 1-2 MAC) | 10/27, 12:30 PM
Penn (2-5) at Western Michigan (2-6) | 10/27, 3:30 PM
Buffalo (1-6, 1-3 MAC) at Ohio (2-5, 1-2 MAC) | 10/27, 3:30 PM
Central Michigan (2-5, 1-2 MAC) at Toledo (3-5, 2-2 MAC) | 10/27, 6:00 PM

[Careless Whisper]

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

by Jeff Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon insider for Rivals.com

Nine Tartans earned semifinalist nods for national awards

Carnegie Mellon’s terrific 2012 campaign hasn’t gone unnoticed by the college football landscape, as a total of nine Tartans players and coaches were named semifinalists for national awards this week.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams highlights the list, earning semifinalist nods for the Maxwell Award and Fred Biletnikoff Award. Williams, who also is a leading candidate for the Heisman Memorial Trophy, has accumulated 74 receptions for 1,466 yards and 19 total touchdowns (16 receiving, 3 rushing) this season.

Junior linebacker Brandon Williams (no relation to Eddie) is a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Dick Butkus Award. Williams has recorded 51 tackles (10 for loss), two sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

Senior defensive tackle Matt Burnsides is in the running for the Rotary Lombardi Award, as he has 24 tackles (13 for loss), eight sacks, and a forced fumble to his name.

CMU has three players in the running for the Jim Thorpe Award, with redshirt sophomore free safety Jabari London (26 tackles, 5 INT, 1 FF), freshman cornerback Robert Wall (20 tackles, 1 sack, 5 INT), and redshirt senior strong safety Bobby Magnum (33 tackles, 3 INT, 1 FF) making the list.

Two-time Randy Moss Award winner Kelvin Butler (22 kick returns, 592 yards, 1 TD; 24 punt returns, 182 yards) is a semifinalist for the honor again, while freshman kicker Joseph Love (8-10 FG, 42-43 XP) made the Lou Groza Award list.

Head coach Jules Nottingham was selected as a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Tartans to a 7-1 record and a first-place position in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) thus far.

CMU now first out in Coaches, second out in Media

One week after receiving votes in both national polls for the first time since 1939, Carnegie Mellon is on the cusp of the top 25 in both rankings, slotting as the first school out in the USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 and the second out in the Associated Press Media Poll.

The Tartans received 122 points in the Coaches’ Poll, just behind No. 25 BYU (5-1) at 139 points. CMU is behind Texas Tech (4-3) and No. 25 California (5-2) in the Media Poll, as its 209 points trail the Red Raiders’ 229 and the Golden Bears’ 239.

Crowell named NCAA Defensive Player of the Week

Redshirt senior cornerback Jon Crowell was named the NCAA Defensive Player of the Week after snagging two interceptions and returning one for a touchdown in CMU’s 43-27 win over Akron.

Crowell is the second Tartan to garner NCAA Defensive Player of the Week honors, joining current New Orleans Saints defensive back Calvin Burton. Burton collected the accolade twice, with the most recent instance coming on Sept. 30, 2008 when he tied the NCAA record with five interceptions in the Tartans’ 45-35 victory over Buffalo.

Crowell, who was also named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career, has accumulated 22 tackles, three interceptions, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown this season. He has 11 interceptions and two defensive touchdowns over his career.

Smith, Norton to make official visits on Navy weekend

Carnegie Mellon set a pair of official visits for its Nov. 10 game against Navy, as it will welcome four-star center Quinton Smith (Odessa, Texas) and three-star defensive end Carlton Norton (Greensburg, Pa.).

Smith, a four-star offensive lineman from Permian High School of Friday Night Lights fame, has the Tartans in the lead for his services over Texas Tech and Nebraska. His uncle, Sean Smith, was a defensive tackle for the Tartans from 1984-87, and Quinton loves the history of the program.

Norton, a three-star pass rusher from Greensburg Central Catholic High School, lists CMU first ahead of Clemson and Ohio State. He has kept his thoughts about the recruiting process close to his chest, but the appeal of playing close to home is likely a reason why he is considering the Tartans.

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

[Careless Whisper]

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

The Most Interesting Man in College Sports
Carnegie Mellon’s Eddie Williams is the Heisman Trophy favorite, an All-Conference pitcher, and an encyclopedia of information

by Charles Wallace, Sports Illustrated senior writer

It’s a bright and blustery autumn day on the busy campus of Carnegie Mellon University, and its most recognizable student-athlete is nowhere to be found.

Scratch that – he’s actually everywhere you look. Whether it’s on the Gesling Stadium videoboard promoting the Tartans’ next home game against Navy, on the baseball team’s 2013 season schedule poster hanging up in the Tepper School of Business, or at the Coulter Welcome Center as part of the school’s introductory video to prospective high school students, you can’t go five seconds without catching a glimpse of the menacing six-foot-three wide receiver that arrived on campus as a soon-to-be-redshirted project and now is the presumptive Heisman Trophy favorite.

On this Monday afternoon however, one that the Carnegie Mellon football team has off following its 43-27 win at Akron two days earlier, college football’s biggest star can be found in a cubicle in the sports information office of Skibo Gymnasium, typing away at a Word document containing the school’s men’s golf record book.

“Did you know that Ryan Wilson shot a 64 last weekend and that somehow isn’t the school record? You should really track down this Matt Myers guy and see what he’s up to.”

Meet Eddie Williams. The Carnegie Mellon athletic department’s most senior student intern is also college athletics’ biggest star, with his on-field resume sporting 4,924 total yards, 52 total touchdowns, and two Associated Press All-America nods in football, as well as 316 strikeouts, 27 homeruns, and three All-Atlantic 10 selections on the baseball diamond. His off-the-field resume includes a projected Magna Cum Laude distinction at graduation next May, Homecoming king honors during last month’s festivities, and a guaranteed job in the Tartans sports information office if or when he wants it.

“I’ll hire (Eddie Williams) the moment he receives his diploma,” said CMU sports information director Collin Evans. “But my guess is that he’ll have more exciting and lucrative job offers coming his way shortly.”

Williams isn’t just interning with Evans to brush up on his Carnegie Mellon men’s golf trivia – though he’s quick to let you know who holds the record for most top-10 finishes in a single season – but because he truly enjoys learning about the school’s deep history in athletics. There was also some personal motivation though, with Evans finding a new document on his computer following Williams’ first week on campus.

“I saw a copy made of our football records,” said Evans. “And at the top of every receiving record – single-game, season, and career – Eddie wrote his name in. We’ve had our fair share of student-athletes intern in the office over my 20-plus years, and I can safely say that I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“It was after my first fall practice and I stopped in (the sports information office) to officially introduce myself,” added Williams. “Collin (Evans) and I got to talking and I asked if he had any internships available. Later that week I came in for my first day and immediately started looking for the football record book. I was able to find it pretty quickly, saw what the receiving records were and wrote those down, then created a copy with my name at the top. I didn’t realize I saved it to the actual computer and not my hard drive until I was back at my dorm!”

Despite the understanding he would spend the 2009 season as a redshirt, Williams had full confidence he would own all those records by the end of his career. And he’s achieved that and then some, now officially topping the Carnegie Mellon record book in single-game receptions (17), receiving yards (228), and receiving touchdowns (5), single-season receptions (102), receiving yards (1,620), and receiving touchdowns (16), and career receptions (265), receiving yards (4,415), and receiving touchdowns (45). Williams’ redshirt junior campaign in particular has been nothing short of eye-opening, with his numbers (74 catches, 1,466 yards, 16 TD; 14 carries, 84 yards, 3 TD) garnering national attention and thrusting him to the top of the Heisman leaderboard, where he looks to become the first mid-major player to hoist the trophy since BYU’s Ty Detmer in 1990.

With all respect to Carnegie Mellon University and its football program’s incredible rise, how does the nation’s best player end up here and not somewhere like reigning national champion Penn State?

“It was the perfect storm,” recalled Jeff Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon insider for Rivals.com. “They literally lucked into their greatest player in program history.”

“We need to do everything in our power to land this kid”
It was the week following Carnegie Mellon’s 42-16 loss to rival Pitt in 2008 when then head coach John Elliott was assigning recruiting assignments for the night before its Mid-American Conference (MAC) opener against Buffalo.

“We always sent our staff to some game in the relative area on the Friday nights before home games,” said Elliott, now head coach at Harvard. “I remember there was this one kid from Altoona High School that we were recruiting, so I sent our wide receivers coach (Aaron Love) to scout him.”

“I pull up to (Mansion Park) and double-check to see if I’m in the right place,” recalled Aaron Love, now offensive coordinator at NCAA Division II Mercyhurst University. “Because I didn’t see the maroon jerseys I’ve been seeing on film. I ask the guy next to me and he tells me that Altoona is on the road tonight, and that this small, private school Bishop Carroll also uses the stadium for home games. I didn’t know what to tell Coach (John) Elliott and we didn’t have a single guy on our radar from either team, but since it was a Friday night in Pennsylvania, I figured I’d at least stay for the first half.”

Eddie Williams made defenses look foolish in his short career at Bishop Carroll High School. (Tyler King / Altoona Mirror)

Bishop Carroll High School – a private school that plays in the lowest classification of the Pennsylvania high school system – was hosting Juniata Valley that night, and by Love’s account, there were by roughly 300 fans scattered across the 10,400-seat stadium. Clearly the matchup between the Huskies and Green Hornets wasn’t the most anticipated on the weekly schedule, but those who were in attendance were treated to one of the greatest individual performances they would ever see.

“It was hard to miss (Eddie Williams) after he ran back the opening kickoff,” said Love. “And then when he scored on their first offensive play. And then when he scored his third touchdown of the first quarter. My jaw was on the floor. I ended up calling Coach Elliott at halftime and said, ‘Altoona’s on the road, but I stumbled upon a player that is better than anyone else we’re looking at. We need to do everything in our power to land this kid.”

That night, Bishop Carroll senior Eddie Williams played three different positions (quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback), compiled six total touchdowns (3 receiving, 1 passing, 1 rushing, 1 kick return), and intercepted a pass. He accumulated nearly 500 yards of total offense as the Huskies moved to 4-1 with a 41-13 win, but the celebrations would be short-lived when their star screamed in agony after being tackled in the fourth quarter.

“I never want to come out of a game,” said Williams. “So we’re leading by a lot late and winding down the clock, I run right on a keeper and go to stiff-arm the defender. I get enough on him to push him backwards, but he manages to grab enough of my jersey to knock me off-balance. A second guy comes in from behind to finish the tackle, and that happens just as I lay my arm out to stay upright. As soon as I landed on it, I heard a loud snap and knew something bad happened.”

The diagnosis was a broken arm, an injury that would end Williams’ high school career. With only 14 career games’ worth of highlights and the level of competition, Williams didn’t have many scholarship offers on the table at that moment, but an additional one would come late that night in the most unlikely of places.

“I was in the hospital scrolling through my phone and my parents were out of the room grabbing something to eat,” recollected Williams. “All of a sudden, I hear a knock on the door and it’s this older man in a polo that I never met before. Coach Elliott introduced himself, offered his sympathy about my broken arm, and then stated that his assistant coach was at the game and called him midway to tell him about me.”

Elliott went on to explain that he immediately left his house after hanging up with Love, and drove the two hours in hopes of meeting Williams for the first time.

“I trust my coaches and know they wouldn’t lead me astray,” said Elliott. “When Coach Love said that Eddie was better than anyone else on our radar, I knew he would be a program changer and had to meet him ASAP, even if we had a game the next day. It was our first season at the FBS level so we were struggling on the field, and I knew that bringing in a good recruiting class would be the most important thing we could do to turn things around quickly.”

“I didn’t know a single thing about Carnegie Mellon’s football program before that night, but that kind of commitment really stood out to me,” added Williams. “As I learned about the school and its history, I knew that I could really leave a legacy there.”

While Williams didn’t verbally commit to Carnegie Mellon until the week of National Letter of Intent (NLI) day, the lack of film certainly helped the Tartans’ pursuit of him. He finished as a consensus two-star prospect, and despite schools such as Maryland, Ohio State, and Penn State entering the fold late, the fit at Carnegie Mellon proved to be what felt best. Although, as Williams is quick to remind those who ask, the Tartans did have to throw in a sweetener in order to land his signature.

“I kept reminding the coaching staff that I’m not just a football player,” said Williams. “I can pitch a little too.”

Nicest guy off the field, most competitive on it
Williams’ broken (non-throwing) arm also wiped out his senior year of baseball at Bishop Carroll, but Carnegie Mellon baseball head coach Steven Van Buren was unfazed.

“John (Elliott) came into my office one day and asked if we could use this kid,” said Van Buren of Williams. “They were recruiting him hard, and he seemed like he wanted to come here, but he mentioned a few times that he was a baseball player too. I have a couple of connections in central PA so they were able to send me some video of his starts, and everything jumped out at you. He threw four pitches for strikes, could swing the bat, and ran the bases well. Granted, the competition wasn’t the best, but you could see how all his skills would play at a higher level.”

“Honestly he could have stunk though, and we would have still taken him,” added Van Buren with a laugh. “You don’t get to be too picky when you only win 45 games over a three-year span.”

Eddie Williams is a three-time All-Atlantic 10 pitcher for the Tartans baseball team. (Hayden Isaacs / The Tartan)

Fresh off a full redshirt year with the football team, when Williams took the mound for his first baseball practice with the Tartans, he was chomping at the bit for any sort of competition.

“Eddie (Williams) is literally the easiest guy to get along with,” said former Carnegie Mellon infielder Aramis Baker. “He would give the shirt off his back for a teammate and could hold a conversation with anyone – and he showed that from day one. That first practice though, I’m the first to step into the box against him and didn’t know what to expect. Within maybe a minute, Eddie snaps off two fastballs and a curve, and I flail at the last two – then he just stares at me with the biggest scowl, like it offended him that I came to the plate.”

“I kid you not – Eddie (Williams) strikes out (Aramis) Baker, stares him down till he reaches the dugout, and yells out ‘Who’s next?’ like he’s Goldberg,’” added Van Buren. “He then proceeded to do the same thing to Joe (Luyster) – and keep in mind these are upperclassmen he’s doing this to – and went through the exact same routine for the next four batters before we had to pull him off the mound.”

“Part of me wanted to charge the mound and beat his face in for showing me up,” admitted Baker. “But I also was in awe. If this guy could flip a switch from being Mr. Nice Guy to the baddest [expletive] on the field, I knew we had something special.”

Williams’ competitiveness has gotten him in trouble sometimes – including a nine-game suspension as a sophomore after causing a bench-clearing brawl against No. 13 Temple – but that fire has also helped lift the Tartans young baseball program. Carnegie Mellon saw its win total move from 19 to 24 to 31 over the last three seasons, and it qualified for the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2012 – the program’s first-ever appearance. Williams has served as the ace of the staff and the team’s most formidable bat in the lineup, leading the team all three seasons in innings pitched, wins, and strikeouts, as well as two seasons in homeruns, runs batted in, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, and opponent batting average. This past season, he ranked second nationally in strikeouts (148), tied for third in shutouts (3), and eighth in innings pitched (128.1).

That same determination also appeared quickly on the football field, despite a nagging hamstring injury forcing a late start. Williams was already slated for a freshman redshirt after a long rehab from his broken arm, but once he was healthy enough to join the scout team, it took a lot of restraint to keep him on the bench.

“There was a lot of frustration that year on (Eddie Williams’) end,” said Tartans head coach Jules Nottingham. “It’s hard to be out of the team, and with the success we were having, it made him even more anxious to play. I believe it was the second practice for him off the hamstring and (current New Orleans Saints cornerback) Calvin Burton was matched up against him. Kevin (Wilson) sends Eddie on a go route and badly underthrows it, and 99 times out of 100 it’s an easy interception. Eddie tracks back behind Calvin, leaps up, plucks the ball right in front of his face, and stiff-arms him before scoring.”

“It was very Randy Moss like,” added former Carnegie Mellon quarterback and now graduate assistant Justin Keyes. “Eddie (Williams) jogged back to the huddle past Calvin (Burton), flipped him the ball, and raised one finger without saying a word. Two plays later, he and Calvin are locked up in another one-on-one battle and it was another off-target pass, but he somehow finds a way to come away with the ball and again gets to the end zone. He then gives Calvin the peace sign and I know he’s steaming. That happened again two more times before Coach (Jules) Nottingham pulled Eddie off the field for his own good.”

“I was this close to swinging on him,” admitted New Orleans Saints cornerback Calvin Burton with a laugh. “I still wanted to too when we got back to the locker room. I’ll never forget Eddie (Williams) coming up to my locker afterward though. I’m ready to fight this guy, and then he starts asking me how my family is doing and if I want to grab dinner together. It was like I was talking to a completely different person. The great ones though, they know how to flip that switch, and to this day I don’t think I’ve faced a receiver who has made me look as bad than how Eddie did.”

“I’m quick to say Eddie Williams is the nicest guy off the field, and the most competitive on it,” added Nottingham. “His drive and mindset are second to none.”

Why not both?
Eddie Williams isn’t just the best player in college football and a top mid-major baseball talent – some say in the Carnegie Mellon athletic department that he’s a marketing genius.

“The picture was all Eddie (Williams),” said CMU athletic marketing director Brenna Thomson. “He knew the history and came to us with the idea. It wasn’t in some arrogant or bashful way either – he’s confident in himself, but it wasn’t him trying to showboat. He came in (after the Tartans’ 28-25 win against Pitt) for his regular office hours and said, ‘I know you’re trying to come up with ideas to help with the Heisman campaign. Who remembers watching Bo Jackson play?’”

The now iconic photo on various Pittsburgh billboards shows Williams donning his shoulder pads and baseball glove, similar to how former Los Angeles Raiders runningback and Kansas City Royals outfielder Bo Jackson donned both sports’ gear during Nike’s 1989 “Bo Knows Bo” campaign. That push helped launch Jackson into superstardom, and Williams believes that it, along with his current play, will help him secure the Heisman Trophy.

“Of course I want to win the Heisman,” admitted Williams. “Who wouldn’t? Every kid playing football dreams of doing so. Because (Carnegie Mellon) doesn’t get the regular national TV coverage like the bigger schools do, we need to be bold in order to capture the public’s attention. Replicating the ‘Bo Knows Bo’ campaign seemed like the perfect idea – I already looked up to Bo (Jackson) and everything he accomplished, and I knew by coming up with this, Carnegie Mellon as a whole would get the praise it deserves.”

If Eddie Williams does follow the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner’s footsteps with the hardware come December, does he want to also follow Jackson’s path professionally?

“I haven’t decided yet to be honest,” said Williams. “I really enjoy baseball and it’s a good way to quench my competitive thirst after football season, but football has always been my first love. It’s a logistical nightmare unless you do what Bo (Jackson) did, where he joined the Raiders midway through the season after he was done with baseball. If I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity though, I’d do it differently – football would have to come first, and location would be a huge factor. Both organizations would have to be close to each other in order for it to work on my end. But if that can be done, ‘why not both?’”

It’s still unclear whether Williams will have that choice. While he has improved his stock from a mid-round projection last year to a first-round guarantee in the 2013 NFL Draft, the MLB Draft is made up of a wider pool of players with now only 10 rounds to go through. Every selection is crucial compared to the days where there were 60-plus selections per team, and the event is now held at the conclusion of the MLB season. Baseball America currently has Williams listed with an undrafted projection – though it could be said that the potential of him choosing not to play professional baseball factors in.

Shifting the focus back to football, Williams’ wheels start turning as he finishes his work on the Carnegie Mellon men’s golf record book. He overhears ESPN on television in the background and a discussion on wide receivers winning the Heisman Trophy. There is some doubt on whether Williams would be deserving, considering Tartans’ MAC schedule and the value of his position compared to quarterback or runningback. He chuckles and shakes his head, then goes to the NCAA website to pull up the football record book.

“Remember these numbers – 142, 2,060, and 27,” said Williams. “Those are the current NCAA single-season records in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. I can absolutely hit those numbers by the end of the season. Let’s see if they have any doubts when I do.”

I cautiously remind him that Carnegie Mellon has at least five, likely six (assuming qualification for the MAC Championship Game) games remaining, and that he would have to keep his current pace or improve upon it – if that’s even possible – to break all three records.

“No one can surpass the expectations I set for myself,” stated Williams. “I want to be the best to do it in all that I do, whether that be in football, baseball, in the classroom, or even here in the athletic department. I believe that I will achieve that, and I will stop at nothing to do so.”

-----

By The Numbers

Football
2009 | DNP – Redshirted
2010 | 89 catches, 1,329 yards, 14.9 avg., 14 TD; 20 carries, 216 yards, 10.8 avg., 3 TD
2011 | 102 catches, 1,620 yards, 15.9 avg., 15 TD; 19 carries, 209 yards, 11.0 avg., 1 TD
2012 | 74 catches, 1,466 yards, 19.8 avg., 16 TD; 14 carries, 84 yards, 6.0 avg., 3 TD
Career | 265 catches, 4,415 yards, 16.7 avg., 45 TD; 53 carries, 509 yards, 9.6 avg., 7 TD
Awards | 2010 Associated Press All-America Freshman Team, 2010 All-MAC First Team, 2010 MAC Freshman of the Year, 2011 Associated Press All-America Second Team, 2011 All-MAC First Team, 2011 MAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year

Baseball
2010 | 13 APP, 82.0 IP, 6-5, 3.40 ERA, 77 K, 30 BB; 44 GP, .287/.364/.543, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 47 H, 23 R, 12 SB
2011 | 14 APP, 94.2 IP, 8-2, 2.85 ERA, 91 K, 38 BB; 36 GP, .352/.454/.640, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 44 H, 30 R, 14 SB
2012 | 19 APP, 128.1 IP, 9-6, 3.09 ERA, 148 K, 53 BB; 53 GP, .325/.432/.600, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 65 H, 39 R, 14 SB
Career | 46 APP, 305.0 IP, 23-13, 3.10 ERA, 316 K, 121 BB; 133 GP, .319/.416/.591, 27 HR, 107 RBI, 156 H, 92 R, 40 SB
Awards | 2010 All-Atlantic 10 Freshman Team, 2010 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, 2011 All-Atlantic 10 First Team, 2012 All-Atlantic 10 First Team

-----

Author’s Note: If you have read this far, you win a prize! Seriously though, I apologize somewhat for the length of this feature – with how dominant Eddie Williams has been in this report, it’s easy to get carried away, especially when you have some storylines and character features I want to work in there. Him playing baseball was a total coincidence – in my CMU baseball report (LINK), I kid you not there was a walk-on available named Eddie Williams, so that storyline basically wrote itself. All the statistics listed on that front are accurate, as I’ve played out those seasons in the baseball file but haven’t posted it (yet). Appreciate all who follow this report as always, and I’m excited to get back to some actual games soon!

[studbucket]

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

That's amazing, what a cool write up and profile on Williams. I am really glad you had the coincidental appearance of Eddie Williams in your baseball game and got this put together. I love the idea of a Bo Jackson campaign, and he's definitely a special talent.

Tracking what's next for him will be really fun.

[moose141]

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

Bravo

Just an incredible piece to bring Eddie Williams well and truly to life. Such fantastic imagery to really make a little pixelated football player come alive as a true piece of artwork.

The quotes, the tie ins to previous players with the quotes and highlights, and just the overall feel of the article was sensational. Even adding in the baseball statlines, knowing you have a CMU baseball dynasty I was wondering how that would factor in and it comes in even better than anticipated. From the recruitment all the way through his playing career and off the field interests, I can't say enough about it. Truly one of the great storylines I have seen on OS, right alongside the works of some of my favorites DeeGeezy and SportsGuru as far as building a story and entertaining.

Sensational, and can't wait to see how things play out.

[Careless Whisper]

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

That's amazing, what a cool write up and profile on Williams. I am really glad you had the coincidental appearance of Eddie Williams in your baseball game and got this put together. I love the idea of a Bo Jackson campaign, and he's definitely a special talent.

Tracking what's next for him will be really fun.

Appreciate the kind words, studbucket! It really was cool to have an Eddie Williams within the number of walk-on choices, and I always planned to have a couple two-sport athletes within the two reports, so it just worked out perfectly. Him also being excellent as a baseball player just opens so many possibilities for his pro future.

I plan on catching up in the CMU baseball report probably once I finish this football season, and hope to have them run concurrently from a "year" standpoint moving forward.

Bravo

Just an incredible piece to bring Eddie Williams well and truly to life. Such fantastic imagery to really make a little pixelated football player come alive as a true piece of artwork.

The quotes, the tie ins to previous players with the quotes and highlights, and just the overall feel of the article was sensational. Even adding in the baseball statlines, knowing you have a CMU baseball dynasty I was wondering how that would factor in and it comes in even better than anticipated. From the recruitment all the way through his playing career and off the field interests, I can't say enough about it. Truly one of the great storylines I have seen on OS, right alongside the works of some of my favorites DeeGeezy and SportsGuru as far as building a story and entertaining.

Sensational, and can't wait to see how things play out.

Moose! Really appreciate that kind of praise - DeeGeezy's Tulane dynasty was what ultimately had me create an account on here, so to be mentioned with him is special. This report has provided plenty of storylines and ways to get creative, but nothing (so far) has matched the rise of Eddie Williams. I pride myself on my attention to detail and organization, so I know with Eddie being in the baseball portion of this and wanting to do a national longform on him, I needed to get that MVP 07 NCAA Baseball file at the same spot timeline-wise - even if the actual report wasn't there yet. I'm glad that all the supplementary quotes and tidbits really brought the story together, because I wanted to make sure everything sounded believable and flowed well.

I just want this report to entertain the reader - whether it's with the game stories, news blurbs, or features - because it's so much fun for me to put together. I'm really excited to get back to the games though, and see what's in line (a Heisman, perhaps?) for Eddie and the Tartans for the rest of the season!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NCAA – Week 9 Edition
No. 8 Penn State suffered a season-altering loss in its 78-21 win over Iowa last weekend, with Star Jackson out for the year

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
Top 25 Rivals Clash – Rivalry Game pits #8 Penn State against #16 Ohio State.

No. 8 Penn State will look to keep its BCS championship repeat hopes alive this weekend when it travels to No. 16 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions are sitting at 7-1 and coming off an eye-popping 78-21 victory over Iowa, but suffered a major loss against the Hawkeyes as redshirt senior quarterback Star Jackson (181.4 QB rtg., 170-259, 2,573 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT suffered a season-ending forearm fracture. Jackson’s classmate Cody Lewis will take over under center – he has compiled 1,966 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions over his career, and has gone 18-for-24 for 302 yards and five touchdowns in limited action this season.

BCS Rankings
1 | USC (7-0, 0.965)
2 | Wisconsin (8-0, 0.924)
3 | Florida (8-0, 0.905)
4 | Texas A&M (8-0, 0.844)
5 | Michigan (7-0, 0.788)
6 | LSU (8-1, 0.751)
7 | Oklahoma (8-0, 0.712)
8 | Missouri (8-0, 0.643)
9 | Penn State (7-1, 0.643)
10 | Clemson (7-1, 0.604)
11 | Virginia Tech (8-1, 0.565)
12 | Virginia (8-0, 0.536)
13 | Nebraska (8-1, 0.475)
14 | Boise State (8-0, 0.469)
15 | Texas (7-2, 0.401)

Heisman Watch
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 74 catches, 1,466 yards, 19 TD (3 rush)
Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., QB, Missouri | 191.6 QB rtg., 149-218, 2,091 yards, 30 TD, 3 INT; 103 carries, 637 yards, 10 TD
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 180.9 QB rtg., 192-284, 2,629 yards, 34 TD (1 rush), 4 INT
Michael Thomas, Fr., WR, Florida | 42 catches, 848 yards, 12 TD
Jarvis Landry, So., WR, LSU | 60 catches, 968 yards, 13 TD

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Taylor Martinez, R-Jr., QB, Texas Tech | 36-50, 496 yards, 6 TD in 41-10 win at Kansas State
Defensive: acob McCollum, R-Jr., CB, Virginia Tech | 3 INT, 1 TD in 41-7 win at Boston College

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Dak Prescott, So., Florida (194.4)
Passing Yards: Matt Barkley, Sr., Hawaii (2,899)
Passing Touchdowns: Mike Glennon, R-Sr., LSU (33)
Passing Interceptions: Aaron Jones, Jr., Marshall (23)
Rushing Yards: Melvin Gordon III, So., Wisconsin (1,268)
Rushing Touchdowns: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., Navy (16)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (74)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,466)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (16)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (79)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan; Adam Goodwin, R-Sr., Texas (9)
Interceptions: Matt Elam, Jr., Arkansas (7)
Made Field Goals: Vincent Hendrix, Jr., Colorado State; George Coleman, Sr., New Mexico (12)
Net Punting Average: Kevin Pittman, So., BYU (39.8)
Kick Return Average: Ryan Frederick, R-Jr., Oklahoma (32.6)
Punt Return Average: Jon Gross, Sr., Mississippi State (14.3)

Injury Report
Star Jackson, R-Sr., QB, Penn State | Forearm fracture (season)
Patrick Parker, R-Sr., QB, Oregon State | Broken elbow (season)
Maurice Paschal, Sr., WR, Duke | Broken tailbone (8 weeks)
Marqise Lee, So., WR, Clemson | Strained back (6 weeks)
Andy Matthews, Sr., FS, Louisville | Forearm fracture (season)
John Jackson, Jr., FS, Georgia | Dislocated elbow (7 weeks)
Alphonso Robertson, Jr., FS, Tennessee | Broken wrist (5 weeks)

Week 9 Notable Top 25 Scores
#23 Maryland 32, Florida State 14
#14 Boise State 36, Nevada 10
#4 Texas A&M 35, Baylor 28
#9 Missouri 35, #13 Nebraska 21
#8 Penn State 78, Iowa 21
#6 LSU 56, Louisville 10
#7 Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 17
#17 Miami (Fla.) 43, North Carolina 13
#3 Florida 41, Auburn 13
#24 Washington 42, California 35
#15 Texas 42, Colorado 10
#2 Wisconsin 35, Northwestern 18
#5 Michigan 42, Purdue 6
#16 Ohio State 24, Indiana 12

Week 10 National Broadcasts
Arkansas (6-2) at Tennessee (6-3) | 11/3, 12:30 PM
#8 Penn State (7-1) at #16 Ohio State (6-2) | 11/3, 12:30 PM (Rivalry Game)
Michigan State (4-3) at #5 Michigan (7-0) | 11/3, 3:30 PM (Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy)
#7 Oklahoma (8-0) at #4 Texas A&M (8-0) | 11/3, 3:30 PM (Game of the Week)
#3 Florida (8-0) at Ole Miss (6-2) | 11/3, 6:00 PM
#18 Georgia (6-1) at Auburn (5-4) | 11/3, 6:00 PM (Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry)
Oklahoma State (4-5) at #15 Texas (7-2) | 11/3, 6:00 PM
#11 Virginia Tech (8-1) at #17 Miami (Fla.) (7-2) | 11/3, 8:00 PM (Rivalry Game)