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

[cookies00]

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

Appreciate the kind words, cookies! You may have seen already, but every season preview, player feature, game story, and season synopsis is available on the first page to make catching up easier.

This is still on 08 despite the title saying 07. (Can anyone help on getting that changed?) Honestly, I would still have this on 07 if given the chance - I had to switch games two seasons in after mistakenly deleting the file, and I found 07 more enjoyable to play. It or 2006 would be my choices for a ps2-era dynasty, but I'm excited for whatever you go with!

I’m thinking 06… the ACC was a really fascinating conference in that time period, so I’ll likely go with one of the Carolina teams in that game.

[Careless Whisper]

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

Northern Illinois Huskies (3-8, 2-5 MAC) at #25 Carnegie Mellon Tartans (10-1, 7-0 MAC)
Thursday, November 22, 2012 | 8:00 PM
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Gesling Stadium | ROOT Sports Pittsburgh

Record vs. Opponent: 1-1-0
Last Five Meetings
2011 – Carnegie Mellon 39, Northern Illinois 36
2008 – Northern Illinois 38, Carnegie Mellon 14

The Lowdown
One win separates No. 25 Carnegie Mellon from its second MAC Championship Game appearance in program history, and the only thing standing in its way is a Northern Illinois side with nothing to play for. The Huskies only have wins against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) after-thought Hampton (44-14) and MAC foes Buffalo (28-17) and Ohio (34-14) this season, and would share the basement of the MAC West Division with Western Michigan if they fall to the Tartans. However, NIU has had success against CMU since the latter joined the MAC, winning their first meeting in 2008 by a 38-14 score before narrowly falling last year, 39-36.

Scouting Northern Illinois
Despite a 3-8 record, Northern Illinois has more talent than you would expect on offense, with five of its 11 projected starters carrying grades of 80.0 or better from Pro Football Focus (PFF). One of those starters is the returning Jared Collins (24 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD), who missed all but the season’s first two games due to injury but has 1,435 career rushing yards to his name. He, along with senior wide receiver Lenny Fitch (65 catches, 690 yards, 6 TD), give true freshman quarterback Chad Andrews (107.2 QB rtg., 145-278, 1,605 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT; 98 carries, 354 yards, 4 TD) some weapons to work with, and blocking up front include a pair of All-MAC selections in redshirt junior guard Patrick Thompson (87.0 PFF grade) and classmate and 2010 Associated Press Freshman All-America tackle Jared Rogers. One piece not available for the Huskies on offense is their other starting tackle Anthony Samuel, a three-year stalwart on the left side who will miss with a broken jaw.

The NIU defense is led by redshirt senior defensive tackle James Kemoeatu (29 tackles, 3 sacks), who is a three-year starter with 12 career sacks and made the All-MAC Second Team last season. Joining him in the trenches are talented seniors Lance Maddox (36 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 FF) and Seth Daniel (44 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF). The secondary also has some talent in redshirt seniors John Brown (41 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 1 FR) and Tim Singletary (29 tackles, 5 INT, 1 TD), with the latter sharing the conference lead in interceptions. Where the Huskies struggle is at the linebacker position, as the starting trio of Jamie Martin (44 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), Ryan Wayne (33 tackles, 1 sack), and Maurice Cooke (32 tackles, 1 FF) have combined to force two turnovers all season.

Did You Know?
Thursday will mark Carnegie Mellon’s fifth mid-week game since returning to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) competition. The Tartans’ 39-36 win over Northern Illinois last season on a Wednesday is their only mid-week win since 2006, with the other three games coming on Thursdays – a 38-14 loss to the Huskies (November 27, 2008), a 49-21 defeat to Bowling Green (October 9, 2008), and a 38-7 setback at rival Pitt (October 12, 2006).

Prediction
Anything can happen in the world of college football, but a Northern Illinois win would be a major shock. Carnegie Mellon has been on an incredible run as of late, winning its last four games by an average of 29.3 points, and has scored 42 points or more in each of its home contests this season. This should be a celebration of the Tartans’ return to Detroit. Carnegie Mellon 45, Northern Illinois 13.

[Careless Whisper]

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

No. 25 Tartans Rout Huskies, 49-7, to Book MAC Title Tilt Trip
Carnegie Mellon will play in its second MAC Championship Game in four years after completing a perfect league record



Matt Burnsides and Mario Williams don't allow NIU quarterback Chad Andrews to gain a first down here. (Max Johnson / Getty Images)

by Alicia Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- No. 25 Carnegie Mellon completed a dominant run in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play on Thursday evening, handling Northern Illinois, 49-7, to punch its ticket to its second MAC Championship Game in four seasons.

Carnegie Mellon (11-1, 8-0 MAC) left little doubt in its regular-season finale, opening up a 21-0 lead on Northern Illinois (3-9, 2-6 MAC) through 16 and a half minutes. The Tartans more than doubled the Huskies in total offense, accumulating 428 yards to the visitors’ 161, and forced three turnovers on two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“I’m really proud of our guys’ effort tonight and over the season,” said CMU head coach Jules Nottingham. “The first goal we spoke about before camp was to make it to the MAC Championship Game, and accomplishing that in the way that we did is very impressive. To give our seniors a dominant win in their final game at Gesling (Stadium) is a great feeling, and now we have a few extra days to rest and recuperate before preparing for our opponent in Detroit.”

Tartans senior quarterback Kevin Wilson capped a tumultuous career at Gesling Stadium with one of the finest performances of his career, as he threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing. He also added the first rushing score of his career, a two-yard sneak in the first quarter to give the hosts an early 7-0 lead.

After a NIU three-and-out, Wilson engineered a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive that ended in an 11-yard connection with Eddie Williams to make it 14-0. CMU added a third touchdown on its next offensive trip, with Wilson hitting Lawrence McIntire in the flat for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Huskies stopped the bleeding briefly with five minutes remaining in the half, as Chad Andrews found Terrel Smith for a 16-yard touchdown. Needing a stop to regain momentum at the beginning of the second half, NIU instead allowed Chris Smith to streak wide-open downfield and Wilson to hit him in stride for a 59-yard touchdown to make it 28-7.

Wilson added his fourth touchdown pass with 3:12 left in the third quarter, connecting with Travis Sledge on a 11-yard pass near the right pylon. The Tartans starters checked out of the game soon after, and the reserves added two more scores in the fourth quarter – a four-yard run from Jeff Gilmore and a 16-yard pick six by Matt Gonzalez.

Williams had a season-low six receptions, but his 112 receiving yards marked the 11th time this season and 26th time of his career that he hit the century mark. CMU honored the redshirt junior Heisman Trophy favorite before the game with the rest of its senior class as a part of Senior Day festivities.

Zac Hood collected two sacks for the Tartans defense, while Gonzalez and Robert Wall snagged interceptions. CMU’s defense suffered a pair of injuries in the first quarter with Jon Crowell and Bobby Magnum going down, though details on their departures were not available at press time.

With Eastern Michigan’s 41-14 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, the Eagles will represent the MAC West Division in Detroit with current division leader Ball State ineligible to participate. The Tartans and Eagles will match up for the MAC championship on Saturday, December 8 at Ford Field.

Northern Illinois Huskies at Carnegie Mellon Tartans
Nov 23, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Northern Illinois Huskies (3-9, 2-6 MAC)	0	7	0	0	7
#25 Carnegie Mellon Tartans (11-1, 8-0 MAC)	14	7	14	14	49

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		NIU	CMU
9:39	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 2-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	0	7
4:36	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 11-yard pass to Eddie Williams (Joseph Love kick)	0	14
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		NIU	CMU
13:35	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 10-yard pass to Lawrence McIntire (Joseph Love kick)	0	21
5:05	(NIU) Chad Andrews 16-yard pass to Terrel Smith (Ryan Carter kick)	7	21
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		NIU	CMU
14:20	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 59-yard pass to Chris Smith (Joseph Love kick)	7	28
3:12	(CMU) Kevin Wilson 11-yard pass to Travis Sledge (Joseph Love kick)	7	35
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		NIU	CMU
8:38	(CMU) Jeff Gilmore 4-yard run (Joseph Love kick)	7	42
6:32	(CMU) Matt Gonzalez 16-yard interception return (Joseph Love kick)	7	49

Northern Illinois Huskies PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Chad Andrews 8/25 124 1 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jared Collins 10 19 1.9 0 Terrel Smith 2 11 5.5 0 Lance Miller 2 9 4.5 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Lenny Fitch 3 31 10.3 0 James Washington 2 10 5.0 0 Jared Collins 1 63 63.0 0 Terrel Smith 1 16 16.0 1 Jared Monroe 1 4 4.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Lance Maddox 7 1 0 0 Jaime Martin 6 0 0 0 Maurice Cooke 5 0 0 0 Josh Scott 5 1 1 0 Josh Adams 5 0 0 0 Tim Singletary 5 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Ryan Carter 0/0 1/1 1 -- PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Zach Riley 10 425 42.5 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Lenny Fitch 7 121 17.3 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Lenny Fitch 3 20 6.7 0

Carnegie Mellon Tartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kevin Wilson 20/30 274 4 0 Gerald Culver 0/2 0 0 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jeff Gilmore 14 74 5.3 1 Lawrence McIntire 16 71 4.4 0 Kyle Holland 1 5 5.0 0 Clay Armstrong 1 5 5.0 0 Kevin Wilson 4 -1 -0.2 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Eddie Williams 6 112 18.7 1 Travis Sledge 5 45 9.0 1 Chris Smith 4 81 20.2 1 Lawrence McIntire 2 18 9.0 1 Clay Armstrong 1 9 9.0 0 Leon Razzano 1 6 6.0 0 Isaac Schroeder 1 3 3.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Zac Hood 5 2 0 0 Robert Wall 4 0 1 0 Jabari London 3 0 0 0 Jason Ervin 2 0 0 0 Jordan Gibson 2 0 0 0 Matt Gonzalez 0 0 1 1 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Joseph Love 0/0 7/7 7 -- PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Andy Fitzhugh 4 210 52.5 4 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kyle Holland 2 39 19.5 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Kyle Holland 6 22 3.7 0

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NCAA – Week 13 Edition
There are six teams (Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, USC, Virginia, Wisconsin) who remain unbeaten entering Week 14

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
Call the Cops! – Harris and Wisconsin fans are not happy with the latest Bowl Rankings.

Wisconsin saw its BCS Championship Game hopes dim over the weekend, because despite topping Iowa on the road, 17-13, and holding the No. 2 spot in the USA Today Coaches and Associated Press Media Top 25 Polls, the Badgers fell to No. 3 in the BCS Rankings. The Badgers own a 0.912 average in the rankings and were surpassed by Florida – who has the No. 3 spot in both Top 25 rankings – and its 0.919 average. The Gators’ difference lies in their strength of schedule, as they have a 0.920 mark compared to Wisconsin’s 0.830. Six teams remain unbeaten entering the final week of the regular season, with No. 1 USC (11-0), No. 2 Wisconsin (11-0), No. 3 Florida (12-0), No. 4 Oklahoma (12-0), No. 5 Missouri (12-0), and No. 7 Virginia (12-0) all avoiding defeat. Led by quarterback Jacory Harris (169-266, 2,199 yards, 25 TD, 11 INT) and tailback Melvin Gordon III (264 carries, 1,609 yards, 18 TD), the Badgers will host No. 20 BYU this Saturday for their final audition before the bowl pairings are revealed.

BCS Rankings
1 | USC (11-0, 0.975)
2 | Florida (12-0, 0.919)
3 | Wisconsin (11-0, 0.912)
4 | Oklahoma (12-0, 0.868)
5 | Missouri (12-0, 0.806)
6 | LSU (11-1, 0.749)
7 | Virginia (12-0, 0.683)
8 | Penn State (11-1, 0.650)
9 | Clemson (11-1, 0.612)
10 | Michigan (10-1, 0.584)
11 | Texas (10-2, 0.573)
12 | Miami (Fla.) (10-2, 0.508)
13 | West Virginia (11-1, 0.459)
14 | Nebraska (10-2, 0.459)
15 | Texas A&M (10-2, 0.437)

Heisman Watch
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 105 catches, 1,942 yards, 26 TD (3 rush)
Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., QB, Missouri | 190.5 QB rtg., 195-287, 2,862 yards, 38 TD, 7 INT; 132 carries, 864 yards, 17 TD
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 174.4 QB rtg., 250-388, 3,542 yards, 45 TD (1 rush), 8 INT
Johnny Manziel, So., QB, Michigan | 173.1 QB rtg., 196-316, 2,978 yards, 36 TD, 9 INT; 103 carries, 585 yards, 6 TD
Michael Thomas, Fr., WR, Florida | 74 catches, 1,272 yards, 15 TD

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Tim Bowie, Jr., QB, Eastern Michigan | 33-43, 377 yards, 5 TD in 41-14 win against Central Michigan
Defensive: Tyrann Mathieu, Jr., FS, Texas A&M | 2 tackles, 3 INT, 2 TD in 35-28 loss at Texas

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., Missouri (190.5)
Passing Yards: Matt Barkley, Sr., Hawaii (3,729)
Passing Touchdowns: Mike Glennon, R-Sr., LSU (44)
Passing Interceptions: Mike Powdrell, So., Kansas (28)
Rushing Yards: Joe Henry, R-Sr., TCU (1,832)
Rushing Touchdowns: Nate Peterson, R-Sr., Navy (20)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (105)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,942)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (23)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (98)
Sacks: Adam Goodwin, R-Sr., Texas (13)
Interceptions: Matt Elam, Jr., Arkansas (10)
Made Field Goals: Kyle Dorsey, So., Akron (20)
Net Punting Average: Henry Poole, Sr., UCLA (39.4)
Kick Return Average: Larry Washington, Sr., New Mexico (27.3)
Punt Return Average: Curtis McNeal, R-Sr., Penn State (13.5)

Injury Report
Andre Wood, R-So., QB, Wyoming | Broken jaw (9 weeks)
Paul Jones, Jr., QB, Iowa | Torn shoulder muscle (8 weeks)
Nate Peterson, R-Sr., HB, Navy | Broken wrist (season)
Joe Henry, R-Sr., HB, TCU | Partially torn PCL (7 weeks)
Bruce Smith, R-Sr., TE, Louisville | Forearm fracture (season)
Lance Davis, R-Jr., DE, Arizona | Partially torn ACL (8 weeks)

Week 13 Notable Top 25 Scores
#11 Texas 35, #15 Texas A&M 28
#14 Nebraska 42, Colorado 7
#7 Virginia 38, Washington 35 (OT)
#25 Georgia 35, Georgia Tech 3
#10 Clemson 55, South Carolina 7
#5 Missouri 49, Iowa State 6
#17 Ohio State 28, #9 Michigan 19
#3 Florida 28, Florida State 14
#6 LSU 73, Arkansas 21
#13 West Virginia 34, Pittsburgh 7
#2 Wisconsin 17, Iowa 13
#20 BYU 17, #22 Central Florida 13
#4 Oklahoma 52, Army 13
#1 USC 42, Notre Dame 21
#23 UCLA 45, Arizona State 7
#8 Penn State 34, Michigan State 3

Week 14 National Broadcasts
Syracuse (5-6) at Fresno State (10-1) | 12/1, 12:30 PM
Washington (7-4) at Washington State (1-10) | 12/1, 12:30 PM (Apple Cup)
Columbia (6-5) at Nevada (7-4) | 12/1, 1:00 PM
#20 BYU (10-1) at #2 Wisconsin (11-0) | 12/1, 1:00 PM
San Diego State (3-8) at #9 Michigan (10-1) | 12/1, 3:30 PM
Hawaii (6-5) at California (8-3) | 12/1, 6:00 PM
Wyoming (4-7) at Notre Dame (6-5) | 12/1, 8:00 PM
#1 USC (11-0) at #23 UCLA (9-2) | 12/1, 8:00 PM (Game of the Week; Battle for the Victory Bell)

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the MAC – Week 13 Edition
Tim Bowie’s Offensive NCAA Player of the Week performance lifted Eastern Michigan to the MAC Championship Game

MAC East Standings
#24 Carnegie Mellon | 11-1, 8-0 MAC
Kent State | 11-1, 7-1 MAC
Miami (Ohio) | 9-3, 5-3 MAC
Bowling Green | 6-6, 5-3 MAC
Akron | 4-8, 3-5 MAC
Ohio | 3-9, 2-6 MAC

MAC West Standings
Ball State | 7-5, 6-2 MAC
Eastern Michigan | 5-7, 5-3 MAC
Toledo | 5-7, 4-4 MAC
Western Michigan | 4-8, 2-6 MAC
Central Michigan | 3-9, 2-6 MAC
Northern Illinois | 3-9, 2-6 MAC

MAC Players of the Week
Offensive: Tim Bowie, Jr., QB, Eastern Michigan | 33-43, 377 yards, 5 TD in 41-14 win against Central Michigan
Defensive: Randall Sanders, Jr., FS, Bowling Green | 2 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD in 45-14 win against Boston College

MAC Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Kevin Wilson, Sr., Carnegie Mellon (170.2)
Passing Yards: Brett Hicks, R-Jr., Ball State (3,247)
Passing Touchdowns: Tyler Byers, R-Sr., Miami (Ohio) (31)
Passing Interceptions: Jeff Smith, R-Sr., Akron (23)
Rushing Yards: Tanner Phillips, Sr., Central Michigan (1,649)
Rushing Touchdowns: Phillips (14)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (105)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,942)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (23)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (98)
Sacks: Tim Dunn, Sr., Central Michigan; Matt Burnsides, Sr., Carnegie Mellon (9)
Interceptions: Robert Wall, Fr., Carnegie Mellon (6)
Made Field Goals: Kyle Dorsey, So., Akron (20)
Net Punting Average: Maurice Battle, Sr., Akron (37.6)
Kick Return Average: Kelvin Butler, Jr., Carnegie Mellon (26.2)
Punt Return Average: Dustin Kane, R-Jr., Toledo (11.0)

Week 13 Scores
Eastern Michigan 41, Central Michigan 14
Kent State 17, Akron 16
#24 Carnegie Mellon 49, Northern Illinois 7
Miami (Ohio) 24, Ohio 21
Bowling Green 45, Boston College 14
Ball State 24, Buffalo 11

Week 14 Matchups
None

[studbucket]

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

Wow, 6 unbeatens in week 14! Gonna be a lot of upset fanbases in a few weeks.

[redsox907]

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

looks like Kent State is making a push.

and lol mike glennon in the heisman race

[sgf83]

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

A very interesting look to the landscape of college football in this universe. Going to be some big games coming up and looking forward to the bowl matchups!

[Careless Whisper]

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

Wow, 6 unbeatens in week 14! Gonna be a lot of upset fanbases in a few weeks.

Don't think I've ever seen this many unbeaten teams remaining this late in a season! At least the Big 12 title game (Oklahoma-Missouri) will give one of these teams a new number in the loss column, but it's still remarkable we could end up with as many as five undefeated teams entering bowl season. Wish we were able to have a playoff!

looks like Kent State is making a push.

and lol mike glennon in the heisman race

Love seeing guys like Mike Glennon become stars in my universe. I really enjoy trying to keep as many real players in this as we get deeper and deeper into the report, and it makes it more fun when the Bryce Browns and Jordan Jeffersons of the world are All-Americans.

A very interesting look to the landscape of college football in this universe. Going to be some big games coming up and looking forward to the bowl matchups!

Nice to see you again, sgf! It's been a crazy season, but thankfully for CMU it's been pretty drama-free after the season-opening loss. Can't afford a slip-up in the MAC Championship Game against Eastern Michigan though - this team is more than deserving of the title this time around.

[Careless Whisper]

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

by Jeff Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon insider for Rivals.com

CMU to face Eastern Michigan in MAC Championship Game

With its 49-7 win against Northern Illinois last Thursday evening, Carnegie Mellon clinched the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division for the second time in four seasons and will be playing in Detroit this Saturday. While the Tartans served as a massive underdog in their last MAC Championship Game against nationally-ranked Toledo, the roles are reversed this time around as No. 24 CMU enters as a 24.5-point favorite and Eastern Michigan is the team looking for a historic upset.

The Eagles (5-7, 5-3 MAC) boasted the second best record in the MAC West Division, but claimed the bid with Ball State (7-5, 6-2 MAC) being ineligible due to its bowl and championship ban. EMU started out 1-5 before winning four of its last six to make it to Detroit, clinching its spot with a 41-14 win over Central Michigan this past Wednesday. The offense is led by a trio of juniors in quarterback Tom Bowie (133.2 QB rtg., 216-361, 2,471 yards, 24 TD, 11 INT), runningback Maurice Kearney (139 carries, 810 yards, 9 TD), and wide receiver Erik Davis (74 catches, 943 yards, 8 TD), while the defense has a pair of All-MAC talents in senior defensive end Sam Miller (56 tackles, 6 sacks) and classmate Bruce Irby (78 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR) at linebacker.

The MAC Championship Game will air on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8:00 PM on ESPN2.

Crowell to return, Magnum to miss MAC Championship Game

Carnegie Mellon saw two of its most experienced defensive backs depart early in its game against Northern Illinois last week, and today received good and bad news on their prospects for the MAC Championship Game.

Redshirt senior starting strong safety Bobby Magnum (43 tackles, 4 INT, 1 FF) suffered an abdominal strain against the Huskies, and it will keep him out of Saturday’s tilt versus Eastern Michigan as well as a potential bowl game. Magnum, who is in his first year as a full-time starter for the Tartans defense, will be replaced by redshirt sophomore Graham Taylor (14 tackles, 1 INT).

On the other side, redshirt senior cornerback Jon Crowell (34 tackles, 4 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD) will return for the MAC Championship Game after leaving with a stinger. Crowell will also assume primary punt returning duties after Kelvin Butler suffered a season-ending partially torn PCL at Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 17.

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
Quinton Smith, C, **** (6’1”, 277 lbs.; Odessa, Texas / Permian) – Verbal Commit
Joshua Byrd, OLB, **** (6’0”, 217 lbs.; North Bethesda, Md. / Georgetown Prep) – Verbal Commit
Aaron Simon, OLB, *** (5’11”, 225 lbs.; Cambridge, Ohio / Cambridge) – Verbal Commit
Don Glover, WR, *** (6’4”, 208 lbs.; Pennsauken, N.J. / Pennsauken) – Verbal Commit
Carlton Norton, DE, *** (6’3”, 225 lbs.; Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic) – Verbal Commit
Doug Dunbar, CB, **** (5’11”, 170 lbs.; Cumberland, Md. / Fort Hill) – Removed; Committed to Clemson
Mark Davis, MLB, **** (5’11”, 237 lbs.; Enid, Okla. / Enid) – Removed; Committed to Texas Tech
Jeremy Jones, DE, **** (6’2”, 225 lbs.; Cudahy, Wisc. / Cudahy) – Removed; Committed to Michigan
Greg Taylor, OLB, *** (6’3”, 213 lbs.; Mercedes, Texas / Mercedes) – Removed; Committed to Texas
Andrew Harper, OLB, *** (6’0”, 248 lbs.; Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) – Removed; Committed to Wisconsin
Josh Greene, MLB, *** (6’1”, 225 lbs.; Dundalk, Md. / Dundalk) – Removed; Committed to Notre Dame
Lawrence Clark, CB, *** (6’2”, 182 lbs.; New Brunswick, N.J. / New Brunswick) – Removed; Committed to Virginia

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NFL – November Wrap-Up
Cincinnati Bengals runningback Mike Goodson broke his jaw in Week 12, shutting down his Associated Press NFL MVP candidacy

Division Standings
AFC East: New York Jets (8-3), Miami Dolphins (5-6), New England Patriots (4-7), Buffalo Bills (4-7)
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals (8-3), Baltimore Ravens (4-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (4-7), Cleveland Browns (3-8)
AFC South: Tennessee Titans (11-0), Houston Texans (5-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7), Indianapolis Colts (2-9)
AFC West: San Diego Chargers (9-2), Denver Broncos (6-5), Kansas City Chiefs (5-6), Oakland Raiders (2-9)
NFC East: Washington Football Team (8-3), Philadelphia Eagles (7-4), New York Giants (5-6), Dallas Cowboys (2-9)
NFC North: Detroit Lions (7-4), Minnesota Vikings (5-6), Green Bay Packers (4-7), Chicago Bears (4-7)
NFC South: New Orleans Saints (9-2), Atlanta Falcons (7-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4), Carolina Panthers (5-6)
NFC West: St. Louis Rams (6-5), San Francisco 49ers (6-5), Seattle Seahawks (5-6), Arizona Cardinals (5-6)

Offensive Players of the Week
Week 9: Deion Branch, WR, BUF | 7 catches, 171 yards, 3 TD in 33-24 win over HOU
Week 10: Vince Young, QB, TEN | 27-34, 231 yards, 2 TD; 27 carries, 205 yards, 1 TD in 45-10 win over MIN
Week 11: Mike Goodson, HB, CIN | 28 carries, 144 yards, 2 TD; 11 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD in 28-9 win over PIT
Week 12: Michael Vick, QB, ATL | 20-40, 260 yards, 6 TD; 7 carries, 57 yards in 48-16 win over CAR

Defensive Players of the Week
Week 9: Johnathan Joseph, CB, CIN | 5 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD in 20-15 win over PIT
Week 10: Isaiah Gardner, CB, PIT | 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD in 33-13 win over BAL
Week 11: Cato June, OLB, ARZ | 11 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 FF in 22-17 win over SF
Week 12: Julian Peterson, OLB, NYG | 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD in 24-13 win over PHI

Injury Report
Anthony Morelli, QB, IND | Dislocated elbow (9 weeks)
Alex Smith, QB, ARZ | Torn groin (4 weeks)
Steven Jackson, HB, STL | Broken collarbone (season)
Vondrell McGee, HB, CLE | Dislocated ankle (8 weeks)
Mike Goodson, HB, CIN | Broken jaw (8 weeks)
Marvin Austin, DT, SEA | Dislocated elbow (9 weeks)
Brandon Spikes, MLB, PHI | Partially torn ACL (5 weeks)
A.J. Wallace, CB, DAL | Dislocated elbow (5 weeks)
David Smith, FS, ARZ | Foot fracture (4 weeks)

Cadillac MVP Watch
Vince Young, QB, TEN | 102.9 QB rtg., 285-420, 2,625 yards, 28 TD, 4 INT; 117 carries, 1,141 yards, 7 TD
Frank Gore, HB, SF | 316 carries, 1,579 yards, 11 TD; 48 catches, 436 yards, 3 TD
Mike Goodson, HB, CIN | 268 carries, 1,258 yards, 9 TD; 58 catches, 509 yards, 4 TD
Lee Evans, WR, TEN | 79 catches, 882 yards, 13 TD
Cato June, OLB, ARZ | 123 tackles, 12 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR

[Careless Whisper]

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

Tartans to the League: November 2012 Review
Jim Manning had two multi-TD games for the Bears, and the Saints’ Calvin Burton snagged picks in back-to-back contests

In the 2012 NFL Season, the Carnegie Melon Tartans have six former players on NFL rosters. At the end of each month, we will provide a brief recap on how each player’s season is going.

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

It was a quiet November for Todd Andriano, but that he was fine with considering the Detroit Lions’ current five-game winning streak and two-game lead in the NFC North. The Lions had all home games in the month of November, defeating the Indianapolis Colts (23-9), Arizona Cardinals (16-0), Chicago Bears (27-6), and Minnesota Vikings (38-23) on Thanksgiving. In the Week 9 victory versus the Colts, Andriano collected his third interception of the season.

November Stats: 2 tackles, 1 INT

Calvin Burton, CB, New Orleans Saints (#3 CB, #1 KR, #1 PR; 82.0 PFF grade)

Calvin Burton enjoyed the most productive month of his NFL career on the defensive side of the ball, snagging interceptions in back-to-back games against the Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers. Burton also recorded a game-high eight tackles in a 44-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10, and continued his strong performance as the Saints return specialist, averaging 26.5 yards per kick return and 11.6 yards per punt return in the month of November. New Orleans went 3-1 on the month, defeating the Dallas Cowboys (27-10), Chiefs, and Panthers (19-10) in consecutive weeks before a 13-6 defeat to the Chargers.

November Stats: 12 tackles, 2 INT; 13 kick returns, 344 yards; 18 punt returns, 208 yards

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

Matt Fitch never left the Houston Texans’ practice squad in November. The Texans suffered a rough month to take themselves out of playoff contention, dropping games to the Buffalo Bills (33-24), Green Bay Packers (31-21), Jacksonville Jaguars (20-14), and Tennessee Titans (31-26) on Monday Night Football.

November Stats: N/A

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

Matt Johnson suffered a torn ACL in the Tennessee Titans’ 45-13 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 2 and will miss the remainder of the season. The Titans stayed unbeaten for the season with wins over the New England Patriots (41-6), Minnesota Vikings (45-10), Green Bay Packers (27-10), and Houston Texans (31-26), with the victories over the Packers and Texans both coming on Monday Night Football.

November Stats: N/A

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

The 2012 season is shaping up to be a career year for Jim Manning, who recorded a pair of multi-touchdown performances in November. On Sunday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams in Week 9, Manning nearly cleared the century mark for both rushing and receiving yards, tallying 129 rushing and 98 receiving along with a touchdown in each category, as the Bears won 44-30. Three weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts, the tailback rumbled for 166 yards and two scores on the ground, and added a receiving touchdown in a 45-14 triumph.

November Stats: 89 carries, 390 yards, 3 TD; 8 catches, 142 yards, 2 TD

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

Mark Toth kept his starting job at middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, recording 10 tackles over three games in November. Toth tallied four tackles on Sunday Night Football in a 44-30 win against the St. Louis Rams, and surpassed that mark with five takedowns at the Detroit Lions two weeks later.

November Stats: 10 tackles

[studbucket]

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

Love the PFF grades. Some of those Tartans are excelling in the pros.

Cadillac MVP Watch
Vince Young, QB, TEN | 102.9 QB rtg., 285-420, 2,625 yards, 28 TD, 4 INT; 117 carries, 1,141 yards, 7 TD
Frank Gore, HB, SF | 316 carries, 1,579 yards, 11 TD; 48 catches, 436 yards, 3 TD
Mike Goodson, HB, CIN | 268 carries, 1,258 yards, 9 TD; 58 catches, 509 yards, 4 TD
Lee Evans, WR, TEN | 79 catches, 882 yards, 13 TD
Cato June, OLB, ARZ | 123 tackles, 12 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR

What a wild MVP list LOL.

[Careless Whisper]

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

Around the NCAA – Week 14 Edition
One team is eliminated from the BCS Championship Game race as No. 1 USC fell to rival UCLA, 23-17

ESPN The Magazine Cover Story
So Close! – Trojans can’t hold off UCLA, record their first blemish of 2012.

A crowded BCS Championship Game field saw its top contender fall out this past Saturday as No. 1 USC was defeated by No. 20 UCLA, 23-17. The Trojans led the rival Bruins at halftime, 17-10, but couldn’t muster any more points in the second half, with LaMichael James’ five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter putting UCLA ahead for good. James finished with 177 rushing yards, 57 receiving yards, and two touchdowns for the Bruins, while Derek Carr passed for 176 yards on 15-of-26 attempts, two scores, and an interception for USC.

BCS Rankings
1 | Wisconsin (12-0, 0.992)
2 | Florida (12-0, 0.929)
3 | Oklahoma (12-0, 0.895)
4 | Missouri (12-0, 0.852)
5 | LSU (11-1, 0.769)
6 | Virginia (12-0, 0.765)
7 | USC (11-1, 0.708)
8 | Penn State (11-1, 0.658)
9 | Clemson (11-1, 0.626)
10 | Michigan (11-1, 0.600)
11 | Texas (10-2, 0.574)
12 | Miami (Fla.) (10-2, 0.498)
13 | Nebraska (10-2, 0.465)
14 | West Virginia (11-1, 0.454)
15 | Texas A&M (10-2, 0.430)

Heisman Watch
Eddie Williams, R-Jr., WR, Carnegie Mellon | 105 catches, 1,942 yards, 26 TD (3 rush)
Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., QB, Missouri | 190.5 QB rtg., 195-287, 2,862 yards, 38 TD, 7 INT; 132 carries, 864 yards, 17 TD
Johnny Manziel, So., QB, Michigan | 174.1 QB rtg., 214-345, 3,309 yards, 39 TD, 10 INT; 110 carries, 621 yards, 8 TD
Mike Glennon, R-Sr., QB, LSU | 174.4 QB rtg., 250-388, 3,542 yards, 45 TD (1 rush), 8 INT
Michael Thomas, Fr., WR, Florida | 74 catches, 1,272 yards, 15 TD

NCAA Players of the Week
Offensive: Melvin Gordon III, So., HB, Wisconsin | 21 carries, 120 yards, 3 TD; 2 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD in 52-14 win against BYU
Defensive: Ira Goolsby, Sr., OLB, Arizona | 9 tackles (2 TFL), 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 TD in 38-23 win against Arizona State

NCAA Statistical Leaders
QB Rating: Jordan Jefferson, R-Sr., Missouri (190.5)
Passing Yards: Matt Barkley, Sr., Hawaii (4,009)
Passing Touchdowns: Mike Glennon, R-Sr., LSU (44)
Passing Interceptions: Mike Powdrell, So., Kansas (28)
Rushing Yards: Joe Henry, R-Sr., TCU (1,832)
Rushing Touchdowns: Melvin Gordon III, So., Wisconsin (21)
Receptions: Eddie Williams, R-Jr., Carnegie Mellon (105)
Receiving Yards: Williams (1,942)
Receiving Touchdowns: Williams (23)
Tackles: Keith Miller, R-So., Bowling Green (98)
Sacks: Adam Goodwin, R-Sr., Texas (13)
Interceptions: Matt Elam, Jr., Arkansas (10)
Made Field Goals: Kyle Dorsey, So., Akron (20)
Net Punting Average: Henry Poole, Sr., UCLA (39.4)
Kick Return Average: Larry Washington, Sr., New Mexico (27.3)
Punt Return Average: Curtis McNeal, R-Sr., Penn State (13.5)

Week 14 Notable Top 25 Scores
#1 Wisconsin 52, #24 BYU 14
#9 Michigan 47, San Diego State 10
#20 UCLA 23, #7 USC 17

Conference Championship Game Weekend
ACC: #19 Maryland (10-2, 7-1 ACC) vs. #5 Virginia (12-0, 8-0 ACC) | 12/8, 1:00 PM
Big 12: #3 Oklahoma (12-0, 8-0 Big 12) vs. #4 Missouri (12-0, 8-0 Big 12) | 12/8, 8:00 PM
C-USA: Houston (9-3, 6-2 C-USA) at #22 Central Florida (10-2, 8-0 C-USA) | 12/8, 5:00 PM
MAC: Eastern Michigan (5-7, 5-3 MAC) vs. #23 Carnegie Mellon (11-1, 8-0 MAC) | 12/8, 8:00 PM
SEC: #6 LSU (11-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. #2 Florida (12-0, 8-0 SEC) | 12/8, 5:00 PM

[Careless Whisper]

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

Eastern Michigan Eagles (5-7, 5-3 MAC) vs. #23 Carnegie Mellon Tartans (11-1, 8-0 MAC)
Saturday, December 8, 2012 | 8:00 PM
MAC Championship Game
Detroit, Mich. – Ford Field | ESPN

Record vs. Opponent: 2-0-0
Last Five Meetings
2010 – Carnegie Mellon 52, Eastern Michigan 17
2009 – Carnegie Mellon 51, Eastern Michigan 31

The Lowdown
It’s the seventh season of Carnegie Mellon’s Division I experiment, and Saturday marks the Tartans’ biggest game when their heavily favored No. 23 team play Eastern Michigan for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title. This is CMU’s second attempt of securing MAC gold, but the first with an actual expectation to win – in 2009, the Tartans arrived in Detroit as a 24-point underdog, but gave No. 16 Toledo all they could handle before ultimately falling, 33-27. A victory would also give CMU its first conference championship at any level since 1997, and tack on another win to its school-record total of 11.

While the MAC Championship Game will kick off at the same time as the Big 12 Championship Game between No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 4 Missouri, a national television audience on ESPN will provide Tartans redshirt junior wide receiver Eddie Williams one final opportunity to secure Heisman votes. Williams is the odds-on favorite for the trophy, but his biggest competition looks to be Tigers redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson. The Altoona, Pa. native leads the nation in all receiving categories (105 catches, 1,942 yards, 23 TD) and is 118 yards shy of the NCAA single-season record of 2,060, set by Nevada’s Trevor Insley in 1999.

Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan qualified for Detroit from the MAC East Division after Ball State was ruled ineligible due to its NCAA bowl ban. The Eagles opened the season with losses to Duke (20-10), Dartmouth (21-20), and East Carolina (40-30), and claimed three of its five MAC wins by three points of fewer – doing so consecutively against Northern Illinois (13-10), Ohio (34-33), and Western Michigan (45-42). A 41-14 victory over Central Michigan in EMU’s regular-season finale secured its MAC Championship Game bid, where it looks to win its first league title since 1987.

The Eagles’ spread offense is run by junior southpaw Tom Bowie (133.2 QB rtg., 216-361, 2,471 yards, 24 TD, 11 INT), who boasts the best Pro Football Focus (PFF) rating on that side of the ball at 84.0. Bowie’s favorite targets are redshirt juniors Erik Davis (74 catches, 943 yards, 8 TD) and Matt Dowdell (66 catches, 738 yards, 7 TD), with their 140 combined receptions serving as nearly 65 percent of the quarterback’s total completions. Another third-year, junior tailback Maurice Kearney (139 carries, 810 yards, 9 TD; 15 catches, 180 yards, 1 TD), was a Preseason All-MAC selection, and the offensive line features three-year starter Eli Ablin at left tackle and impressive true freshman Eddie McNeal at left guard.

On defense, the conversation starts with senior defensive end Sam Miller (56 tackles, 6 sacks), a future NFL player with 18 career sacks and a 93.0 PFF rating. Behind him are talented senior linebackers Brett Irby (78 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR) and Hassan Gold (72 tackles, 4 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR), with Irby being a two-time All-MAC Second Team pick with 301 tackles, 10 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and seven interceptions in his career. The secondary features experienced cornerbacks Ryan Bentley (24 tackles, 2 INT) and Chase Ogletree (38 tackles, 3 INT), but three of its four projected starters have PFF ratings under 78.0.

Did You Know?
With a win, Carnegie Mellon would win its 15th football conference championship. Despite the Tartans’ rich history, they went without a conference title until the 1977 season when they captured the first of three consecutive championships in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. CMU won the PAC seven times (1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989) before moving onto the University Athletic Association, where it took home seven more trophies (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997) in an eight-year span. Carnegie Mellon was an independent from 1906 to 1957, then spent 10 years in the now-defunct West Penn Conference, where it competed against Duquesne University, Geneva College, Grove City College, Saint Francis University, Saint Vincent College, Waynesburg College (now University), and Westminster College.

Prediction
Carnegie Mellon has seen first-hand what it’s like to let a major underdog control the MAC Championship Game, and will look to get off to a quick start and dispel any thoughts of an upset. On the other hand, Eastern Michigan is playing with house money, having little expectation to reach Detroit and needing a win to qualify for a bowl game. Like all its conference games, CMU holds a major talent advantage and should win handily, but if the Eagles can get a couple of early stops and make some big plays, then all bets are off. Carnegie Mellon 45, Eastern Michigan 24.