Case Western Reserve Spartans football

Case Western Reserve Spartans football
First season 1890
Head coach Greg Debeljak
12th year, 82–41 (.667)
Stadium DiSanto Field
Seating capacity 2,400
Field surface FieldTurf
Location University Circle, Cleveland, OH
NCAA division NCAA Division III
Conference Presidents' Athletic Conference
Bowl record 1–0 (1.000)
Conference titles 18
Colors

Royal Blue, White, and Gray

               
Website athletics.case.edu

The Case Western Reserve Spartans football team is the varsity intercollegiate football team representing the Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. They compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division III level and hold dual membership in both the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) and the University Athletic Association (UAA). They are coached by Greg Debeljak. Home games are played at DiSanto Field. The team in its current form was created in 1970 after the federation of Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology.

History

Pre-merger (1890–1969)

Western Reserve University Red Cats played its first season in 1890 and Case Institute of Technology Rough Riders began the following year in 1891. Physically bordering each other, the two schools were instant rivals. From 1894-1953, playing the game often on Thanksgiving day became a rivalry tradition. Due to high civic interest and large crowds, the games were often held at larger Cleveland city venues, such as League Park and Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Western Reserve led the all-time series 49-20-5.

In 1892, Western Reserve declined John Heisman's offer to be their head coach, and then ironically faced him and his Oberlin Yeomen during the season opener, getting destroyed 38-8.[1] Western Reserve would have their revenge two years later in 1894, finally defeating Heisman while at home in Cleveland, ending the season with a 7-0 undefeated record. In fact, the team outscored opponents a combined 232-8, and posted five shutouts. Only Oberlin and Ohio State scored on Western Reserve that year.

Ohio State vs Case 11/9/1918. Military images were common on football programs during WWI.

Western Reserve is the only Ohio team with a winning record, 6-5-1, against the Ohio State Buckeyes, playing from 1891-1934. Ohio State University's only death of a player from game-related injuries, team captain John Sigrist, occurred against Western Reserve in 1901.[2] Case Institute of Technology holds a 10-11-2 all-time record against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

When the Ohio Athletic Conference was formed in 1902, Case Institute of Technology, led by quarterback Peggy Parratt, dominated the early years winning the first four titles (1902-1905) and posting a combined 18-1-1 league record. Western Reserve finally emerged to win the consecutive league titles in 1907 and 1908, followed by 1915. Case Institute of Technology would win two more OAC titles—one in 1932, ironically only losing to Western Reserve who exited the conference in 1931—and another in 1941, again suffering their only loss against rival Western Reserve.

Famed Notre Dame coach, Knute Rockne, made his head coaching debut on September 28, 1918 against Case Institute of Technology held at University Circle's Van Horn Field. George "The Gipper" Gipp led the Fighting Irish to a 26-6 victory rushing for two touchdowns.[3] Although the home team could not play spoiler in his debut, Case lays claim to scoring the first touchdown against Rockne. The AP story recounted the scoring drive: "Case scored in the opening period when brilliant open field running by Hale and a forward pass, Hale to Wolf, placed the ball on Notre Dame’s two-yard line. Capt. McCune plunged over."[4]

The Alabama Crimson Tide played their first ever game in the north at Case Institute of Technology in 1920, due to coach Xen C. Scott who previously coached at Case and Western Reserve, wanting to showcase his new team to the Cleveland audience.[5]

Cleveland had its own "Big Four Conference," which was formed in 1933 consisting of Baldwin-Wallace, Case Tech, John Carroll, and Western Reserve. Some of the highest attended games in school history occurred during this decade, needing to be played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and League Park to handle the larger crowds. The champion received the Douglas S. Campbell Trophy. Case Tech won the inaugural in 1933 and then Western Reserve won eight out of the next nine—1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, and 1942. The local tradition came to an end due to the interruption of WWII.

The Bill Edwards era (1936-1941) propelled Western Reserve into the national spotlight, achieving two undefeated seasons (1936 and 1938), a 28-game win streak, and the school's only bowl game -- 1941 Sun Bowl, played Jan 1, 1941. The undefeated teams featured strong play from Frank "Doc" Kelker,[6] Phil Ragazzo, Albie Litwak,[7] Johnnie Ries, Gene Myslenski,[8] Mike Rodak, Dick Booth, and Johnny Wilson. During his six year tenure, Coach Edwards guided the team to a 49–6–2 (0.877), earning a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame before heading off to coach the Detroit Lions.

After a short hiatus during WWII, football resumed in 1946 where Western Reserve pushed hard to elevate the program to the national stage scheduling teams such as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Rutgers, West Virginia, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Ohio University, Western Michigan, Brown, and Duquesne. In 1946, Western Reserve became a charter member with the formation of the Mid-American Conference, in conjunction with Ohio University, Butler, Cincinnati, and Wayne State. In 1954, Western Reserve withdrew from the MAC, citing the need for the school to focus more energy on academics and the high cost of running a big time program spearheaded by President John Millis.[9] In conjunction with reviving the Case Institute program who had disbanded in 1954, both teams helped form the Presidents' Athletic Conference as charter members in 1955, with Western Reserve winning conference titles in 1955, 1958, and 1960.

Post-merger (1970–present)

The football teams combined in 1970, a few years after the federation of the two universities. Both the Red Cats and Rough Riders names were dropped, and the new mascot, Spartans, was adopted. A new rivalry game emerged in 1970 against Carnegie Mellon. In 1986, the annual game was officially dubbed the "Academic Bowl.[10]" Another rivalry against the College of Wooster began in 1984, where the winner holds on to the Baird Brothers Trophy.

The Spartans played in the PAC until 1983. The following season, they helped charter their fourth conference, the North Coast Athletic Conference. During the league's first year in 1984, the Spartans achieved a 9-0 undefeated season, winning the first conference title led by two-time All-American quarterback Fred DiSanto. The most successful coach by winning percentage in the post-merger era was Coach Jim Chapman, who amassed a 36-7-1 (0.830) record from 1982-1986, including a 14-game win streak.[11]

In conjunction with other top research universities in the country, Case Western Reserve University became a charter member of its fifth and final conference, the University Athletic Association, being joined by the football teams of University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Rochester (who would eventually leave in 2003) in 1986. A conference title was earned in 1996. The Spartans played as a member of both the NCAC and UAA, until finally departing the NCAC in 1999.

In 2004, Coach Greg Debeljak moved into the head coaching role, where he set and now holds the record for most wins in post-merger era history. Under his tenure, the Spartans had three consecutive 10-0 undefeated seasons in (2007, 2008, and 2009), which helped set an all-time school record of a 38-game regular season win streak, leading to the school's first NCAA DIII playoff appearances (2007, 2008, and 2009) and playoff win (2007).[12] Four UAA conference titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) have been won. Coach Greg Debeljak holds a 9-3 record against rival Carnegie Mellon.

After a couple decade hiatus, the team rejoined the PAC in 2014 while retaining its membership in the UAA.

Postseason and conference championships

Conference titles

A total of nine undefeated seasons have been recorded—Western Reserve University (1894, 1936, and 1938) and Case Institute of Technology (1892, 1893) both while Independent and Case Western Reserve University while in the NCAC or UAA (1984, 2007, 2008, and 2009).

A total of 18 conference titles have been earned—9 (OAC), 5 (UAA), 3 (PAC), and 1 (NCAC).

Year Conference Overall Record Conference Record Winner Postseason
1902 OAC 6-3 5-0 Case Institute of Technology
1903 OAC 8-1 5-0 Case Institute of Technology
1904 OAC 7-2 4-1 Case Institute of Technology
1905 OAC 8-1-1 4-0-1 Case Institute of Technology
1907 OAC 8-1 5-1 Western Reserve University
1908 OAC 9-1 6-1 Western Reserve University
1915 OAC 7-2 6-1 Western Reserve University
1932 OAC 7-2 5-0 Case Institute of Technology
1933 Big Four Conference 5-3-1 1-1-1 Case Institute of Technology
1934 Big Four Conference 7-1-1 3-0 Western Reserve University
1935 Big Four Conference 9-0-1 3-0 Western Reserve University
1936 Big Four Conference 10-0 3-0 Western Reserve University
1937 Big Four Conference 8-2 3-0 Western Reserve University
1938 Big Four Conference 9-0 3-0 Western Reserve University
1940 Big Four Conference 8-1 3-0 Western Reserve University Won Sun Bowl
1941 OAC 7-1 3-0 Case Institute of Technology
1941 Big Four Conference 7-1 3-0 Western Reserve University
1942 Big Four Conference 8-3 3-0 Western Reserve University
1955 PAC 5-1-1 3-0 Western Reserve University
1958 PAC 4-3 4-0 Western Reserve University
1960 PAC 6-1 6-0 Western Reserve University
1984 NCAC 9-0 6-0 Case Western Reserve University
1996 UAA 5-5 3-1 Case Western Reserve University
2007 UAA 11-1 3-0 Case Western Reserve University Won vs Widener, Loss vs Wabash
2008 UAA 10-1 3-0 Case Western Reserve University Loss vs Wabash
2009 UAA 10-1 3-0 Case Western Reserve University Loss vs Trine
2011 UAA 9-1 3-0 Case Western Reserve University

1941 Sun Bowl

See also: 1941 Sun Bowl

Arguably the most significant game in school history was played between Western Reserve University and Arizona State University in the 1941 Sun Bowl. For the Red Cats, Steve Belichick, father of NFL coach Bill Belichick, would score the first touchdown. Four other future NFL players played in the game for Western Reserve, Dom Sanzotta, Stan Skoczen, Dick Booth, and Andy Logan. This would become both the only bowl game played and won in school history, ending in a 26-13 victory.

NCAA Division III playoffs

The Spartans reached the playoffs during the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, led by quarterback Dan Whalen.[13] The lone playoff victory occurred in 2007, with a thrilling 21-20 victory over Widener University[14]

Conference affiliation

Founding charter members of five conferences:

Western Reserve University Case Institute of Technology Case Western Reserve University

Presidents' Athletic Conference University Athletic Association North Coast Athletic Conference Presidents' Athletic Conference Presidents' Athletic Conference Ohio Athletic Conference Presidents' Athletic Conference Mid-American Conference Ohio Athletic Conference

Notable alumni

Former NFL Players:[15]

References

  1. ↑ Umphlett, W. L. (1992) Creating the Big Game: John W. Heisman and the Invention of American Football. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 30.
  2. ↑ http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2011/10/28/a-violent-game.html
  3. ↑ http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/allambios/nd-m-footbl-gipp.html
  4. ↑ http://125.nd.edu/moments/this-day-in-history-rockne-takes-the-reins/
  5. ↑ Edwards, Henry P. (November 10, 1920). "Case–Alabama battle in this city clinched". The Plain Dealer (NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers). p. 12.
  6. ↑ http://athletics.case.edu/sports/spartan_club/bios/kelker_frank
  7. ↑ http://summitcountyhof.com/inductees/330/
  8. ↑ http://athletics.case.edu/sports/spartan_club/bios/myslenski_gene
  9. ↑ John Sayle Watterson (2002). "College Football: History, Spectacle, Controversy". JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-7114-6.
  10. ↑ http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/academic_bowl
  11. ↑ http://issuu.com/cwruathletics/docs/cwru_football_media_guide_updated/3
  12. ↑ http://issuu.com/cwruathletics/docs/cwru_football_media_guide_updated/3
  13. ↑ http://www.d3football.com/teams/Case_Western_Reserve/2015/index
  14. ↑ http://espn.go.com/college-football/game?gameId=273212963
  15. ↑ http://www.databasefootball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Case+Western+Reserve+University
  16. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/dickbooth/2509871/profile
  17. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/andylogan/2519634/careerstats
  18. ↑ http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner70s/01-06-008.pdf
  19. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/mikerodak/2524407/profile
  20. ↑ http://old.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20020718roman4.asp
  21. ↑ http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2010/05/stanley_e_skoczen_was_a_star_a.html
  22. ↑ http://www.profootballresearchers.org/articles/Elyria_Out_Of_Nowhere.pdf
  23. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/johnnywilson/2529126/profile

External links

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