The Observer, August 29, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 1
With playoff run in rearview mirror, football enters season nationally ranked
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Case Western is making news, but this time it's the football team in the spotlight. Last year, the Spartans had a record-breaking season by winning eleven games and receiving a bid to the NCAA Div. III playoffs for the first time in school history after a 10-0 regular season. Last year's success, coupled with 17 out of 22 starters returning, has the Spartans ranked highly among many prominent pre-season polls. "USA Today" ranked Case 16th, "The Sporting News" has the Spartans ranked 12th, and "Lindy's" ranked the team the highest, earning the 10th spot in the nation. The local media and national polls have high expectations for the team this upcoming season; however, the Spartans aren't feeling the pressure. Ryan Breon, a senior offensive lineman from Barberton, Ohio, said, "There is no added pressure because we each know what our job is. As long as we go out and execute, we won't have any problems. It is nice to be recognized, though". When asked about how being in the Preseason Top 25 is different than last year, Breon added, "This year we will have a target on our back. Teams will circle us on their schedule as a team to beat. I'm not so sure that's how it was in the past".
The Spartans have improved their record each of the past three years. In 2005, the team won their first three games before dropping the last seven, including all games verses conference opponents. During the 2006 season, the team improved to five wins and won a conference game verses Chicago during a hail storm at Case field. Winning eleven games last year and earning their first outright UAA title since 1984 means that the team has grand expectations coming into this season. The Spartans were picked by UAA coaches to defend their conference title, receiving two of four first-place votes. Brian Calderone, a senior defensive end, captain, and preseason All-American from Brecksville, Ohio, said that the team's main goal is to win the UAA title. He also believes there is not a team on the schedule that the Spartans aren't capable of beating. Breon added that the team wants to "repeat or more." In order to achieve this goal, Breon said the team must never look ahead and take the season one game at a time, starting with Kenyon.
The Spartans kick off the season Saturday, September 6, when they visit the Lords of Kenyon College. The schedule looks similar to last year but is slightly tougher due to the addition of two teams. The team dropped Gallaudet University and Saint Vincent College and added Hiram College and the University of Rochester, which happens to be the Spartans first home game on September 13. Case and Rochester haven't met on the football field since the 2003 season. At the time, Rochester's football team was still a member of the UAA. During their last encounter, Rochester handed the Spartans their fourth loss by beating the team 30-28. The team finishes the season by facing UAA opponents their last three games, two of which are home games. All in all, a team loaded with talent and having a favorable conference schedule should lead to another successful season for the football team. Junior receiver Ryan Kolesar said it simply: "It's a good time to be a Spartan".
