Football Hosts Case Western Reserve in the 22nd Annual Academic Bowl

Oct. 10 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – This week's match up for Carnegie Mellon University features the 5-0 Spartans of Case Western Reserve in the 22nd annual Academic Bowl.  Saturday’s game opens University Athletic Association (UAA) play for both teams, as the Tartans will seek their third straight victory over the Spartans. Heading into Saturday's noon kickoff at Gesling Stadium, Carnegie Mellon will look to end their three game losing streak.  

The Academic Bowl is an annual football game between two of the nation’s top academic institutions that began in the fall of 1986. The winner is awarded the Academic Bowl trophy. The Academic Bowl is more than a trophy, as it emphasizes a “Commitment to Academic and Athletic Excellence”. The Spartans won the first Academic Bowl Trophy in 1986, defeating Carnegie Mellon 21-14. In the all-time Academic Bowl series, the Tartans hold a 15-6 advantage over Case and also lead the all-time series 26-10.  Their first ever meeting was in 1970, as the Tartans defeated Case 21-0.  

Carnegie Mellon Head Coach Rich Lackner said, “There is a lot of tradition in this game.  It is a very huge game for both teams, being that it is not only the Academic Bowl, but the start of UAA play.”  

The Tartans rushing attack, ranking ninth nationally and first in the UAA, averaging 293.8 yards per game will be put up to a test this Saturday.  Case Western Reserve allows 82.4 yards per game from the ground, ranking 26th in the nation and first in the UAA.  Carnegie Mellon’s senior fullback Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) has rushed for 377 yards in three games against Case, while finding the end zone on four occasions including a career-high 196 yards in 2005.  Sivek’s fellow back senior Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens., Fla./The Benjamin School) currently leads the UAA in yards (506), while Sivek ranks second with 404 and first in touchdowns with eight.

Senior corner Jon Scholl (Coraopolis, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) not only leads the Tartans in tackles, but leads the nation with 15.8 tackles per game.  Scholl and the Tartans defense have compiled 18 pass breakups and recorded five interceptions this season.

While the Tartans running game continues to flow, the Spartans passing attack is on the up rise.  In Case's first five games, sophomore quarterback Dan Whalen has thrown for 1,067 yards and tossed ten touchdowns while protecting the football, throwing just two interceptions.  Whalen is not only a threat from the air he is the Spartans leading rusher with 228 yards and two touchdowns.

“Dan Whalen is a major weapon.  He runs extremely well, makes good decisions and has a good strong arm,” comments Lackner.  “He is definitely a key to their success on offense.  He makes a lot of things happen.”

The Spartans' front-seven is headed by seniors Tom Brew and John Tiemeier along with junior Brian Calderone.  The front has recorded 13 sacks and 40 tackles-for-loss in the first half of the season.

“Case is certainly a very good football team. They have great players on defense and return a veteran crew,” added Lackner.  “They deserve to be 5-0 at this point in their season.”