Football Tabbed as UAA Preseason Favorite

Aug. 23 – (ROCHESTER, N.Y.) – Carnegie Mellon University, which posted a perfect 10-0 regular season record en route to a berth to the NCAA Division III Championship, will start the 2007 season as the favorite of the coaches to defend its University Athletic Association (UAA) football championship.  The Tartans, whose last top UAA preseason honor came during the 1998 season, collected three first-place votes in tallying 15 points.
 
Eight-time Association champion Washington University and Case Western Reserve University were the coaches pick to finish tied for second place, each totaling nine points with the Bears picking up the remaining first-place vote. The University of Chicago was chosen to finish fourth in this year’s standings, earning three points.
 
Last fall, Carnegie Mellon snapped a six-year Association draught by qualifying for the NCAA Division III playoffs.  The Tartans opened with a 21-0 triumph over Millsaps College, before dropping a 37-0 second-round defeat to eventual semifinalist Wesley College.

The UAA schedule kicks off on October 13 with all four teams competing in annual rival series – Washington traveling to Chicago for the 21st annual Founders Trophy game, while Case plays at Carnegie Mellon in the 22nd annual “Academic Bowl” match up.

Carnegie Mellon will open the 2007 regular season at the University of Rochester on Saturday, September 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

POLL RESULTS    
TEAM                    PTS    2006 RECORD
Carnegie Mellon    15        11-1, 3-0
Washington           9           6-4, 2-1
Case                    9           5-5, 1-2
Chicago                3           4-5, 0-3