The Case Western Reserve University football team will aim for the fifth undefeated regular season, when the 21st-ranked Spartans (9-0) take on longtime rival Carnegie Mellon University (6-3) in the 31st-Annual Academic Bowl at DiSanto Field Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Fans from the campus community are invited to come out and cheer on the Spartans in the team’s biggest game of the season, and take part in a number of other special events surrounding Saturday’s game.
Tickets are free to CWRU students, faculty and staff with an ID, while ticket prices for others can be found at athletics.case.edu/facilities/tickets.
What’s at stake
When the Spartans take the field Saturday, they will be playing for two conference championships, and likely, a chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. Case Western Reserve has already clinched at least a share of the UAA Championship, and can win the title outright with a win. In addition, a victory would give the Spartans a piece of their first-ever PAC Championship.
More importantly, should the Spartans win, they would complete their first undefeated regular season since 2009, and would put themselves in a strong position to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2009 as well.
Giveaways
The first 1,500 fans in attendance at Saturday’s game will receive a free rally towel to help cheer on the Spartans in the big game.
BlueCWRU, the student spirit organization, also give away a limited number of “CWRU or Nowhere” t-shirts at the game.
Senior Day
Prior to the start of the game, the team will honor the 13 graduating seniors who will be playing in the final regular season games of their collegiate careers:
- Linebacker Tim Briercheck;
- Offensive lineman Dante Capicchioni;
- Defensive lineman Tyler Doty;
- Quarterback Stephen Guenther;
- Cornerback Nick Kwon;
- Offensive lineman Nate Lewis;
- Wide receiver Brendan Lynch;
- Linebacker Zach Lyon;
- Linebacker Jeep Madison;
- Safety John McKelvey;
- Tight end Zech Medved;
- Offensive lineman Robbie Sabatelle;and
- Cornerback Owen Williams.
Together, the 13 players have helped the Spartans record 24 wins over the last four seasons, with a winning percentage of .632.
Honoring the CIT-WRU rivalry
Case Western Reserve also will honor the Case Institute of Technology – Western Reserve University rivalry at Saturday’s game, with members of each of the schools taking part as honorary captains during the coin toss on Saturday.
A full preview of the game is available at athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20161108ohlcqf.
For more information on the Spartans, go to athletics.case.edu.