Western Reserve played its first season in 1890 and Case began the following year in 1891. Physically bordering each other, the two schools became instant rivals. From 1894 to 1953, the rivalry game was played mostly on Thanksgiving Day, creating a Cleveland 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 Clevelander 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.[2] 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. Interestingly, the undefeated 1893 Case team handed coach John Heisman his first career loss after he started his coaching career with a 13–0 record.[3]
Michigan vs Case series occurred from 1894 to 1923, where Michigan hosted Case in sixteen home openers.
When the Ohio Athletic Conference was formed in 1902, Case dominated the early years winning its first four titles (1902–1905), posting a combined 18–1–1 league record, led by Chester Orr[5] and Peggy Parratt, a quarterback who would later throw the first forward pass in professional football history. The 1902 team scored the first touchdown against Michigan's legendary coach Fielding H. Yost, who began his coaching career posting twelve consecutive shutouts. In fact, the headline in the Detroit Free Press referred not to Michigan's victory but instead read, "MICHIGAN'S GOAL LINE CROSSED."[6] Western Reserve emerged to win league titles in both 1907 and 1908, and again in 1915. Finally in OAC play, Case would win two more titles—first in 1932, ironically losing only to Western Reserve who exited the conference in 1931—and another in 1941, again suffering their only loss to rival Western Reserve.
Western Reserve is the only Ohio team with a winning record, 6–5–1, against the Ohio State Buckeyes, playing from 1891 to 1934. Ohio State University's only death of a player from game-related injuries, team captain John Sigrist, occurred against Western Reserve in 1901.[7] Case Tech holds a 10–11–2 all-time record against the Ohio State Buckeyes, with Coach Joe Fogg posting a perfect 4–0 record during his tenure.
Ohio State vs Case 11/9/1918. Military images were common on football programs during World War I
Famed Notre Dame coach, Knute Rockne, made his head coaching debut on September 28, 1918, against Case 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.[8] 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."[9]
In 1920, The Alabama Crimson Tide played their first ever game in the north at University Circle's Van Horn Field against Case, mainly due to coach Xen C. Scott, prior coach of both Case and Western Reserve, wanting to showcase his new team to the Cleveland audience.[10]
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 World War II.
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 S. Millis.[17] 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 the Carnegie Mellon Tartans. In 1986, the annual game and trophy was officially dubbed the Academic Bowl.[18] 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 to 1986, including a 14-game win streak.[19]
In 2004, Coach Greg Debeljak moved into the head coaching role, where he set and holds the record for most wins in post-merger era history. Within a few years, the Spartans achieved 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).[19] Six UAA conference titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2017) have been won. In 2017, he recorded another perfect 10–0 regular season, sharing the PAC conference title with Washington and Jefferson, also earning another playoff victory. Coach Greg Debeljak holds a 10–8 record against rival Carnegie Mellon.
After a couple decade hiatus, the team rejoined the PAC in 2014 while retaining its membership in the UAA.
Mascot names
Case, originally known as Case School of Applied Science, carried the name Scientists from 1918 to 1939. In 1940, the mascot was changed to the Rough Riders, in honor of their head coach Ray A. Ride. Case formally updated their school name in 1947 to Case Institute of Technology.[20] Western Reserve originally used the mascot Pioneers from 1921 to 1927, until being forced to change by Marietta College, who claimed earlier usage of the namesake.[21] The famous Red Cats mascot was then used beginning in 1928. Upon the merger of the two schools, the Spartans name was adopted in 1970, as the team is now known.
Postseason and conference championships
Conference titles
A total of eleven undefeated seasons have been recorded—Western Reserve (1894, 1935, 1936, and 1938) and Case (1892, 1893) both while Independent and Case Western Reserve while in the NCAC or UAA (1984, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2017).
A total of 23 conference titles have been earned—9 (OAC), 8 (UAA), 5 (PAC), and 1 (NCAC).
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, scored the first touchdown. Johnny Ries led the Red Cats offense with two rushing touchdowns. Four other future NFL players played in the game for Western Reserve, Dom "Mickey" 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.[22] The lone playoff victory during this stretch occurred in 2007, with a thrilling 21–20 victory over Widener University[23]
In the first round of the 2017 playoffs, the Spartans traveled to and shut out Illinois Wesleyan 28–0.[24] In the second round, they were defeated by 45–16 by Mount Union.[25]
Xen C. Scott Captain of 1904 Western Reserve Football. Assistant coach of Western Reserve football 1906-1909. Head football coach 1910 Western Reserve. Head football coach of Penn State University (1917) and University of Alabama (1919-1922)
↑ Originally two separated institutions, the Case football team played their first season in 1891; 133 years ago. The current team was formed in 1970;54years ago(1970), by a merger between Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology.
↑ Edwards, Henry P. (November 10, 1920). "Case–Alabama battle in this city clinched". The Plain Dealer (NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers). p. 12.
The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III which is composed of colleges located in Ohio and Indiana. It sponsors 23 sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.
The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Of its 11 member schools, all private, liberal arts institutions of higher learning, nine are located in Western Pennsylvania. The other two are located in adjacent areas, historically tied to Western Pennsylvania—Appalachian Ohio and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.
The University Athletic Association (UAA) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Member schools are highly selective universities located in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The eight members are Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, New York University, The University of Chicago, University of Rochester, and Washington University in St. Louis.
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University (MSU) in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. The Spartans are members of the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State claims a total of six national championships, including two from the major wire-service: AP Poll and/or Coaches' Poll. The Spartans have also won eleven conference championships, with two in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and nine in the Big Ten.
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Warren Emmett Lahr was an American professional football player who was a defensive back who played for the Cleveland Browns for 11 seasons, mainly in the 1950s. When he retired, he had the most career interceptions in Browns team history with 44.
William Miller Edwards was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Western Reserve University, Vanderbilt University and Wittenberg University in a career lasting more than 30 years, compiling a win-loss-tie record of 168–45–8. Edwards also coached the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1941 to 1942, tallying a 4–9–1 record, and served as an assistant coach for the NFL's Cleveland Browns in the late 1940s.
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Stephen Nickolas Belichick was an American football player, coach, and scout. He played college football at Western Reserve University, now part of Case Western Reserve University, from 1938 to 1940 and then in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions in 1941. After serving in World War II, Belichick began his coaching career. From 1946 to 1949, he was the head football coach and the head basketball coach at Hiram College. He continued on as an assistant coach in college football with stints at Vanderbilt University (1949–1952), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1953–1955), and then for 34 years at the United States Naval Academy (1956–1989).
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The Carnegie Mellon Tartans football team represents Carnegie Mellon University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III competition.
The Case Western Reserve Spartans are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams of Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Case Western Reserve University competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartans compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA), except in football where the team competes as an associate member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The university offers 19 sports—10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.
Donald Adams Greenwood was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a back for three seasons with the Cleveland Rams and the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL) and All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
The 1941 Sun Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Arizona State Bulldogs from Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe in Tempe, Arizona, and the Western Reserve Red Cats from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, known today as Case Western Reserve University.
DiSanto Field, on the campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, is a 2,400-seat multi-purpose football stadium home to the Case Western Reserve Spartans football, men's and women’s soccer and men's and women's track and field teams.
Greg Debeljak is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Case Western Reserve University, a position he has held since 2004. Debeljak and his Spartans compete at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference and University Athletic Association.
Jimmy Dale Chapman was a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Case Western Reserve University from 1982 to 1986 and at Mercyhurst College—now known as Mercyhurst University—from 1990 to 1992, compiling a career college football coaching record of 47–23–2.
The 1984 Case Western Reserve Spartans football team represented Case Western Reserve University in the American city of Cleveland, Ohio, during 1984 NCAA Division III football season. The team's coach was Jim Chapman.
The 2016 Case Western Reserve Spartans football team represented Case Western Reserve University as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) during the 2016 NCAA Division III football season. The team was coached by 13th-year coach Greg Debeljak and played its home games at DiSanto Field in Cleveland. The Spartans finished second in the PAC with a 7–1 record and tied for first in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 2–1 record.
The 2017 Case Western Reserve Spartans football team represented Case Western Reserve University as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division III football season. The team was coached by 14th-year head coach Greg Debeljak and played its home games at DiSanto Field in Cleveland. The Spartans won both the PAC at 8–0 and the University Athletic Association (UAA) at 2–0, finishing the regular season an undefeated 10–0.
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