Football Opens Fall Drills

Aug. 12, 2000

MOUNT PLEASANT--Central Michigan University welcomed more than 100 prospects for the opening of fall drills but none of them were more excited to get going than new head coach Mike DeBord.

"We've spent the summer getting things organized and planned for the season," explained DeBord, an assistant coach for the past eight seasons at Michigan. "Now I'm just anxious to get out on the football field."

Included among the returnees are 36 lettermen and 15 starters from the 1999 team that posted a record of 4-7, 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference.

The freshmen and newcomers reported on Monday, Aug. 7, and the remainder of the team checked in on Thursday, Aug. 10. Press Day was Friday, Aug. 11.

One player who won't be in drills when two-a-days begin on Saturday will be junior Abdullah Muhammad (East Lansing). He's sidelined with a nerve problem in his shoulder and could be lost for the entire season.

Muhammad started his career in the secondary, moved to inside linebacker in 1999 and was to move back to the defensive backfield again this fall.

The Chippewas will be in helmets and shoulder pads for two-a-days on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday before going to full pads on Wednesday.

CMU opens the season at Purdue on Saturday, Sept. 2, before hosting Akron on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m.