Central Michigan University Athletics
Hall Of Fame Profile: Jeff Bender
11/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2002
The Central Michigan University Athletics Department will induct a new class into its Hall of Fame this Friday, November 15. CMUCHIPPEWAS.COM will profile one inductee per day this week.
MOUNT PLEASANT -- For a little-recruited quarterback from the upper peninsula of Michigan, Jeff Bender sure left his mark on Central Michigan University football.
A starter for four seasons, Bender led CMU to a record of 26-13-6 and plastered his name all over the Chippewa record book.
For his efforts, Bender will be inducted into CMU's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, November 15. The social hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and ceremonies at 7 p.m.
Also being inducted will be Mary Bottaro (field hockey coach), Dave Grauzer (basketball), Gloria Neve (multi-sport athlete), Denny McNamara (baseball) and Pam Stanley (softball).
Tickets cost $25 and are still available by calling 989-774-3045.
"Jeff was an outstanding example of a student-athlete," said Herb Deromedi, current CMU athletics director who was Bender's head coach. "He was an intelligent player. We put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, and he handled it well.
"Jeff had a great understanding of what was taking place on the field, and was very competitive. He had the ability to make plays."
So much so, that he was named Mid-American Conference "Freshman of the Year" in 1988 and MAC "Most Valuable Player" in 1990. He was also a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1991.
Bender is still first in career passing yards (6,528), completions (502), attempts (960), touchdown passes (38), and total offense (6,518).
Bender currently lives in nearby St. Louis and works as an emergency room physician at Gratiot Community Hospital.
