Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Open Season at Indiana
8/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Aug. 30, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Brian Kelly era of Central Michigan University football kicks off this week when the Chippewas face the first of two Big Ten opponents.
CMU will open with Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. EDT). The Chippewas will then play at Michigan State on Sept. 11 at noon.
Kelly comes to CMU after a highly successful 13-year run at Grand Valley State University where his last two teams won Division II national titles and his 2001 team finished second.
"I like our early schedule because it will prepare us for the Mid-American Conference season by playing two Big Ten teams," said Kelly. "It's clearly a great challenge, and it will toughen us up for the MAC.
"We want to beat Indiana but just as important is that we want to come out of that game feeling good about our chances of winning the MAC. We have to compete for four quarters and have a shot at winning the game. That's how we'll measure our performance."
Kelly has spent little time thus far getting prepared for IU.
"You'll find this with me," Kelly said. "I'm much more concerned and focused about our team than the opponents. I know my staff has spent a lot of time thus far and I'll begin this week."
One area of concentration for Kelly in the spring and in fall training camp has been to create a certain toughness that he felt was lacking.
"I'm not talking about physical toughness," he said. "But, a mental toughness that all championship teams have. When you hit that wall, and everyone does, you have to keep banging on it and not quit.
"We've m ade big strides here but we're not where we need to be."
The Coaches Central Michigan -- Brian Kelly (Assumption, 1983).Career record: 118-35-2 (13 years).CMU record: first year. Indiana -- Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, 1975).Career record: 56-68-1 (11 years).Indiana record: 5-19 (third year).The Series
This is the second meeting between the two schools with the Hoosiers claiming a 39-29 victory in Bloomington in 2001.
CMU held a 26-16 lead at the half and booted a field goal in the third period for a 29-16 lead. The Chippewas then intercepted an IU pass and returned it to the 12.
However, a CMU fumble turned the entire game around and Indiana responded with 23 unanswered points.
Robbie Mixon rushed for 154 yards on 24 carries and scored once to lead CMU.
The Chippewas rushed for 263 yards and finished with 461 yards in total offense while IU had 531 -- 316 through the air.
Scouting IndianaThe Hoosier offense is led by Notre Dame transfer Matt LoVecchio at quarterback. He started 11 games a year ago and completed 155-of-291 passes for 1,778 yards and three TDs.
Sophomore back BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 938 yards on 225 carries as a true frosh.
Senior Courtney Roby has 108 career receptions for 1,714 yards and could set school records in both categories.
IU is experienced in the trenches where all five starters are back on offense and the front seven returns on defense.
The top defender may be safety Will Meyers a first team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.
Banner Rookie SeasonJerry "Bam Bam" Seymour broke the coveted 100-yard barrier in seven games in 2003, including the final five straight to become the first CMU true frosh to gain 1,000 yards.
The 5-6, 190-pounder netted 1,117 yards on 205 carries in just nine games (he missed three with a leg injury).
Seymour, with career highs in yards (207) and rushes (36) in a win over Eastern Michigan, was named first team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News. He was a second team All-MAC pick.
He also led the MAC in all-purpose yards (172.2) and was third nationally.
Below is a listing of his 100-yard outings in 2003:
•New Hampshire 166 in 27QB Race Deadlock
•E. Kentucky 116 in 25
•UCF 114 in 17
•EMU 207 in 36
•Akron 105 in 19
•WMU 162 in 27
•Navy 154 in 33
It's been a two-man race from the start of spring drills at quarterback and it remains that way with senior Grant Arnoldink and junior Kent Smith in a virtual tie entering this week's practice.
Both QBs would play at Indiana, according to Brian Kelly, but a decision wouldn't be made as to the starter until later in the week.
Arnoldink played in three games in each of the last two seasons but has not lettered. His career stats are 14-of-31 for 144 yards and one TD.
Smith lettered in 2002 but did not play last fall. He completed 10-of-32 passes that season for 96 yards and a TD and ran for 106 more and another score.
King Eyes RecordSenior linebacker James King has his sights set on setting a CMU career record for tackles.
The converted safety had 143 stops in 2003, tied for 10th in the country with 11.92 per game. He is eighth all-time at CMU with 329 -- 158 away Brian Leigeb's school mark of 486.
Here's who is ahead of King:
1. Brian Leigeb (1997-00), 486Block Specialist
2. Ray Bentley (1979-82), 443
3. Rich Curtiss (1987-90), 402
4. Bryan Gross (1976-78), 396
5. Mike Bevier (1980-84), 352
Shawn Williams (1995-99), 352
7. Bill Schmidt (1973-75), 335
8. James King (2001-), 329
James King is the current national leader in Division I football for blocked kicks with 10.
King blocked eight as a redshirt freshman in 2001 including four punts at Michigan State. He blocked two in 2002 but did not get one in 2003. Behind him are Florida State's B.J. Ward with seven and Buffalo's Rob Schroeder with six.
The career record is 19 by New Mexico State's James Ferebee.
Veteran O-LineCMU finished third in the MAC in rushing with 195.8 yards per game in 2003. Four of the five starters return, and the five combine for 85 career starts.
Anchoring the line is 6-7, 328-pound senior left tackle Adam Kieft, a four-year starter with 31 career starts to his credit.
The other senior on the line is 6-3, 294-pound center Eric Ghiaciuc, a three-year starter who has 24 straight straights.
Junior guard Jeff Jenerou, a 6-7, 308-pounder, started nine games in 2003 at tackle (13 total) while sophomore guard Drew Mormino, a 6-4, 287-pounder, started all 12 games.
The lone newcomer is 6-5, 275-pound right tackle Joe Staley who caught 11 passes for 130 yards as a true freshman tight end in 2003. He started four games at tight end.
News PositionsA number of Chippewas moved to new positions during spring drills and three are listed as starters:
•Isaac Brown from tailback to free safetyString Reaches 46
•James King from safety to drop linebacker
•Joe Staley from tight end to offensive tackle
Others moving included:
•Jacob Brown from wide receiver to drop linebacker (will be redshirted in 2004)
•De'Onte Burnam from linebacker to defensive end
•Doug Kress from safety to drop linebacker
•Jonathon Lapsley from wide receiver to safety
•Michael Ogle from linebacker to defensive end
•Eugene Rauls from offensive line to defensive tackle
•Anthony Rogers from defensive end to defensive tackle
•Jason Smith from safety to drop linebacker
Junior place-kicker Mike Gruzwalski did not miss an extra point in 2003, converting all 35. Gruzwalski's streak has now reached 46 with his last miss coming against Bowling Green in 2002.
His streak is the 11th longest in the nation among Division IA kickers.
In his career, Gruzwalski is 18-of-25 in field goals.
MAC Honors ThreeThree current Chippewas garnered second team All-MAC laurels in 2003.
They were: senior offensive tackle Adam Kieft; senior linebacker James King; and sophomore tailback Jerry Seymour.
Buzzin' About DanielSophomore defensive end Daniel Bazuin had a stellar redshirt freshman season, leading the Chippewas in tackles for loss with 14 for minus 53 yards. He also tied for the team lead in QB sacks with six and fifth in total tackles with 70.
CMU Has a Friend in StevenA number of true freshmen have a chance to play this season for the Chippewas but one is ticketed for a starting position -- 6-3, 275-pound defensive tackle Steven Friend. He won the job with a splendid fall.
Three yearlings are vying for time at wide receiver and all could play before the season is over. They are: Michael Jean, Darren Martin and Asante White.
Rauls Now Wears No. 99Another touted freshman Eugene Rauls moved from offensive line to defensive tackle last week. The 6-5, 330-pounder has also switched numbers to 99. While not yet in the two-deep, he is expected to play at Indiana.
His position change may return redshirt freshman Anthony Rogers from tackle to end on defense.
Freshman All-AmericansCMU has had five current players honored as Freshman All-Americans by The Sporting News.
Junior place-kicker Mike Gruzwalski was a first team choice in 2002 while senior tight end Tory Humphrey and senior strong safety James King were second and fourth teams selections in 2001.
In 2003, sophomore Jerry Seymour was first team and Daniel Bazuin second team.
Indiana TiesThe Chippewas have four players from the state of Indiana on their roster, one of whom is certain to travel to Bloomington.
Senior wide receiver Jovan Witherspoon (Ft. Wayne) saw action in 2003, catching one pass for two yards and is in the CMU two-deep. Redshirt freshmen offensive tackle Michael Raffaeli (Indianapolis) and quarterback Erich Martin (Ft. Wayne) also hail from the Hooiser state as does freshman safety Joanthon Lapsley (Ft. Wayne).
Season OpenersCMU is 6-4 in its last 10 season openers -- all four losses having come on the road at Big Ten schools.
Below is a rundown of the last 10 openers:
1994 - @ Iowa (L, 52-21)Running to Success
1995 - Weber State (W, 39-31)
1996 - @ Boise State (W, 42-21)
1997 - Northern Illinois (W, 44-10)
1998 - @ Iowa (L, 38-0)
1999 - Eastern Illinois (W, 33-17)
2000 - @ Purdue (L, 48-0)
2001 - Eastern Kentucky (W, 42-28)
2002 - Sam Houston (W, 34-10)
2003 - @ Michigan, (L, 45-7)
CMU has had backs gain 100 yards in 236 games since 1970, posting a record of 168-61-7.
CMU has had 20 seasons with 1,000-yard rushers since becoming Division I in 1975.
How About Those Chippewas!CMU enters the 2004 season as the 23rd winningest Division IA football program in history. In 29 seasons of 1A football, the Chippewas have a winning percentage of .611. CMU is ahead of Texas A & M (.603), Syracuse (.601), Army (.600), UCLA (.600), Bowling Green (.597), Arkansas (.596) and Southern Mississippi (.596).
The Chippewas have won four Mid-American Conference championships since joining the conference in 1975 with titles coming in 1979, '80, '90 and '94.
Gone BowlingAfter winning the Division II national title in 1974, CMU has gone to two bowls in Division I -- the 1990 California Raisin Bowl (a 48-24 loss to San Jose State) and the 1994 Las Vegas Bowl (a 52-24 loss to Las Vegas).
MAC HonoreesSince joining the MAC in 1975 CMU has had more first team all-conference selections than any other school with 101.
Out of the BoothFor the first time in 10 years, Chippewa athletics director Herb Deromedi will not handle the color commentary for the 12-station CMU radio network.
The winningest coach in MAC history with 110 wins, Deromedi has worked on the radio broadcasts since 1995 -- one year after becoming the AD.
Deromedi was 110-55-10 (.657) in 16 season as the Chippewa mentor. His teams won three titles and he had just two losing seasons -- both 5-6 campaigns.
Kurt Wilson, the voice of CMU basketball, will handle the color with Ed Phelps returning for his 28th season as the play-by-play man.
