Central Michigan University Athletics
Football vs. Indiana: Game Notes
8/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 2005
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Game No. 1: Indiana University Hoosiers (0-0) at Central Michigan University Chippewas (0-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 2, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
30,199 capacity; FieldTurf playing surface
Radio: CMU Radio Network with Kurt Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Shingles (color commentary)
Television: ESPNU with Craig Coshun (play-by-play) and Gene Stallings (color commentary)
The Match-Up
Central Michigan University opens its 2005 football season on Friday against Indiana. The Hoosiers' trip to Mount Pleasant marks the first time that a Big Ten team has visited Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Friday's contest, just the sixth at night in the history of Kelly/Shorts, will be televised live to a national audience on ESPNU.
The Coaches
Brian Kelly is beginning his second season as the head coach at Central Michigan University. He guided the Chippewas to a 4-7 record in 2004. Kelly arrived in Mount Pleasant after a successful 13-year stint at Grand Valley State University which saw him lead the Lakers to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in 2002 and 2003.
Terry Hoeppner makes his debut as the head coach at Indiana tonight. Hoeppner compiled a 48-25 record in five seasons at Miami, including back-to-back appearances in the MAC Championship Game and postseason bowls in 2003 and 2004. His RedHawks won the MAC title game and GMAC Bowl in 2003.
The Series Indiana has won both prior contests with the Chippewas, claiming victories in Bloomington in 2002 and 2004. In last year's opener, the Hoosiers returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown to break the game open midway through the third quarter. In 2002, CMU led 29-16 midway through the third period before IU rattled off 23 unanswered points en route to a 39-29 win.
Opening Act
CMU has won eight straight home openers, including last year's 44-27 win over Southeast Missouri State. The Chippewas have won their last five season-openers at home. CMU last opened a season at Kelly/Shorts in 2002, downing Sam Houston State 34-10.
Friday Night Lights
Friday night's contest marks the sixth time that CMU has played at night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas are 4-1 in the previous five, each of which have been home openers.
Date Opponent Result9/2/93 Akron 23-13 L8/28/97 Northern Illinois 44-10 W9/2/99 Eastern Illinois 33-17 W8/30/01 Eastern Kentucky 42-28 W8/29/02 Sam Houston State 34-10 W1991 and 1992 Teams to be Honored
Prior to kickoff of Friday's opener, CMU will recognize the 1991 and 1992 teams that recorded back-to-back wins over Michigan State in Spartan Stadium. In 1991, the Chippewas defeated No. 18 Michigan State, 20-3, in what is widely regarded as the greatest win in program history. CMU returned to East Lansing in 1992 and came away with a 24-20 win. Both teams were coached by current CMU Athletics Director Herb Deromedi.
Fill It Up
The Kelly/Shorts Stadium attendance record could potentially fall tonight against Indiana. The current attendance mark is 29,822 against rival Western Michigan in 1998. The largest crowd to ever watch a CMU basketball game was when 16,862 packed Assembly Hall in Bloomington to watch the No. 13-ranked Hoosiers post a 99-52 win over the Chippewas on Dec. 29, 1995. Despite the lopsided score, IU's Bobby Knight still managed to get a technical foul in the game.
CMU vs. the Big Ten
The Chippewas are 2-13 all-time against the 11 current members of the Big Ten Conference. Both wins came at Michigan State, a 20-3 win over the No. 18 Spartans in 1991 and a 24-20 victory in East Lansing in 1992. CMU all-time against the Big Ten:
Indiana 0-2 Iowa 0-2 Michigan 0-2Michigan State 2-4 Minnesota 0-1 Purdue 0-2Future Big Ten Dates
The Chippewas' scheduled game at Michigan next season has been moved back a week to Sept. 9, 2006. Ball State will now play the Wolverines on Sept. 2. Other Big Ten opponents on future CMU schedules include Oct. 14, 2006 at Illinois; Sept. 15, 2007 at Purdue; Nov. 3, 2007 at Indiana; Sept. 13, 2008 at Purdue; Sept. 5, 2009 at Michigan State; and Sept. 11, 2010 versus Indiana in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Two Rookies and a Legend
In the first two weeks of the season CMU faces head coaches in their first season at their respective schools -- Terry Hoeppner at Indiana and Shane Montgomery at Miami. The Chippewas counter that in week three by playing legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno who currently holds the NCAA Division I coaching longevity record for most years at one school - 40.
On This Date
CMU has played three games all-time on Sept. 2, posting a 1-2 record. The Chippewas defeated Eastern Illinois, 33-17, in 1999, but fell to Akron (23-13 in 1999) and Purdue (48-0 in 2000). All three contests were season openers.
Keeping an Eye on Bazuin
Junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin, an All-MAC First Team selection in 2004, has been named to the preseason watch lists for both the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He is one of 50 players named to the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, presented to the top defensive player in college football. The Lombardi Award, which lists 54 players on its preseason list, is given to the top defensive lineman in the nation.
Home Sweet Home
Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 124-47-4 record (.720 winning percentage) at home. In 2004, CMU was 4-1 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Hitting the Books
CMU has claimed the MAC Academic Achievement Award for highest cumulative grade point average among student-athletes by a conference school for the 2004-05 academic year. It marks the fourth straight year, and eighth time in nine years, CMU has won the award. CMU's 369 student-athletes in 16 different sports posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.066 during the 2004-05 academic year.
CMU on TV
CMU will make at least five appearances on television this season, including at least three on the ESPN family of networks. Tonight's game against Indiana is being carried live on ESPNU. The Sept. 17 contest at Penn State will be covered by ESPN Plus, with FSN Pittsburgh delivering the contest to a regional audience. The Chippewas' Oct. 8 trip to Army will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic or ESPNU.
Comcast Sports Net Detroit has committed to carrying two Chippewa games this season. Comcast will descend on Mount Pleasant for the Sept. 24 game against Eastern Michigan and will also carry the regular season finale at Ball State on Nov. 19.
CMU vs. the MAC
The Chippewas are 209-174-17 (.544) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 139-106-10 (.565) in MAC contests since joining the conference in 1975. CMU vs. the MAC:
Akron 9-9-1 Ball State 18-18-1 Bowling Green 16-21Buffalo 2-1 Eastern Michigan 52-24-6 Kent State 21-9Miami 8-11-1 Northern Illinois 21-18-1 Ohio 17-4-2Toledo 13-17-3 Western Michigan 32-42-2
Preseason Prognostications
CMU was picked to finish fourth in the MAC West Division in the MAC News Media Association's preseason poll. Toledo was selected to defend its West Division and MAC Championship Game titles, while Bowling Green was tabbed to win the East in its first season back in that division.
CMU in the NFL
Four former Central Michigan University football players are currently on NFL rosters. Offensive linemen Eric Ghiaciuc (fourth round) and Adam Kieft (fifth round) were both selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2005 draft. Kieft, however, suffered a knee injury during preseason camp and is currently on the injured reserve list. Center Brock Gutierrez, a letterman from 1993-95, is on the Detroit Lions' roster, while defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins is entering his second season with the Green Bay Packers. Tight end Tory Humphrey and defensive back James King took part in offseason drills with the Packers and Cleveland Browns, respectively.
Thanks, Herb
CMU Athletics Director Herb Deromedi has announced his retirement effective Jan. 15, 2006. Deromedi has been a part of CMU athletics for more than 38 years, taking on his current role on June 1, 1994. Prior to taking over the athletics director post, Deromedi became the winningest football coach in MAC history, posting a 110-55-10 record from 1978-93. He was the defensive coordinator on Roy Kramer's 1974 CMU squad that claimed the 1974 NCAA Division II national championship.
In his current post, Deromedi has spearheaded a complete overhaul of the athletic facilities on campus and overseen a program that has won 34 MAC championships. CMU has also earned the MAC Academic Achievement Award for highest cumulative grade point average by a conference school in eight of the last nine years.
All-Time Record
CMU has played 895 games over the course of 104 seasons and is 526-333-36 in those contests. The Chippewas' all-time winning percentage is .608.
