Central Michigan University Athletics
Eastern Michigan Visits CMU: Game Notes
9/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 21, 2005
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The Match-Up
Central Michigan University hosts Eastern Michigan in a contest featuring two very similar teams. Both the Chippewas and Eagles enter the weekend 1-2 overall, rely on potential gamebreaking players under center and have energetic second-year head coaches on the sidelines. Saturday's game is a rematch of last year's 61-58, four-overtime shootout that Eastern Michigan won at Ford Field.
The CMU-EMU Series
The Chippewas lead the all-time series, 52-24-6, and had won three straight meetings prior to last season's 61-58 EMU win at Ford Field. Since EMU joined the Mid-American Conference prior to the 1976 season, CMU leads the series 20-7-2. CMU has won the past three match-ups with the Eagles in Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Ten of the past 15 meetings between these two programs either have been decided by seven points or less or have gone to overtime, with the losing team scoring at least 24 points seven times.
Off on the Right Foot
CMU is seeking its first 2-0 start in MAC play since 1998. The Chippewas opened the conference slate with a 46-7 win over Kent State that season, then posted a 36-23 overtime win at Eastern Michigan two weeks later. This season, CMU opened MAC play with a 38-37 come-from-behind win at Miami on Sept. 10.
The Coaches
Brian Kelly is in 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. (For a more extensive Kelly bio, see page 10.) Jeff Genyk is also in his second season at Eastern Michigan. He guided the Eagles to a 4-7 record, including 4-4 MAC mark, in 2004. The Eagles' four conference wins were the most since 1999. Genyk, who spent 12 seasons at Northwestern before arriving in Ypsilanti, installed an offense at EMU that averaged 427.9 yards per game last season.
Shootout in the Motor City
Saturday's match-up at Kelly/Shorts Stadium is a rematch of one of the most prolific offensive games in Mid-American Conference history. Last season at Ford Field, CMU and EMU battled through four overtimes before the Eagles claimed a 61-58 win. The 119 points are the second-most scored in a MAC game, while the 1,008 combined yards of offense is the eighth-most in MAC history.
First Down Brown
Senior tight end Jacob Brown has caught 11 passes this season, nine of which have resulted in first downs for CMU. He caught a career-high seven passes at Miami on Sept. 10, five of which resulted in first downs, including four catches on third down. At Penn State last week, Brown's two catches came on fourth and second down, respectively, and both gave CMU first downs.
And We Go To ... Overtime
Four games in CMU history have gone to overtime, with Eastern Michigan serving as the opponent in two of those. The Chippewas' first overtime contest was at EMU in 1998, a 36-23 Chippewa win. Pete Shepherd scored on a one-yard run in the first overtime possession to put CMU up 30-23. With the Eagles facing third-and-goal from the one on their possession, Shawn Williams intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for a score. Last season, the in-state rivals battled through four overtimes before the Eagles emerged with a 61-58 win. The Chippewas' four overtime games:
Date Opponent Result10/10/98 at Eastern Michigan W, 36-2310/7/00 Kent State L, 21-2410/30/04 Western Michigan W, 24-2111/6/04 vs. Eastern Michigan L, 61-58 (4 OT)Big Boot Mikulec
Sophomore Tony Mikulec punted a career-high 11 times on Saturday at Penn State, averaging 42.1 yards per kick. Five of his punts traveled at least 45 yards, including a trio that covered 52 yards. Two kicks were downed inside the 20.
Familiar Face
Former CMU head coach Dick Flynn is in his second season as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan. Flynn was the head coach at CMU from 1994-99, posting a record of 30-37. Prior to assuming the head position, Flynn served the Chippewas' defensive coordinator from 1978 through 1993. After patrolling the CMU sideline for 242 games over 21 seasons, this marks Flynn's second appearance on the visitor's side. He made the trip to Mount Pleasant as an assistant at Akron in 2003.
Pack 'Em In
Saturday's crowd of 100,276 in Beaver Stadium was the second-largest ever to watch a CMU football game. The largest crowd to take in a Chippewa football game was 110,637 at Michigan in 2003.
Keeping an Eye on Bazuin
Junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin, an All-MAC first team selection in 2004, is a member of 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 names 54 players on its preseason list, is given to the top defensive lineman in the nation ... LAST WEEK ... Bazuin collected five tackles (including four solo), two sacks, two pass break-ups and a forced fumble in the Chippewas' loss at Penn State. His two sacks moved him into a tie for eighth on CMU's career sacks list with 14.
Smith Steals the Show
Senior quarterback Kent Smith had the best statistical game of his career in the win over Miami on Sept. 10. A sampling of Smith's notable numbers from the Chippewas' 38-37 win:
His 478 yards of total offense broke his own school record of 446 that he set at Toledo last season. It is the 10th best single-game effort in MAC history.
He is the first Chippewa to run and pass for at least 100 yards in the same game since Erik Timpf (214 passing, 147 rushing) against Michigan State in 1993, and is the first player in school history to throw for at least 300 yards and rush for at least 100.
Smith's 122 rushing yards at Miami set a new career high.
He completed three passes of at least 50 yards and ran for at least 10 yards six times in the win.
Smith Named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week (9/12)
Senior quarterback Kent Smith was named Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week following his record-breaking performance in the win at Miami on Sept. 10. It is the second time in his career he has earned the honor; he was also named Player of the Week after throwing for 205 yards and a touchdown and running for 72 yards and a score in last season's 24-21 overtime win against Western Michigan. Smith was the second Chippewa to earn a conference award in the season's first two weeks. Junior end Daniel Bazuin was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Week after collecting 10 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles against Indiana on Sept. 2.
Bazuin Tabbed Player of the Week (9/5)
Junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin was named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Indiana on Sept. 2. Bazuin collected 10 tackles (including nine solo), two sacks and two forced fumbles. His sacks and forced fumbles came on back-to-back plays in the third quarter and knocked IU out of field goal range. Bazuin, an All-MAC first team selection in 2004, has one other weekly MAC honor on his résume. He was named Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a pair of field goals in a 24-21 win over Kent State last season.
Climbing the Career Charts
Four current Chippewas are either in or near the school's all-time top 10 in a number of statistical categories (see chart at left and on next page). Kent Smith most likely will conclude his career as one of the top quarterbacks in CMU history statistically, while Daniel Bazuin is making his way up the tackle for loss and sack lists as a junior. Smith has moved into sixth on the career completions list, while Bazuin is now tied for eighth with 14 career sacks. Justin Harper's six catches at Penn State pulled him into a tie for fourth all-time.
MAC Nailbiters
CMU has won two straight MAC openers, and both have featured blocked field goals in the closing seconds. On Sept. 10, Jacob Brown blocked a Miami field goal attempt with 11 seconds left to preserve a 38-37 Chippewa win. In 2004, CMU defeated Kent State, 24-21, in the MAC opener at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Daniel Bazuin blocked two field goals in the fourth quarter of that win, including one with 24 seconds remaining.
Sneed Steps Up
Ontario Sneed has made the most of his opportunity to play as a true freshman. In the opener against Indiana, he ran for 148 yards on 14 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His 148 rushing yards were the most by a CMU back in the first game of his freshman season. In game two at Miami, Sneed finished with 85 yards on 19 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-two with 1:44 remaining to tie the score at 37. Sneed is the Chippewas' leading rusher with 265 yards (5.9 ypc.) through three games.
Special Plays on Special Teams
The Chippewas had blocked at least one kick in five straight games entering last weekend's game at Penn State. The streak nearly continued when Isaac Brown broke into the backfield on Penn State's first punt in the opening quarter. At Miami on Sept. 10, Jacob Brown blocked a RedHawk field goal with 11 seconds remaining to preserve a 38-37 Chippewa win. In 2004, CMU blocked kicks in five different games, including each of the final three contests. Brown's block at Miami also continued a CMU trend of blocking kicks at the end of games. Against Kent State in 2004, Daniel Bazuin blocked a field goal with 24 seconds remaining to preserve a 24-21 Chippewa win. CMU's five-game streak of blocked kicks:
Date Opp. Kick Blocked9/10/05 at Miami Field goal9/2/05 Indiana PAT11/20/04 Ball State PAT11/20/04 Ball State Punt11/20/04 Ball State Field Goal11/13/04 Buffalo PAT11/6/04 Eastern Michigan PATBeating the Best
The Chippewas' 38-37 win at Miami on Sept. 10 marked the second time that CMU has defeated a defending MAC divisional champ since the conference expanded to two divisions prior to the 1997 season. The last win was a 21-17 victory over Western Michigan in 2000. Miami has represented the MAC East in each of the past two conference championship games.
Winning the Close Ones
Dating back to 1996, CMU has won each of its last five games decided by one point. The Chippewas' last five one-point games:
Date Opponent Result9/10/05 at Miami 38-37 W11/20/04 Ball State 41-40 W9/13/03 Eastern Kentucky 42-41 W10/31/98 Akron 28-27 W11/2/96 at Kent State 52-51 WCMU vs. the MAC
The Chippewas are 210-174-17 (.545) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 140-106-10 (.566) 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 9-11-1 Northern Illinois 21-18-1 Ohio 17-4-2Toledo 13-17-3 Western Michigan 32-42-2After Further Review...
CMU has been involved in two instant replay situations this season and benefited from both.Two weeks ago at Miami, a RedHawk pass into the end zone in the second quarter was ruled incomplete. Replay confirmed the ruling on the field. With 8:40 remaining in the third quarter of the season opener against Indiana, a Hoosier completion from Blake Powers to Jahkeen Gilmore was overturned after the replay official determined the pass had hit the ground.
The Captains
The CMU coaching staff will name game captains on a weekly basis this season. Captains for the upcoming week are announced on Thursday. The captains for last week's game at Penn State were senior tight end Jacob Brown, senior quarterback Kent Smith, and junior linebacker Isaac Brown.
Opponent CaptainsIndiana Daniel Bazuin, Joe StaleyMiami Daniel Bazuin, Jeff Jenerou, Tony ThompsonPenn State Isaac Brown, Jacob Brown, Kent SmithTwo Rookies and a Legend
In the first two weeks of the season CMU faced head coaches in their first season at their respective schools -- Terry Hoeppner at Indiana and Shane Montgomery at Miami. The Chippewas countered 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.
More Honors for Bazuin
Daniel Bazuin was named the Mid-American Conference's first male Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the 2005-06 academic year on Sept. 8. Bazuin, a marketing major with a 3.42 GPA, recorded 10 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles against Indiana and was named MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week. The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.
On This Date
CMU is 5-1 all-time in games played on Sept. 24 and has won four straight. The Chippewas last played on this date in 1994, defeating Kent State 45-0. CMU has out-scored opponents by an average of 31.0-11.7 on Sept. 24. The Chippewas all-time on this date:
Year Opponent Result1955 Western Michigan W, 27-121960 at Northern Michigan L, 3-201977 at Ohio W, 31-141983 at Western Michigan W, 32-141988 Montana State W, 48-101994 Kent State W, 45-0Long Stay at Kelly/Shorts
The Chippewas will play three straight at home later this season, hosting Ohio, Toledo and Northern Illinois on Oct. 15, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, respectively. The stretch marks the longest homestand for CMU since a three-gamer in 1996. That season, CMU defeated Akron (42-0) and Eastern Michigan (41-36) before falling to Ball State (24-17).
Chippewas in the National Rankings
Junior end Daniel Bazuin is among the national leaders in forced fumbles and sacks, while junior receiver Damien Linson is tenth in Division I-A in receiving yards. As a team, the Chippewas are tied for 11th nationally in terms of fewest turnovers committed.
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.
The Friendly Confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 124-48-4 record (.716 winning percentage) at home. In 2004, CMU was 4-1 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
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 has cracked the starting lineup in his second season with the Green Bay Packers.
CMU on TV
CMU will make at least five appearances on television this season, including at least three on the ESPN family of networks. The opener against Indiana was live on ESPNU. The Sept. 17 contest at Penn State was 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 will carry CMU's Sept. 24 game against Eastern Michigan and the Nov. 19 regular season finale at Ball State.
CMU on the Radio
Chippewa football action can be followed all season on the CMU Football Radio Network. Kurt Wilson and Stan Shingles are in their first seasons handling play-by-play and color commentary, respectively. The broadcasts are being carried in 2005 by the following stations around Michigan:
WCHB 1200-AM -- Detroit WCZY 104.3-FM -- Mount PleasantWFUR 1570-AM -- Grand Rapids WJML 1110-AM -- PetoskeyWUPS 98.5-FM -- Houghton Lake Michigan Talk Radio NetworkThanks, 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 898 games over the course of 105 seasons and is 527-335-36 in those contests. The Chippewas' all-time winning percentage is .607.
