Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Football Heads to Akron for Game No. 900
9/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 28, 2005
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The Match-Up
Central Michigan University continues Mid-American Conference play this weekend, visiting the University of Akron. The Chippewas are looking to snap a two-game skid, while Akron enters the weekend having won two straight. Both teams played overtime games at home last weekend, with Akron defeating Northern Illinois, 48-42, and CMU falling to Eastern Michigan, 23-20.
The CMU-Akron Series
The all-time series between CMU and Akron is tied at 9-9-1. Akron claimed a 40-28 win in Mount Pleasant in the last meeting in 2003, snapping a three-game winning streak for CMU in the series. The Chippewas claimed a 24-17 victory in their last trip to Akron in 2002.
No. 900
Saturday's game at Akron will be the 900th in the history of CMU football. The CMU program, in its 105th season, is 527-336-36 (.606) all-time.
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.) J.D. Brookhart is in his second season as the head coach at Akron. He was named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2004 after leading the Zips to a 6-5 record that included a school-record six conference wins. Brookhart assumed the head position at Akron following a four-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Pitt. He was also the wide receivers coach at Pitt, working with 2003 Heisman runner-up and Biletnikoff Award winner Larry Fitzgerald.
And We Go To ... Overtime
Five games in CMU history have gone to overtime, with Eastern Michigan serving as the opponent in three 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. CMU has gone to overtime with Eastern Michigan each of the past two seasons, with the Eagles claiming wins in both contests. The Chippewas' five 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)9/24/05 Eastern Michigan L, 23-20Sneed Steps for 100
Freshman running back Ontario Sneed ran for 122 yards on a career-high 29 carries on Saturday against Eastern Michigan. It was his second 100-yard rushing effort of his rookie season; he collected 148 yards on 14 carries in the opener against Indiana. Sneed has run for 387 yards and three touchdowns in the season's first four games. He is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Sneed Can Catch, Too
Along with his 122 yards rushing against Eastern Michigan, Sneed was the Chippewas' leading receiver with career highs of five catches for 56 yards. Sneed's 14 receptions this season are tied for second among his teammates.
Only in Ohio
CMU is seeking its second win in the state of Ohio this season when it travels to Akron. The Chippewas rallied to defeat Miami, 38-37, in Oxford on Sept. 10. CMU last won at least two games in Ohio in the same season in 1994, when it won at Akron, Ohio and Bowling Green en route to a MAC championship and berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.
All About Albreski
Freshman kicker Rick Albreski was 2-for-2 on field goals and hit a pair of extra points against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. For the season, the true freshman is 6-for-8 on field goals and 8-for-8 on extra points. Since missing his first attempt of the season, a 40-yarder against Indiana, Albreski has hit 7-of-8 field goals, with the lone miss a 48-yard attempt at Penn State. He has made at least one field goal in each of CMU's four games this season.
Kress the Krusher
Junior linebacker Doug Kress recorded a career-high 11 tackles on Saturday against Eastern Michigan. He finished with eight solo stops and was one of three CMU players to record at least 10 tackles. Kress, who entered the season with 25 career tackles, is third on the team with 26 stops this season.
CMU at Army Set for 1 p.m.
The Chippewas' Oct. 8 non-conference game at Army has been scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. ESPN Classic will televise the game to a national audience.
First Down Brown
Senior tight end Jacob Brown has caught 14 passes this season, 11 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 on Sept. 17, Brown's two catches came on fourth and second down, respectively, and both gave CMU first downs. For the season, Brown has collected five catches on third down and one on fourth down that have resulted in CMU first downs.
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 finished with three tackles in the loss to Eastern Michigan.
After Further Review...
CMU has been involved in three instant replay situations this season and benefited from all three. Last weekend, an Eastern Michigan pass in the fourth quarter was ruled incomplete. Replay upheld the ruling. On Sept. 10 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 against Indiana, a Hoosier completion from Blake Powers to Jahkeen Gilmore was overturned after the replay official determined the pass had hit the ground.
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.
Special Plays on Special Teams
The Chippewas had blocked at least one kick in five straight games entering the Sept. 17 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. The Chippewas have blocked at least one kick in seven of the 15 games of head coach Brian Kelly's tenure. 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 recent 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.
Pack 'Em In
The announced crowd of 100,276 at Penn State on Sept. 17 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.
Big Boot Mikulec
Sophomore Tony Mikulec punted a career-high 11 times 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.
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.
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 210-175-17 (.544) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 140-107-10 (.564) 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 52-25-6 Kent State 21-9Miami 9-11-1 Northern Illinois 21-18-1 Ohio 17-4-2Toledo 13-17-3 Western Michigan 32-42-2Chippewas in the National Rankings
Freshman Ontario Sneed, averaging 96.8 yards per game on the ground, ranks fourth among all freshmen in Division I-A in rushing yards per game. Overall, he is 27th nationally. Junior end Daniel Bazuin is among the national leaders in forced fumbles and sacks, while junior receiver Damien Linson is 15th in Division I-A in receiving yards. As a team, the Chippewas have committed just two turnovers, tied for seventh nationally. Statistical categories in which CMU is represented in the top 50 in Division I-A:
IndividualForced Fumbles Daniel Bazuin (T-2nd; 3 forced)Sacks Daniel Bazuin (T-10th; 1.25 spg.)Total Receiving Yards Damien Linson (15th; 356 yds.)Passes Defended Jesse Dailey (T-21st; 1.5 pg.)Completions Kent Smith (25th; 21.3 cpg.)Receiving Yards Per Game Damien Linson (26th; 89.0 ypg.)Rushing Ontario Sneed (27th; 96.8 ypg.)Field Goals Rick Albreski (T-31st; 1.5 pg.)Solo Tackles Thomas Keith (T-32nd; 6.3 pg.)Tackles Thomas Keith (37th; 9.8 tpg.)Total Offense Kent Smith (38th; 250.0 ypg.)Punt Returns Jemmy Jasmin (42nd; 10.2 ypr.)Kickoff Returns Jemmy Jasmin (42nd; 24.4 ypr.)The Captains
TeamPasses Had Intercepted T-6th (1 intercepted)Turnovers Lost T-7th (2 lost)Fumbles Lost T-12th (1 lost)3rd Down Defense 28th (8-of-27 conversions; 29.5%)Turnover Margin T-39th (4 gained, 2 lost. .50 margin)Punt Returns 44th (10.2 ypr.)Kickoff Returns 50th (22.1 ypr.)
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 against Eastern Michigan were senior receiver Justin Harper, junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin and sophomore punter Tony Mikulec.
Opponent CaptainsIndiana Daniel Bazuin, Joe StaleyMiami Daniel Bazuin, Jeff Jenerou, Tony ThompsonPenn State Isaac Brown, Jacob Brown, Kent SmithEastern Michigan Daniel Bazuin, Justin Harper, Tony MikulecSneed 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 387 yards (5.2 ypc.) through four games.
Two 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.
Long 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).
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 124-49-4 record (.712 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 ESPN Classic. Comcast Sports Net Detroit carried CMU's Sept. 24 game against Eastern Michigan and will air 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 899 games over the course of 105 seasons and is 527-336-36 in those contests. The Chippewas' all-time winning percentage is .606.
