Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Football Game Notes
9/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game No. 5: Northern Illinois University Huskies (1-3 overall, 0-1 MAC, 0-1 MAC West) at Central Michigan University Chippewas (1-3 overall, 1-0 MAC, 1-0 MAC West)
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2007
Kickoff: Noon
Site: Kelly/Shorts Stadium; Mount Pleasant, Michigan; 30,255 capacity; FieldTurf
Radio: CMU Sports Network with Kurt Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Shingles (color analyst)
Television: ESPN Regional and ESPN GamePlan with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Doug Chapman (color analyst)
With a Win, CMU Would...
1. ... remain in at least a tie for first in the MAC West Division.
2. ... improve to 2-3, matching last season’s record through five games.
3. ... snap a nine-game losing streak to Northern Illinois.
4. ... start 2-0 in the MAC in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1985-86.
The Matchup
CMU and Northern Illinois meet in a key MAC West Division matchup. The two programs have combined to win or share the last three West Division titles. The Chippewas can remain in at least a tie for first in the MAC West with a win, while NIU is looking to avoid its first 0-2 MAC start since 2001.
The Coaches
Butch Jones is in his first season as the head coach at CMU. A former assistant at CMU (1998-2004), Jones spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as an assistant under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia.
Joe Novak is in his 11th season as the head coach at NIU. He is 62-69 as the Huskies’ head coach. Northern Illinois has shared the MAC West Division title four times under Novak, who was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2002 and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2003.
The Series
CMU leads the all-time series, 21-20-1, but Northern Illinois has won nine straight meetings. The Chippewas’ last win in the series was a 44-10 decision in the 1997 season opener at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, NIU’s first game back in the Mid-American Conference after an 11-year hiatus.
Welcome Home
CMU is 52-27-1 all-time in Homecoming games, including wins in two straight. The Chippewas last won three straight Homecoming games from 1990-92. From 1966-82, CMU won 17 consecutive Homecoming games. The Chippewas have hosted NIU on Homecoming nine times and are 5-4 in those contests. CMU last played Northern Illinois on Homecoming in 2003, falling 40-24 to the Huskies.
Secondary Shake Up
CMU has seen eight different players start at least one game in the secondary already this season. The Chippewas have started four different quartets in the secondary in four games in 2007. Last week against North Dakota State, three sophomores (Tommy Mama, Tim Brazzel, Kirkston Edwards) all made their first career start. South Carolina is the only other Football Bowl Subdivision program to start a different foursome in the secondary each week this season.
TV Time
This weekend’s game will be televised on ESPN Regional and will be available nationwide via ESPN GamePlan. More than 24 million households in 34 markets, representing 22 percent of the United States, will have access to the over-the-air broadcast. Stations carrying the game in Michigan include: WXYZ (ABC) in Detroit; WXSP (MNT) in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek; WHTV (MNT) in Lansing; WNEM (CBS) in Flint/Saginaw/Bay City; WFQX (FOX) in Traverse City/Cadillac; and WMXF (FOX-MNT) in Marquette.
Youth Movement
At least 12 true or redshirt freshman have played in every game this season for CMU, while more than half of the players to see action in each game have either been freshmen or sophomores. For the season, a total of 21 players (including kicker Andrew Aguila and long snappers Chris Starkey and Jake Ekkens) have either made their first career start or made their first start at a new position.
| Opponent | Participated | Freshmen | Sophomores/Freshmen |
| Kansas | 51 | 14 | 30 |
| Toledo | 50 | 14 | 30 |
| Purdue | 50 | 12 | 29 |
| North Dakota State | 52 | 13 | 28 |
Unbeaten Opponents
CMU’s three losses this season are to teams with a combined record of 11-0: Kansas (4-0), Purdue (4-0) and North Dakota State (3-0). Including 13th-ranked Clemson (4-0), four of CMU’s five nonconference opponents are still undefeated.
Red Alert
Senior linebacker Red Keith enters Saturday’s game with more career tackles (371) than any other active player in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His career 9.28 tackles per game average ranks second among active FBS players.
Complete game notes release available in .pdf format below.
