Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Hosts Toledo in Home Opener: Game Notes
9/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game No. 2: University of Toledo Rockets (0-1 overall, 0-0 MAC, 0-0 MAC West) at Central Michigan University Chippewas (0-1 overall, 0-0 MAC, 0-0 MAC West)
Date: Saturday, September 8, 2007
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Site: Kelly/Shorts Stadium; Mount Pleasant, Michigan
30,255 capacity; FieldTurf
Radio: CMU Radio Network with Kurt Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Shingles (color commentary)
Television: None
With a Win, CMU Would...
1. ... hold a three-game winning streak against Toledo for the first time since 1992-94.
2. ... extend its winning streak in MAC openers to four.
3. ... claim its ninth consecutive victory over a MAC opponent from the state of Ohio.
4. ... earn head coach Butch Jones his first career victory.
The Matchup
CMU and Toledo enter Saturday night’s game both seeking their first win of 2007. The Chippewas dropped a 52-7 decision at Kansas last Saturday, while Toledo opened with a 52-24 home loss to Purdue. Saturday’s game is the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. CMU is seeking its first three-game winning streak against the Rockets since 1992-94.
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 past two seasons as an assistant under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia.
Tom Amstutz is in his seventh year as the head coach at Toledo. He is 50-26 as the Rockets’ head coach. Amstutz has led Toledo to a pair of MAC titles (2001, 2004) and four bowl games, including wins in the 2001 Motor City Bowl and 2005 GMAC Bowl.
The Series
Toledo leads the all-time series, 17-15-3, but the Chippewas have won two straight meetings. The programs have traded unbeaten streaks over the last two decades. From 1984-1989, the Rockets were 5-0-1 against CMU. The Chippewas then went 4-0-1 in the series from 1990-94 before Toledo posted 10 consecutive victories from 1995-2004.
Fresh Faces
A total of 14 freshmen, including seven true freshmen, saw their first collegiate action for CMU last weekend at Kansas. Seven players made their first career start, including six on offense, while a total of 11 players made starts at new positions. That total does not include true freshman tight end J.J. Watt (who did not officially start, but played the entire game at tight end), kicker Andrew Aguila or long snapper Chris Starkey.
CMU vs. the MAC
The Chippewas are 222-178-17 (.553) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 151-110-10 (.576) in regular season MAC contests since joining the conference in 1975. CMU vs. the MAC:
Akron 11-9-1 Ball State 20-18-1 Bowling Green 17-21
Buffalo 3-1 Eastern Michigan 53-25-6 Kent State 21-9
Miami 9-11-1 Northern Illinois 21-20-1 Ohio 19-4-2
Toledo 15-17-3 Western Michigan 33-43-2
Light Up the Night
Saturday night’s game will be the fourth, and first in 2007, played under permanent lights at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The matchup with Toledo will be the 10th played at night at Kelly/Shorts, but just the third that is not a season opener. The Chippewas are 6-3 overall in night games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Owning Ohio
CMU has won eight consecutive contests against MAC opponents from the state of Ohio dating back to the start of the 2005 season.
Out of the Gate
CMU has won three straight MAC openers by a total of seven points: 24-21 vs. Akron (9/16/06), 38-37 at Miami (9/10/05) and 24-21 vs. Kent State (10/2/04).
Oh Captain, My Captain
CMU will name captains on a week-by-week basis this season. Captains for the Kansas game were Ike Brown, Mike Decker and Tony Mikulec.
Family Affair
Toledo running back Jalen Parmele is one of 10 children, eight of which are adopted. One of his older brothers is Chris Parmele, a four-year letterman (1993-96) as a running back at CMU.
The Friendly Confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 130-51-4 record (.714) at home. CMU was 4-1 at home in 2006.
Red Alert
Senior linebacker Red Keith enters Saturday’s game with more tackles (331) than any other active player in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His career 8.95 tackles per game average ranks second among active FBS players.
Most Career Tackles - Active Players
| Name, Pos., School | Games | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Total |
| Red Keith, LB, Central Michigan | 37 | 95 | 104 | 127 | 5 | 331 |
| Vince Hall, LB, Virginia Tech | 40 | 64 | 112 | 128 | 13 | 317 |
| Matt Castelo, LB, San Jose State | 32 | 36 | 91 | 165 | 9 | 301 |
| Jordon Dizon, LB, Colorado | 38 | 82 | 61 | 137 | 20 | 300 |
| Dan Connor, LB, Penn State | 33 | 85 | 76 | 113 | 5 | 279 |
| Nelson Coleman, LB, Tulsa | 42 | 50 | 117 | 98 | 4 | 278* |
* includes nine tackles in 2003
Complete game notes available in .pdf format below.
