Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Football Game Notes
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Matchup
First place in the Mid-American Conference West Division is on the line when No. 14 Ball State visits Central Michigan on Wednesday night. The Cardinals are the first ranked opponent to visit Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2003. They are 10-0 for the first time in school history and have won 10 games in a season for just the second time in school history. CMU can clinch its third straight MAC West Division title with a win and is receiving votes in both major polls.
The Series
CMU leads the all-time series, 21-18-1, and has won the last four matchups. The Cardinals had won four straight in the series prior to CMU’s current four-game winning streak. Dating back to 1996, the series is deadlocked 6-6. The teams’ last meeting in Mount Pleasant was in 2006, an 18-7 CMU victory.
The Coaches
Butch Jones is in his second season as the head coach at CMU and is 16-8 overall, including 12-1 in MAC regular season contests. His 16 wins are the second-most of any head football coach in his first two seasons at CMU. Jones is one of just nine coaches in MAC history to lead his team to a conference title in his first season, and he was one of three first-year head coaches to guide his squad to a bowl game in 2007.
Brady Hoke is in his sixth season as the head coach at Ball State. He has guided the Cardinals to an overall record of 32-37 during that time. Hoke was a four-year letterman (1977-80) at Ball State, serving as a team captain as a senior.
A CMU Win over Ball State Would ...
... mark the Chippewas’ first win over a ranked opponent since a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991.
... clinch the Chippewas’ third consecutive MAC West Division title and third straight MAC Championship Game appearance.
... give CMU its first seven-game winning streak since 1979 and just its seventh in 108 seasons.
... secure CMU’s first unbeaten season at home since 1998.
CMU vs. Ranked Opponents
CMU is hosting a ranked opponent for the first time since 2003, when No. 17 Northern Illinois defeated the Chippewas, 40-24. This is just the second time a ranked opponent has visited Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas’ only win over a ranked opponent was a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991. CMU has dropped eight straight to ranked opponents since that win in East Lansing and is 1-8 all-time against ranked opponents.
CMU Receives Poll Votes
The Chippewas are listed among the “Others Receiving Votes” in the Associated Press top 25 poll for the third straight week. CMU received 13 points, the fourth-most of any program in the “Others Receiving Votes” category. The Chippewas also received three votes in this week’s USA Today coaches poll.
Taking Care of the Football
CMU’s eight turnovers are tied with Oklahoma for the fewest of any Bowl Subdivision team in the country. The Chippewas’ three fumbles lost are tied for the third-fewest nationally.
Senior Salute
CMU will recognize its seniors and other players completing their eligibility prior to kickoff of Wednesday’s game. Over the last four seasons, the current senior class has been a part of 32 victories, the most for any class since 1982 (32 wins from 1979-82).
The Friendly Confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 137-54-4 record (.713 winning percentage) at home. CMU is 4-0 at home this season, and a win against Ball State would complete the Chippewas’ first unbeaten home slate since the 1998 Chippewas also were 5-0 at home.
Military Appreciation Night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Wednesday night is Military Appreciation Night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The football program has adopted a partnership with the 1st Battalion - 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard, and family members of the infantry will be admitted free to Wednesday night’s game. Additionally, all military members with an ID card (active, reserve, guard or retired) can show their ID at the gate and get a free ticket. All military dependents can get in for only $10 per person. Veterans, by showing their veterans organization card, and their families can also get into the game for $10.
Chippewas Partner with 125th Infantry
The CMU football program has adopted a partnership with the 1st Battalion - 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard. The program and members of the regiment deployed in Iraq have kept in communication through the exchange of videos. In honor of the 1-125th, CMU’s players are wearing a decal on the back of their helmets featuring the regiment’s logo and motto, “Yield to None.”
LeFevour Reaches 2,000 Career Rushing Yards
Junior quarterback Dan LeFevour ran for 121 yards on 29 carries last week at Northern Illinois. In the process, he became the 20th player in CMU history to rush for 2,000 yards in a career. He is the first Chippewa quarterback to post 2,000 career rushing yards. LeFevour enters Wednesday’s game with 2,093 career rushing yards.
Turning Third Downs Into First Downs
CMU is 40-of-65 on third down over its last four games, an efficiency rate of 61.5 percent. The Chippewas were 10-for-15 on third down against Western Michigan, 10-for-16 at Toledo, 11-for-19 at Indiana and 9-for-15 at Northern Illinois. During the season’s first six games, CMU was 36-for-88 (41.0 percent) on third down.
Defensive Line Dominance
CMU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 24 sacks in 2008, more than the team total for any other program in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas lead the MAC and rank and rank 17th nationally with 27 sacks as a team.
First place in the Mid-American Conference West Division is on the line when No. 14 Ball State visits Central Michigan on Wednesday night. The Cardinals are the first ranked opponent to visit Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2003. They are 10-0 for the first time in school history and have won 10 games in a season for just the second time in school history. CMU can clinch its third straight MAC West Division title with a win and is receiving votes in both major polls.
The Series
CMU leads the all-time series, 21-18-1, and has won the last four matchups. The Cardinals had won four straight in the series prior to CMU’s current four-game winning streak. Dating back to 1996, the series is deadlocked 6-6. The teams’ last meeting in Mount Pleasant was in 2006, an 18-7 CMU victory.
The Coaches
Butch Jones is in his second season as the head coach at CMU and is 16-8 overall, including 12-1 in MAC regular season contests. His 16 wins are the second-most of any head football coach in his first two seasons at CMU. Jones is one of just nine coaches in MAC history to lead his team to a conference title in his first season, and he was one of three first-year head coaches to guide his squad to a bowl game in 2007.
Brady Hoke is in his sixth season as the head coach at Ball State. He has guided the Cardinals to an overall record of 32-37 during that time. Hoke was a four-year letterman (1977-80) at Ball State, serving as a team captain as a senior.
A CMU Win over Ball State Would ...
... mark the Chippewas’ first win over a ranked opponent since a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991.
... clinch the Chippewas’ third consecutive MAC West Division title and third straight MAC Championship Game appearance.
... give CMU its first seven-game winning streak since 1979 and just its seventh in 108 seasons.
... secure CMU’s first unbeaten season at home since 1998.
CMU vs. Ranked Opponents
CMU is hosting a ranked opponent for the first time since 2003, when No. 17 Northern Illinois defeated the Chippewas, 40-24. This is just the second time a ranked opponent has visited Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas’ only win over a ranked opponent was a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991. CMU has dropped eight straight to ranked opponents since that win in East Lansing and is 1-8 all-time against ranked opponents.
CMU Receives Poll Votes
The Chippewas are listed among the “Others Receiving Votes” in the Associated Press top 25 poll for the third straight week. CMU received 13 points, the fourth-most of any program in the “Others Receiving Votes” category. The Chippewas also received three votes in this week’s USA Today coaches poll.
Taking Care of the Football
CMU’s eight turnovers are tied with Oklahoma for the fewest of any Bowl Subdivision team in the country. The Chippewas’ three fumbles lost are tied for the third-fewest nationally.
Senior Salute
CMU will recognize its seniors and other players completing their eligibility prior to kickoff of Wednesday’s game. Over the last four seasons, the current senior class has been a part of 32 victories, the most for any class since 1982 (32 wins from 1979-82).
The Friendly Confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 137-54-4 record (.713 winning percentage) at home. CMU is 4-0 at home this season, and a win against Ball State would complete the Chippewas’ first unbeaten home slate since the 1998 Chippewas also were 5-0 at home.
Military Appreciation Night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Wednesday night is Military Appreciation Night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The football program has adopted a partnership with the 1st Battalion - 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard, and family members of the infantry will be admitted free to Wednesday night’s game. Additionally, all military members with an ID card (active, reserve, guard or retired) can show their ID at the gate and get a free ticket. All military dependents can get in for only $10 per person. Veterans, by showing their veterans organization card, and their families can also get into the game for $10.
Chippewas Partner with 125th Infantry
The CMU football program has adopted a partnership with the 1st Battalion - 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard. The program and members of the regiment deployed in Iraq have kept in communication through the exchange of videos. In honor of the 1-125th, CMU’s players are wearing a decal on the back of their helmets featuring the regiment’s logo and motto, “Yield to None.”
LeFevour Reaches 2,000 Career Rushing Yards
Junior quarterback Dan LeFevour ran for 121 yards on 29 carries last week at Northern Illinois. In the process, he became the 20th player in CMU history to rush for 2,000 yards in a career. He is the first Chippewa quarterback to post 2,000 career rushing yards. LeFevour enters Wednesday’s game with 2,093 career rushing yards.
Turning Third Downs Into First Downs
CMU is 40-of-65 on third down over its last four games, an efficiency rate of 61.5 percent. The Chippewas were 10-for-15 on third down against Western Michigan, 10-for-16 at Toledo, 11-for-19 at Indiana and 9-for-15 at Northern Illinois. During the season’s first six games, CMU was 36-for-88 (41.0 percent) on third down.
Defensive Line Dominance
CMU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 24 sacks in 2008, more than the team total for any other program in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas lead the MAC and rank and rank 17th nationally with 27 sacks as a team.
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