Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan
10/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
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The Matchup: Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan
A CMU Win Over Eastern Michigan Would …
… be CMU’s third straight win in the series and fourth in the last six years.
… keep the Chippewas unbeaten (3-0) at home in 2011.
… be CMU’s sixth Homecoming victory in the past seven seasons.
… keep the Chippewas in the race for the 2012 Michigan MAC championship.
The Series
• The teams have split the last four meetings, with CMU winning two straight after EMU won in 2007 and 2008. CMU and EMU have split the last eight meetings dating back to 2003.
• The Chippewas have outscored EMU 108-22 in the last two matchups (56-8 in 2009, 52-14 in 2010).
• The winning team has scored at least 48 points in each of the last four meetings.
• CMU has played 11 overtime games in its history, with Eastern Michigan serving as the most common opponent with four matchups going to overtime.
Series Record: Central Michigan leads, 55-27-6
Last Meeting: Central Michigan 52, Eastern Michigan 14 (Sept. 18, 2010 at Eastern Michigan)
Last Meeting in Mount Pleasant: Central Michigan 56, Eastern Michigan 8 (Oct. 10, 2009)
Happy Homecoming
CMU is 55-28-1 all-time in Homecoming games. The Chippewas had won five straight Homecoming games prior to last season’s 27-20 loss to Miami. CMU defeated Eastern Michigan in its 2009 Homecoming game, 56-8.
CMU Defending Michigan MAC Champion
CMU opened the 2011 season in possession of the Michigan MAC Trophy, presented annually to the winner of the round-robin competition between Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. CMU defeated Eastern Michigan, 52-14, and Western Michigan, 26-22, last season to claim the trophy.
1966 IIAC Champions Return to CMU
CMU’s 1966 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship team will be on campus for a 45th reunion this weekend. The 1966 Chippewas won their final five games in Bill Kelly’s final season as head coach to claim the program’s seventh of nine IIAC titles. After starting the season 0-5, including two losses by a touchdown or less, the Chippewas out-scored their final five opponents by a combined score of 150-26.
Pintek, Spalding Selected Honorary Captains
The CMU football program is hosting former lettermen as honorary captains for each game this season. Today’s honorary captains are Mike Pintek and Lyle Spalding, who are representing the 1966 IIAC championship team. Both Pintek and Spalding were linemen who earned All-IIAC first team honors during the careers at CMU.
Take a Kid to the Game Day at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
CMU is once again participating in the NCAA’s Take a Kid to the Game Day promotion. Youth ages 12 and under will be admitted free to Saturday’s game when accompanied by a paid adult.
CMU-Eastern Michigan Connections
• CMU offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Mike Cummings coached the defensive line at Eastern Michigan in 2000 and 2001.
• CMU receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan in 2008.
• CMU secondary coach Kirby Cannon and EMU running backs coach Doug Downing were on the same staff at Western Illinois in 1997 and 1998.
• CMU linebacker Alex Smith and EMU tight end Alexander Gudejko were high school teammates at Barrington High School in Illinois.
Cotton Carries the Load
Senior running back Paris Cotton has rushed for more than 100 yards the last two weeks, his fourth and fifth career 100-yard rushing efforts. He ran 16 times for 110 yards and score against Northern Illinois on Oct. 1, then carried 13 times for 158 yards and a 77-yard touchdown run at North Carolina State last Saturday. Cotton has not been stopped for a loss of yardage in the last two games.
• In 2010, Cotton ran for a career-high 209 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in the Chippewas’ 52-14 win at Eastern Michigan.
Lots of Targets in the Passing Game
Sixteen different Chippewas have caught at least one pass in 2011, tied for the seventh most nationally. Both Penn State and Troy have had 19 different players catch a pass, the most nationally. Six different Chippewas have caught a touchdown pass, and eight Chippewas are averaging more than 10.5 yards per reception.
Young Chippewas See Early Action
• Of the 52 players listed on CMU’s offensive and defensive depth charts for Saturday’s game, 30 are either freshmen or sophomores. The Chippewas’ roster includes 69 players who are freshmen or sophomores.
• Just 15 seniors appear on CMU’s 2011 roster, only eight of whom are part of the regular rotation on offense or defense.
• Nineteen players made their collegiate debut in the season opening over South Carolina State.
• Through six games, 15 different Chippewas have made their first career start, and 26 different Chippewas have seen their first game action at the collegiate level.
• During the second half of the Sept. 24 game at Michigan State, CMU fielded a lineup on defense that included seven freshmen: NG Leterrius Walton, DT Matt Losiniecki, LB Ryan Petro, LB Justin Cherocci, LB Cody Lopez, DB Dennis Nalor and DB Jarret Chapman.
• Ten true freshmen have seen game action for the Chippewas in 2011.
No Yellow for the Maroon and Gold
After committing a season-high eight penalties for 86 yards in the season opener against South Carolina State, CMU has been flagged a total of 17 times for 177 yards in the last five games combined. CMU did not commit a penalty in the Sept. 17 loss at Western Michigan, the Chippewas’ first penalty-free performance since Oct. 31, 2009 at Boston College. CMU lost that game as well, 31-10. The Chippewas’ average of 4.2 penalties per game is the 12th fewest nationally.
Wilson Extends Receptions Streak
Junior receiver Cody Wilson has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games dating back to the 2009 season. He caught a team-high four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown last Saturday against North Carolina State.
Davis, Williams Take First Career Catches to the End Zone
True freshman receivers Titus Davis and Courtney Williams both scored touchdowns on their first career catches this season. Davis hauled in a 67-yard touchdown pass for his first career reception in the season opener against South Carolina State, while Williams’ first career catch was a 79-yard touchdown throw against Northern Illinois.
Williams Also Finds the End Zone on Catch #2
Courtney Williams’ second career reception was a 23-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Radcliff last weekend at North Carolina State. Williams finished the game with three catches for 63 yards and accounted for 60 yards on kickoff returns. Williams is averaging 33.7 yards every time he touches the football (four receptions for 142 yards, two kickoff returns for 60 yards).
