Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: Central Michigan vs. Kentucky
9/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
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The Matchup: Central Michigan vs. Kentucky A CMU Win Over Kentucky Would …
… complete the Chippewas’ first 2-0 start since 2002.
… be the first win over a Southeastern Conference opponent in program history for CMU.
… snap a four-game nonconference road losing streak for the Chippewas.
… mark the third time in the last four seasons that CMU won a road game against an opponent from a BCS automatic qualifying conference.
The Series
• Kentucky leads the all-time series 5-0. All five games have been played in Lexington.
• In 2006, Kentucky led 21-0 early in the second quarter; CMU pulled within 38-36 in the fourth quarter before a potential game-tying two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
• Kentucky has won the five previous matchups by an average score of 27.0-17.6. Each of the last three meetings has been decided by nine points or less.
CMU vs. the SEC
Saturday’s game is CMU’s first against a Southeastern Conference opponent since a 56-17 loss at No. 2 Georgia in 2008. The Chippewas are 0-7 all-time against the SEC: 0-5 against Kentucky (1983, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2006), 0-1 against Florida (1997) and 0-1 against Georgia (2008).
Coaching Staff Connections
CMU’s coaching staff has several ties to Kentucky co-defensive coordinator Rick Minter:
• Minter was the head coach at Cincinnati for the first three seasons of quarterback Gino Guidugli’s playing career. Guidugli is now in his second season as a graduate assistant at CMU.
• Minter and CMU offensive coordinator Mike Cummings were on the same coaching staff at Marshall in 2008 and 2009.
• In 2003 (Cincinnati) and 2004 (South Carolina), Minter was part of the same coaching staff as Steve Shankweiler, father of CMU running backs coach Kort Shankweiler. Steve Shankweiler is currently the offensive line coach at South Florida.
Phillips Returns to Home State
CMU sophomore running back Tim Phillips will play in his home state for the first time since leading Louisville Trinity High School to its fourth consecutive state championship in 2008. Phillips ran for 1,535 yards and 25 touchdowns during the 2008 state title season. He will line up across from three former high school teammates: Kentucky punter Ryan Tydlacka, tailback Derek Bishop and tight end Nick Melillo.
Where the Green Grass Grows
Saturday’s game will be one of just three that the Chippewas will play on natural grass in 2011. Each of CMU’s three nonconference road games—at Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina State—will be played on grass; the other nine regular season games will be played on an artificial surface.
Adam Kieft Selected Honorary Captain
The CMU football program is hosting former lettermen as honorary captains for each game this season. This week’s honorary captain is Adam Kieft, a two-time All-MAC selection as an offensive lineman. Kieft was named to the All-MAC second team in 2003 and All-MAC first team in 2004 before being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Milestone Markers
• Ryan Radcliff needs 59 passing yards to move into eighth on CMU’s career passing yardage list.
• Ryan Radcliff needs 15 pass attempts to move into eighth on CMU’s career attempts list.
• Ryan Radcliff needs 14 completions to move into seventh on CMU’s career completions list.
• Ryan Radcliff needs 1 touchdown pass to move into ninth on CMU’s career touchdown passes list.
• Cody Wilson needs 1 reception to move into 10th on CMU’s career receptions list.
Youth Movement
• Of the 52 players listed on CMU’s offensive and defensive depth charts for Saturday’s game, 26 are either freshmen or sophomores. The Chippewas’ roster includes 69 players who are freshmen or sophomores.
• Just 14 seniors appear on CMU’s 2011 roster.
• Nineteen players made their collegiate debut in last week’s win over South Carolina State.
Davis Makes Most of College Debut
True freshman receiver Titus Davis was in the starting lineup for his first game in a CMU uniform. He made just one reception, but it was a 67-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Radcliff in the second quarter.
Radcliff Spreads it Around
Ryan Radcliff’s 14 completions against South Carolina State were spread around to 10 different receivers. Five of the 10 receivers made their first career catch.
Tipton Scores Again
Sophomore Zurlon Tipton scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter of last week’s win over South Carolina State. He has scored five rushing touchdowns over his last three games dating back to last season; Tipton scored twice against both Navy and Toledo in the final two games of 2010. Tipton finished last week’s win with career highs in carries (18) and rushing yards (73).
Wilson Extends Receptions Streak
Junior receiver Cody Wilson has caught a pass in 20 consecutive games dating back to the 2009 season. He extended the streak with a 45-yard touchdown reception on the fourth play of the game in the season opener.
Experience Up Front
CMU’s projected starting five offensive linemen include a senior and four juniors who have combined for 74 career starts. Senior guard Rocky Weaver’s 28 career starts are the most of any current Chippewa.
| Name | | | Starts |
| RG Rocky Weaver | | | 28 |
| RT Jake Olson | | | 16 |
| C Darren Keyton | | | 12 |
| LT Eric Fisher | | | 12 |
| LG Mike Repovz | | | 6 |
CMU Schedule Notables
CMU will play one of the most unique schedules in the history of its program in 2011:
• CMU opens Mid-American Conference play at Western Michigan on Sept. 17, the first time since 1996 the Chippewas have opened MAC play against the rival Broncos. It is the earliest calendar date for a CMU-WMU matchup since Sept. 8, 1979.
• CMU is the only team in the country with two three-game road trips on its 2011 schedule.
• CMU is one of just four teams (Colorado, Tulane, UAB) in the country scheduled to play its 12 regular-season games in 12 consecutive weeks.
• Six opponents on the 2011 schedule played in bowl games following the 2010 season, and a seventh—South Carolina State—competed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
