Central Michigan University Athletics
GAME PREVIEW: CMU Football vs. WKU
12/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
Central Michigan Bowl Fan Guide | Central Michigan Bowl Media Guide | WKU Bowl Media Guide
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The reaction video that went viral is behind them. They can relive that moment in perpetuity on Youtube.
Now, it's get down to business time for the Central Michigan football team as it prepares for the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
There are plenty of issues for coach Dan Enos and his staff to deal with. The Chippewas will travel some 1,300 miles, they'll play on Christmas Eve in a tropical climate, and they will be lodged at the exquisite Atlantis Resort.
"Atlantis is one of the best vacation spots in the world, not just in North America, the world," Enos said after Tuesday's practice inside the CMU Indoor Practice Facility, in which the heat was cranked up to 84 degrees to simulate the kind of weather the Chippewas will encounter in Nassau.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We want them to enjoy it, enjoy the experience and enjoy the Bahamian culture and enjoy Atlantis. It'll be a great experience for our team, but they have to be able to handle the distractions of it just like any bowl game. At the end of the day we have a very good team that we're playing against so that should keep them focused."
The Chippewas will square off against Western Kentucky in the game, which carries a Noon kickoff and will be televised by ESPN. Both teams are 7-5 and both carry the distinction of having been the only teams to beat the winners of their respective conferences this year.
The Chippewas handed Northern Illinois its lone Mid-American Conference loss, while the Hilltoppers handed Marshall its only Conference USA loss. In fact, it was that only game that Marshall lost in the regular season and it came in a 67-66 overtime shootout.
Northern Kentucky rolls up yardage by the truckload and scores in bunches. The Hilltoppers ranked third in Football Bowl Subdivision in passing offense and sixth in both total offense and scoring offense. Quarterback Brandon Doughty leads FBS with 4,344 yards passing and 44 touchdown passes.
"I think he is the best we've played all year," Enos said of the fifth-year senior. "He's very poised. He doesn't get rattled. His posture's very good in the pocket. He's not a great runner but he's strong and he can hang in and extend plays and get the ball out of his hands."
The key to stopping that high-octane attack is to keep Doughty and Co. sidelined.
"For us, on offense, we've got to stay on the field as long as possible and keep our defense rested," said CMU senior guard Andy Phillips, who has started 42 consecutive games and leads an offensive line that has paved the way to an average of 158.7 yards per game. "We just want to run the ball, get those four- and five-yard plays and maybe break out a couple 20-yarders here and there. It's just about getting first downs and keeping our defense rested."
The Chippewas hold a season-long advantage of nearly seven minutes per game in time of possession, a critical statistic for a ball-control offense, which is CMU's bread and butter. In the games in which the Chippewas have been dominant - Northern Illinois, for instance - time of possession has weighed heavily in CMU's favor.
"We take pride in that especially as an offensive line," Phillips said. "We know if we're going to win this game that's something we're going to have to do."
And while running the ball is critical, balance is perhaps an even bigger factor, Enos said.
"We're going to run the football, but make no mistake, our quarterback and our wideouts and our tight ends are going to have to make plays in the passing game, especially on third down," Enos said. "We're going to have to hit some explosive plays on first and second down."
The Chippewas defense ranks 16th nationally and leads the MAC in total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
"I think they're pretty good, but we're pretty good too," senior defensive tackle Leterrius Walton said. "Hey, we're going to come out and play football. We're a good defense. We're going to play our game.
"It's fun going to bowl game, but at the end of the day, all of just want to play. We want to get back out there and play football."
