Central Michigan University Athletics
Bahamas Bowl an Exciting Challenge for CMU
12/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan football team punched its ticket Sunday to the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, where it will take on Western Kentucky on Christmas Eve.
Both teams are 7-5 and finished fourth in their respective divisions in their respective leagues, CMU in the Mid-American Conference, Western Kentucky in Conference USA.
It is CMU's second bowl game in the past three seasons. The Chippewas defeated the Hilltoppers, 24-21, in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2012. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff and will be televised by ESPN.
"They're a good football team," fifth-year CMU coach Dan Enos said, adding that he watched the high-powered Hilltoppers defeat Bowling Green, 59-31, in late August. "They're going to present a lot of challenges.
"I came in the next day and said 'Oh man, did you guys see Western Kentucky last night? I'm glad we don't play them.' So now we're playing them. I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."
The Chippewas were bowl eligible last season, but did not receive an invitation.
"I think we're most excited that we're making a bowl game and getting a chance to play and end the season on a good note," senior guard Andy Phillips said.
Phillips is one of a number of Chippewas who saw action the last time CMU played in a bowl game. That game was played at Ford Field in Detroit.
"We played them two years ago, but, like coach said, a lot of our guys didn't play in that game and a lot of their guys I'm sure didn't play in that game either," Phillips said. "So it's really two different teams, it just happens to be the same school."
Western Kentucky ranks sixth nationally in both total yards per game (525.5) and points per game (44). Quarterback Brandon Doughty has thrown for 4,344 yards, tops among Football Bowl Subdivision passers.
The Chippewas finished the regular season No. 1 in the MAC in total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
"It's sort of like a challenge for our defense," defensive tackle Jabari Dean said. "We're willing to accept the challenge and play our best game."
Enos said the trick now is to strike a balance in practice since the game is 2 ½ weeks away, and, by the time the bowl game kicks off, it will have been more than a month since CMU played its last game, a 32-20 loss to Western Michigan.
"I've been places where we've gone two-a-days and things like that" during bowl preparation, said Enos, who estimated he has played in and coached in about 10 bowl games. "And I've been places where we haven't practiced very hard. I think there's a happy medium in there somewhere.
"Obviously we're going to have fun, this is a reward, but football's about work. Our program is about being tough and blue-collar and working hard and we're going to continue to do that."
For now, football takes a backseat - for the student-athletes - as they take final exams. Enos said they will resume practice at the end of the week.
"We'll let our guys finish off their academics in the right way without overburdening them with too much practice time and preparation," he said. "As we work and do our preparation starting on Thursday or Friday this week it's going to be business as usual.
"Then I think the biggest challenge is when you have them here for an extended time, you've got to try to make practices so they're not mundane, so they're not going through the motions.
"But I think as soon as you step on the plane and you go and you get to the site and then all of a sudden you see your opposing team standing over there, the adrenaline gets going, the sense of urgency gets going. Then I would anticipate we'd have a couple very, very good practices when we get over there. With the understanding and knowledge that the game's right around the corner."
The bowl game in a tropical climate is a wonderful reward, Enos and the players agreed, both from a tangible standpoint and otherwise.
"It's nice to throw the ball around when it's not cold and you can't feel your fingers," quarterback Cooper Rush said. "Just very excited. It's going to be a fun time."
"We're just excited to play in a bowl game and it being the Bahamas makes it 10 times better because it'll be down (in) great weather, good area, so we're just excited," senior defensive back Jarret Chapman said. "Everyone's saying it's just amazing down there. Playing football down there is something we'll appreciate, and (I'm) excited for it."
That the game will be played in weather that feels like August to Midwesterners is a bonus, Enos said.
"Last week I started asking and I think I got about 10 different responses from 10 different players" as to where the Chippewas may have preferred to head for a bowl game, Enos said. "I think our guys are excited to be in a bowl game, period. You know we don't take it for granted.
"When you look at all the different (potential) places, they were all very attractive. But when you talk about the Bahamas and Atlantis (Resort) -- I know a lot of these guys probably see these Atlantis commercials all the time on TV and you always go 'That place looks pretty cool; I'll probably never go there.' And now they're all going to have an opportunity to go there.
"My family and I were fortunate enough that we went there two years ago. It's a great place. It's an unbelievable place and I know it will be a great experience.
"I know our players are going to have a great time. You can't beat the weather. Being from Michigan this time of year it's going to be a really welcome sight to have that type of weather. And to be the first (Popeyes Bahamas Bowl), in particular, makes it very special for our entire team."
