Saturday, December 7
Detroit, Mich.
12 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Miami (Ohio)
CMU coach Jim McElwain (left) addresses the media with players Drew Ward (center) and Oge Udeogu on Friday at Ford Field in Detroit.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Championship Saturday
12/6/2019 10:35:00 PM | Football
Chippewas look to complete improbable turnaround with MAC title
DETROIT – And, here they are.
The Central Michigan football team is right where it had aimed to be, and where very few outside the program ever imagined it would be.
The Chippewas arrived on Friday at Ford Field, where they will play Miami (Ohio) on Saturday (noon) in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. It is the culmination – though an almost-certain bowl bid will come on Sunday – of a remarkable turnaround under first-year coach Jim McElwain, who earlier this week was named the MAC Coach of the Year.
The Chippewas are 8-4 and finished 6-2 in the MAC West, winning their first outright division title since 2009, which was also the last time they won the MAC championship.
The Chippewas won just one game a year ago, and the seven-win improvement is the most of any team in college football in 2019. CMU was picked to finish last in the preseason poll.
"I saw a bunch of guys that were out to prove something, a bunch of guys who banded together," McElwain said during Friday's press conference. "I'm really proud to see what they have invested in themselves, but more importantly how they've learned to give up themselves for the benefit of someone else, that's a great lesson and to see them grow like that. It's been pretty exciting."
"They actually did a really good job of affecting each other in a positive way. To see the guys, more than anything, have almost like a second opportunity. What happened in the past happened, it is what it is. Now let's go out and do something about it if you really want to change it."
To a man, the Chippewas believed from day one as McElwain and his staff changed the culture and transformed the program.
"We do know what's behind us, we do know what we want, and when you look at the whole season we've had, it's pretty remarkable," senior offensive tackle Clayton Walderzak said. "We have to look at everything we've done on the field, off the field, the turnaround with the coaches and put it all into one and come out with a win on Saturday."
Indeed. CMU has exhausted its ticket allotment, though plenty are available through Ford Field and at the gate.
"Being here and seeing the transition and just feeling the energy around here, everybody's excited, everybody loves the energy," CMU senior linebacker Michael Oliver said earlier this week. "There's a new type of vibe going around Central Michigan right now from students to athletes. Everybody loves to be a Chip. It's a fun time around the campus right now. The energy is very high."
Tribute
The Chippewas will wear a helmet decal in honor of beloved radio play-by-play announcer Don Chiodo, who died in a car accident earlier this week. Chiodo, a Warren native and CMU alum, served more than a decade as the voice of the Chippewa football and men's basketball programs.
"A guy who has meant so much to so many," McElwain said of the affable Chiodo, who was 54. "Our thoughts, prayers, everything goes out to his family and his loved ones."
History
The Chippewas are in the MAC title game for the fourth time since the league went to the two-divisional format with a winner-take-all title game in 1997. CMU has won in all three of its appearances.
CMU's MAC West title, which it clinched with a 49-7 thrashing of Toledo at Kelly/Shorts Stadium a week ago, is the program's fifth. The others came in 2015, '09, '08 and '07. CMU shared the crown in '15 with Toledo, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. NIU won the tie-breaker to earn the berth in the league title game.
The Chippewas defeated Miami, 35-10, in the 2007 MAC title game.
8 is Great; 9 Would be Fine
CMU's eight victories matches its highest total since it won a program-record 12 games in 2009. The 2017 team finished 8-5. A win on Saturday would give CMU victories in eight of its last nine games.
Honors
McElwain was named the MAC Coach of the Year – to the surprise of nobody – on Wednesday and eight of his players earned all-conference honors.
"It's a great honor," McElwain said. "There's really, really good coaches in this league. Ultimately, I get the award, but the only reason I get it is because of these players and this coaching staff and the support of this administration. It's nice to be recognized. But at the end of the day, it is nothing I ever did, it is all these players and our coaches that put up with me."
Representing
McElwain brought two injured players, sophomore linebacker Andrew Ward and senior guard Oge Udeogu, to Friday's press conference. Bringing two injured players was a departure from the norm as teams generally bring star players, such as the quarterback or the leading tackler.
"It really kind of meant something to me as far as bringing these two guys because they truly embody what we're all about and what the team is all about," McElwain said.
Ward suffered a career-ending neck injury in the Chippewas' 38-20 victory at Bowling Green on Oct. 19. Udeogu, a transfer from Iowa State, broke his arm a week ago in the Chippewas' 49-7 victory at home against Toledo.
"Obviously what Andrew has been through, and you can't ever put it into words, but how important he's been to this football team throughout the year," McElwain said. "And then Oge on Senior Day, a guy who chose to give us his last year and believe in us and came in and played his tail off for us. Just means a lot for me to have these two guys up here."
Home Sweet Home
CMU went unbeaten (6-0) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium this season, and Saturday's game will be a homecoming of sorts for several Chippewas. Fourteen players in the CMU roster list Detroit as their hometown and dozens of others hail from the suburbs.
Saturday's game is CMU's ninth at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. The Chippewas are 5-3 at the stadium, 3-0 in MAC title games, 2-3 in bowl games.
Injury Report
The loss of Udeogu ends an impressive streak by the Chippewas' offensive line. Udeogu along with center Steve Eipper, guard Derek Smith, and tackles Clayton Walderzak and Luke Goedeke had started all 12 games together this season.
Freshman Deiyantei Powell-Woods is listed as the starter on the depth chart for Saturday's game. McElwain mentioned the names Danny Motowski and Tyden Ferris, both freshmen, as those who have logged significant playing time along the offensive line this season.
The Chippewas have surrendered just 15 sacks, which ties them for 14th best among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
"The biggest thing with the offensive line is that when one goes down, the next comes up," said Walderzak, who has undergone two knee reconstruction surgeries during his six years at CMU. "My heart feels for Oge. He's going to be with us 100 percent, but I know the guys coming in are going to do a phenomenal job."
• Tight end Joel Wilson, who caught one pass for seven yards in the Chippewas' season-opening win over Albany, is expected to dress for Saturday's game. The redshirt freshman was injured in the Albany game.
• CMU is expected to be without cornerback Darius Bracy because of injury.
Representing II
The loss of Ward was emotional for the Chippewas, particularly his pals JaCorey Sullivan and Kalil Pimpleton, CMU's top two receivers and two of the very best in the MAC.
All three grew up together in Muskegon and were teammates in the storied Big Red football program.
"After the injury it was a rough time," Ward said. "It was a hard pill to swallow just knowing that the injury was as serious as it was. I was able to walk off the field. It took a couple of weeks to get back around the team. The team and the staff helped me a lot."
Sullivan wore Ward's No. 43 jersey in the Chippewas' game at Buffalo, the week after Ward was injured at Bowling Green. Pimpleton wore it the week after the Buffalo game, when the Chippewas beat Northern Illinois at home.
"They were my first friends when I moved to Muskegon in first grade," Ward said of Sullivan and Pimpleton. "We stay together, we're roommates. Having them by my side, I live through them now as far as the football part goes, and that's what I told them.
"They're kind of keeping my name alive; I can't do it on the field."
Airing it Out
The Chippewa run game garners a lot of deserved attention.
Jonathan Ward has turned in a tremendous senior season, rushing for 1,056 yards and averages 6.4 yards per carry. He has scored 16 touchdowns, 15 of them on the ground. His backfield mate, sophomore Kobe Lewis, has run for 953 yards (a 5.6 average) and scored 11 TDs.
If Lewis passes the 1,000-yard mark, it will give CMU two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season for the first time in program history.
Chippewa quarterback Quinten Dormady, a graduate transfer who played previously at Tennessee and Houston, has been solid to outstanding all season. He has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,916 yards and 13 TDs against five interceptions.
"He's obviously gone through a lot, as a lot of players do," McElwain said of Dormady, who missed four games with an injury. "And for him to have an opportunity to come in and affect all of us the way he has, and really his leadership and his ability to go play for a conference championship, I'm really happy for him.
"I'm really glad he chose to come here because he's one of the reasons, as all these players are, that we're playing for a conference championship this weekend."
Turning Point
McElwain was asked about the turning points in the Chippewas' season.
"I think we've gotten a little bit better every week," he said. "I think you attribute that to the players understanding the routine of what we do each week."
The Chippewas lost at Miami (Fla.), 17-12, in their fourth game of the season, slipping to 2-2. Their two victories to that point had come over Football Championship Subdivision opponent Albany and over Akron, which would go on to finish 0-12.
The Miami game, though it was a loss, was a big test for the Chippewas. It was, after all, on the road against team from a Power 5 conference. It was a physical game and a defensive struggle, but the Chippewas proved something to themselves in that game, and then won six of their next eight.
"We're big about, whatever happened the week before, good or bad, let's learn from it and let's tear the rearview mirror off and go get ready for the next one," McElwain said. "The Miami game maybe proved to ourselves a little bit that maybe we're capable of standing in there with a good football team."
Scouting
The RedHawks are in the MAC Championship Game for the first time since 2010.
Miami dropped its regular-season finale, 41-27, last week at Ball State, ending a five-game win streak. The RedHawks began the season 1-3, with the losses coming to Iowa, Cincinnati and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are now ranked second nationally, Iowa is 18th, and Cincinnati is 21st.
Freshman quarterback Brett Gabbert has started all 12 of the RedHawks' games and has completed 53.9 percent of his passes for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
Jaylon Bester (4.7 yards per carry) and Tyre Shelton (5.2) are Miami's top two running backs. Bester has scored 11 TDs.
Common Opponents
The Chippewas and RedHawks faced six common opponents in 2019: Buffalo, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Akron and Ball State. Both CMU and Miami finished 4-2 against those six opponents.
The Central Michigan football team is right where it had aimed to be, and where very few outside the program ever imagined it would be.
The Chippewas arrived on Friday at Ford Field, where they will play Miami (Ohio) on Saturday (noon) in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. It is the culmination – though an almost-certain bowl bid will come on Sunday – of a remarkable turnaround under first-year coach Jim McElwain, who earlier this week was named the MAC Coach of the Year.
The Chippewas are 8-4 and finished 6-2 in the MAC West, winning their first outright division title since 2009, which was also the last time they won the MAC championship.
The Chippewas won just one game a year ago, and the seven-win improvement is the most of any team in college football in 2019. CMU was picked to finish last in the preseason poll.
"I saw a bunch of guys that were out to prove something, a bunch of guys who banded together," McElwain said during Friday's press conference. "I'm really proud to see what they have invested in themselves, but more importantly how they've learned to give up themselves for the benefit of someone else, that's a great lesson and to see them grow like that. It's been pretty exciting."
"They actually did a really good job of affecting each other in a positive way. To see the guys, more than anything, have almost like a second opportunity. What happened in the past happened, it is what it is. Now let's go out and do something about it if you really want to change it."
To a man, the Chippewas believed from day one as McElwain and his staff changed the culture and transformed the program.
"We do know what's behind us, we do know what we want, and when you look at the whole season we've had, it's pretty remarkable," senior offensive tackle Clayton Walderzak said. "We have to look at everything we've done on the field, off the field, the turnaround with the coaches and put it all into one and come out with a win on Saturday."
Indeed. CMU has exhausted its ticket allotment, though plenty are available through Ford Field and at the gate.
"Being here and seeing the transition and just feeling the energy around here, everybody's excited, everybody loves the energy," CMU senior linebacker Michael Oliver said earlier this week. "There's a new type of vibe going around Central Michigan right now from students to athletes. Everybody loves to be a Chip. It's a fun time around the campus right now. The energy is very high."
Tribute
The Chippewas will wear a helmet decal in honor of beloved radio play-by-play announcer Don Chiodo, who died in a car accident earlier this week. Chiodo, a Warren native and CMU alum, served more than a decade as the voice of the Chippewa football and men's basketball programs.
"A guy who has meant so much to so many," McElwain said of the affable Chiodo, who was 54. "Our thoughts, prayers, everything goes out to his family and his loved ones."
History
The Chippewas are in the MAC title game for the fourth time since the league went to the two-divisional format with a winner-take-all title game in 1997. CMU has won in all three of its appearances.
CMU's MAC West title, which it clinched with a 49-7 thrashing of Toledo at Kelly/Shorts Stadium a week ago, is the program's fifth. The others came in 2015, '09, '08 and '07. CMU shared the crown in '15 with Toledo, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. NIU won the tie-breaker to earn the berth in the league title game.
The Chippewas defeated Miami, 35-10, in the 2007 MAC title game.
8 is Great; 9 Would be Fine
CMU's eight victories matches its highest total since it won a program-record 12 games in 2009. The 2017 team finished 8-5. A win on Saturday would give CMU victories in eight of its last nine games.
Honors
McElwain was named the MAC Coach of the Year – to the surprise of nobody – on Wednesday and eight of his players earned all-conference honors.
"It's a great honor," McElwain said. "There's really, really good coaches in this league. Ultimately, I get the award, but the only reason I get it is because of these players and this coaching staff and the support of this administration. It's nice to be recognized. But at the end of the day, it is nothing I ever did, it is all these players and our coaches that put up with me."
Representing
McElwain brought two injured players, sophomore linebacker Andrew Ward and senior guard Oge Udeogu, to Friday's press conference. Bringing two injured players was a departure from the norm as teams generally bring star players, such as the quarterback or the leading tackler.
"It really kind of meant something to me as far as bringing these two guys because they truly embody what we're all about and what the team is all about," McElwain said.
Ward suffered a career-ending neck injury in the Chippewas' 38-20 victory at Bowling Green on Oct. 19. Udeogu, a transfer from Iowa State, broke his arm a week ago in the Chippewas' 49-7 victory at home against Toledo.
"Obviously what Andrew has been through, and you can't ever put it into words, but how important he's been to this football team throughout the year," McElwain said. "And then Oge on Senior Day, a guy who chose to give us his last year and believe in us and came in and played his tail off for us. Just means a lot for me to have these two guys up here."
Home Sweet Home
CMU went unbeaten (6-0) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium this season, and Saturday's game will be a homecoming of sorts for several Chippewas. Fourteen players in the CMU roster list Detroit as their hometown and dozens of others hail from the suburbs.
Saturday's game is CMU's ninth at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. The Chippewas are 5-3 at the stadium, 3-0 in MAC title games, 2-3 in bowl games.
Injury Report
The loss of Udeogu ends an impressive streak by the Chippewas' offensive line. Udeogu along with center Steve Eipper, guard Derek Smith, and tackles Clayton Walderzak and Luke Goedeke had started all 12 games together this season.
Freshman Deiyantei Powell-Woods is listed as the starter on the depth chart for Saturday's game. McElwain mentioned the names Danny Motowski and Tyden Ferris, both freshmen, as those who have logged significant playing time along the offensive line this season.
The Chippewas have surrendered just 15 sacks, which ties them for 14th best among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
"The biggest thing with the offensive line is that when one goes down, the next comes up," said Walderzak, who has undergone two knee reconstruction surgeries during his six years at CMU. "My heart feels for Oge. He's going to be with us 100 percent, but I know the guys coming in are going to do a phenomenal job."
• Tight end Joel Wilson, who caught one pass for seven yards in the Chippewas' season-opening win over Albany, is expected to dress for Saturday's game. The redshirt freshman was injured in the Albany game.
• CMU is expected to be without cornerback Darius Bracy because of injury.
Representing II
The loss of Ward was emotional for the Chippewas, particularly his pals JaCorey Sullivan and Kalil Pimpleton, CMU's top two receivers and two of the very best in the MAC.
All three grew up together in Muskegon and were teammates in the storied Big Red football program.
"After the injury it was a rough time," Ward said. "It was a hard pill to swallow just knowing that the injury was as serious as it was. I was able to walk off the field. It took a couple of weeks to get back around the team. The team and the staff helped me a lot."
Sullivan wore Ward's No. 43 jersey in the Chippewas' game at Buffalo, the week after Ward was injured at Bowling Green. Pimpleton wore it the week after the Buffalo game, when the Chippewas beat Northern Illinois at home.
"They were my first friends when I moved to Muskegon in first grade," Ward said of Sullivan and Pimpleton. "We stay together, we're roommates. Having them by my side, I live through them now as far as the football part goes, and that's what I told them.
"They're kind of keeping my name alive; I can't do it on the field."
Airing it Out
The Chippewa run game garners a lot of deserved attention.
Jonathan Ward has turned in a tremendous senior season, rushing for 1,056 yards and averages 6.4 yards per carry. He has scored 16 touchdowns, 15 of them on the ground. His backfield mate, sophomore Kobe Lewis, has run for 953 yards (a 5.6 average) and scored 11 TDs.
If Lewis passes the 1,000-yard mark, it will give CMU two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season for the first time in program history.
Chippewa quarterback Quinten Dormady, a graduate transfer who played previously at Tennessee and Houston, has been solid to outstanding all season. He has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,916 yards and 13 TDs against five interceptions.
"He's obviously gone through a lot, as a lot of players do," McElwain said of Dormady, who missed four games with an injury. "And for him to have an opportunity to come in and affect all of us the way he has, and really his leadership and his ability to go play for a conference championship, I'm really happy for him.
"I'm really glad he chose to come here because he's one of the reasons, as all these players are, that we're playing for a conference championship this weekend."
Turning Point
McElwain was asked about the turning points in the Chippewas' season.
"I think we've gotten a little bit better every week," he said. "I think you attribute that to the players understanding the routine of what we do each week."
The Chippewas lost at Miami (Fla.), 17-12, in their fourth game of the season, slipping to 2-2. Their two victories to that point had come over Football Championship Subdivision opponent Albany and over Akron, which would go on to finish 0-12.
The Miami game, though it was a loss, was a big test for the Chippewas. It was, after all, on the road against team from a Power 5 conference. It was a physical game and a defensive struggle, but the Chippewas proved something to themselves in that game, and then won six of their next eight.
"We're big about, whatever happened the week before, good or bad, let's learn from it and let's tear the rearview mirror off and go get ready for the next one," McElwain said. "The Miami game maybe proved to ourselves a little bit that maybe we're capable of standing in there with a good football team."
Scouting
The RedHawks are in the MAC Championship Game for the first time since 2010.
Miami dropped its regular-season finale, 41-27, last week at Ball State, ending a five-game win streak. The RedHawks began the season 1-3, with the losses coming to Iowa, Cincinnati and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are now ranked second nationally, Iowa is 18th, and Cincinnati is 21st.
Freshman quarterback Brett Gabbert has started all 12 of the RedHawks' games and has completed 53.9 percent of his passes for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
Jaylon Bester (4.7 yards per carry) and Tyre Shelton (5.2) are Miami's top two running backs. Bester has scored 11 TDs.
Common Opponents
The Chippewas and RedHawks faced six common opponents in 2019: Buffalo, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Akron and Ball State. Both CMU and Miami finished 4-2 against those six opponents.
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