Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Welcomes Football Royalty as Homecoming Grand Marshals
10/10/2024 11:01:00 AM | Football, Our Stories
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Homecoming is all about reconnecting, nostalgia, recalling all the good times.
Such will be the case for Central Michigan Homecoming 2024 as coaches and members of the 1974 NCAA Division II National Championship football team will serve as Grand Marshals of the homecoming parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.
The team was led by legendary coach Roy Kramer who was assisted by Herb Deromedi, both are expected to be on hand to lead the parade along with several players from that team, including quarterback Mike Franckowiak.
Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak and many other members of the legendary '74 squad will not only lead the parade, but will be introduced on the field between the first and second quarters of the CMU homecoming game against Ohio at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Members of the 1974 team will be sworn in as Grand Marshals on Friday during a ceremony on campus and CMU will also host a pre-game tailgate party for the team in front of the Chippewa Champions Center at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
This weekend marks CMU's 100th homecoming and the 50th anniversary of Chippewa football team that finished 12-1 and capped the remarkable and oh-so memorable season with a 54-14 victory over Delaware in the Camellia Bowl, which served as the national title game.
That completed a three-game playoff run, during which CMU outscored its opponents, 109-34. For the season, the Chippewas rolled up 450 points while holding their foes to 127. CMU posted two shutouts, and seven times held an opponent to a touchdown or less.
Among the many blowouts was a 42-6 shellacking of Western Michigan, marking the first time CMU had beaten the Broncos during Kramer's tenure, which began in 1967.
Offensively, the Chippewas twice cracked the 50-point barrier, and four other times scored at least 40 points. Running back Walt Hodges rushed for 1,463 yards, a total that ranks fifth on the CMU all-time single-season list, and his 3,886 career yards rank second in school history.
Four members of that team, quarterback Mike Franckowiak, defensive linemen Rick Newsome and John Wunderlich, and defensive back Tom Ray, received All-America honors.
Seven men who are associated with that team are members of the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame: Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak, Newsome, Wunderlich and defensive back Steve Bograkos and wide receiver Matthew Means.
The Chippewas opened the '74 season with a 21-14 loss to Kent State, then reeled off 12 consecutive wins. The entire squad was inducted into the CMU Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004, marking the 30th anniversary of its championship.
Three players and two coaches associated with that team -- Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak, Newsome and Wunderlich -- are in the prestigious Hall as individuals.
Deromedi succeeded Kramer as the Chippewas' head coach in 1978. During the combined 27 years that Kramer and Deromedi led CMU football, the Chippewas went 193-87-12.
Kramer went on to serve as the director of athletics at Vanderbilt and later as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. He was inducted last year into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Deromedi who was inducted in 2007.
Such will be the case for Central Michigan Homecoming 2024 as coaches and members of the 1974 NCAA Division II National Championship football team will serve as Grand Marshals of the homecoming parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.
The team was led by legendary coach Roy Kramer who was assisted by Herb Deromedi, both are expected to be on hand to lead the parade along with several players from that team, including quarterback Mike Franckowiak.
Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak and many other members of the legendary '74 squad will not only lead the parade, but will be introduced on the field between the first and second quarters of the CMU homecoming game against Ohio at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Members of the 1974 team will be sworn in as Grand Marshals on Friday during a ceremony on campus and CMU will also host a pre-game tailgate party for the team in front of the Chippewa Champions Center at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
This weekend marks CMU's 100th homecoming and the 50th anniversary of Chippewa football team that finished 12-1 and capped the remarkable and oh-so memorable season with a 54-14 victory over Delaware in the Camellia Bowl, which served as the national title game.
That completed a three-game playoff run, during which CMU outscored its opponents, 109-34. For the season, the Chippewas rolled up 450 points while holding their foes to 127. CMU posted two shutouts, and seven times held an opponent to a touchdown or less.
Among the many blowouts was a 42-6 shellacking of Western Michigan, marking the first time CMU had beaten the Broncos during Kramer's tenure, which began in 1967.
Offensively, the Chippewas twice cracked the 50-point barrier, and four other times scored at least 40 points. Running back Walt Hodges rushed for 1,463 yards, a total that ranks fifth on the CMU all-time single-season list, and his 3,886 career yards rank second in school history.
Four members of that team, quarterback Mike Franckowiak, defensive linemen Rick Newsome and John Wunderlich, and defensive back Tom Ray, received All-America honors.
Seven men who are associated with that team are members of the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame: Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak, Newsome, Wunderlich and defensive back Steve Bograkos and wide receiver Matthew Means.
The Chippewas opened the '74 season with a 21-14 loss to Kent State, then reeled off 12 consecutive wins. The entire squad was inducted into the CMU Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004, marking the 30th anniversary of its championship.
Three players and two coaches associated with that team -- Kramer, Deromedi, Franckowiak, Newsome and Wunderlich -- are in the prestigious Hall as individuals.
Deromedi succeeded Kramer as the Chippewas' head coach in 1978. During the combined 27 years that Kramer and Deromedi led CMU football, the Chippewas went 193-87-12.
Kramer went on to serve as the director of athletics at Vanderbilt and later as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. He was inducted last year into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Deromedi who was inducted in 2007.
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