Central Michigan University Athletics
Players Mentioned
MAC Kickoff Blog
7/18/2024 11:46:00 AM | Football, Our Stories
Follow Head Coach Jim McElwain, defensive back Donte Kent, and offensive lineman Brayden Swartout as they represent Central Michigan in Canton, Ohio at the 2024 MAC Football Kickoff Event (Thursday-Friday, July 18-19, 2024).
Additionally, follow CMU Football social media accounts for up-to-the-minute updates, photos, video, graphics, and other content from MAC Football Kickoff.
Follow Central Michigan Football at : TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
The most recent blog entries are posted at the top:
CMU CHIPPEWAS INTERVIEWS
"We've had a great summer, I'm excited to get goin'"
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
Hear from @CoachMcElwain with @AdamJaksa at the 2024 @MACSports Football Kickoff at the @ProFootballHOF#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/o7PCPdvxnz
"The Essexville Mountain", AKA Brayden Swartout, was stopped by @AdamJaksa at the @MACSports Football Kickoff in Canton!#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/XNh4TzqhRg
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
It wouldn't be a @MACSports Media Day without our own Adam Jaksa catching up with the Chippewas!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
Hear from Donte Kent about the 2024 CMU Defense as we get ready for the new season.#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/AzmexGyQmX
MEDIA DAY AT PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
The boy's battled it out at virtual Kelly/Shorts Stadium, courtesy of @EASportsCollege to round out today's @MACSports Football Kickoff!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
Donte logged the ultimate user pick, using his virtual self to get out to an early lead 💪#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/7r8aTTzQgg
Coach and Donte on the ESPN set to discuss the upcoming season! Catch 'em on ESPN+
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
💻: https://t.co/ETaArj1mhD#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/vs33PzyJ3C
DONTE KENT: THEN AND NOW
Before he ever suited up for the Maroon & Gold, Donte Kent visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Years later, Chippewa Football and the Mid-American Conference reunited the defensive back with the statue of Jim Thorpe. A then-and-now look at his two visits was posted on social media during the event.
#FBF Donte Kent was right here with Jim Thorpe at the @ProFootballHOF in high school, now back this week for the 2024 @MACSports Football Kickoff!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
They grow up so fast 🥲#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/68u2VKAIJu
MAC VIDEO CONTENT
The conference's creative team took Kent and Swartout to be with the busts of Hall of Famers for some promotional video content. Fans on tour of the facility caught the Chippewa defensive back for a unique photo in their experience in Canton.
Capturing the moment with the greats, and meeting fans here at the @ProFootballHof#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/2DPDHbca2V
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
INTERVIEWS UNDERWAY IN CANTON
Kent, Swartout and McElwain caught up with Yousef Nasser ABC12 WJRT and Cleveland.com prior to the Commissioner's address.
Getting in some interviews right away here in Canton. Of course they stopped Donte for a fit check 😎#FireUpChips🔥⬆️🏈 | pic.twitter.com/AU8F5px4ka
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
2024 MAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL ANNOUNCED
The Chippewas were predicted to finish eighth in the Mid-American Conference in 2024 by the league's coaches, announced Friday morning ahead of the MAC Football Kickoff. CMU's eight-game conference schedule features all of the top seven in the poll, plus ninth-place Eastern Michigan. Miami (OH) earned nine first-place votes in the poll, and 10 votes to repeat as the MAC Champion in Detroit. The full preseason predicted finish below:
Team (First-Place Votes)
1. Miami (9) – 119 points
2. Toledo (3) – 109 points
T3. Bowling Green – 92 points
T3. Northern Illinois – 92 points
5. Ohio – 81 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 64 points
7. Western Michigan – 60 points
8. Central Michigan – 59 points
9. Ball State – 42 points
10. Buffalo – 37 points
11. Akron – 24 points
12. Kent State – 13 points
FULL PHOTO GALLERY FROM THURSDAY
VIDEO: A FULL DAY
Awesome day for @cmu_football's @BraydenSwartout and @dontekent1 on tour at @ProFootballHOF!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
More to come, tomorrow with media day....
Follow along both days on our blog: https://t.co/Vp5nnKVOqG#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/c1nUKWjoJ1
PHOTO WITH THE STUDENT-ATHLETE CONTINGENT
📍 Pro Football Hall of Fame #MACtion 🏈 pic.twitter.com/QQ9xCw43af
— #MACtion (@MACSports) July 18, 2024
THE FAMOUS BUST ROOM
Examining the @ProFootballHOF "Bust" Room, with @cmu_football DB's Coach @MichaelZordich, and finally dinner!#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/LdeUWIBLPu
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
DICK ENBERG'S NAME FOUND
Answering trivia questions on the @ProFootballHOF tour! The duo also found @CMUniversity graduate Dick Enberg's name on a list of Hall of Fame media honorees!#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/eGoHtTANIZ
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TOUR
🏈 @ProFootballHOF Tour....#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/sMOkQFxRBQ
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
CHIPPEWAS ARRIVE IN CANTON
.@cmu_football's @BraydenSwartout and @DonteKent1 arrive in Canton, Ohio at the @ProFootballHOF!#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/BZXsOROzzz
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 19, 2024
MEDIA DAY NOTES ARE AVAILABLE
Central Michigan's media day notes are posted at this link.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN MEDIA DAY SCHEDULE FOR MCELWAIN, KENT, AND SWARTOUT
| Time | Event |
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration begins |
| 10 a.m. | Classic Teleproductions (Cleveland.com/MLive.com) |
| 10:40 a.m. | MAC Video Content |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Commissioner Steinbrecher Press Conference (streamed live on ESPN3) |
| 11:30-1:30 p.m. | Head Coach/Student-Athlete 1-on-1 Availability (Nash Family Event & Conference Center) |
| 11:50 a.m. | ESPN3 Production (11:40 a.m. arrival) |
| 12:20 p.m. | EA Sports CFB Video Content |
Note: This is CMU's schedule for the day. CMU will spend the majority of its day at its table in the main media room.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
SINGLE GAME TICKETS TO GO ON SALE JULY 29
Central Michigan Football single-game tickets will go on sale on Monday, July 29. Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Central at cmuchippewas.com or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045. This year, CMU is also selling non conference road game tickets which include games at Florida International and Illinois. Those tickets are now available to the general public.