It’s offense vs. defense for the MAC West title

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Legendary football coach Herb Deromedi and junior linebacker Red Keith
left the field together following CMU’s win against Bowling Green on
Oct. 19.

It was Central Michigan University’s fifth consecutive Mid-American Conference win, setting
up today’s game against Western Michigan to be for the MAC West title.

But it is what Deromedi said to the young player that resonates in
Keith’s mind.

“I got Red off to the side and said ‘you have a fine football team,
now go and win the MAC,’” Deromedi said. “And I really believe that. I
like that team and I like what they are doing.”

Central has that chance today at 7 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. CMU
is 5-0 in the West Division, Western is 5-1. If CMU wins, it will
represent the West in the MAC Championship game Nov. 30 at Ford Field.
Even if it loses, it could still play in the title game if it wins its
final two games and WMU loses to Akron the last game of the season.

WMU last won a MAC West crown in 2000. CMU has never won a
divisional title, and its last championship came in 1994 before there
were two divisions.

Seniors Joe Staley and Dan Bazuin talked about winning a
championship before the season started, and now it is right in front of
them.

“This is exactly the position we want to be in,” Staley said. “We
really meant that, and with our past failures it is kind of hard to
believe that was what our expectations were.”

Both teams will play quarterbacks who were on the sideline for last
season’s Western win.

WMU quarterback Ryan Cubit, who was injured last year, is averaging
207 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Dan LeFevour is averaging 209 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and
six interceptions.

Western’s defense is one of the best in the MAC, holding opponents
to just 19.2 points per game and has forced a MAC-high 26 turnovers.

Junior linebacker Ameer Ismail leads the nation in sacks with 15 and
the team in tackles with 73.

“They have a great defense. They are very fast, very tenacious and
love to get sacks and create pressure,” LeFevour said. “If I can stay
focused I think we will be OK.”

Both quarterbacks are complemented by good tailbacks.

CMU sophomore Ontario Sneed has rushed for more than 100 yards in
the last two games, and WMU’s Mark Bonds is averaging 104 yards per
game and has seven touchdowns.

This game could be close, as last season’s WMU win was decided by a
touchdown, and the year before, a field goal by CMU won the game in
overtime.

“Almost every game I have been involved in has gone down to the
wire, and hopefully we can stay with these guys,” said WMU coach Bill
Cubit.

Coach Brian Kelly came to CMU three years ago talking about winning
championships. His team is on the verge, and for a coach who won two
National Championships at Grand Valley State University, he relishes
opportunities like this.

“I enjoy these games in knowing that your preparation will have a
lot to do with the outcome,” he said. “I know I don’t have to go in
there and give a big speech and rattle the cages, I know they are going
to come ready to play.”