There’s no better way to learn how to win than to experience it first-hand.

And for the last two freshman classes, success has come in the form of a Mid-American Conference Championship.

Coach Butch Jones said the winning culture is crucial for success.

“I think our freshmen are able to see all the work that goes into winning a championship,” Jones said. “We say the MAC Championship runs through Mount Pleasant. Every game is a championship game for us, and that starts to build a culture and a mentality in our football program.”

From receiver Antonio Brown to linebacker Nick Bellore and tight end J.J. Watt, these freshmen have been an underlay to the foundation of a championship team.

And each of them have three years of eligibility left.

As the youngsters head into their first bowl game – the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26 at Ford Field – Jones said he couldn’t be happier with how their progression has gone.

“We expect great effort. We expect them to get better as we go, and I think the main thing is just them learning expectations,” Jones said. “And when they do make a mistake, not repeating the same mistake again. It’s been a learning process. Sometimes you can learn more from losing than you can from winning, and our guys have done a great job.”

The losses came early on for this year’s team. A 1-3 start had fans concerned about the prospects of a repeat championship.

But unlike in years when losing was the norm around Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the team responded under the leadership of seniors like linebacker Ike Brown, who has learned how to win with his classmates.

“It’s hard when you lose, because you come to accept losing,” Brown said. “It’s hard for us seniors, because we came in and losing was a habit. It was hard for us to break that habit. We were on the opposite end of these freshmen, so it’s going to be great for them because all they’re going to know is winning, and they’re not going to accept anything less.”

Just as Dan LeFevour and Bryan Anderson did last year, this season’s redshirt freshmen have had a large hand in CMU’s resurgence and 8-5 record.

“Toward the beginning of the season it was a lot for me,” Bellore said. “Even coming early was a lot to digest, there was a lot going on, but I had Red (Keith) and Ike (Brown) along there with me helping me out through the tough times. Helping me learn the game and picking up little things that have helped me improve game-to-game.”

An influx of seniors departed after last season, leaving the door open for freshmen such as Bellore, Brown, Watt and receiver Taylor Bradley to gain playing time.

Redshirt freshmen like offensive linemen Colin Miller and Jeff Maddux emerged as large parts of the line’s future under tutelage from senior Eric Tunney and junior Andrew Hartline.

“The guys like Tunney and Hartline and (Mike) Decker have a big impact, especially off the field, too,” Watt said. “It makes you really feel welcome and a part of the team when a senior’s talking to you and hanging out with you. We have great team chemistry here and they really orchestrate that really well.”

It’s been a year of learning for the younger players. But Watt said the 2007 season set clear expectations for every first-year player.

“I think it sets the bar very high. (We) freshmen have one ring now; the other guys have two rings,” he said. “And we have the bar set for a MAC Championship and a bowl game every single year from here out. Anything less won’t be accepted by us. Hopefully we can make Chippewa fans proud in the years to come.”

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E-mail the author: Daniel Monson