DETROIT-If it were to be decided by the media, the football team would be back to being Mid-American Conference champions.

Nearly 70 percent – 18 votes out of 26 – of media voters picked the Chippewas to win the MAC in a preseason poll released at the conference’s media day Friday in Detroit.

Western Michigan received four votes, followed by Buffalo and Temple, who garnered two votes each.

Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, one of two CMU players who made the trip to media day – the other being senior defensive end Frank Zombo – said he is happy to wipe the slate clean after an injury-plagued 2008 season.

“It’s just good to have a fresh start and have everything that happened last year behind me,” LeFevour said.

CMU was picked by a wide margin to win the MAC West, followed by WMU, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan.

Last year’s MAC champion Buffalo was picked to win the MAC East, followed by Temple, Akron, Ohio, Bowling Green, Kent State and Miami.

LeFevour was put on a number of preseason award watch lists, including Lindy’s MAC Most Valuable Player and the Sporting News’s Best Running QB.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown, Zombo, linebacker Nick Bellore and corner back Josh Gordy were also put on various watch lists.

The MAC had five new head coaches that were showcased at the media day. Former Louisville and Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English takes over at EMU, Stan Parrish was promoted from his offensive coordinator post at Ball State, former Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson takes over at Bowling Green, former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood takes the job at Miami and former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Tim Beckman is now in charge at Toledo.

Allison forced to leave program

Defensive lineman Josh Allison’s career has been cut short because of an unspecified injury, said Head coach Butch Jones.

“There isn’t a kid that loves football more than him,” Jones said, ” so it’s been a very trying time.”

The Chippewas return Zombo, an All-MAC selection, junior Sean Murnane, senior Sam Williams and senior Larry Knight along the defensive line.

Past that, Jones said the key will be to develop depth and have younger players step up and contribute.

“Our defensive line, we’re probably going to (need) one or two freshman to be able to step up and give us some reps there,” he said.

sports@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Andrew Stover