A gain in national exposure

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EAST LANSING — Athletics Director Dave Heeke said he received about 30 texts and 20 e-mails from people all over the country shortly after CMU secured Saturday’s 29-27 upset against MSU.

The win was something Heeke was probably dreaming of.

Ever since he came here in 2006, it has been clear he has a vision of where he wants CMU athletics to go. He brought his ideas from Oregon of how to get CMU out onto the national stage.

He pushed for a renovation to Rose Arena. He looked for ways to market the program through advertisements and billboards. He has looked for ways to face big-name Bowl Championship Series teams and for big-name teams to come to Kelly/Shorts Stadium. He even made sure a few different versions of jerseys were made this year, much like Oregon does (and he said it is just the beginning).

But all that work can go to waste if the program never capitalizes on its national broadcast opportunities. Saturday changed that, when CMU defeated MSU on ESPN2 in front of a national audience.

Heeke said after the game that you can’t measure what a win does for your program and for the university as a whole.

“People start to understand Central Michigan University is something,” he said. “And beyond something, it’s something special.”

He stressed after the game how vital it is to put the program in situations such as Saturday afternoon, where exposure is at a premium.

And CMU will get a few opportunities down the road. This season’s Wednesday night matchup in November against Toledo will be on ESPN2 and, if the team makes it, the Mid-American Conference Championship game also is on ESPN2.

Heeke said the team will continue to schedule big-time exposure games as he continues to try to fulfill his vision of making CMU a nationally known program.

“It is how you build (a program). It is how you become Boise State,” he said.

Recruiting

The benefits of the national exposure stretches beyond the opportunity for donor funds and added overall university recognition however.

The win also was a national statement to potential recruits as well.

Head coach Butch Jones acknowledged that possibly after the victory.

“It proved to recruits out there that we can go in the big stage and win these games,” he said.

CMU will always have a hard time getting blue chip recruits, but games such as Saturday’s may well just edge the player on the fence to come to Mount Pleasant.

Jones has done a good job since he got here using his skill everywhere he possibly can. Junior Antonio Brown is a perfect example that.

Games a trap for MSU

While Saturday was a dream for CMU, it was a nightmare for MSU.

The loss is a case in point as to why so many people are puzzled MSU signed the “Celebrate the State” deal with CMU, WMU and EMU.

MSU will play each team four times, including one against each team on the road, in three Mid-American Conference stadiums.

The games for MSU are really nothing but a trap. If MSU wins, it is expected. If it loses, the program is scolded. Saturday was a prime example.

CMU’s season is now looking like it could be the most promising in the school’s history. MSU now has to pick up the pieces and regroup as they have to play at Notre Dame next weekend.

MSU cannot stop sweating. It still has 12 opportunities to get stunned in the coming years.

While MSU will most likely have the superior team in each of those games, there is no doubt another upset is possible.

With how the CMU program has changed the last couple years, Kelly/Shorts in 2012 should be interesting.