Heeke: Indiana owes CMU $350,000 for breach of contract

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It is clear the CMU football no longer has Indiana on its 2010 home schedule.

The financial side of the matter is unresolved, however.

After Indiana moved its Big Ten game with Penn State to FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Nov. 20, the school searched for ways to gain a sixth home game.

The solution included removing its visit to Kelly/Shorts Stadium to play CMU, instead opting to host Arkansas State.

CMU, which was scheduled to repay the visit to Indiana at a future date, responded by canceling its future game in Bloomington, Ind.

CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke said Indiana requested to be released from the contract and offered alternative solutions, but it did not make sense for Central.

“We felt the contract was clearly breached and that we’re due those fees,” he said.

The uncertainy is centered on those fees.

Dustin Dopirak of HeraldTimesOnline.com reported Wednesday that CMU owed Indiana $50,000 after  voiding the third and final game of the contract. Indiana was to pay CMU $150,000 for the first game in Mount Pleasant. CMU was to pay Indiana $200,000 for the return trip, the report said.

Heeke refuted the report, however.

“The way I interpreted it was that they clearly walked away from the deal,” he said. “The contract calls for a payment of $150,000 for the second game and $200,000 for the third game of the contract. It’s my understanding that Indiana will be paying us $350,000 … I do know that legal councils for both universities are involved in determining the final outcome.”

Indiana Athletics Director Fred Glass was unavailable for comment as he is accompanying the men’s basketball team in tonight’s game against Penn State.

With Indiana off the schedule, CMU has non-conference road games scheduled with Virginia Tech, Northwestern and Navy.

Heeke said CMU’s non-conference home game has yet to be scheduled.

Defensive coordinator

Blogger Kyle Warber of Mlive.com reported that CMU has hired Pittsburgh linebackers coach Joe Tumpkin as the team’s defensive coordinator.

A source close to the situation said the deal is all but done, but no papers have been signed and it remains unofficial.

Heeke said Tumpkin has not been hired, and he also shed light on other hires previously reported.

The hiring of five assistant coaches was confirmed Tuesday by the source.

Heeke disputed the notion of any confirmation at this point.

“We have not confirmed any of the hirings,” he said. “There’s certainly a lot of names floating around, but we’re going through the proper procedures on campus to hire staff members, and that’s in motion right now.”

Mike Cummings, Kyle Nystrom, Kort Shankweiler and Terrence Samuel were added to the staff. Max Glowacki is the lone holdover from former coach Butch Jones’ staff.