COLUMN: Loss to Miami would have major implications
I bet Dan Enos is as uneasy as he has ever been as a head coach, going into the game against Miami on Saturday.
A loss to a winless team will result in the lights going off on the season and it could also lead to flickering confidence in a program in its fourth year under Enos.
Already, the "Fire Enos" comments at the bottom of football stories are becoming commonplace and those actually making decisions are probably unhappy with the low 2013 season ticket sales.
So whether Central Michigan is just a level below a winning record or it has to do some soul-searching will be discovered when the RedHawks game ends because if it can't beat Miami which team can it beat?
And surely the Chippewas do not want to be 1-8 heading into their game against Western Michigan, which is the next team they face that is a low caliber similar to Miami.
The environment would be toxic with only a single win in nine games. The worst two seasons under Enos still included at least two wins at that point.
Enos avoided coach speak and even said this week he knew some of the implications, saying “it will be two very desperate football teams playing this Saturday.”
He does have at least a couple of players he can bring to battle for a victory.
Junior wide receiver Titus Davis is obviously the first that comes to mind, ranked No. 2 in the nation among active players with a career 19.2 yards per reception.
What better player to raise the team from the rubble than one from what was really the first recruiting class that Enos handpicked completely?
However, Davis had some good games that have not resulted in CMU wins.
Who might really needs to step up is running backs Saylor Lavallii, Anthony Garland or even Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore.
The reason is Enos' offense relies on using play action passes to death.
And yes, the running game did just fine against Toledo in a loss. But everyone should just move past beating a team of that level this season.
CMU needs to beat teams of its caliber, which are Miami, Western Michigan, UMASS and Eastern Michigan.
Then, a reprieve will be definitely granted, at least by the higher-ups.
Contact Jeff Papworth: jeffpapworth@ymail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffPapworth.
