Central Michigan vs. Syracuse: Chippewas looking to start 3-0 when Orange come to town
A pair of under-the-radar college football teams collide in Mount Pleasant this weekend when Central Michigan(2-0) hosts Syracuse (1-0) Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas carry the momentum of a 38-17 thrashing of Big Ten foe Purdue into the matchup. Syracuse barely escaped Villanova in a double-overtime thriller in the Orange’s home opener.
With each team looking to grab the attention of their respective conference and college football audiences, CMU senior defensive tackle Leterrius Walton said there is one player the Chippewas are focused on: Quarterback Terrel Hunt.
Hunt was ejected from Syracuse’s first game of the year after he threw a punch at an opponent after a play.
“Oh yeah, we’re going to get in his head,” Walton said. “We’re going to stay back (in the backfield) giving him pressure and harass him all day.”
Hunt was 10-for-17 with 94 yards passing and 25 yards on the ground before his ejection.
Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer deciding against suspending Hunt for Saturday’s game against CMU.
"It's an emotional game and if you've never played it, you don't know what it's like to get frickin' pummeled," Shafer told syracuse.com. "There are people on your back and people talking to you and you react. We've all done it."
The Chippewas, meanwhile, say they are focusing on winning the turnover battle entering the game as a six-and-a-half point underdog.
Six picks plus a fumble recovery have been a key factor in the CMU’s 2-0 start.
“That’s something we focus on every practice,” said senior linebacker Justin Cherocci. “Committing as many turnovers as we can.”
CMU heads into Saturday’s game leading the nation with six interceptions. The Chippewas had 14 interceptions during the entire 2013 season.
“We’re going to try to be disruptive up front,” said head coach Dan Enos. “If you can get a quarterback feeling the rush a little bit, maybe throwing the ball a little before he wants to or get him unsettled, good things will happen.”
Enos said he is excited about the Chippewas’ successful start. However the fifth-year head coach says he knows the dangers of getting “too comfortable,” with winning.
“You have to be able to handle adversity and handle success,” Enos said. “Nick Saban’s a lot meaner after a win than he is a loss. He’s won a lot of games, a lot more than I have. I think he tries not to let his team get complacent and keeps them on their toes.”
The Chippewas enter Saturday’s action 0-11 against current ACC teams.
The Orange and Chippewas have only faced each other one time, in 1999. CMU lost that game 47-7.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPNews at noon.
