Central Michigan football accepts invitation to play in 2014 Bahamas Bowl
The Central Michigan University football team takes the field prior to its Mid-American Conference opener at Toledo on Sept. 27.
The Central Michigan University football team is headed to the Bahamas for Christmas.
The Chippewas will face Western Kentucky University in the 2014 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl at noon on Dec. 24 at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
CMU finished the 2014 regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Mid-American Conference play. The Hilltoppers also finished 7-5 this season and were 4-4 on Conference USA Play.
The Chippewas gathered at CMU's Indoor Athletic Complex on Sunday for the announcement.
“If you were in here, it was just nuts,” said senior defensive back Jarret Chapman. “We’re just excited to play in a bowl game. It being in The Bahamas just makes it 10 times better.”
CMU was one of five Mid-American Conference teams to be invited to a bowl game on Sunday.
The other four teams receiving invites were Western Michigan University to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Bowling Green State University to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Northern Illinois University to the Boca Raton Bowl and Toledo University to the GoDaddy Bowl.
“It’ll be a unique a really interesting cultural experience for us to play football in The Bahamas,” said CMU Athletic Director Dave Heeke. “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s an exciting time for our program. It’s an exciting team for this university and certainly it’s an exciting time for these players.”
While Head Coach Dan Enos said the team will enjoy its time away from the cold weather, it will focus on returning to Michigan with a win.
“I told our players last week, ‘If you ask anybody who’s participated in a bowl game, what’s their favorite one? They don’t mention the ones they lose, they mention the ones they win,’” Enos said. “It makes the memories that much sweeter, that much nicer.”
Enos visited The Bahamas with his family two years ago. He called it an “unbelievable place.”
“A lot of those guys probably see those Atlantis commercials all the time on TV,” Enos said. “You always go, ‘that place looks pretty cool, I’ll probably never go there.’ Now they’re all going to all get an opportunity to go there.”
Sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush said the warmer weather will be helpful when throwing the ball.
“It’s nice to throw the ball around when it’s not cold and you (can) feel your fingers,” Rush said.
Western Kentucky University quarterback and senior Brandon Doughty, will have the same advantage.
Doughty leads all quarterbacks in Division I with 4,344 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, including impressive numbers in the season opener against Bowling Green State University.
He completed 46-of-56 passes for 569 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in a 59-31 win over BGSU.
“I watched it,” Enos said of the BGSU game. “I came in the next day and I said, ‘man, did you guys see Western Kentucky last night? I’m glad we don’t play them.’ Now we’re playing them. I shouldn’t open my big mouth.”
In the Hilltoppers last game, they took down previously undefeated Marshall 67-66 in overtime.
“It’s a challenge for our defense,” said sophomore defensive tackle Jabari Dean. We’re willing to accept the challenge.”
CMU played WKU in its last bowl game Dec. 26, 2012 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. The Chippewas won a tight 24-21 game in Enos’ only bowl game of his head coaching career.
Minutes after the announcement, CMU football players took to Twitter to share their excitement.
