Football Notebook: Hamilton sits out practice, Kroll to wear Nash jersey
Ahead of the Central Michigan football team's matchup with Buffalo this weekend, the Chippewas are taking a step back and reflecting on the small success and failures that have led to the team's 2-4 (1-1 in MAC) overall record.
Down one senior leader this week, the Chippewas are prioritizing cutting down on mental mistakes this week in practice.
Injury Update
Senior linebacker and co-captain Tim Hamilton suffered a shoulder injury during the first half of CMU's loss to Western Michigan on Saturday. After the game, Head Coach John Bonamego said Hamilton had a "stinger" and would be evaluated this week.
Hamilton had an MRI scheduled for Tuesday and has not practiced this week.
Junior defensive end Joe Ostman played for the first time in nearly a month against WMU and did so "through a lot of pain," Bonamego said. Ostman did not suffer any setbacks with his previously severely sprained ankle and should be available to start against Buffalo.
Kroll to Wear No. 21
Senior wide receiver Jesse Kroll will wear the No. 21 Derrick Nash legacy jersey on Saturday against the Bulls.
Kroll caught six passes for 75 yards last week and is the third offensive player to wear the jersey this season. Quarterback Cooper Rush and running back Devon Spalding were the two others.
Avoiding Penalties
The Chippewas committed a season-high eight penalties for 75 yards, including an ejection for targeting by linebacker Nathan Ricketts during the first half against WMU. After the game, Bonamego called the penalties "ridiculous."
As his team prepares for Buffalo, CMU's first-year play caller is attributing the undisciplined showing to over exuberance.
"You correct it like you do every other aspect of the game," Bonamego said. "Some of it has to be a mindset. You can't play scared. You always have to play this game right on the edge of your abilities. Sometimes you lapse over and do careless things. You just hope as a team you learn from those things."
Pre-snap penalties, specifically, are what Bonamego and his staff are trying to avoid.
"Some of that stuff that happened last week after the snap, that's going to happen," said Running Backs Coach Gino Guidugli. "We just try to emphasize in practice things we can avoid. We want to play hard and we know things are going to happen. But were just try to emphasize the no pre-snap stuff."
The Chippewas host Buffalo at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
