Western Michigan projected to win Mid-American Conference at MAC Football Media Day
DETROIT - On Oct. 1, the Central Michigan football team will get the first crack at downing the preseason favorites to win the Mid-American Conference Championship, and it is its rival.
The Chippewas will host Western Michigan in conference opener. The Broncos were picked by the media to win the MAC West Division and also the MAC Championship game.
WMU received 19-first place votes from the media, while CMU, which was fourth in the MAC West preseason poll, notched one first-place vote.
CMU Head Coach John Bonamego said the Broncos are very deserving of their first-place finish in the polls.
“The last two years they’ve won eight plus ballgames," Bonamego said. "They’ve done a good job of building that team, really from the inside out. We’re very much looking forward to that matchup.”
Under Head Coach P.J. Fleck, WMU finished 8-5 overall and 6-2 in the MAC. The Broncos were one of seven MAC teams to participate in a postseason bowl game, defeating Middle Tennesee 45-31 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
The Broncos return 13 starters from last season, including eight on offense. Quarterback Zach Terrell joins CMU senior quarterback Cooper Rush as the only MAC quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, which is given to the nation's top quarterback.
WMU wide receiver Corey Davis was named to the Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver), Walter Camp Award (player of the year) and Maxwell Award (outstanding college football player) watch lists.
The brother of former CMU wide receiver Titus Davis, Corey hauled in 90 catches for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He led the MAC with 110.5 receiving yards per game.
The Broncos have gotten the best of the Chippewas as of late, including a thrilling 41-39 victory last season in Kalamazoo.
“We lost the last two years so we’re definitely ready," said CMU senior safety Tony Annese. "They’re a great team. They’ve got great players and great coaches. We’re just ready to go and compete.”
Off the field, the Broncos and Chippewas compete for recruits. WMU led the MAC in recruiting in 2016, according to 247sports.com. CMU is ranked eighth according to the site.
Fleck said upbringing, lifestyle and importance of life are who he looks for in his recruits.
“We recruit against
us," Fleck said. "I’m sure Coach Bono recruits against him. You find players that fit your
culture. We’ll always do that."
Bonamego said there has been a recruiting rivalry between the two schools since Herb Deromedi was at the helm at CMU and Elliot Uzelac and Jack Harbaugh coached the Broncos.
“I think that has always occurred no matter who the coach is at Central," Bonamego said. "That will always exist. That’s part of what makes it a great rivalry and part of what makes it fun.”
Davis said CMU did not offer him a scholarship as an out-of-state player from Illinois. Davis said Fleck offered him a scholarship after he took over the program in 2013.
“He does a really good job of recruiting," Davis said. "His energy level is always really high. I don’t think he ever sleeps. He does a phenomenal job in recruiting and bringing in these selfless guys.”
Fleck added the rivalry between CMU and WMU is well-respected and is one of the best rivalries in college football.
"Every time we play it’s a battle, it goes back-and-forth," he said. "Coach Bono does an outstanding job at Central Michigan, an outstanding job. I respect our rivalry so much and I respect what Coach Bono has done, especially with the adversity he had off the field.”
Bonamego said the game against WMU will have bigger implications beyond the rivalry.
"That will be a very big game, not just because it’s Western but because it’s the first MAC game," Bonamego said. "It’s an opponent on our side of the division that to accomplish our goals we have to win that game.”
Fleck said he does not care where the game ends up on the schedule and added his players keep the game in the back of their minds. Davis said CMU will be a good opponent.
“They have a really good team, really good players, high-caliber players and a phenomenal coach," Davis said. "We’re really looking forward to that game.”
When asked about the CMU team, Fleck said everything starts with Rush at quarterback.
"If you can have an elite quarterback, you’ve got a shot," Fleck said. "Cooper Rush is an elite quarterback. He’ll be reporting to a (NFL) training camp next year at this time. He’s efficient, he’s accurate, he’s a leader, he holds himself well, he’s tough and he’s everything you want in a quarterback.”
Even with the preseason No. 1 ranking tagged to the Broncos' name, Davis said he does not pay attention do the rankings and is focused on the process of getting to Ford Field for the MAC title game in early December. Their MAC slate starts Oct. 1 in Mount Pleasant.
“I feel we have a good run-pass game, and they do as well. It’s going to be a good game," Davis said. "It’s going to be a battle on all three phases of the ball: offense, defense and special teams."
