It is one of the most anticipated weekends of the school year and a game that has determined CMU’s path to the MAC Championship game for two seasons.

This year’s Central/Western game pits the rivals against one another for their 80th meeting, but pregame traditions have evolved since their first match up in 1905.

Nov. 6, 2007: CMU 34 vs. WMU 31

Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour scored on a quarterback sneak from less than one yard away to give CMU a 34-31 win against rival Western Michigan to clinch a berth at the Dec. 1 MAC Championship game in Detroit at Ford Field.

The way the last two years have gone, it’s almost surprising the Mid-American Conference didn’t schedule this season’s Central-Western game on a Wednesday night in July.

The last two matchups – Friday night in 2006 and Tuesday night in 2007 – were largely dictated by the MAC’s insistence of sacrificing tradition for a chance that college football fans would notice.

Law enforcement agencies from all around Mid-Michigan will be joining forces to keep the peace for Central/Western Weekend.

During Central/Western Weekend two years ago, Central Michigan Life reported 227 officers and deputies were on patrol, and about the same amount are anticipated for this weekend.

Local apartment complexes are going to extra lengths for Central/Western Weekend to ensure safety and parking.

Tallgrass Apartments, 1240 E. Broomfield St., will be allowing each apartment one temporary parking pass that is usually do not allowed. If there are extras left over that some apartments do not use, they will give those out too, Tallgrass Manager Jill Simons said.

Residence halls will be implementing strict protocol this weekend to manage the expected mass population of guests for the rival Central/Western football game.

All doors other than the main entrance of each residence hall will be locked at 6 p.m. Friday and stay locked until 7 a.

Parking officials have made plans to accommodate the influx of cars that will be on campus this weekend.

Central Michigan University Police Chief Stan Dinius said there will be several open lots around the stadium.

Lot 63 is the main tailgating lot, and Dinius said they try to keep the east lot for students and the west lot for families.

Kelly/Shorts Stadium might be nearly filled to capacity for Saturday’s game against Western Michigan University.

“We are on track to sell about 27,000 to 30,000 tickets. That’s the pace we’re on right now,” said Kim Hudson, manager of Athletics Tickets and Promotions.