2008 Woodie Awards
Players have time to wait for rival WMU
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The 2007 football schedule caused quite a stir when the team's rivalry game at Western Michigan was set for 7:30 p.m. on a Tuesday.
The game will appear on ESPN2, and although it may not have the implications many hoped, it's the only college game on TV that night.
"I was excited about it, and I knew that when you're the only college game on, everybody in the country's going to be watching," said Ike Brown.
The senior linebacker plays for his final time in the rivalry Tuesday, and said the team's extra time shouldn't be a hindrance.
"It will help us in terms of getting to know Western and what they do," Brown said. "Some people are a little banged up, so they get a couple more extra days of rest."
CMU did not practice Monday or Tuesday, giving the players a chance to gain a midseason time-out.
"We've fought the injury bug all year, and we haven't had the benefit of having an open week," said coach Butch Jones. "This is the closest to an open week that we have. It allows our players to get a little more rest, a little more treatment, a little more focus."
Last season's Central-Western game was played on Friday, Nov. 10, and drew a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record crowd of 30,027. CMU was a combined 3-2 in non-Saturday games during the 2006 championship season.
Jones said it would be nice to play the game on a Saturday, but the game still has benefits for both schools.
"I understood why (the game was scheduled that way) because I know TV dictates everything," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity for both schools to be on national TV - everyone in the country is going to be watching Central vs. Western."
CMU's final two games will be played on a Friday - Nov. 16 against Eastern Michigan and Nov. 23 against Akron.
"I don't think it will (hamper the routine) because of the days we have off," Brown said. "It would be different if we had a game on Saturday and then we had to come back two days later and play another game. Since we have extra time off, it's not going to mess with us too much."
Jones said the Central/Western game is a great rivalry game regardless of the setting.
"We're going to play our best football, and I hope they play their best football," Jones said. "It wouldn't matter if we were undefeated, or if both teams hadn't won a game. You'd still get the best effort from both schools."
sports@cm-life.com
The game will appear on ESPN2, and although it may not have the implications many hoped, it's the only college game on TV that night.
"I was excited about it, and I knew that when you're the only college game on, everybody in the country's going to be watching," said Ike Brown.
The senior linebacker plays for his final time in the rivalry Tuesday, and said the team's extra time shouldn't be a hindrance.
"It will help us in terms of getting to know Western and what they do," Brown said. "Some people are a little banged up, so they get a couple more extra days of rest."
CMU did not practice Monday or Tuesday, giving the players a chance to gain a midseason time-out.
"We've fought the injury bug all year, and we haven't had the benefit of having an open week," said coach Butch Jones. "This is the closest to an open week that we have. It allows our players to get a little more rest, a little more treatment, a little more focus."
Last season's Central-Western game was played on Friday, Nov. 10, and drew a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record crowd of 30,027. CMU was a combined 3-2 in non-Saturday games during the 2006 championship season.
Jones said it would be nice to play the game on a Saturday, but the game still has benefits for both schools.
"I understood why (the game was scheduled that way) because I know TV dictates everything," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity for both schools to be on national TV - everyone in the country is going to be watching Central vs. Western."
CMU's final two games will be played on a Friday - Nov. 16 against Eastern Michigan and Nov. 23 against Akron.
"I don't think it will (hamper the routine) because of the days we have off," Brown said. "It would be different if we had a game on Saturday and then we had to come back two days later and play another game. Since we have extra time off, it's not going to mess with us too much."
Jones said the Central/Western game is a great rivalry game regardless of the setting.
"We're going to play our best football, and I hope they play their best football," Jones said. "It wouldn't matter if we were undefeated, or if both teams hadn't won a game. You'd still get the best effort from both schools."
sports@cm-life.com
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