Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Central v Western

Media Credit: Courtesy of GS Photo The football team had a 14-0 lead two seasons ago at Waldo Stadium, but watched it fizzle away. CMU hasn't won in Kalamazoo since 1995. [Click to enlarge]

The 30,200-person capacity Waldo Stadium does not intimidate opposing teams the way Michigan Stadium or Clemson's Memorial Stadium does.

But for the CMU football team, rival Western Michigan's stadium and the infamous "blackout" has been just as puzzling in the last decade.

The Chippewas have lost six consecutive games in Kalamazoo, dating back to 1993, all by an average of more than two touchdowns.

"It's a whole new level," said senior defensive tackle Steven Friend. "A lot of my friends go to Western, so they give me a hard time when I go there. It's like a close fight with your next-door neighbor."

Unlike in previous years, however, CMU has more at stake when it plays at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Waldo Stadium on ESPN2.

Central can clinch its second consecutive Mid-American Conference West championship with a win, giving it a berth in the MAC Championship on Dec. 1 at Ford Field in Detroit. It also would be the second consecutive year in which the team did it by beating WMU.

CMU started out fast in its last game at Western two seasons ago, when it led 14-0 in the first quarter. But the Broncos scored 31 consecutive points and won 31-24 to end the Chippewas' bowl game hopes in 2005.

"There's so much that goes into a road game, such as the travel and the routine," said coach Butch Jones, who was an assistant coach in three CMU losses at Waldo Stadium. "But when you throw in a rivalry game, the stakes are always higher. The crowd is rowdier and noisier. It takes even more focus."

The home team of the Central-Western rivalry is 15-2 since 1990. Last year, Central won 31-7 in what was a battle for the MAC West title at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

This season, however, CMU (5-4 overall, 3-0 MAC West) can clinch a second straight berth to the MAC Championship while WMU (3-6 overall, 2-2 MAC West) will need a win and plenty of help.

The Broncos enter Tuesday's game with two consecutive MAC West losses. They lost 27-23 at home to Ball State, then lost 19-2 at EMU to all but erase their MAC Championship hopes.

"Nothing is set in stone yet," said sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour. "Every game in the West division still counts."

The Chippewas have beaten divisional opponents Toledo, Northern Illinois and Ball State by an average of 22 points while scoring 48.3 points per game.

Friend, however, calls Western Michigan the team's toughest challenge yet.

"It doesn't matter how bad their offense was against Eastern," he said. "They're going to throw their best punch at us. But we'll throw our best punch against them, too."



bmanzullo@cm-life.com

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