2008 Woodie Awards
Eastern had more to play for
By: Brian Manzullo
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Sports
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It hurt for the seniors playing their final game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. It hurt for the fans, many of which were watching the team in person for the final time until September 2008.
It certainly hurt for freshman offensive lineman Jeff Maddux, whose personal foul penalty all but destroyed CMU's hopes of a second consecutive comeback win.
But before pointing fingers, stop and think for a moment about what Eastern was playing for.
No, it was not playing for a chance at the Mid-American Conference Championship. But it was playing for the Michigan MAC Championship. It was playing for a win against its biggest rival in its final game of the season.
I know by know that it sounds cliche, but this was the Eagles' bowl game - their last shot at ending their tumultuous season with an inspiring win. And they played like they had nothing to lose.
EMU made very few mistakes and capitalized on third- and fourth-down situations. It attempted deep passes, flea-flickers and fake punts - anything to give it an edge. And for the most part, it worked.
As for Central, it had little to play for against Eastern. The only real meaning a win could have had was bowl eligibility, something that can be attained at Akron on Friday or, even better, at the MAC Championship on Dec. 1 when the team plays Miami University.
Does this mean Central went into the game with less focus than Eastern? Absolutely not - but on Friday, it was obvious which team wanted the win and which team really wanted the win.
And then there is Maddux.
He certainly made the worst mistake Friday, when Central was on its way to at least tying the game. And he knows it. But he was not responsible for Eastern scoring 48 points prior to his blunder.
If anything, that play only capped off a mistake-ridden night for the Chippewas. When you send your offense on the field with 45 points on the board and ask it to score another touchdown just to win the game, you can not just point the finger at an offensive lineman who lost his cool on one play.
But all of that is done and over with now. The only thing the team can do now is regroup for Akron and enter the MAC Championship on a better note.
Yes, CMU still has to play for bowl eligibility - losses against Akron and Miami would put the team at 6-7, which would eliminate it from bowl consideration. Bowling Green, Ball State and Miami all would get bowl bids before the Chippewas in that scenario.
But with two more chances, and especially a chance at defending the MAC title, there is no reason to dwell over a home loss to EMU.
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
T D Roberts
posted 11/19/07 @ 6:48 AM EST
I disagree we had at least as much to play for as EMU. We could have been the first team to win the Michigan MAC trophy two years in a row. We could have wrapped our second straight bowl bid at home. (Continued…)
Dave Lang
posted 11/19/07 @ 9:00 AM EST
It is all excuses. I was at that game on Friday night, just as I have been for every home game the last 23 years. All I can say is this years defense is a bunch of quiters. (Continued…)
Shoc
posted 11/19/07 @ 1:07 PM EST
I think it's a little too much to label the defense as quitters. While it is somewhat embarrasing and extremely disappointing that a defense with enough talent to get the job done is getting run over week after week, you can't attack the player's hearts and will. (Continued…)
Tim Jablonski
posted 11/19/07 @ 2:32 PM EST
Let's see. Eastern's playing for a trophy which means nothing to anyone except 3 schools. Central is playing for a Division 1, FBS, whatever you want to call it bowl bid but Eastern has more to play for. (Continued…)
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