2008 Woodie Awards
Crazy season not over
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 11/26/07 Section: Sports
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AKRON, Ohio - Let's face it, Chippewa fans - it's been a bizarre season.
The last 13 weeks have integrated astonishment, turmoil, triumph and heartbreak all into one.
And it's not over yet.
This team has been hard to figure out. Not just because of the disparity between its wins and losses in the first eight weeks of the season.
And not just because of the ups and downs and expectations surrounding the program coming off its first Mid-American Conference championship season since 1994.
Who would have thought when CMU kicked off the season Sept. 1 in Lawrence, Kan., the Chippewas would be playing against a top-five team?
Or when CMU traveled to Muncie, Ind. to face West Division foe Ball State, it would dismantle its biggest threat in record-setting fashion?
It's been a season full of surprises that really don't seem too shocking after a little thought.
With a new head coach, the loss of three players to the NFL, and the emergence of so many young players, it's no wonder the only thing CMU fans can expect is the unexpected.
"We've been through a lot of situations, and now I think we're more prepared for anything we're going to be thrown at," said senior linebacker Red Keith. "It's been rough - the biggest game that stands out is Eastern. It was a heartbreaker for us, but to come back and do fine (against Akron), it just shows you you've got to play the game, you don't know what's going to happen."
And CMU has nearly encountered it all during its 7-5 campaign.
Central has seen itself become seemingly unstoppable (Toledo and Ball State).
And yet it has seen itself fold under adversity (early on especially; North Dakota State and Clemson).
And although CMU could have packed it in until Dec. 1 - down 12 points with eight minutes left in Friday's 35-32 win in Akron - Central came from behind and showed again why it will be representing the MAC West in the championship game.
"We've come from behind late in games to win, but things weren't looking good in the third quarter," said sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour. "We just weren't making plays, we weren't on the same page, but we realized we've got a lot of great players on that offense, and we realized that we can score at any time."
The last 13 weeks have integrated astonishment, turmoil, triumph and heartbreak all into one.
And it's not over yet.
This team has been hard to figure out. Not just because of the disparity between its wins and losses in the first eight weeks of the season.
And not just because of the ups and downs and expectations surrounding the program coming off its first Mid-American Conference championship season since 1994.
Who would have thought when CMU kicked off the season Sept. 1 in Lawrence, Kan., the Chippewas would be playing against a top-five team?
Or when CMU traveled to Muncie, Ind. to face West Division foe Ball State, it would dismantle its biggest threat in record-setting fashion?
It's been a season full of surprises that really don't seem too shocking after a little thought.
With a new head coach, the loss of three players to the NFL, and the emergence of so many young players, it's no wonder the only thing CMU fans can expect is the unexpected.
"We've been through a lot of situations, and now I think we're more prepared for anything we're going to be thrown at," said senior linebacker Red Keith. "It's been rough - the biggest game that stands out is Eastern. It was a heartbreaker for us, but to come back and do fine (against Akron), it just shows you you've got to play the game, you don't know what's going to happen."
And CMU has nearly encountered it all during its 7-5 campaign.
Central has seen itself become seemingly unstoppable (Toledo and Ball State).
And yet it has seen itself fold under adversity (early on especially; North Dakota State and Clemson).
And although CMU could have packed it in until Dec. 1 - down 12 points with eight minutes left in Friday's 35-32 win in Akron - Central came from behind and showed again why it will be representing the MAC West in the championship game.
"We've come from behind late in games to win, but things weren't looking good in the third quarter," said sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour. "We just weren't making plays, we weren't on the same page, but we realized we've got a lot of great players on that offense, and we realized that we can score at any time."
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