2008 Woodie Awards
Jones gets Gatorade shower, proves doubters wrong in win
By: Brian Manzullo
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
DETROIT - Butch Jones continued pacing up and down the sideline even with a 35-10 lead and one minute remaining Saturday at Ford Field.
But when junior running back Justin Hoskins got him with a Gatorade bath, it finally hit him - Jones was going to be a Mid-American Conference Champion.
He immediately jumped in jubilance and raised his right arm as players began hoisting him up in the air. After a season filled with praises and criticisms, the first-year coach took everything in during the closing minute of Central's win against Miami University.
"The hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat," Jones said. "And this team did that. I can't say enough about everyone in our football program."
Jones joined Dick Flynn (1994) as the only coach to lead the Chippewas to a MAC title in his first season. He also became just the second head coach to win the MAC Championship game in his first season, the other being Toledo's Tom Amstutz in 2001.
But Jones still was quick to deflect the praises to his players after the game.
"It's not about me, it's about the kids. These guys deserve everything," he said. "They would look at me in the eye and say, 'Coach, we've got your back. We got you.' That's the aura of confidence that this football team has."
Jones and the first-year coaching staff became targets of criticism in the first month of the season when Central began 1-3, including a 44-14 loss to North Dakota State of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). With the Chippewas being defending MAC Champions and having several key players return, many were expecting CMU to contend for a repeat.
But since Sept. 15, CMU (8-5 overall, 6-1 MAC) has won seven of its last nine.
"(Our coaches) have been here before - they've played here or coached here before," said senior linebacker Red Keith. "It means a lot more to them than just any other guy. They came in here with passion.
"We just wanted to get back and win this championship, not just for ourselves but for the coaching staff. They bleed maroon and gold just like we do."
Saturday will not be Jones' last trip to Ford Field this season. He will get to coach his first bowl game on Dec. 26 when CMU plays Purdue in the Motor City Bowl.
Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour said he is looking forward to playing his second bowl game under Jones.
"The two guys I've been playing for more than anybody this year are (senior linebacker) Ike Brown and coach Jones," LeFevour said. "With all the scrutiny he's been under ever since he got the job - I'm playing for him."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
But when junior running back Justin Hoskins got him with a Gatorade bath, it finally hit him - Jones was going to be a Mid-American Conference Champion.
He immediately jumped in jubilance and raised his right arm as players began hoisting him up in the air. After a season filled with praises and criticisms, the first-year coach took everything in during the closing minute of Central's win against Miami University.
"The hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat," Jones said. "And this team did that. I can't say enough about everyone in our football program."
Jones joined Dick Flynn (1994) as the only coach to lead the Chippewas to a MAC title in his first season. He also became just the second head coach to win the MAC Championship game in his first season, the other being Toledo's Tom Amstutz in 2001.
But Jones still was quick to deflect the praises to his players after the game.
"It's not about me, it's about the kids. These guys deserve everything," he said. "They would look at me in the eye and say, 'Coach, we've got your back. We got you.' That's the aura of confidence that this football team has."
Jones and the first-year coaching staff became targets of criticism in the first month of the season when Central began 1-3, including a 44-14 loss to North Dakota State of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). With the Chippewas being defending MAC Champions and having several key players return, many were expecting CMU to contend for a repeat.
But since Sept. 15, CMU (8-5 overall, 6-1 MAC) has won seven of its last nine.
"(Our coaches) have been here before - they've played here or coached here before," said senior linebacker Red Keith. "It means a lot more to them than just any other guy. They came in here with passion.
"We just wanted to get back and win this championship, not just for ourselves but for the coaching staff. They bleed maroon and gold just like we do."
Saturday will not be Jones' last trip to Ford Field this season. He will get to coach his first bowl game on Dec. 26 when CMU plays Purdue in the Motor City Bowl.
Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour said he is looking forward to playing his second bowl game under Jones.
"The two guys I've been playing for more than anybody this year are (senior linebacker) Ike Brown and coach Jones," LeFevour said. "With all the scrutiny he's been under ever since he got the job - I'm playing for him."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
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