2008 Woodie Awards
Team has chance to dominate MAC
By: Robbie Sgro
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
CMU football, a Mid-American Conference dynasty?
All the pieces are there for the Chippewas.
The team won its second consecutive MAC title with a 35-10 win against Miami University, becoming the first repeat winner in the conference since Marshall won four straight from 1997 to 2000.
Sure, the defense graduates perhaps its three best players - linebackers Ike Brown and Red Keith and defensive tackle Steven Friend. Defense wins championships, as evidenced by the unit holding off the RedHawks' offense while Central's offense took time to get going.
But with what the Chippewas return on offense, it's possible for them to simply outscore every team in the MAC next season, the season after that and beyond that.
Dual-threat quarterback Dan LeFevour would return after a 41-touchdown season, and he continues to play better and better. Both running backs, Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins, return for their senior seasons.
The wide receiving corps is loaded - Bryan Anderson will be a junior, twice surpassing the school record for receptions. Antonio Brown will have a played a full season at receiver for the first time, one that saw him break Anderson's school record for receptions, while also giving Central a bonafide kick return threat. And that doesn't even include Kito Poblah, who caught a touchdown in the MAC title game, and Duane Brooks, who seems to be getting more comfortable at the position after switching from quarterback.
The offensive line was a question mark at the beginning of the season, but has been more than solid, allowing just 16 sacks. Mike Decker and Eric Tunney will graduate, but the unit should be fine after paving the way for a 1,000-yard season from LeFevour and a combined 1,133 yards from Hoskins and Sneed.
Then there's the coaching situation, and what a difference a year makes there. Brian Kelly already was headed to Cincinnati at this time last season after being rumored for the head coaching jobs at Iowa State and Michigan State.
Not only is it sweeter for the players to enjoy the win more because there is no doubt who the coach will be, but also it allows them to look forward to the future. Butch Jones is the coach at CMU, and he should be for quite some time. He has ties to Central and still is establishing himself as a head coach, has a great start by defending a title, and defied critics all season.
Jones tweaked Central's spread offense to the tune of 33.8 points per game, bettering last season's 29.7 average. The Chippewas have enough offensive talent to start a dominant run in the MAC, but even if the conference titles pile up, fans will want more - wins against Bowl Championship Series opponents. And that will take a much better performance on defense.
But the coaches and players shouldn't be worried about that now. There are more important issues, specifically which finger to wear a second ring on.
rsgro@cm-life.com
All the pieces are there for the Chippewas.
The team won its second consecutive MAC title with a 35-10 win against Miami University, becoming the first repeat winner in the conference since Marshall won four straight from 1997 to 2000.
Sure, the defense graduates perhaps its three best players - linebackers Ike Brown and Red Keith and defensive tackle Steven Friend. Defense wins championships, as evidenced by the unit holding off the RedHawks' offense while Central's offense took time to get going.
But with what the Chippewas return on offense, it's possible for them to simply outscore every team in the MAC next season, the season after that and beyond that.
Dual-threat quarterback Dan LeFevour would return after a 41-touchdown season, and he continues to play better and better. Both running backs, Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins, return for their senior seasons.
The wide receiving corps is loaded - Bryan Anderson will be a junior, twice surpassing the school record for receptions. Antonio Brown will have a played a full season at receiver for the first time, one that saw him break Anderson's school record for receptions, while also giving Central a bonafide kick return threat. And that doesn't even include Kito Poblah, who caught a touchdown in the MAC title game, and Duane Brooks, who seems to be getting more comfortable at the position after switching from quarterback.
The offensive line was a question mark at the beginning of the season, but has been more than solid, allowing just 16 sacks. Mike Decker and Eric Tunney will graduate, but the unit should be fine after paving the way for a 1,000-yard season from LeFevour and a combined 1,133 yards from Hoskins and Sneed.
Then there's the coaching situation, and what a difference a year makes there. Brian Kelly already was headed to Cincinnati at this time last season after being rumored for the head coaching jobs at Iowa State and Michigan State.
Not only is it sweeter for the players to enjoy the win more because there is no doubt who the coach will be, but also it allows them to look forward to the future. Butch Jones is the coach at CMU, and he should be for quite some time. He has ties to Central and still is establishing himself as a head coach, has a great start by defending a title, and defied critics all season.
Jones tweaked Central's spread offense to the tune of 33.8 points per game, bettering last season's 29.7 average. The Chippewas have enough offensive talent to start a dominant run in the MAC, but even if the conference titles pile up, fans will want more - wins against Bowl Championship Series opponents. And that will take a much better performance on defense.
But the coaches and players shouldn't be worried about that now. There are more important issues, specifically which finger to wear a second ring on.
rsgro@cm-life.com
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