2008 Woodie Awards
MAC Champs
9 Football secures Mid-American Conference repeat
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: Year in Review
Originally Published Dec. 3
By Daniel Monson
Assistant Sports Editor
DETROIT - In the end, they all were together.
After the Central Michigan football team's 35-10 win against Miami University on Dec. 1 at Ford Field, players and coaches alike celebrated at midfield with hugs and high fives.
As coach Butch Jones raised the Mid-American Conference championship trophy, the Chippewas let out a mighty cheer for their repeat title.
The celebration was symbolic in a way. Jones said he had never been around a group of players who stuck together like this. They needed every bit of that closeness to get through this season.
"We got it again!" said senior linebacker Ike Brown as he celebrated with his teammates. He played in the championship game for the first time after sitting out last year with a knee injury.
Brown, who tallied nine tackles, had a reason to celebrate. A 1-3 start, a painful loss on senior night against an in-state rival Eastern Michigan, and blowout losses to Bowl Championship Series teams didn't mean much now.
And then there was CMU's defense.
Fourth-quarter interceptions by sophomores Eric Fraser and Chaz West made sure the Chippewas would be celebrating for the second straight year.
The embattled unit played its best game of the season, holding the RedHawks scoreless in the first half in the team's 35-10 win.
It was the first time the defense held a team scoreless in the first half.
"We took a lot of criticism all year," said senior linebacker Red Keith, who finished with 10 tackles. "But I'm a true believer that defense wins championships. I told the guys before the game that it was going to come down to us. We played hard, and we kept the game close until our offensive boys came along."
Central went into halftime up 7-0 as its high-powered offense was held in check. Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour threw two interceptions in the first half, one deep in Miami territory.
By Daniel Monson
Assistant Sports Editor
DETROIT - In the end, they all were together.
After the Central Michigan football team's 35-10 win against Miami University on Dec. 1 at Ford Field, players and coaches alike celebrated at midfield with hugs and high fives.
As coach Butch Jones raised the Mid-American Conference championship trophy, the Chippewas let out a mighty cheer for their repeat title.
The celebration was symbolic in a way. Jones said he had never been around a group of players who stuck together like this. They needed every bit of that closeness to get through this season.
"We got it again!" said senior linebacker Ike Brown as he celebrated with his teammates. He played in the championship game for the first time after sitting out last year with a knee injury.
Brown, who tallied nine tackles, had a reason to celebrate. A 1-3 start, a painful loss on senior night against an in-state rival Eastern Michigan, and blowout losses to Bowl Championship Series teams didn't mean much now.
And then there was CMU's defense.
Fourth-quarter interceptions by sophomores Eric Fraser and Chaz West made sure the Chippewas would be celebrating for the second straight year.
The embattled unit played its best game of the season, holding the RedHawks scoreless in the first half in the team's 35-10 win.
It was the first time the defense held a team scoreless in the first half.
"We took a lot of criticism all year," said senior linebacker Red Keith, who finished with 10 tackles. "But I'm a true believer that defense wins championships. I told the guys before the game that it was going to come down to us. We played hard, and we kept the game close until our offensive boys came along."
Central went into halftime up 7-0 as its high-powered offense was held in check. Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour threw two interceptions in the first half, one deep in Miami territory.
