Central Michigan Football

What is better than the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament? Who wouldn't want this March Madness come January? How awesome is that feeling when you pick the number 12 seed to knock off the five seed? In March, every sports fan becomes engulfed with the television screen as they watch their projected tournament winner in a cut-throat game that could ultimately bust their bracket. The sports media may think Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach is strange, but call me crazy; Leach has the right idea. This 64 team tournament would allow a better adjustment from NCAA to NFL for players, more money for the NCAA, a chance to attempt another bracket selection, and to give the George Mason's of college football a dream season.

Here's my theory on this 64 team playoff. I want some January Madness. Eliminate a game or two from the college football season, narrowing the season to 10 games. Implement the six game, 64 team tournament, and make the season 16 total games. I know good math right? Assuming the elite teams advance further into the tournament, better teams mean better players in my opinion. With having better players playing anywhere from say 12-16 games a season, these future NFL players can slowly adjust into the role that they will soon face on Sunday's.

More games means more money. The NCAA should be drooling over the fact of a 64 team tournament. Upsets in the tournament would stir up the pot and everybody in the world would be interested to see if Florida Atlantic could cruise all the way to the National Championship. I'd have to say if this tournament became a reality you'd see more fans in Europe playing football rather than futbol. I think the NCAA should really invest some time into what Mike Leach proposed. This scenario would really eliminate the he said, she said for who deserves to be in the title game.

As an avid sports fan I love filling out my NCAA March Madness bracket. I always look at every game and see who is favored and do a ton of in-depth research. Does it matter? No it does not. Is it fun? You better it is! In America football is the sport to follow. Basketball is a sport many watch, but can you imagine how many people would follow a 64 team college football tournament? Television ratings would be setting daily records. I know I enjoy filling out a bracket, but I always mess up. I'd love to have two shots at a bracket per year. "It works in high school, it works in Division III, it works in Division II, it works in I-AA, it works in the NFL," Leach said. "To me, it's obvious," said Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach when talking about a 64 team playoff system. (Chuck Carlton)

Watching teams like Ball State and Utah this past season totally excited me. To see a great Utah team get snubbed of a National Championship game crushed every bit of my soul. Being from Michigan I have a fond love for the Central Michigan Chippewas. The students in Mt. Pleasant. must be chomping at the bit for a 64 team tournament. Having a chance at a dream season would make everybody happy. This tournament would also solve the problem of who is the best team in the nation. The mid-major schools would be happy, the power house schools would be happy, and most importantly the fans would be happy.

This 64 team tournament seems a long way from becoming a reality, but I say make it happen as quickly as possible. Bring on January Madness, I'm ready to fill out my bracket.

I asked Ball State wide receiver Briggs Orsbon if he thought his Cardinals should receive a BCS bid (provided they finish the regular season undefeated).  His answer?  You’ll just have to keep reading below about Ball State’s latest win...and the final regular-season Diamond in the Rough profile.

1. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: BALL STATE 31, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 24

Two great teams.  Two great quarterbacks.  One great game.  It’s a shame somebody had to lose.

Ball State’s perfect season remained intact for another week with a hard-fought, come-from-behind win on the road against MAC rival Central Michigan Wednesday night.  BSU quarterback Nate Davis threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Cardinals escaped Mount Pleasant* with a 31-24 win.  Davis only completed 12 passes on the evening, but four of them went for scores. 

* Note: They call it Mount Pleasant, but Weather Pleasant it was not.  Snow came down consistently throughout the evening, and the fans had some serious cold and elements to brave...good thing the game seemed to be worth it!

Across the field, CMU star Dan LeFevour took advantage of the national spotlight with a 345-yard passing performance (even more impressive considering the snowstorm), but a late interception killed the Chippewas’ final chance to rally.  LeFevour (who I’ve often described as a poor man’s Tim Tebow) also carried the ball an astonishing 24 times in the contest.

Speaking of running the football, Ball State’s tailback MiQuale Lewis finished the night with 177 yards on the ground, improving his season average to 132 yards per game.  In the end, Ball State’s balance and execution was enough to outlast the Chippewas, their pumped-up fans, and even their flashy new “Vegas gold” jerseys.

The game-winning score for the undefeated Cardinals came with 7:34 to play, snapping a 24-all tie.  On a critical 3rd-and-8 play, Nate Davis threw a perfect 11-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Briggs Orsbon in the corner of the end zone.   In an e-mail to “Carrying On,” Orsbon described the all-important final touchdown.   

“The idea of the play was either to get an out route with me or get Darius Hill over the top. However, it is normally a shorter route for me, but I had to adjust because of the 3rd-and-8 situation. Coming up to the line I recognized the defense was in man coverage and the DB was playing a good seven yards off of me, so I knew there was a good chance of the ball coming to me.

"Honestly, the ball seemed to be traveling in slow motion. It was the importance of the situation that made it such a difficult catch, but practicing plays like that on a daily basis prepares you for those types of plays.”

Briggs is right, by the way.  In case you didn’t get to see the highlight, it was an incredibly difficult catch, but one he will remember for a very long time. 

Now normally at this point in the column, I list a bunch of random thoughts about this week’s Diamond in the Rough.  However, there’s a more pressing issue on my mind, so I’m going to preempt that section with this pointed question:

Briggs Orsbon...if you win out, do you think your team deserves to go to a BCS game?  What about the national championship game?  COACF readers, Bleacher Creatures everywhere, and college football fans want to know.

Drumroll, please.

“We try not to get to wrapped up in all the rankings and that stuff, and just let it all fall into place. We also have to win a few games before we start worrying about any bowl games. However, with our circumstance I think we deserve a shot just like any other team in the country. If we aren't put in one of those games, then the country will never know if we deserved to be there or not.”

Before he finishes, here’s the quote I absolutely love:

“We didn't pick the teams on our schedule—we are just going out there and playing against them.”

Well put, Mr. Mid-Major.  I wish your Cardinals had a chance to control your own national title destiny.  But most of America (or at least the people with the money) seems to think a system where computers spit out the two schools with the biggest linemen and most banners is preferable.

Sigh.

2. LOU HOLTZ SPECIALS

 

Reader submission from Greg:

"This has been the best part of the game for Michigan...the punting game!" – Brad Nessler

“Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.” – Todd Harris

“You guys aren’t having a domestic, are you?” – Paul Maguire

“Go have another cookie, Paul.” – Brad Nessler

“I’m not going to speculate there, although I just did.” – Todd Harris

“Good non-speculation speculation.” – Ray Bentley

 

And although not from an actual game, this was the best quote I heard all week from an announcer:

“I think I’m smarter than I think I am.” – Mike Golic.

 

3. THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT

 

The ridiculous stat lines and improbable scores that make you think the sports ticker has malfunctioned...

 

Oklahoma 65, Texas Tech 21.  I watched this game, as many of you did, so I didn’t exactly see the score on the sports ticker.  But who would have really thought that a 10-0 team would/could lose by 44?

 

Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 23. (Yes, that would be eight-loss Syracuse and its lame-duck coach winning at South Bend.  With the loss, Notre Dame set a record for most defeats in a two-year span (14).  How’s that resumé coming, Mr. Weis?)

NCAA D-II playoffs: Abilene Christian 93, West Texas A&M 68.  There’s not enough room on the entire Bleacher Report site to start listing all of the amazing stats and records from a mind-boggling shootout like this one.  You can research the running back with seven touchdowns, the quarterback with six, and all the rest of the ridiculous numbers yourself.

After struggling mightily through his senior season, including missing the last three starts due to injury, Curtis Painter came out of nowhere on Senior Day to lead Purdue to scores on ALL 10 DRIVES...eight touchdowns and two field goals.  Painter finished with 448 yards and five touchdowns to help give Joe Tiller a proper sendoff—the Boilermakers throttled the Hoosiers, 62-10.

62-10.

(Sorry, I just wanted to write that score one more time!)

4. THANK GOODNESS FOR MY DVR

 

Here’s the jaw-dropping highlights that were worth rewinding for this week:

Ohio State’s Ray Small did a great job juking a defender instead of running out of bounds on an enormous 80-yard punt return against archrival Michigan.

Georgia Tech RB Jonathan Dwyer was downright nasty Thursday night, simply running over a Miami defender to pick up 35 yards on 1st-and-25.  That hit will leave a bruise.

Oklahoma WR Manuel Johnson made the play of the week with a one-handed grab on a 66-yard touchdown pass.  To top it off, Johnson actually had a brace on that arm due to an elbow injury he had suffered earlier in the season. 

Any other nominees from the faithful readers/commenters? I look forward to hearing about them!  Anyway, I saw the above three plays live, which make them my favorites by default!

5. SINCE I DO LIVE IN OHIO... (news from around the Big Ten)

 

Penn State and Ohio State finished their conference seasons at 7-1, with impressive wins over Michigan State and Michigan, respectively.  The Nittany Lions get the league’s BCS berth, thanks to a 13-6 victory in Columbus last month.

Remember a few weeks ago, when I wrote that Minnesota might be the worst Top 25 team I’ve ever seen?  I think I’ve brought that quote up a few times since then...basically because I was right.

The Gophers started 7-1...and have now lost four in a row, most recently a 55-0 drubbing at the hands of Iowa (in the Metrodome, no less).  With the one-sided triumph, the Hawkeyes captured the famed bronze pig “Floyd of Rosedale”...

...if a bronze pig is indeed something to be desired.

One other note from the Big Ten...Wisconsin is extremely lucky.  It’s that simple.  The Badgers escaped with an overtime win against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 36-35...and the visiting Mustangs missed not one, not two, but THREE extra points in the game.  Ouch.

 

 

6. MAYBE OFFICIATING IS EASIER THAN I THOUGHT

 

Did anyone else see the atrocious 15-yard penalty on Oklahoma safety Nic Harris for a perfectly legal hit on a Texas Tech wide receiver?  I can’t really describe how bad the call was...basically the receiver got sandwiched and the second safety (Harris) hit him hard.

Somehow, the referee decided that since the ball had already hit the receiver’s hands, the safety’s hit was unnecessary roughness (even though the receiver was still trying to grab the ball).  I know I said I couldn’t really describe how bad the official’s decision was, but I’m going to try.

That call was awful, dreadful, shocking, poor, appalling, disgraceful, terrible, frightful, horrible, despicable, and outrageous.

End thesaurus search.

Maybe officiating is easier than I thought.

7.  EVEN THOUGH SEVENTEEN IS A RANDOM NUMBER

 

Here’s the Top 17 ballot I submitted today…I do so with a growing sense of frustration, because I think undefeated teams deserve more recognition.

If I knew y’all wouldn’t laugh so much, I would probably go Alabama, Utah, Ball State, Boise State as the top four...but oh well.  I’m beginning to reluctantly concede that the undefeated mid-majors will never get a shot...so I waste less and less effort trying to argue why they should.

1. Alabama

2. Florida

3. Texas

4. Oklahoma

5. USC

6. Utah

7. Penn State

8. Ball State

9. Boise State

10. Texas Tech

11. Oklahoma State

12. Missouri

13. Ohio State

14. Georgia

15. Cincinnati

16. TCU

17. Oregon State

8. FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FINAL EDITION

 

Thank you for reading “Carrying On About College Football” all year!  Even though there are some regular-season games left, I’m going into semi-retirement now that my Boilermakers have played their last game of 2008.   Carrying On will return in January for one last article: a wrap-up of the entire bowl season (complete with the highlights, quotes, and randomness that this column is known for). 

Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to interact with me throughout the season, especially those of you that have been around since Week One, and I’m glad for the friends I’ve made as a result.  I leave you with the random thoughts that will keep me awake tonight (along with the Mountain Dew and the fact that Lakers games start quite late in Ohio.)

- Can we rename the Washington/Washington State game the “Sour Apple Cup”?  Kinda figured that one would go two overtimes...with how bad these teams’ seasons have been, it seemed like the type of game that nobody really wanted to or deserved to win.

- When’s the last time Mississippi won at Death Valley (LSU) and the Swamp (Florida) in the same year?

- Did you realize the Cincinnati Bearcats have back-to-back nine win seasons?  Talk about quiet success.  To put nine wins in perspective...that’s as many as Michigan and Notre Dame have. Combined.

- If you look up the word “mulligan” in the dictionary, you’ll find something about a golfer getting a “second chance”...and most likely, an accompanying picture of Justin Kahut.

Kahut is the Oregon State kicker who missed a game-tying extra point with 3:58 to play in Tucson Saturday night, seeming to cost the Beavers a chance at their first Rose Bowl in 44 years. Kahut’s story has a happy ending, as the kicker redeemed himself with a game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired.  Final score: Oregon State 19, Arizona 17.

- Last, but not least...for as much fuss as everyone is making about the possibility of a three-way Big 12 South tie that would be decided by BCS rankings (which I’ll agree is really stupid), I’m surprised by how little attention a different scenario has gotten.

Do you realize that if Oklahoma State (the No. 11 team in the country, in case you’ve forgotten) can knock off the Sooners in this weekend’s rivalry game (which will be played at home in Stillwater), Texas Tech could end up playing Missouri in the Big 12 championship game?

The South champ would not be Oklahoma (because of their two losses).  Nor would it be Texas (because the tiebreaker is no longer three-way, and the Red Raiders beat them head to head).

I think it would be slightly hilarious if the Raiders lose by 44 this week...and beat out the No. 2 team in the BCS (Texas) for the division title next week.  Translation: The way that college football determines its champions and championship game participants is officially...strange.

But you knew that already.

With that, I bid you all adieu until January.  Enjoy the holidays...and the football!

Tim Cary (yes, Cary...as in “Carrying On”) is a resident of Springfield, Ohio and a die-hard college football fan (especially when it comes to the Purdue Boilermakers).  To submit thoughts, ideas, questions, arguments, or anything else for “Carrying On About College Football,” e-mail: carryingonabout@yahoo.com.

Check back during the bowl season for a final edition of COACF, only on BleacherReport.com.

The Arena: Kelly/Shorts Stadium (Mount Pleasant, MI)

The Date: Nov. 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. (EST)

The Prize: MAC West Title (barring a letdown next week)

Entering the Ring in the Right Corner

With a record of 10 wins and zero loses, the Ball State University Cardinals. Ball State is best known for the continuing references to David Letterman, surprise quarterback Nate Davis, tiny running back MiQuale Lewis, and being called a "BCS Buster."

Entering the Ring in the Left Corner

With a record of eight wins and two losses, the Central Michigan Chippewas. CMU is best known for highly-touted quarterback Dan LeFevour, winning close games (seven of eight wins by 10 or less), TWO consecutive MAC championships, and having the 20th highest winning percentage in FBS.

I hope you will tune in on Wednesday night to see this clash of the titans.

Ball State's closest game was a 12-point win against Navy. The Cardinals have won by an average of 22.2 points per game.

They have not lost a game since Jan. 5 of this year and are currently ranked 17th in the BCS.

Central Michigan is the exact opposite of Ball State. The Chippewas play close games, with wins of three (in overtime), three, one, 10, 10, two, three, and 19.

The Chippewas have two losses, to Purdue by seven and No. 11-ranked Georgia by 39.

Each team enters the contest undefeated in MAC play, 6-0 in the conference.

Only one team will leave Mount Pleasant, Mich., undefeated in conference. Which will it be?

My pick: Ball State 35, Central Michigan 23

For the third game in a row, the Chippewas gave their fans a scare. This time, Central Michigan took a 23-3 halftime lead but decided a blowout win would be no fun, letting host Northern Illinois force overtime in an eventual 33-30 victory.

The Chippewas came out firing on all cylinders, scoring on five of the first seven drives. A balanced scoring attack of a field goal, two rushing touchdowns (both by Dan LeFevour) and two receiving touchdowns (Antonio Brown, Ontario Sneed).

The only real negatives of the first half for the Chippewas was a missed extra point and fumble on the Northern Illinois 29.

CMU took a 23-3 lead into the half with things looking like smooth sailing.

NIU opened the second half with a little trickery. A converted onside-kick gave the Huskies the ball on their own 46-yard line to start the half, which led to a field goal.

The Chippewas did not look phased at all. They took the following drive all the way to the end zone for LeFevour's second rushing touchdown of the night. This was a drive that included a gutsy 4th-and-1 attempt.

Everything still seemed to be on Central Michigan's side.

Then, it all stopped. With the score 30-6, Northern Illinois decided to start pulling out all the stops.

The following drive, which also included a successful fourth and one attempt, led the Huskies to a rushing touchdown by Chandler Harnish, followed by a two-point conversion.

And then, once again the Huskies tried an onside-kick. Again it was successful.

The Huskies quickly moved the ball down field and scored on a Chad Spann rushing touchdown. Once again, the Huskies attempted a two point conversion.  It was unsuccessful this time.

Tough run defense and penalties forced CMU into a four and out.

Northern Illinois wasted no time after the punt in moving the ball back into the Chippewa's red zone with passes of 39 and 23 on consecutive plays. From there, Spann rushed for his second touchdown of the game. With the extra point, the lead was cut 30-27.

With the Chippewas ensuing possession, there was a steady dose of running. And after five minutes and some change, the punt team was back out on the field.

Now with only 2:31 left on the clock, the Huskies needed to travel down the field and at least kick a field goal to tie. And that is just what they did.

On a drive that included an amazing fourth and 18 conversion, the Huskies' kicker Matt Salerno buried a 25-yard field goal with only 19 seconds left on the clock.

I told you that Central Michigan likes to keep their fans on the edge of their seats. For those fans who left at halftime, they missed an exciting overtime finish.

The Huskies began overtime with the first possession. And almost as fast as they started, they gave the ball right back to Central Michigan on an interception by Josh Gordy.

The Chippewas were not so giving with their possession. Running the ball three times to set up a 40-yard attempt for Andrew Aguila, who had previously missed an extra point.

He calmly drained the kick right down the middle of the uprights.

Central Michigan remained unbeaten in MAC play with a record of 6-0 and 8-2 overall.

Northern Illinois falls to 4-3 in the MAC and 5-5 overall.

Final score: Central Michigan 33, Northern Illinois 30

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The Central Michigan Chippewas ended a streak and started a new one with a 31-12 win over the Eastern Illinois Chargers on Thursday night. The win was CMU’s first of the season and their first opening win since they defeated Sam Houston State 34-10 in 2002.

Quarterback Dan LeFevour went 21-31 and threw for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 42 yards for the Chippewas. Bodie Reeder went 19-28 and threw for 201 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers.

Chippewas’ halfback Ontario Sneed carried the ground attack with a touchdown on 88 yards rushing and also caught four passes for 43 receiving yards.

    “The thing I liked about Ontario tonight was he played physical,” said head coach Butch Jones. “Everyone was talking about his running but he picked up a couple blitzes that were critical to some of our completions down the field. I thought he caught the ball well, he ran well and he really gave us a spark.”

Chippewas’ linebacker Nick Bellore set the defensive tone with 16 tackles. Frank Zombo collected 2.5 of 6 Chippewas’ sacks. The tough defense led to 4 punts out of 6 Chargers possessions in the first half. “I thought we played great. Tackling is important and we did that very well,” said Jones.

Bellore credited the fans with an energy boost to the team. “I thought it was unbelievable, the atmosphere was great. It was the best atmosphere since I have been here at Central. It was a huge turnout tonight and they were behind us the whole game.”

Desmin Ward led the Chargers with 33 yards rushing in a shared effort. Travorous Bess, Shawn Williams and Ron Jordan also rushed 20 yards or more for the Chargers. “We really struggled to get things going on the ground even though we kept trying to pound it. They obviously did a real good job defensively taking it away from us and so we had to resort to the pass,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo.

Andrew Aguila tacked a 37-yard field goal with 11: 48 in the first quarter to put the Chippewas up 3-0. The Chargers answered with a 48-yard field goal by Tyler Wilke with 1:57 left in the first quarter.

After a 23-yard touchdown run by Sneed early in the second quarter, the Chippewas never looked back.  Wide receiver Jean Pitts caught a touchdown pass before halftime to put the Chippewas up 17-3. Bryan Anderson and Sean Skergan each caught a touchdown pass to complete the Chippewas’ offensive attack in the second half.

Jones still thinks the team can improve. “I felt like we never got into a rhythm. That’s something we need to work on, getting that rhythm going. We also need to run the ball more consistently. We had big plays, but we never broke that big run.  That will be an area of focus this week. We need to be more consistent on our run game.”

Spoo felt differently about his team. “We did exactly what we couldn’t afford to do and that was give them too many opportunities. A good football team like that is going to take advantage of them. They had great field position,” said Spoo. “Their kick returner (Antonio Brown) really hurt us and things like turnovers and penalties hurt. I thought our boys hung in there. We may be a little out of shape but that’s something we can fix. It’s something we can build on and move forward.”

Tyler Wilke added another field goal in the third quarter. Tight end Sean McGrath scored the only Chargers touchdown on a 15-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. The following two-point conversion failed.

Note: The average starting field position for Eastern Illinois was their own 20 yard line, while Central Michigan’s average starting field position was at their own 31. CMU travels to Athens, Georgia to take on preseason number-one ranked Georgia Bulldogs while Eastern Illinois travels to Champaign, Illinois to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini.