tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45612139376403975702024-03-14T02:14:18.057-07:00Sun Sports Blog - Nate Schneider of The Morning SunNate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.comBlogger322125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-64016170894292386372013-08-30T15:18:00.001-07:002013-08-30T15:18:13.094-07:00How will CMU football fare in 2013?By NATE SCHNEIDER<br />
The Morning Sun<br /><br />Predictions more often than that completely flop in your face (my MLB predictions are a near-complete mess), but every once in a while you run into one that you nail.<br />I did pick the Central Michigan football team to finish the 2012 regular season with a 6-6 record, which is exactly what transpired. I also had them beating Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, so I guess it was one of the rare times that I at least got the end result correct.<br />What I’m really saying is that expect the following predictions to be entirely inaccurate.<br />Even so, it’s a fun exercise so let’s get started.<br />Saturday, Aug. 31 - at Michigan<br />Quite a different way for the Chippewas to start the season in 2013 as opposed to last year when it hosted Southeast Missouri State. Playing in front of over 100,000 people and a national television audience against the 17th-ranked team in the country will be a daunting task especially with CMU breaking in a new quarterback in junior Cody Kater. The keys will be winning the turnover battle and getting a run game established to help settle in Kater. Even so, the mighty Wolverines will likely be too much to handle. But if Appalachian State (2007) and Toledo (2008) can win at the Big House, so can Central Michigan. I’d have no problem writing about one of the biggest upsets in CMU history.<br />Prediction: Michigan 35, Central Michigan 17 (0-1)<br />Saturday, Sept. 7 - vs. New Hampshire<br />New Hampshire only played one FBS opponent last year, that being a 44-7 loss at Minnesota. But traditionally, it is a strong FCS program and CMU cannot walk into its home opener thinking it has an easy win. Chip Kelly turned the Wildcats into an up-tempo offensive juggernaut. Look for a quick start to put the Chippewas well on their way to a victory.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 38, New Hampshire 16 (1-1)<br />Saturday, Sept. 14 - at UNLV<br />This could turn out to be a key game for the Chippewas as UNLV has had its fair share of struggles with its football program and this is certainly a winnable game. The Rebels have only won two games each of the last three years, so a loss would be a low note for CMU.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 27, UNLV 13 (2-1)<br />Saturday, Sept. 21 - vs. Toledo<br />This is another major game as Central Michigan opens its MAC slate with a Rockets program that is traditionally one of the better teams in the conference. Last year’s game was a close one until a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions returned for touchdowns turned it in Toledo’s favor. Flip the turnover battle and win the game.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 38, Toledo 35 (3-1, 1-0 MAC)<br />Saturday, Sept. 28 - at North Carolina State<br />The first game of a three-game road trip, Central Michigan will need to put together another very good performance to top the Wolfpack, similar to the performance a year ago at Iowa. Look for the Chippewas to keep it close, but not quite get over the hump.<br />Prediction: North Carolina State 23, Central Michigan 17 (3-2)<br />Saturday, Oct. 5 - at Miami<br />Central Michigan compiled one of its best showings of the season in 2012 when it rolled past the RedHawks at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Miami will certainly want a measure of revenge, but it seems as though it is a program that is a step behind the Chippewas in terms of development. Central by 10.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 31, Miami 21 (4-2, 2-0)<br />Saturday, Oct. 12 - at Ohio<br />At this point of the road trip, there is a chance the Chippewas might be a little bit fatigued. If they are, the timing will be bad as Ohio appears to be one of the top teams in the entire Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats are my preseason pick to win the MAC Championship. While Ohio usually methodically wears down an opponent with a power running game, it is still proficient in the air with veteran quarterback Tyler Tettleton. If CMU struggles to stop both, it will be a long day.<br />Prediction: Ohio 42, Central Michigan 24 (4-3, 2-1)<br />Saturday, Oct. 19 - vs. Northern Illinois<br />It is fair to say that Central Michigan has Northern Illinois’ full attention. Two years ago, the Chippewas were the only MAC team to defeat the Huskies with a 48-41 victory. Central Michigan then went to DeKalb, Ill., last year and led in the third quarter before NIU eventually pulled away, showing why it was eventually a BCS team. Hard to see Northern Illinois losing again in Mt. Pleasant, but stranger things have happened.<br />Prediction: Northern Illinois 38, Central Michigan 34 (4-4, 2-2)<br />Wednesday, Nov. 6 - at Ball State<br />The lone mid-week game for CMU is a nationally televised tilt at Ball State, a team that has made tremendous strides under head coach Pete Lembo. In doing these predictions so late, I had the luxury of seeing some of the Cardinals’ Thursday night win over Illinois State. Needless to say, it wasn’t the prettiest of performances in the first have before the hosts eventually pulled away. It is unfair to take too much away from week one, but it showed Ball State is beatable. With such a layoff leading into this game, the Chippewas should be well-prepared.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 37, Ball State 28 (5-4, 3-2)<br />Saturday, Nov. 16 - at Western Michigan<br />The ol’ rivalry game. The Broncos are super young and a bit of a mystery under first-year head coach P.J Fleck, while Dan Enos is in his fourth year and has established something in Mt. Pleasant. Central Michigan has struggled in its last couple trips to Kalamazoo, but this is the perfect year for the Chippewas to flip that script as long as a horrid fourth quarter like last year doesn’t derail them.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 24, Western Michigan 20 (6-4, 4-2)<br />Saturday, Nov. 23 - vs. UMass<br />Last year, it was kind of unfortunate how much of a laughingstock UMass was in its first year in FBS, at least early in the season. By the time the Chippewas played the Minutemen in late November, it was clearly a much-improved squad. UMass should continue to make strides this year, but it isn’t quite there yet. With Central Michigan happy to be back home, expect a fairly sizeable win.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 35, UMass 10 (7-4, 5-2)<br />Friday, Nov. 29 - vs. Eastern Michigan<br />Rare is the year that Eastern Michigan does not give the Chippewas fits. Even last year, the Eagles grabbed a 14-0 lead before CMU stormed back and earned the victory. Expect nothing less from this one, but some way and somehow Central Michigan pulls it out again. I’ll give it my five-overtime special.<br />Prediction: Central Michigan 57, Eastern Michigan 55, five OTs<br />Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-2765546018612307272013-08-30T14:12:00.002-07:002013-08-30T14:12:57.650-07:00Central Michigan's Jeremy Gainer looks to make impact at defensive end after transfer from Michigan State<div class="art_para" id="1">
By NATE SCHNEIDER</div>
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The Morning Sun </div>
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There was nothing disgruntled about the way Jeremy Gainer left Michigan State.
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It was simply about opportunity or lack thereof.
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Gainer, a 6-foot-2 and 235-pound defensive end, had a sitdown
meeting with Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio following spring ball and
the two talked about where the senior stood as far as the depth chart
was concerned and his potential playing time during the 2013 season.
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Dantonio was honest and forthright, according to Gainer.
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“We sat down and he explained what my situation was on the depth
chart and I basically told him that I wanted the opportunity to play,”
Gainer said. “We saw eye-to-eye and he understood where I was coming
from with my decision to transfer after spring ball.”
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Gainer already had a connection with Central Michigan head coach
Dan Enos, who had recruited Gainer out of Livonia Clarenceville High
School back when Enos was an assistant with the Spartans.
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So it was a no-brainer for Gainer to make the trek to Mt. Pleasant and play his senior season for the Chippewas in 2013.
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“I was able to get ‘Coach D’ to contact Coach Enos and they talked
amongst each other,” Gainer said. “It just worked out perfectly.”
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Since Gainer graduated from Michigan State while still having a hear of football eligibility, he is able to play immediately.
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Gainer’s statistics with the Spartans do not necessarily do him
justice as he was stuck behind a wealth of talent, but when he arrived
at Michigan State in 2009 he was ranked as the No. 15 outside linebacker
recruit in the nation by Rivals. com before eventually sliding to
defensive end last year.
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He redshirted his first year at MSU, then made one appearance in 2010
before playing in all 14 games as a sophomore as he recorded 11 tackles
with two forced fumbles. Gainer also was named Academic All-Big Ten.
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Last year, Gainer appeared in all 13 contests with action coming
mostly on special teams. He once again was named Academic All-Big Ten.
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The addition of Gainer to the CMU roster adds a pass-rushing threat
that was desperately needed as it was one of the primary areas of
concern in 2012, especially over the first two-thirds of the season.
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“He’s a very powerful guy,” Enos said of Gainer. “He’s a 6-foot-2
guy, but he has extremely long arms for a guy his size. He has a great
first step and explosive. He plays hard and is a very instinctive, smart
player. I think he is going to be a huge benefit for us this year.”
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Gainer had similar thoughts when asked about what his best qualities are as a defensive end.
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“I see myself as someone who is aggressive off the edge,” said
Gainer. “Always get a good pass rush, because I understand that is
something we need to do. Collapse the pocket, get some sacks, some
turnovers on the quarterback, that kind of thing. I see myself as
someone that can step in and make that happen.”
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One might think that making a transition from one school to another
after spending four years at the previous institution might be
difficult, but for Gainer it seems to be going seamlessly.
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“It’s been a quick transition, just because I already knew some of
the coaching staff,” Gainer said. “Coach (George) Ricumstrict, my
position coach, he recruited me to go to Indiana. So I already had that
connection as well. It was basically just a great situation. The guys
here accepted me right off the bat. Knowing that I was a guy coming in
from another school, they were very welcoming and they all just said
that at the end of the day we’re trying to win a MAC championship.”
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Coming from the Big Ten Conference, Gainer has clearly gone up
against some top FBS competition in practice and games over the past few
years. But he has the utmost praise for the Central Michigan offensive
line, specifically mentioning 6-foot-8 and 305-pound senior left tackle
Jake Olson who he has gone up against many times during camp.
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“Jake is a huge guy,” said Gainer. “People ask me all the time, ‘Do
you think Jake could have played in the Big Ten?’ I always say, ‘Oh
yeah.’ This guy is strong. I actually came up against him one time in
practice and he hit me back a little bit. I told him I was never giving
him my chest again. But he is a really good tackle. He’s a really big
part of this team.”
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Gainer is listed alongside sophomore Blake Serpa as a possible
starter at left end, while senior Kenny McClendon along with senior Alex
Smith and sophomore Louis Palmer will rotate in and out on the other
side. True freshman Joe Ostman, who has had a very impressive camp,
could also factor in at defensive end.
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NOTES: The starting defensive backs for CMU are junior Jason Wilson
and sophomore Brandon Greer at cornerback, while the safeties are senior
Avery Cunningham along with junior Jarret Chapman and sophomore Kavon
Frazier. Senior Shamari Benton returns as the starting MIKE linebacker,
while junior Justin Cherocci is once again the starting SAM linebacker
in the 4-2-5 defensive setup for the Chippewas.
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Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-20303917269624512212013-08-30T13:57:00.001-07:002013-08-30T13:57:54.459-07:00Central Michigan aiming for major upset at MichiganBy NATE SCHNEIDER, The Morning Sun<br /><br />Appalachian State did it in 2007.<br />Toledo managed the same feat in 2008.<br />Can Central Michigan pull off a similar historical upset victory at the University of Michigan in 2013?<br />The Chippewas enter Saturday’s 3:42 p.m. kickoff at the Big House in Ann Arbor as a massive 31.5-point underdog according to odds in Las Vegas, not exactly surprising news even if the point spread might seem a bit excessive to some.<br />To put it in some perspective, Central Michigan was a 14.5-point underdog last season at Iowa when it shocked a lot of people with its last-second 32-31 victory on a David Harman field goal.<br />But with the Appalachian State and Toledo upsets at the Big House within the last seven years at the Big House plus what the Chippewas achieved at Iowa in 2012, there is always a chance.<br />That’s sports. That’s college football. <br />“Any time you get to play on national TV against a Big Ten team, I think it is a great opportunity,” Enos said. “Our team plays Division I football to play in environments like this in front of big crowds and this type of fanfare, so everybody is really excited. Everybody’s excited about playing a different team rather than ourselves. I can tell you that.”<br />Central Michigan comes into the 2013 campaign with some serious momentum after winning four in a row to end last year, including the 24-21 victory over Western Kentucky in which it was much smaller underdog (3.5 points) than it will be Saturday at U-M.<br />On the other hand, the Wolverines finished 8-5 a year ago and lost in a down-to-the-wire finish to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Overall, it was a season Michigan head coach Brady Hoke has gone on record many times calling “unacceptable” and that any year U-M does not win the Big Ten Conference championship is considered “a failure”.<br />But while Michigan is very well one of the favorites for the Big Ten title, it could be a couple years before the Wolverines enter the discussion for a national championship as Hoke’s recruiting classes in 2014 and ‘15 are currently among the top ones in the country.<br />As for this year, U-M has plenty to replace due to graduation and injuries but Enos points out that it is the norm all around college football.<br />“I say this all the time, but every year in college football there is graduation,” said Enos. “Guys leave. There are always those unknowns about who is stepping up and who is replacing them. I think they have question marks just like we do, just like any team in college football does. I see a very solid football team and I think they are very well-coached. They are big and getting bigger. I think Coach Hoke has made that an emphasis since he arrived there to get bigger and more athletic and you can see that on their roster right now.”<br />Michigan has won 17 consecutive games at Michigan Stadium and is 109-21-3 all-time in season openers. The Wolverines are 3-0 all-time against Central Michigan, the last meeting a 41-17 final at the Big House in 2006.<br />Getting his first career start at quarterback for the Chippewas will be junior Cody Kater, who won the well-documented three-way quarterback battle this fall. Kater saw action in two games in 2012, going 2-for-4 for 12 yards.<br />Kater’s backup quarterback, sophomore Alex Niznak, could also potentially see some snaps although Enos is understandably keeping that information under wraps.<br />“He might (play). We’ll see,” Enos said.<br />Zurlon Tipton, who was named to the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award watch lists in July, will almost certainly be a focal point of the Michigan defense as the Chippewas break in a new starting quarterback. Tipton rushed for 1,492 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, while also picking up another touchdown through the air.<br />Enos is well aware that Michigan will likely key in on Tipton. <br />“I’m sure they want to make us one-dimensional like any team would,” Enos said. “Especially with a guy coming back for us who rushed for 1,500 yards. I’m sure it’s going to be a focus trying to get us in passing situations. They do a very good job on third down with their sub packages and those kind of things to get pressure on the quarterback. It’s very important that we remain two-dimensional and it is going to be a huge key to the game in my opinion.”<br />Tipton certainly has the attention of Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.<br />Here is what Mattison had to say in a recent story done by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press: “Very good running back. I’m talking about a very good running back in the country, compared to other good running backs, not a good running back compared to the Big Ten,” U-M defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said this week. “Great cutback runner, and he is a very physical back. He earns a reputation. You watch him, he’s running down the sideline and a lot of guys would step out of bounds. He turns back in to try and hit somebody. He’s a very physical running back.”<br />After the setbacks to Appalachian State and Toledo under previous coaching regimes, do not expect the Wolverines to come out with anything less than a full focus Saturday as it opens its season with big goals in mind.<br />Hoke won’t allow anything less than full effort and he made it clear during Tuesday’s Big Ten teleconference that he has the utmost respect for the Central Michigan football program.<br />“Well, you know, Dan has done a really good job,” said Hoke. “I think you look at how they play and I know some of the coaches who are on that staff and have a lot of respect for them – Mike Cummings, up front – and you watch those guys play and the pad level. Then defensively, I think they do a nice job scheme-wise, and they do a nice job in the effort that they play with. They’ve got a veteran team, I think eight starters on one side of the ball and seven on the other, so they’ve got guys who have been in big games. They played a great bowl game, beat a very good Western Kentucky team, so obviously that program has continued to grow under Dan’s leadership.”<br />To their credit, the Chippewas have ended every practice leading up to Saturday’s showdown by huddling up and yelling “Beat Michigan” in unison.<br />Central Michigan might have to play a near-perfect game for it to happen that way, but in the world of sports the word impossible is outlawed.<br />“The one thing we do with our opponent is talk about ways we can wins,” added Enos. “Things we need to do to win. This is no different. I know they may have lost five games last year, but the bowl game was a last-second game and had many other close games. I really thought they improved as the season went on. I think they are a good football team and preseason ranked in the top 20 for a reason.”<br />The game will air live on the Big Ten Network, while it can also be listened to on the IMG Sports Network (WCFX 95.3 FM and WUPS 98.5 FM).<br />Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-77264509340680190872013-08-30T11:07:00.001-07:002013-08-30T11:07:15.163-07:00Q & A with University of Michigan football beat writer Nick Baumgardner from MLive<div class="art_para" id="1">
With Central Michigan getting set to square off at the University of
Michigan Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., Wolverines beat writer Nick
Baumgardner from MLive has taken the time to answer some questions about
U-M football.
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Q: Coming off a five-loss season last year, what have been the
primary areas of focus in order to improve the 2013 win total?
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A: I would say, if anything, the biggest thing Michigan needs to
improve upon is its run game. This always gets skewed when you look at
last season’s statistics, because Denard Robinson was around. But in
terms of a pure, downhill power run game that can control the clock and
dictate pace — Michigan didn’t have it last season. Fitz Toussaint never
found a rhythm, and the interior of the offensive line really struggled
when the Big Ten became difficult. Even when Devin Gardner gave the
offense a shot of life late in the season, the interior of the line was
still struggling. There’s three new starters now who have yet to record a
college start (left guard Graham Glasgow, center Jack Miller and right
guard Kyle Kalis). In a lot of ways, they hold the key to the offense’s
true potential.
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Q: ith Fitzgerald Toussaint coming off the leg injury, how has he
looked the past few weeks? Are the running backs behind him on the depth
chart going to share the carries fairly evenly?
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A: Well, at Michigan, they don’t allow us to watch practice. Not a
second. We’ve gotten snippets of scrimmage highlights here and there,
and obviously we can go by what they tell us. From what we’ve been able
to see, and what we’ve heard, he’s shown no lingering ailments from the
leg injury. He won the starting running back job with almost zero
resistance, he was the most complete back Michigan had in camp and the
job is firmly his at this point — something we really didn’t expect
going into camp. As far as the rest of the backs are concerned, we’ll
have to see. Derrick Green and De’Veon Smith — the two freshmen — are
pretty low on the depth chart, but they’re going to get carries. At
least Green will. Redshirt sophomore Drake Johnson will probably be the
team’s true No. 2, and he’ll see time early to give Toussaint a break
now and then.
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Q: The injury to Amara Darboh seems like it leaves some question
marks at wide receiver. How do the Wolverines fill that void? Does it
make Devin Funchess more of a focal point at tight end?
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A: The Darboh injury is a blow, no question. Michigan anticipated him
being the guy on the outside, the big, rangy wideout who could stretch
the field and make the big play. But, if we’re being honest, we really
don’t know what Michigan’s missing there because he never recorded a
catch as a true freshman last season. We can speculate, but that’s about
it. Jehu Chesson, a redshirt freshman, will have to fill that void.
He’ll be helped by seniors Jeremy Jackson and Joe Reynolds, and I think
Michigan’s hoping a combination of those three can makeup for what they
felt they lost with Darboh. As for Funchess, I go back and forth there.
He was going to be a major factor in this passing game anyway. Does his
role increase because of Darboh’s injury? Maybe. But, more than
anything, the thing that’s keeping him from exploding is his blocking.
Last year, he was barely 230 pounds and couldn’t block an end. So, when
he entered the huddle, the defense knew it was a pass. This year, if he
can be competent in the run game and keep people honest, he could be in
for a huge season.
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Q: How does the Michigan defense stack up? Who are some of the playmakers to watch on that side of the ball?
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A: Michigan’s defense is a lot like it was last season. Very
talented, but pretty inexperienced in a lot of spots. Hoke hopes to
rotate up to three guys at every position along the defensive line,
which is anchored by Quinton Washington and Jibreel Black in the middle —
two seniors who have played a lot. With Jake Ryan out, Michigan turns
to Cam Gordon at strongside linebacker. Both MLB Desmond Morgan and WLB
James Ross were starters last year, and primary backup Joe Bolden played
a ton as well. Michigan gets Blake Countess back at one corner, and
Raymon Taylor started all but one game at corner last year. Thomas
Gordon’s a two-year starter at strong safety. The biggest hole on
defense, really, is the void left by Jordan Kovacs. Kovacs was such a
heady player, he kept everyone in position at all times and always
seemed to makeup for his lack of athleticism with angles and sure
tackling. And, of course, Michigan still has Greg Mattison … which isn’t
a bad thing.
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Q: Any worries that Michigan might look past Central Michigan
considering Notre Dame is on tap next week? A score prediction if you
wish to give one?
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A: Michigan, as a program, has lost to Appalachian State and Toledo
in the past seven years. I can’t see them overlooking a pre-conference
opponent ever again. Of course, never say never. But no, in all
seriousness, Hoke loves the Mid-American Conference and has great
respect for every coach in that league. They’ll be prepared. The score I
wrote down earlier this week was Michigan 38, Central Michigan 10. I’ll
stick with that — until it’s wrong, of course!
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Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-91564473141455107902013-08-27T14:33:00.001-07:002013-08-27T14:33:55.915-07:00CMU two-deep depth chart Copied from CMUChippewas.com's game notes:<br />
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GAME 1 • CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN • AUGUST 31, 2013<br />10 @CMU_Football • Facebook.com/CMUFootball • www.CMUChippewas.com<br />OFFENSE<br />LT 73 Jake Olson (6-8, 305, Sr.)<br />77 Ramadan Ahmeti (6-7, 300, RSo.)<br />LG 66 Andy Phillips (6-3, 306, Jr.)<br />63 Connor Collins (6-31/2, 300 RFr.)<br />C 54 Nick Beamish (6-3, 305, RSo.)<br />79 Austin Doan (6-4 296, Fr.)<br />RG 72 Cody Pettit (6-3, 300, Sr.)<br />75 Kenny Rogers (6-6, 304, RSo.)<br />RT 60 Kevin Henry (6-4, 306, So.)<br />71 Kevin D’Arcy (6-4, 300, RFr.)<br />QB 7 Cody Kater (6-3, 220, Jr.)<br />2 Alex Niznak (6-3, 227, RSo.)<br />10 Cooper Rush (6-3, 216, RFr.)<br />HB 34 Zurlon Tipton (6-0, 221, Sr.)<br />6 Saylor Lavallii (5-9, 213, So.)<br />27 Martez Walker (5-8, 193, RSo.)<br />44 Anthony Garland (6-1, 218, Sr.)<br />11 Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore (5-11, 204, RFr.)<br />FB 49 Adam Fenton (6-2, 246, Sr.)<br />30 Ben Masztak (6-1, 224, Sr.)<br />42 Tyler Lombardo (6-1, 248, Sr.)<br />37 Christian Conley (6-2, 249, RSo.)<br />Y 33 Mike Kinville (6-3, 255, Jr.)<br />89 Connor Odykirk (6-3, 242, Sr.)<br />83 Ben McCord (6-4, 243, RSo.)<br />15 Deon Butler (6-31/2, 238, RJr.)<br />12 A.J. Westendorp (6-2, 226, Sr.)<br />X 85 Courtney Williams (6-1, 212, Jr.)<br />81 Jerry Harris (6-1, 187, Sr.)<br />88 Jesse Kroll (6-3, 214, RSo.)<br />80 Anthony Rice (6-0, 178, RFr.)<br />Z 84 Titus Davis (6-2, 190, Jr.)<br />9 Andrew Flory (6-0, 182, RSo.)<br />82 Defarrel Davis (6-2, 175, Sr.)<br />3 Mark Chapman<br />DEFENSE<br />LE 46 Blake Serpa (6-3, 255, RSo.) OR<br />21 Jeremy Gainer (6-2, 235, Sr.)<br />45 Joe Ostman (6-3, 235, Fr.)<br />NT 58 Leterrius Walton (6-5, 300, RJr.)<br />95 Shafer Johnson (6-1, 300, RSo.)<br />52 Jabari Dean (6-2, 295, So.)<br />DT 50 Matt Losiniecki (6-3, 290, Jr.)<br />98 Kelby Latta (6-4, 312, RFr.)<br />56 Louis Palmer (6-2, 265, RSo.)<br />DE 31 Kenny McClendon (6-2, 250, Sr.) OR<br />32 Alex Smith (6-3, 250, Sr.)<br />56 Louis Palmer (6-2, 265, RSo.)<br />93 Donny Kyre (6-2, 255, Fr.)<br />MIKE 41 Justin Cherocci (6-0, 231, Jr.)<br />51 Cody Lopez (6-1, 225, Jr.)<br />47 Kyle Zelinsky (6-1, 230, Sr.)<br />SAM 26 Shamari Benton (6-0, 235, Sr.)<br />43 Tim Hamilton (6-1, 233, RSo.)<br />59 Nathan Ricketts (6-3, 230, RFr.)<br />ST 29 Jarret Chapman (6-0, 194, Jr.)<br />10 Kevin King (5-10, 191, Jr.)<br />DS 36 Avery Cunningham (6-0, 203, Sr.)<br />20 Denzel Wimberly (5-10, 201, RSo.)<br />CS 5 Kavon Frazier (6-0, 213, So.)<br />18 Tony Annese (6-1, 205, RFr.)<br />FC 35 Brandon Greer (6-1, 203, So.)<br />28 Dennis Nalor (6-0, 178, Jr.)<br />BC 14 Jason Wilson (6-0, 174, Jr.)<br />16 Stefon Armstead (5-10, 175, RSo.)<br />SPECIAL TEAMS<br />P 13 Richie Hogan (6-2, 207, Sr.)<br />99 Matt Cotiguala (5-10, 180, So.)<br />K 17 Ron Coluzzi (5-11, 185, RFr.) OR<br />99 Matt Cotiguala (5-10, 180, So.)<br />KO 37 Connor Gagnon (6-1, 198, Sr.) OR<br />17 Ron Coluzzi (5-11, 185, RFr.)<br />LS 92 Mike Zenk (6-3, 250, RSo.)<br />61 Nick Adams (5-10, 230, Jr.)<br />PR 84 Titus Davis (6-2, 190, Jr.)<br />6 Saylor Lavallii (5-9, 213, So.)<br />KR 85 Courtney Williams (6-1, 212, Jr.)<br />6 Saylor Lavallii (5-9, 213, So.)<br />H 37 Connor Gagnon (6-1, 198, Sr.) OR<br />13 Richie Hogan (6-2, 207, Sr.)Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-56047981705378466322013-08-02T15:38:00.000-07:002013-08-02T15:38:10.373-07:00Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck talks "Row the Boat", everyday changes, future expectationsEver since Western Michigan University hired P.J. Fleck last December as its new head football coach, the well-spoken and untested Fleck has ruffled some feathers. That's just how he likes it. Fleck is unafraid to speak his opinion or make sweeping changes with the Broncos' football program.<br />
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He has seemingly recruited very well and has added another layer to the rivalry with Central Michigan University. The Central Michigan faithful have been outspoken about how they are not exactly fans of Fleck's style of doing business.<br />
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Meanwhile, CMU head coach Dan Enos had a "no comment" when asked what he thought of Fleck's hiring. Enos might not have meant anything more than he said right there, but by not saying anything it kind of says it all. <br />
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With a coaching resume that only dates back to 2006, the 32-year old Fleck is certainly untested as a head coach. Whether his "Row the Boat" motto and "change something every day" ideas take hold and help develop a consistent winner in Kalamazoo remain to be seen, but from watching Fleck at MAC Media Day last week it's clear he can take charge of a room. If only vernacular talent and ability to address the media won football games, Western Michigan would be all set.<br />
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The Broncos were picked to finish fifth in the MAC West Division this year and while no one is expecting a whole lot from WMU this season, if a highly competitive football team is not put on the field by late 2014 and into 2015 I wouldn't be surprised if Western Michigan fans get exhausted by his way of doing things.<br />
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Of course, if what he is doing in Kalamazoo takes hold then look out. Western Michigan could be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.<br />
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Here is some of what Fleck had to offer at MAC Media Day:<br />
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<b>What does "Row the Boat" mean?</b><br />
"Row the Boat’ is very simple. It’s a family mantra my
wife and I had. We lost our second son and had to start living it
instead of talking about it. I kept it in my back pocket until I was a
head football coach because I thought it was something I could give back
at that point. The oars are the energy of the program. The boat is the
sacrifice to get into the boat. The community is the players and the
focus is where we set sail. When you are rowing a boat, you are facing
the opposite direction you are actually going. You are going toward the
future, but you can’t quite see what is there. You have to trust in your
process and trust where you are going. When one person stops rowing,
another player has to pick it up and row for two instead of one. We can
look back into the past and see where we’ve made mistakes and then try
to correct them. We don’t care what’s ahead of us. Calm seas,
waterfalls, rocky seas, injuries. It doesn’t matter. We are going to
continue to row the boat." <br />
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<b>You are getting a lot of attention these days for the recruiting you are doing. Are you pleased with all that attention?</b><br />
"Recruiting these days stems from how much attention you are getting. Where do you rank?<b> </b>Where are you? That was never the case when I was growing up in the profession. Now it is. I don't really know if the stars project as accurately as people have them as far as who is going to be a player and who is not. It's really a true guessing game. But I'm really happy with all the progress we are making in recruiting. The number one job in our program is to recruit. Recruit these guys on a day-to-day basis. Make these guys think that Western Michigan is the greatest place they'd ever want to be. Make them happy. But I'm really happy with our staff and how long they work. They work long hours. It's nice to see some results. We don't know who we're going to sign or where we are going to be. We're going to lose some spots just because of the high numbers we have. Some of the other teams haven't signed as many, but I know this class is going to be really special."<br />
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<b>It will be your first year in the CMU-WMU rivalry. Have you been reading up on the rivalry and what does the rivalry mean to you?</b><br />
"It's a phenomenal opportunity for our players to play in a true tradition game. You aren't playing for something that no one knows about that is just between the team. It's the eighth-greatest rivalry in all of college football. That says something. That is awesome. The trophies have win-loss records that go back 100-some years ago. It's absolutely incredible. I want our players to understand that they can play within the Mid-American Conference in a huge traditional game. You don't have to go to the Big Ten or the SEC or the ACC to play in that. We have that in the MAC. We have the eighth-greatest rivalry in all of college football. Now I don't know who rates that. Maybe it's seven, maybe it's nine. But I know it's one of the greatest in all of college football and I'm proud to be the coach of Western Michigan that gets to play in it."<b> </b> <br />
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<b>The last week of the season you go back to DeKalb? What is your thought process for that one?</b><br />
"You know, I thought about it one time and I got stressed out so I stopped thinking about it. I don't believe in stress. Stress is things I cannot control. I can't control DeKalb, Illinois right now. I can control P.J. Fleck and be the best coach I can possibly be today. And that's pressure. I put a lot pressure on myself as the head football coach and I have no problem doing that because I know these guys will back me up just like I'll back them up. Pressure is a day-to-day thing. Stress is down the road. But I'll tell you this, I have a lot of respect for that program. I truly love it with all my heart because it is the place where I played. It's where I bled, sweat, went to school. I met a lot of my friends there and they've always been so good to me. I'll be looking forward to that one when we get to it. That's for sure."<br />
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<b>Is that program at Northern Illinois a blueprint for where you want to be?</b><br />
"We're going to be us. That's a standard answer, but we're going to be us. We don't want to be anybody but ourselves. We're going to define that one day. If people want to be like us one day, OK. If they don't, that's fine too. But we're going to be us. I like to see what NIU has done, because I was a part of that. I remember going to recruit Jordan Lynch at Mount Carmel High School because I was there. The last senior class is the last one I had as a recruiting coordinator. They are a wonderful group. An elite group of men. They deserve all the success they've had, that's for sure."<br />
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<b>How big do you think the BCS berth was for the Mid-American Conference?</b><br />
"Tremendous. I don't care who went there. Whether it was Toledo or Northern Illinois or Eastern Michigan, it didn't matter. Having a MAC team in the Orange Bowl is one of the greatest feats this conference could ever have. I think it stems back to 2003 when Northern Illinois beat Alabama, Maryland, and Iowa State. That opened the door for a Boise State. And now look what Boise State has done. Because we went 10-2 and didn't get into a bowl game at that time. I think with Northern Illinois going to the Orange Bowl, who knows what can happen now. I think the new playoff system is going to help everybody. It gives people like us a chance to possibly win a national championship. To get into that top four one day and compete for it. It can happen more now than it could with the BCS, I promise you that. So we're excited for that challenge."<br />
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<b>How do you think it changes an outsider's view of the conference?</b><br />
"I think it changes the thought process and shows people it is possible. It helps increase the fan base and makes people take this program and this conference seriously. It takes wins like that to make people buy in. It shows someone that they don't have to go to the University of Illinois. They can go to Northern Illinois and get the same experience. I don't have to Michigan State or Notre Dame, I can go to Western Michigan with 36,000 people in the stadium just loving you. We can do that in this league. I think you are seeing that with Dan Enos being held over at Central Michigan, a team with so much turnover. I think you are seeing it at Bowling Green with Dave Clawson. Tenured guys in this conference. Frank Solich at Ohio. You are starting to get coaches that actually stay. Once that happens, you start building the league fan base and see things really take off."<br />
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<b>You've had some facility upgrades already in place at WMU. Do you expect more improvements?</b><br />
“Oh yeah. Every day we are looking for something that can be changed or asking ourselves what can be changed. What other door can I open? There will be a ton of changes around our building. Six
months from now, nothing will look the same. From the field turf to the
lockers to the hallways to the logos and possibly other things. Nothing will be the same. But that's me. I’m a
firm believer in taking something and breaking it whether it needs to be fixed or not. You take a horse and you break it. You build it back into a horse, great. At least you took the chance in breaking it to see if it did need change. If you take that horse and break it and now it's a turtle, you needed to change it. You changed it to what it needed to be. That's what we're doing within our program and that's what these guys are being taught on a daily basis. To break themselves on a daily basis and find out about yourself. We're going to do that every day.”
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<b>You have a lot of early away games against Big Ten Conference opponents. Do those games worry you?</b><br />
"I think we have to change people's perspective because that's what everybody says. They say well if they go and lose against Michigan State, then no one is going to show up. They are the same old team. It's about changing the mentality of the town. Changing the mentality of the people. That's my job. I've been working the last seven months doing that. Rowing the boat has been a huge part of that. It's like a stock. You almost control a part of the team. If you can get 100,000 people at businesses or houses or wherever, they are going to have ownership of that program. I want that game day experience to change. They broke it down. It's like a 90/10 split. It was an NFL study, but it works for college too I think. Ten percent of the people that come to the game are the die-hard "you better win or else we will fire you" types.<b> </b>Then ninety percent just want to be entertained. We want to provide an entertaining atmosphere when you come to Waldo Stadium. Not only for these guys playing, but for the fans too and have it be interactive. There are going to be changes every year. Every day. Every day you come into the building there will be something. There might be a new lock on the door. There might be a new light switch going in. Or whatever. But every day something is going to be changing."<br />
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<b>You talk about all the changes, but what older traditions at Western Michigan are you hanging onto?</b><br />
"I think when you look at the Central Michigan/Western Michigan rivalry, it's the eighth-greatest rivalry in the nation. That's all of college football. Think about that. You can come to the Mid-American Conference and get the eighth-greatest rivalry in college football. You can get that within this conference and that is special. It's special to these players and special to me. We're going to keep that tradition alive. And then we're going to invent new ones. A hundred years from now, they'll talk about the traditions we started. This program needs that. It needs the stability. When you look at, what other traditions are there? It comes down to the fact that all the people show up. We're going to change everything. The problem with change is that everyone wants change until you have to change. They wanted change until they got me. Then they asked if they really want change or if this is what they signed up for. If they bought in, then they bought in. But everyone wants change until you have to change. That's hard for a lot of people. But if you want to get to where you want to get to, you have to accept change. Positive or negative, you have to change. So that's what we continue to do."<br />
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<b>Some players adapt to change better than others. Do you ever think there could be too much change?</b><br />
Oh I think so. About 30 years ago, Coca Cola changed its formula. Coca Cola went to the New Coke. That was the only time in the history of soda that Pepsi outsold Coke. Six months later, Coca Cola went back to their old formula and back to outselling Pepsi. So yeah, there are times too much change is bad. But we're not sitting there changing our name to the Mustangs. We're not doing that. What we're doing is establishing a new era that we're going to continue to build on. We're changing in order to make ourselves better on a daily basis. You break the horse and it comes back as a horse, you didn't have to change it. But we're going to challenge ourselves to change on a daily basis. That's fine as long as you challenged yourself and broke yourself to see if you've changed today. We'll always learn something every day that's changing."<br />
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<b>When</b> <b>you built your coaching staff, did you want guys that fit your mold with constant energy? Or did you want coaches who offset your style?</b><br />
"I think you want both. If there are too many me's, I don't know if you'd like that. I think what I wanted to do was to hire guys who offset any strengths I may lack in. I think I did that with every single one of my coaches. Whether that was personality-wise or X's and O's-wise or recruiting-wise, everyone had a role in why they were hired. It was a strategic plan and I got everyone that I wanted. I got my first choice with every single guy. I was pretty proud of that and proud that every one of these guys wanted to be a part of this program. I couldn't ask for any two better coordinators and our coaching staff does a tremendous job."<br />
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<b>What would you say the number one thing is that you've learned as a head coach in six months?</b><br />
"It's very simple. It's that not everyone is willing to change, but you have to find a way to still get to them. There are a lot of people in this organization that haven't had to change in 30 years. It's hard to change after 30 years. Now you've got this young punk coming in here telling you that you need to change and here is where we are going. Here's the direction we are going and hold on tight. That's been the biggest challenge, to get everyone on the same page. Not just the football team, but the organization and the administration. That's going to be the biggest challenge with me being the head football coach."<br />
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<b>There have been some former players or alumni groups that haven't been on board with some of the changes you've been making. If you could tell them something to help get them to understand, what would you say?</b><br />
Row the boat. That's all I'll tell them. Row the boat is a mantra that can be used in their everyday life that can help them. Just try that and then see if you want to be part of our program. I'm not going to make everybody happy. I don't plan to make everyone happy. It's lonely at the top because you have to make some tough decisions. There is never going to be a time where there is 100 percent feedback that everyone loves Coach Fleck. There are probably guys at this table that probably can't stand me. I don't have a problem with that. I'm not going to make everyone happy, but that's OK with me. Because I am doing the right thing and what I know is the right way. to get this program where it needs to be. That's what I got hired to do. I wake up every morning and think about how I can make Western Michigan elite."<br />
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<b>With your philosophy on change, is that what made the Western Michigan job so attractive to you?</b><br />
"It did. To be honest, making the jump to the NFL I didn't know how long I'd be there. When you buy a house, it tells you we are going to be somewhere for a long time. We built a house at Western Michigan, so that tells you I plan on sticking around a while. I feel like this program has so much to offer. I feel like it's just a hidden gem and a ticking time bomb. You have the rural area and you have the urban area. It's a true college town. You have some of the best restaurants in America in Kalamazoo. You have 26,000 students and a community around you. You have malls and shopping. You have pure Michigan. You have all these things to offer and it's just a hidden gem. It just needs to be dusted off a little bit and shined up. That's what I'm doing and the changes are to do that. It's not to change everything about the institution, it's to say this place can shine. Let's show how it can shine. Here is what I am going to do to make it shine. That's all it needs. A little buffering."<br />
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<b>What do you say to people who bring up the fact that you've never been a coordinator and are therefore unqualified to lead a program?</b><br />
"Well, I know a lot of head coaches right now that have never been coordinators. Offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator are totally different jobs than being a head football coach. Being a head football coach is all about leading. You organize, you hire. You structure. As a coordinator, you are locked into the X's and O's. That's your job. My job is to oversee everything. I've been around enough offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators and called plays. Maybe I didn't have the title, but I've called enough plays during a game. Just because you are a phenomenal offensive coordinator, it does not make you a phenomenal head coach. I've seen tremendous coordinators flop as head coaches. I've seen a lot of non-OC and non-DC's flop as head coaches as well. It just is what it is and I don't think it has to be a prerequisite to be a head football coach. Not just because it is me, but because I am living that job right now and it has nothing to do with being a good head football coach. I am living it on a daily basis and I think people are look way too into the whole coordinator deal. The progression they really need to start focusing on is that when you are an assistant, you are in charge of 15 young people. That's is who you are responsible for. As an offensive coordinator, now you are in charge of 50. It's the next progression. As a head coach, you are in charge of 105 plus the rest of your staff and everybody else. But just because you are good at being responsible for those 50 doesn't mean you will be a good head football coach. Some people believe otherwise. Living the job on a daily basis, the things I have to do, if I was a phenomenal offensive coordinator but not a very good people person I probably wouldn't be a very good head coach."<br />
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<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-63332689075601583692013-08-01T15:58:00.002-07:002013-08-01T15:58:48.016-07:00Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English discusses why 2013 is an important year for his football programEastern Michigan head coach Ron English is entering his fifth year as the Eagles' head coach and is under the final year of his current contract. He has a 10-38 overall record at EMU and after progress was shown with a 6-6 record in 2011, a 2-10 mark last season was a major disappointment.<br />
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English sat down with me at last week's MAC Media Day to talk about his 2013 Eastern Michigan squad and why this year is so important.<br />
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<b>What does Stan Parrish bring to the table as an offensive coordinator and what kind of identity is he trying to bring to your offense?</b><br />
"I think he has proven he can score points. I have coached against him several times and he's been difficult to defend. So I knew a lot about him. I knew what he did and what he likes to do. He's going to be multiple. But he's just a guy with a proven track record and I have a lot of confidence in him to do what he needs to do."<br />
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<b>Is Tyler Benz the quarterback or is there a competition there?</b><br />
"Right now, Tyler is the quarterback. He had some good games and some not-good games last year, but what he did gain was valuable experience. I think he has the ability to be very good, particularly with Stan developing him."<br />
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<b>He has a couple very talented running backs to hand off to (Bronson Hill and Darius Jackson) along with an experienced offensive line. You have to like the talent on the offensive side of the ball.</b><br />
"No<b> </b>question. It's a team that should score a lot of points. Stan's going to put guys in the right positions and use his weapons. I feel really good about our offensive football team."<br />
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<b>A couple of the main areas of concern last year defensively were the lack of creating turnovers and pressuring the quarterback. Do you feel you've made improvements in those areas?</b><br />
"Not only those two things, but we couldn't stop teams from running the football. When you can't stop the run, you allow teams to be multi-dimensional. To me, you've always got to stop the run first. But our team speed is such that I think we will limit big plays. That's the second part of playing good defense. You need to make teams have to drive to score. If you give up chunks, you're going to give up a lot of points."<br />
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<b>Do you feel the pressure to win this year?</b><br />
"You know, I've been doing this 21 years. There are always expectations, but more than that I am concerned with developing players. I'm in a role where I can have a significant impact in developing players. I've probably had more fun since January than I have had in four years here."<br />
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<b>I know you have done some fun things over the offseason such as skydiving. What has been the reasoning behind these side activities?</b><br />
"It's fun and helps bring attention to the program, but it's also to bring in revenue. We are a program that has to generate outside sources of revenue to move forward. I think if you look at our conference, all of our teams are continuing to move forward with their facilities and so on and so forth. That's all we're trying to do. We're continuing to move forward."<br />
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<b>What are the keys to becoming a bowl eligible team this year?</b><br />
"Health is always number one, but we also need to develop some depth. I think we just need to have the mindset that there is going to be some adversity and we have to keep moving forward. And when we are playing well, continue to play well. That's the biggest thing. How do you handle all the different things that are going to occur during the course of the season?"<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-1714719892556079082013-07-31T15:06:00.002-07:002013-07-31T15:15:23.277-07:00Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey talks BCS, Jordan Lynch, Iowa opener, etc.The most entertaining coach I spoke with last week at Mid-American Conference Media Day was new Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey, who inherits the program from the departed Dave Doeren (now at North Carolina State). After a season in which the Huskies went 12-2 and played in a BCS Bowl game, it's hard to imagine any improvements on that during the 2013 season.<br />
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Coach Carey talked to me about hopes for the 2013 season, Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch, and several other topics including the battery life on my phone for recording all morning. It was right around 70 percent a few hours in, which seemed to amaze him.<br />
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<b>Taking over the program, has it been a seamless transition for you?</b><br />
"It's not<b> </b>seamless. I don't think there is anything seamless. When you switch coaches, you have to get to know each other for quite a bit of time. Is it more seamless than when we all came in with Coach Doeren? I think so. Because there is already familiarity and we already knew each other. But seamless? No."<br />
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<b>Has the BCS berth paid dividends for the program in terms of recruiting? More attraction to the program?</b><br />
"It's gotten us into more conversations. But you have to be careful with that stuff. You can't get distracted with the really cute girl and away from the girl you've been taking to the dance the whole time. Because she may dump you. And she's pretty cute. So what we've been doing what we always have and there hasn't been a whole lot of reason for change."<br />
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<b>How do you improve on a BCS appearance? Isn't it a bit of a challenge to do that the year after?</b><br />
"Now that is the first time I've been asked that. I've been waiting for that question for three months for someone to ask me that question. How do you improve on a BCS appearance? What's the next step? That's a good question. I don't know. I guess the natural one would be a national championship. That's the next step. But for us, it comes down to each day and what we're doing. I wouldn't be arrogant enough to say put national championship down on paper, but I'm also not going to put anything by my players. I think they have the ability to do whatever they want to do. However they make this their team and take that leadership forward, we'll go as far as that."<br />
<br />
<b>Do you try to temper the expectations or roll with them?</b><br />
"Expectations are great. That means people think you're pretty good, right?<b> </b>That's a good thing. If someone doesn't have expectations, they probably don't think they are worth anything. And I always say that no one has higher expectations for us than us. So I don't worry about outside expectations and I know these guys don't either. They worry about what's going on in the weight room. What's going on on the field. Day in and day out, they try to take care of the little things."<br />
<br />
<b>From watching Jordan Lynch in the spring, where has he made his biggest strides?</b><br />
"I think he got better with his feet throwing the ball. Now listen, his feet were good before when throwing the ball. But some of the nuances when you are throwing left or throwing right when rolling out, some of the details with that he has made a lot of improvements on."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Is Akeem Daniels the guy at tailback or are there others figuring into the mix?</b><br />
"Akeem obviously had a great end to the year and he's looking to move forward on that. Unless you have someone really special and I think the kid at Toledo (David Fluellen) is really special, but even with a special player you have to rotate. So there are going to be other guys in the mix. Guys can't last the whole season anymore. It's too rough and tumble of a game."<br />
<br />
<b>Do you have a gamebreaker who can replace Martel Moore?</b><br />
"Boy, we'll see. We've got some good candidates. I'll tell you that. Tommylee Lewis, Daron Brown, Juwan Brescacin, Angelo Sebastiano. I could go down the list. We've got guys and we'll see who does it."<br />
<br />
<b>You only have about four starters returning defensively. Do you have confidence in the players who will be filling those roles?</b><br />
"Yeah, I think so. We've got a lot of guys who've played a lot of football around here on defense. But now those players who were maybe role players are going to be starters. How they handle that transition is going to be the key to our defense."<br />
<br />
<b>Iowa was your one regular season stumbling block a year ago. Are you looking at the season opener as a revenge game?</b><br />
"No, because you can't go back to Soldier Field and play that game with the same teams. Both are new teams and we're at Iowa. I just think we all look at it as a great challenge. And it's the most important game on our schedule because it's the first game."<br />
<br />
<b>Have you watched what Central Michigan did at Iowa last year to help prepare your team?</b><br />
"Oh yeah, I've watched that game. A bunch of times."<br />
<br />
<b>Is it true that opposing teams gun a little harder for the team at the top?</b><br />
"No offense, but I've been asked that question a ton today. I think that is you guys. The media picks a target and finds a good story. Whatever word you want to attach. I think that's fine. For us, it's not about that. It's about what we're doing each day to get better. That's the biggest thing."<br />
<br />
<b> </b> <b> </b> <b> </b> <b></b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-86600673969374336662013-07-30T15:51:00.002-07:002013-07-30T15:51:18.445-07:00UMass coach Charley Molnar explains where the Minutemen have progressed going into 2013After finishing the 2012 season with a 1-11 record in its first FBS season, UMass clearly had a lot of holes to patch up and improvements to make. I spoke with UMass coach Charley Molnar a week ago at MAC Media Day about what he sees from his 2013 Minutemen and how his program is progressing.<br />
<br />
Central Michigan hosts UMass Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.<br />
<br />
<b>I've seen you on record saying how much you think your team has improved in one calendar year. Can you go into specifics as to why you feel that way?</b><br />
"I think we're just a year more experienced. We'll have a lot of the same faces that were out on the field in 2012. The difference is that some of those guys will have 500-700 snaps under their belt. Experience is the best teacher in our game. Those guys who were so young and inexperienced a year ago will now be experienced when you go out on the field."<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>How important was that one win against Akron?</b><br />
"It was important to our team to validate all the work they've put in. I want to win every game I coach, so I'm not different than any guy in this room. But I really felt that win was more important for the players than it was for me. I saw the progress our team was making. I saw the odds were stacked against us and some of the liabilities that were just about impossible to overcome. So I was very cognizant of what we were up against. But to tell the young men that all the hard work and all the belief that you have wouldn't be rewarded with any amount of success would have been a travesty."<br />
<br />
<b>Is there a quarterback battle or is Mike Wegzyn the guy?</b><br />
"No, there is a QB battle. But Mike came out of spring clearly as our No. 1. He'll go into camp as our No. 1 and he could go into day two as No. 2. So who knows how that will go, but he has been a tremendous competitor for us. He was our most improved player this past spring and I would expect Mike to continue to develop through the 29 fall practices just as he did during the 15 spring practices."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Who are going to be some of the playmakers around the quarterback?</b><br />
"The first guy is sitting to my left, that being our tight end Rob Blanchflower. As Rob Blanchflower goes, that's how our offense goes. If he has a good day on the line blocking, I think our run game has a chance to be much improved from a year ago. And he should be our leading receiver at the end of the day."<br />
<br />
<b>You have one starter back on the offensive line?</b><br />
"Right now, I would say we have two. That would be Anthony Dima and then Matt Sparks was a sometimes-starter for us. Matt had a really solid spring, so that brings two. Another veteran in Vincent Westcarr should be a starter for us and we are battling it out at one of the other spots. David Osei, a transfer we brought in from Rutgers, hopefully can fill a spot. We brought him in to play, we didn't bring him in to sit and watch. So hopefully he can take one of the other spots."<br />
<br />
<b>You struggled at times to protect the backfield last year. Do you see improvements in that area?</b><br />
"If you can't manage your business up front, you have no chance. It's hard for any running back. We had a great running back drafted by the New York Giants (Michael Cox) and even he had some tough afternoons because there was so much penetration on the line of scrimmage. So if you can't even run the ball and there is someone penetrating the line just as he is getting the ball, it disrupts everything. From a quarterback's perspective, when you are getting harassed it is really hard to get good at anything you do. It is hard to get your reads when you don't have the time. So hopefully we can improve in those areas just through improved offensive line play."<br />
<br />
<b>Your special teams appear to be a positive going into the season.</b> <br />
"I
think our team of specialists might be our strength. From our holder to
our kicker to our long snapper to our punter, we are really good in all
those spots. Not only by MAC standards, but by any league standards." <br /><br />
<b>When I looked at your defense on paper, it looks like your back seven is pretty strong. Do you feel that way?</b><br />
"I don't one if there are any great players back there, but I think we are solid across the board."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Looking at your non-conference schedule with road games at Wisconsin and Kansas State along with Vanderbilt at home. You couldn't make it any easier on yourself?</b><br />
"Really, that's the way I want it. I want our team out of conference to play really good teams for many different reasons. Number one, when our team gets hyper-competitive we want to go and play those teams and have a chance to beat them. The only way to beat them eventually is to beat them year in and year out. This gets us used to the speed, the size, the level of skills, and the level of competition playing in those stadiums and those environments. Number two is in recruiting. I don't ever want to lose a recruit to someone because he says they have a better schedule than what I can give them in the Mid-American Conference. Which again, I think is a super-competitive league. By going out of conference, if a guy says he wants to go play at a BCS school because he likes their schedule better I'm trying to provide as much BCS as I can give them in my non-conference schedule."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Recruiting rankings don't mean everything, but I did see somewhere that you were ranked fifth in the MAC with this year's recruiting class. What are your selling points to recruits as you build this program?</b><br />
"I think when you look at UMass it has a great mix of location, academics, football, support, and social opportunities. It has it all. We're a stone's throw from Boston. A very quick ride to New York City. Up and down the East Coast there are so many job opportunities with the excitement that the East Coast has to offer. Obviously we've proven we can be a national player in basketball. And certainly we believe we can follow that same blueprint to a degree and have success in football."<br />
<br />
<b>Good chance of moving up a little bit in the MAC East this year?</b><br />
<b> </b>"That's the plan."<br />
<br />
Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-27140449053817464002013-07-29T16:24:00.002-07:002013-07-29T16:26:58.671-07:00Miami coach Don Treadwell's comments at MAC Media DayThis week, I will be providing MAC Media Day quotes from a number of MAC opponents on Central Michigan's schedule this season. My original plan Tuesday was to talk to every MAC coach on CMU's schedule, but time ran short and coaches had other video obligations that took them away from their respective tables. Coaches I were not able to talk to were Toledo's Matt Campbell, Ball State's Pete Lembo, and Ohio's Frank Solich. Kind of disappointing because those are a few of the upper-tier teams in the two divisions, but those are the breaks.<br />
<br />
<br />
First up, here is my conversation with Miami coach Don Treadwell:<br />
<br />
<b>One big question is in replacing standout quarterback Zac Dysert. Austin Boucher played extensively in 2010 when Dysert was injured, but not much since then. What does Austin bring to the table?</b><br />
"One big thing, and you touched on it, is that he has been in the fire before. That's huge. You can only do so much simulating game day experience. So to have a guy that has been in the fire and has been successful in leading the team, that is a huge benefit for us. That's not the norm when you lose a guy who has played quite a bit like Zac Dysert. Austin has always been a factor. I always tell people one of the unique things about him that most people don't know is that's he's always been a leader behind the scenes in the last couple years that I've been here. Now he has an opportunity more at the forefront to do what he has always been capable of doing. He's excited to do that and we're excited about that as a staff."<br />
<br />
<b>Losing Nick Harwell is a big loss at wide receiver. How do you go about replacing that production?</b><br />
"We haven't dwelled much on losing him per se, but we've looked at who is currently on the roster and how we are going to continue to improve in what we do. And we have some other players who are returning in those areas, so we'll make the most of it."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>It looks as though you are going to have a bigger, stronger offensive line. Is that the case?</b><br />
"Some of our guys have really developed more physically and I think that's huge. We've had a couple years to really evaluate what our needs were on our offensive line and we've tried to address that."<br />
<br />
<b>It has to be tough in that first year or two to really develop your own program.</b><br />
"That's the challenge. There is a lot of evaluation going on. That is from year to year, but certainly when you first get there there is quite a bit to evaluate as you can imagine."<br />
<br />
<b>Defensively was where your team had its biggest struggles in 2012. Where do you see the team getting better on that side of the ball?</b><br />
"We've made it really simple. Coming out of last year, we had about two or three things that we focused on. Offensively, we needed to be more balanced which means we needed to run the football more effectively. That's been an emphasis. And on defensive, stopping the run. I think if you look at statistics, if you finish in the upper echelon of your conference stopping the run you are giving yourself a chance to win. So those have been really a couple key points that we've focused on."<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>What are your thoughts on your defensive line situation and do you see improvements in that area?</b><br />
"We're very fortunate to have a good mix of returning talent and young guys there. One of our mainstays in Austin Brown is back in the middle. It's his final year. Wes Williams is back anchoring on the edge. It's his senior year. So you've got a veteran core of players who have played a lot of football and been productive. We've mixed in some young guys who got some game experience last year. So we had a couple true freshmen who played last year, where now hopefully they are more comfortable in their roles."<br />
<br />
<b>When you think of Miami, you think of linebackers. What do you see there?</b><br />
"That's an area we've grown at. We were pretty young last year. You take away the one true veteran in Chris Wade who led us in tackles last year and we were very young. The other two linebackers were true freshmen who started. Seeing that transition from a wide-eyed true freshman to taking a deep breath and becoming comfortable, that will make a huge difference as we turn the corner here with our football program. That will help us."<br />
<br />
<b>What are your thoughts as a coach, just in terms of having been in this program for a while now?</b><br />
"That's always exciting. The two years I have been here have felt like two months. I'm just so excited to have been given this opportunity to impact a program that has been so special to me ever since I was a player. We are able to share those life stories with our current players about the significance of the where the block 'M' on their helmet comes from. So we've tried to lay a foundation we're very proud of and when you are laboring well, the harvest is right around the corner as they say."<br />
<br />
<b>It seems as though there isn't another conference in the country that is so competitive from No. 1 through 13. Why is that?</b><br />
"I don't know if it's as much a question of why, but more in terms of each team in our conference maximizing what they have. Recruiting nowadays is different than it was 20 years ago. Players are so much more in front of us now. You just push a button and there are so many different things you can view. We aren't lugging a suitcase around for a month now trying to find the next-best player. You can push a button and at least get that initial feel for where the players are. It's changed our job because it's so much more expansive now. The upgrades and the things that are available have served coaches very well. Coaches that have taken advantage of that are bringing in players that you see that really help upgrade your program. It makes a difference."<br />
<br />
<b>Is this league better than when you played in it?</b><br />
"I don't know if you can say better because it's just different. These guys would think those were the prehistoric days, like we wore leather helmets and such. And that was just 30 years ago. So things have changed, but it's exciting. As you go forward, you continue to evolve."<br />
<br />
<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<br />Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-48568913311027180232013-07-27T11:22:00.003-07:002013-07-27T11:22:42.883-07:00MAC Commissioner Dr. Steinbrecher's Media Day press conference quotesMid-American Conference Commissioner asked many questions during his Media Day press conference Tuesday at Ford Field. I planned on delving into the specifics on the future of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, but CM Life's Aaron McMann beat me to the punch there. It was clearly one of the questions on everyone's mind. Here is what Steinbrecher had to say about that plus many other topics.<br />
<br />
<b>Commissioner, there has been a lot of talk about the future of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl going forward. Do you see there being a Pizza Bowl in 2014?</b><br />
"That is a good question. Little Caesars Pizza Bowl has been a wonderful partner with the Mid-American Conference and we are grateful to be associated with it. I know Ken Hoffman (<span class="st">(LCPB CEO & Executive Director) </span>and his staff are working together to see what they can do to put together a game. We're interested in being in bowl games, so we're interested in talking to folks who want to put on bowl games. If Ken is able to bring something forward, then we will engage in that conversation."<br />
<br />
<b>There has been discussion of possibly playing a game at Comerica Park. Do you see that as feasible? </b><br />
"No."<br />
<br />
<b>Thoughts on the new illegal contact rules that result in ejection?</b><br />
"I want hits from the shoulders down. I want the head and neck out of it. I think we would all agree that is where some danger comes into it. Using the crown of your helmet. That is what we have to get out of the game. That's the challenge that we are facing here. I would argue that any hit we see where a defender wraps up the ball carrier is more or less a legal hit. The hits that we are focusing on are the ones that go high with a shoulder or elbow or lead with the head."<br />
<br />
<b>Regarding the stipend issue, does the MAC have an official preference or blueprint they want to explore?</b><br />
"It would be disingenuous of me to say that we don't have concerns from a financial point of view. But we also recognize that the higher revenue institutions have some pressures on them and we're going to have to figure out a way to come to grips with that. We don't have an official stance on this, but personally I'd like to explore some need-based models. But I'll engage in whatever the discussion is and we'll go from there."<br />
<br />
<b>So you feel there is enough support nationally that this has to be dealt with one way or the other?</b><br />
"I think we recognize there is an issue here. We need to quit kicking the can down the road. We need to sit down and figure out a solution that is viable."<br />
<br />
<b>What is your reaction to the comments made by the commissioners of the Big 12 and ACC seeing the future of power conference schools being in super divisions?</b> <b>And how could that potentially impact MAC football?</b><br />
"I'm not sure if that is completely what they said. I think they got there, but I think they said that is kind of a last resort. They are looking for a system in which their views can be clearly articulated and we can address them. We have not had that system for some time. So I say let's play it out and get our governance system working. We need to get our ADs much more engaged than they have been in the past. That's been a problem. When we went to the representative form of governance, what the various conferences did is that they had one or two ADs on the various cabinets or counsels. Every other AD in the room kind of signed off to them. You guys handle it. I need 13 ADs engaged in what the national issues are. I also need my presidents engaged as well as senior representatives. But particularly we need the ADs engaged. I think if we do that, we can take care of the issues."<br />
<br />
<b>Big 12 Commissioner Bowlsby said specifically that Texas and NIU aren't alike. Do you see a line being drawn in the sand?</b><br />
"He actually said Northern Iowa. You know what? There is no doubt. There is great diversity from the top of Division I to the bottom of Division I. I would also argue that in the higher revenue conferences, there is great diversity in those conferences. It's part of what we do and it's our job to manage that. I would suggest that yeah there are differences in how much revenue they are generating and what they are spending, but I think we have shown in a few of the examples I have talked about is that we are able to go out there and compete. The question is whether we can come to agreement on a set of rules that allows us to co-exist amicably. I tend to believe we can."<br />
<br />
<b>Go into detail about how proud you are of the successes of your conference on the gridiron last year. Eric Fisher, the BCS game, the successes over other FBS schools. </b><br />
"It was truly a bright shining moment for this conference. It was validation for some of the things we've talked about. It's a simple formula that is really tough to execute. You go out and hire really good coaches who put together good staffs and go out and recruit motivated student-athletes who continue to develop. And we go out and compete. It sounds simple to do, but it is incredibly difficult. It's a culmination that starts at the top of each of our institutions from the school presidents and their ADs, then throughout the administration and through the staffs and student-athletes. All we ask for is a chance to compete. When we're given that, we'll let the chips fall where they may. Now the challenge is to take that from being an exception and make it more of a rule. It's going to be a challenge every year just from a numbers perspective. But I think if you talk to our athletic directors and coaches, we expect to get into a BCS bowl game. When we go into the playoff format, we expect to be challenging for that slot. We have high expectations. We'll see every year if we can live up to those."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Do you feel that with more bowl games, it weakens the bowl field possibly to the detriment of the Mid-American Conference?</b><br />
"I think that is why we are pursuing the bowl opportunities we are pursuing. I'd like to grow our primary opportunities to address some of those issues if we could.<b> </b>I've not been shy in saying that I'm not a huge fan of 6-6 being good enough to be eligible for a bowl game, but that's where we are at. If that's the standard, then we'll try to work within that standard. I don't see a movement to change that, so there we are."<br />
<br />
<b>With the Pizza Bowl's future in doubt, has there been talk about another game in the Midwest somewhere?</b><br />
"There have been conversations about bowl games in all sorts of places. Like I said, we're interested in talking to people who are interested in putting on bowl games. We are interested in partnerships that we can grow within and grow with."<br />
<br />
<b>How do you feel about the new Ford Field bowl game between the ACC and Big Ten?</b><br />
"You know, we were aware since I think last January. There was some question that we might be able to be involved in the game every other year or a portion of that time. We're proud to be partners with Ford Field. We have a great championship game here. It's a chance to for us to bring our student-athletes and fans into a wonderful venue where in that first Friday in December we know it is going to be 72 and sunny in here. Not many Midwestern conferences can do that. We're fortunate to have that. They partner with us on a lot of things. The youth clinic (Monday) was another example. We have a good partnership with Ford Field and we hope to continue that."<br />
<br />
<b>Are you any closer to a decision on making the MAC a 12-team or 14-team football conference?</b><br />
"I don't think it is an either/or. You add or subtract teams from your conference for two reasons. You do it to survive or you do it to get better. We have the luxury of being able to be deliberate. Is 13 a bit of an inelegant number? Yeah, it probably is. But we have made it work for seven or eight years now. So there is no clock ticking and I don't have administrators breathing down my neck saying that I need to grow this conference. If an opportunity develops that makes sense for us, sure. It's much broader than a football question or a basketball question. It's what is the institutional fit? What are the funding models? A whole host of things that we get into. If all those things match up, then perhaps we move forward. I like our 13."<br />
<br />
<b>Are you in any discussions with other schools about joining the MAC for football?</b><br />
"I guess what I'll say is that I spend a little time every week scanning the environment. I know what's out there. I dig a little behind the scenes and ask what makes that program tick? I try to figure it out. But we are where we are."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>If you could pull your crystal ball out, how do you see the bowl landscape changing starting in 2014?</b><br />
"For the Mid-American Conference, I would expect to be in four or five permanent bowls along with a couple backups. We want to be in position so our 8-4 and 7-5 teams can get placed and hopefully opportunities as well for 6-6 teams if they exist. The financial model is changing a little bit. A bit for the better. For one, there is more money in the system. So we are getting to a point where we are better able to cover the expenses for the institutions involved. The models with the bowls themselves are changing a little bit. Our bowl deals are typically a little different. We don't have a bowl deal where we turn to the school and say we'll give you this amount of money, but you are responsible for selling X amount of tickets. We take care of that and we facilitate in other ways. I think there will certainly be other opportunities for the Mid-American Conference and our student-athletes. The FBS Subdivision is growing a little bit, so we'll be able to grow a few more bowls. Adding too many bowls gets a little unhealthy, but I would expect a couple more bowls to be added."<br />
<br />
<b>You've mentioned the potential for FCS schools to come up. Do you see that in the near future?</b><br />
"I think they have already come up. I don't know if I see any others coming up. There really aren't many more slots and because of the movement, Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference brought in some FCS schools. For the time being, Conference USA says they are happy at 14. I don't know for sure what the Sun Belt is thinking, but I don't think there is too much more room in this sudivision."<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b> <b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b> </b> Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-56371275256727055482013-07-26T17:14:00.000-07:002013-07-26T17:14:10.934-07:00Part three: Coach Enos quotes from MAC Media DayHere is the third part of what Central Michigan University football coach Dan Enos had to say at Tuesday's Mid-American Conference Media Day in Detroit. Tomorrow, I will have everything MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher had to say during his press conference.<br />
<br />
<b>Last year, you played two Big Ten opponents. Your team seemed more at ease on the road at Iowa as opposed to the home game against Michigan State. Do you feel your team might be a little more at ease this year having the high-profile game at Michigan being on the road?</b><br />
"I feel ease has a lot to do with how you execute. The biggest thing that happened at Iowa is that right after they went and scored on its first drive, we came right back and scored on our first drive. I think that helped our team exhale. I think if they would have scored and then we went three-and-out, the crowd would have gotten into it more and we might have been up against it. I think executing early in the game is important and that is what we are going to try to have to do at Michigan. We're going to try and put our guys in the best position to execute."<br />
<br />
<b>How has the stability of the Mid-American Conference helped the league as a whole?</b><br />
"The one good thing about this conference is that people know who is in it. Some of these other leagues you look at and have to keep track of the schools. We have our branding and everyone knows the schools in our conference."<br />
<br />
<b>What does Western weekend mean to you and do you still have a bit of a sour taste from last year's loss?</b><br />
"I thought that was a football game we could have won. That's how rivalry games go. But we've moved on from that. Our team did a great job of bouncing back the next week. It's a great rivalry. It's personal for everybody. It's personal for our coaches. It's one of the great rivalries out there and one of the great rivalries in the nation."<br />
<br />
<b>Avery Cunningham said he is staying at his same safety spot where he was last year. Who will be filling the safety position left by Jahleel Addae?</b><br />
"There are three safety spots and we're not really sure who the third guy is going to be yet. It's going to be Jarrett and Avery. The third one is probably going to be Kavon Frazier or Tony Annese or Denzel Wimberly. We're still working on how we are going to move those three guys around."<br />
<br />
<b>I've noticed that you've recruited a lot of safeties over the past few years. What is the reasoning behind that? </b><br />
"You know, we've recruited a lot of running backs. Kavon Frazier was a running back. Brandon Greer was a running back. They also played defensive back. Tony Annese was a quarterback. One year, there were four or five guys that we recruited who were all running backs and defensive back. We try to get guys who have experience playing both sides of the ball and are versatile. Those kind of body types, the 6-foot-1 and 200 or 210-pound guys really work well in terms of versatility. They are big enough to play in the box, but athletic enough to cover a slot receiver or a tight end down the middle of the field." <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Do you think this team has what it takes to compete for a MAC Championship?</b><br />
"I believe we do. We have an improved defense and we have some very explosive players on offense. At the start of the college football season, everyone has questions they have to answer. One thing no one has asked me today is about the loss of David Harman. He was huge for us last year. We have to figure out who is going to play quarterback and we have to replace our kicker. Those are the biggest things we have to do. Do I think we are capable in both of those spots? Definitely. But again, we have to figure out who fill the spots best for our team."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>That's on my list. We all saw the leg strength of Ron Coluzzi during the spring game, but does he have the accuracy to get the job done?</b><br />
"He does. He's very talented. He really worked hard to get better during his redshirt year and he is still finding his comfort level. But yeah, Ron Coluzzi has a great opportunity for us."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>You've talked a lot about being bigger up front. It's really going to help the back seven isn't it, just being able to create more pressure in the backfield?</b><br />
"It's been my goal since I've gotten here to become bigger and more athletic. We've done that. If we can get pressure up the middle and there is nowhere for the quarterback to step up, that's an ideal situation. We have the size and talent to do that this year and that will help everybody."<br />
<br />
<b>How is the health of Alex Smith?</b><br />
"Good, really good. He's been doing everything he needs to be doing and he's headed in the right direction. Doesn't he, Avery? You should ask these guys the questions. Us coaches aren't even allowed to glance at them. If I glance at Avery in his workout gear, I'll probably get in trouble." <br />
<br />
<b>Tyler Lombardo and Jake Olson coming along well too? Any other health concerns?</b><br />
"Yes, Tyler and Jake both look good. Jake is at 308 pounds, somewhere in there. We start camp August 5 and everyone should be practicing."<br />
<br />
<b>With the Little Caesars Bowl being uncertain past 2013, was it disappointing with the weather keeping people away from what was a very good football game last year?</b><br />
"Yeah, it was. I think they said they sold over 40,000 and the game attendance was 23,000. I have to be honest with you, I thought the atmosphere was great. With the weather the way it was, I didn't think there would be that many people there. Some people did unbelievable things to get here. I heard so many stories where I asked someone if they went to the game and they said, 'Yeah.' I asked what they did after the game and they told me they drove home. I would ask what time they got home and they'd say 4 o'clock in the morning. It took my mom and dad and brothers from Dearborn an hour to get here and that is from 10 miles away. I thought the game atmosphere was still electric. But if there had been nice weather and 40,000 people there? I can't even fathom. We really appreciate the effort people made to get here and it really was a great atmosphere. When we came out after halftime, we noticed there were more people here because so many people were late."<br />
<br />
<b>Do you think that the lower attendance last year will play an unfortunate factor in the future of this bowl game?</b><br />
"No. I think they look at ticket sales and there were 40,000 tickets sold. 2.6 million people watched the game on TV. I don't think it has anything to do with it."<br />
<br />
<b>You lose Eric Fisher and Darren Keaton from your offense line, but have a few starters back on the O-line and CMU has traditionally had a strong offensive line. Are you pretty confident in that area?</b><br />
"We have four guys back that have all started games and been productive. We have to find a fifth guy at right guard or right tackle, depending on where we slot Kevin Henry. Not many teams in college football have all five guys back. That'd be nice, but it's not usually the norm. We're very confident that the four guys are going to be productive and that we'll be able to find a fifth. We're going to pick the five best and get them situated."<br />
<br />
<b>Have you used Eric Fisher's going No. 1 as a recruiting tool?</b><br />
"Yeah, we use it as a tool. I don't tell guys that they are going to come in and be the first pick in the draft. But we use it as validity. You can come here and be a first round pick if you work at it. You don't have to go to a school in another conference. At Central Michigan, it's happened twice in six years. What I use it for is to show how our program and our staff develops people coming in. Eric Fisher was developed both on the field and off the field. Now obviously he did it. The way we do things on a day-to-day basis gave him an opportunity to go after his dream."<br />
<br />
<b>Is there any added pressure trying to improve upon last year's season?</b><br />
"I don't put any pressure on myself. Things are going to work out. I don't worry about the outcome. I just try to prepare them every day the best I can and that's what we do. I think academically and athletically, our football team is rising. We're in great shape right now and I like our football team. We've done the very best we can to mold it and I think we'll have a tremendous football team on and off the field. Our first two recruiting classes we're very good and the third one that just got on campus might be the best one athletically from what I understand. I think there is going to be a tremendous future for us."<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>You had a few departures from last year's coaching staff and hired some replacements. You sound pleased with who you brought into the fold.</b><br />
"For sure. Gino Guidugli we brought back. Gino was a graduate assistant. He is very familiar with us and how we do things. He is as bright as they get and a superstar in the making in this business. We brought George Ricumstrict back, which was an easy hire. He's done an outstanding job with our defensive linemen in a very short period of time. He's a great person. And then Archie Collins we hired to coach our cornerbacks. Again, good people. They are all character guys. They are going to relate very well to our players. I love our staff and I think we have as good of a staff as anywhere in the country."<br />
<br />
<b>Your thoughts on Tim Phillips transferring to Austin Peay?</b><br />
"I think it is going to be a great situation for him. He graduated from here and will have an opportunity to play down there. We wish him the best."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b> </b> Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-66763680332663682592013-07-25T17:47:00.000-07:002013-07-25T17:47:10.745-07:00Part Two: Dan Enos quotes from Tuesday's MAC Media Day at Ford FieldHere is Pt. 2 in a three-part blog post transcribing some of what Central Michigan University football coach Dan Enos had to say during Tuesday' Mid-American Conference Media Day at Ford Field.<br />
<br />
I will complete Enos' stuff Friday plus this weekend and into next week I'll blog quotes from several other coaches as well as MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.<br />
<br />
Also, Monday's Morning Sun will feature a Q &A with CMU seniors Zurlon Tipton and Avery Cunningham, both of which took part in the media day festivities.<br />
<br />
Without further adieu, more from Coach Enos:<br />
<br />
<b>After last season's finish, what is the mindset of the team going into the 2013 campaign?</b><br />
"Our players are very proud of the way they finished. To play in a bowl game and win the third bowl game in the history of the school, it was great to see that. They have the understanding just by looking around the room that they have the opportunity to be a very good football team. But what happened last year is in the past. We are starting anew and we have to work. We have to provide leadership and I think our guys had a very productive offseason. We are excited to get going."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>With sites like Rivals.com and Scout.com and so many recruiting tools, is there more pressure on recruiting on a day-to-day basis?</b><br />
"We have a process and a system we use with every recruit. We go through it and are thorough every day. We have outstanding relationships with coaches and our approach has stayed the same. We believe in our system and it works well for us. There are certainly more tools to use nowadays, but I think if you change too much in the way that has been working for you it can take you off course."<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>What has it been like for the program having Eric Fisher go No. 1 in the 2012 NFL Draft?</b><br />
"It's been pretty neat. Everywhere I go, there have been people talking to me about the bowl win or Eric Fisher. For our players, I'm sure it has been the same for them. It's been cool to see the added exposure for the program. It's a real positive. To have Eric Fisher go No. 1 in the NFL Draft, it proves that you can come here and accomplish your dream. You can come here and be an All-American. If you want to play in a bowl game, you can do that here. When we talk to recruits, we ask them what they want. Do you want to graduate? We can make that happen here. You want to play in a bowl game? We can do that. Do you want to be an NFL first round pick? It's happened here. It doesn't guarantee anything, but we can say that we've done that." <b></b><br />
<br />
<b>Is Zurlon Tipton going to be relied on more in the early going as a quarterback gets settled in?</b><br />
"You know, I think the running game is going to be a big part of our offense but ultimately we really want to stay balanced. When we put our winning streak together through the bowl game, we had a strong running game that complemented the passing attack. Our defense also stepped up to keep our scores down. That's going to be the formula every year. Run the ball effectively to set up everything else and play good defense. Zurlon is going to be important and he knows that. If we need to count on him to have a big game, then we'll do that. It starts with a solid running attack and our play-action works off of that."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>How is this year different for Zurlon with more attention on him from a national scale?</b><br />
"I think it plays in somewhat that everybody knows who he is now. But I think the way he started to play last year really showed his ability and brought notice upon him. I'll tell you one thing, we are really good at wideout. We're always going to have some playmakers to the outside. So pick your poison. If you want to load the box up and stop Zurlon, we've got Titus Davis and Andrew Flory and Courtney Williams plus others to the outside that can really do some damage." <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Titus Davis, Courtney Williams, and Defarrel Davis ended last season on a sour note with the bowl game suspension. Are all three back in good graces right now?</b><br />
"Yes they are."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What are your thoughts on Western Michigan's hiring of P.J. Fleck as its head coach?</b><br />
"I don't have any comment on that."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Any additional thoughts on playing mid-week games?</b><br />
"I don't mind it. It's a national TV game. As you get later in the season I think it goes without saying that Sunday and Monday is the NFL, then Tuesday through Friday you are still going to be able to see a game. Everyone is getting their fix seven days a week. I think even Commissioner Steinbrecher said that some of the bigger conferences are looking to play more mid-week games because of the opportunity to be the only game on and the only show in town. Everyone in the country will turn your game on and watch it. My whole thing with mid-week games is this: Just don't make us play it on short rest. I think that puts the kids at risk. You want to talk about safety rules with targeting? Well, let's not make a young man play a football game and then five days later, playing another mid-week game without the rest. Football is a game that requires some rest between games. So make sure both teams are on equal footing and the same amount as rest as possible. If we have to play on six days, make sure they play on six days too. If they have a 12-day break and we have five, that isn't fair. Other than that, they're great. Just make sure everyone has rest and the student-athletes are safe. That's my number one concern is that people are playing tired."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What are your thoughts on the first game at Michigan and the program Coach Hoke has put together there?</b><br />
"I have the utmost respect for their program. Brady Hoke and his staff have done a great job in their time there and Coach Hoke is a class act. He does things the right way and they have a tremendous program obviously. There have been some great stories over the years about what Michigan football has accomplished. But it's going to be a great opportunity for our team. and we're excited about it. I think it's going to be great for our football team to go play in that environment the opening week. We are going to be on national TV and there are going to be 100,000 people in the stands. Go figure it out. Whoever is going to be the guy under center better be ready to go because you are going in the toughest environment as far as atmosphere goes that you are going to get to compete in. I think it will be a great test and a good opportunity."<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-83684282599799678122013-07-24T16:48:00.000-07:002013-07-24T16:48:18.100-07:00Dan Enos MAC Media Day quotes Pt. 1Part 1: Some of what Central Michigan University fourth-year coach Dan Enos had to say at MAC Media Day Tuesday at Ford Field. While it's impossible to transcribe everything Enos said during the course of the four hours, I will have Pt. 2 Thursday and Pt. 3 Friday.<br />
<br />
Also look for quotes from MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, Miami coach Don Treadwell, UMass coach Charley Molnar, Eastern Michigan coach Ron English, Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey, and Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck over the next week.<br />
<br />
<b>On the quarterback battle:</b><br />
<div class="art_para" id="14">
“We have three capable guys there and we are giving them all the
opportunity. To be honest, I hope one of them wins it
outright. I would love to see a clear-cut winner. We’re going to give
them all an opportunity and whoever comes out of it as the starter will
put us in good shape. And we’ll also know we have two other pretty good
guys we can turn to as well. We will mold our offense some to help whoever is the quarterback
play at the best of his ability. We’re going to figure out
the guy who gives us the best chance to win football games and this will
be a great opportunity for whichever one of them gets the job. It’s too early to tell if more than one quarterback will play in the first few weeks. All three guys are going to
have to bear down and win it. If one or two of the three guys don’t show
us that they are ready to play in a game, then we won’t play them.”
</div>
<br />
<b>On slot receiver position:</b><br />
"Within our structure, they all play inside. Titus Davis has played inside, Courtney Williams has played inside. Jesse Kroll can play inside. They've all been forced to play inside at one time or another so they've all learned those routes. They big thing that Cody Wilson did last year that I noticed from watching the cutups is that he caught the ball in traffic. That's the big thing that we try to get through to these guys. It's a little different now with running those option routes in zones. There are a lot of nuances in running those. Andrew Flory showed well in spring and we are going to give him the opportunity to play in there. We're going to put the best guy in there who understands the nuances."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On difficulties of schedule:</b><br />
"Every year I've been here, you guys come in here and say we have a difficult schedule. When you are on our side in the MAC West, it's a tough schedule. We always play Northern Illinois, who has won the league I don't know how many times. The way I look at it is that we have an equal amount of home and road games. We typically play well at home, but we also won some tough road games last year. We're going to look at the positives in our schedule and there are a lot of teams in our league with a tough schedule. I think that is kind of the lay of the land in our league. We don't really worry about it being tough."<br />
<br />
<b>On mid-week games:</b><br />
"I think it will be good to have extra time to heal for guys who are banged up to get them healthy. It will be good for our coaches to get out on the road to recruit. We'll treat it very similar to getting ready for a bowl game. We'll continue to work out and get back in the weight room. We'll continue looking at video. At the end of the day, I think it will be good to have that extra time."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On who will be filling leadership roles:</b><br />
"Two of them are here today in Zurlon Tipton and Avery Cunningham. Shamari Benton and Kenny McClendon on defense. Leterrius Walton and Jason Wilson also on defense. We've got a lot of guys on that side who have played a lot of football. On offense, it's the same thing. Receivers like Titus Davis and Andrew Flory. Jake Olson and Andy Phillips on the offensive line. Those guys have started a lot of games. Adam Fenton is a fifth-year senior who has provided god leadership. We're not concerned at all about our team. We lost two tremendous leaders. There is no doubt about that. And way more leadership than even that because a lot of those seniors that don't get a lot of notoriety did a great job behind the scenes like Mike Repovz and Darren Keyton. Our guys learned a lot about leadership from them. They are going to take the reins. Leadership sometimes has to come from young guys too and we have the guys to do that." <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On the winning streak to end last season being a turning point for program:</b><br />
"I think it showed our guys that what we are doing is working. Last year I kept telling everybody that I think we have a pretty good football team. Our football team believed we have a good football team. I've talked to our football team many times since then that they never wavered. We went down 14-0 at Eastern Michigan. Titus Davis fumbled and got hurt on the first play of the game. You know what? A lot of people can fold the tent in that situation. Our team did the opposite and got it to 14-10 by halftime, then went on to win that football game. Our coaching staff and players really stuck together. and believed in one another. Football is a game of adversity and highs and lows. You have to play through that and I'm proud of the way our football team was able to do that last year. Hopefully we can learn from that and carry it with us when we need to. If we buckle down and stick together, we have a chance to beat everyone on our schedule."<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On importance of linebackers Justin Cherocci and Shamari Benton:</b><br />
"A lot of people don't realize it, but Justin Cherocci began last spring as a walk-on. He had the mentality that he wanted to come here and we didn't have a scholarship for him. Al Fracassa told me that if we take on Justin Cherocci, he'll become a three-year starter for us. When Al Fracassa says something like that, you listen. He earned his scholarship and he was in the top 10 in the league in tackles. He continues to get better and better and better. He is a great young man. Him and Shamari form a very solid linebacker duo that will only get better. When we played in the bowl game and Western Kentucky had the ball on our own goal line after we missed on the 4th-and-1, I believe Shamari made all three tackles to keep them right there. Then we blocked the punt. Shamari either made every play or disrupted every play. That really changed the game. That's the way we expect him to play this entire season. They are both tough linebackers who work hard."<br />
<br />
<b>On the new helmet-to-helmet contact automatic ejection rule:</b><br />
"I think any rule that makes the game safer for players is good for everyone. Now if you do it you know you are going to get thrown out. It's really going to question the depth of your football team. I think the one great thing they have done with the rule is that they are going to review it. So they are going to make sure they get it right. Because if a player gets thrown out, it hurts both the team and the player. You don't get a lot of opportunities to play college football games. When you have to miss a game for that it's pretty devastating. So it will definitely have an impact, but I'm encouraged that they are taking the steps to make sure they get it right. We review so many things now that I don't think it will disrupt the flow of the game."<br />
<br />
<b>On transition of Deon Butler from wide receiver to tight end:</b><br />
"It's going great. I couldn't be any more pleased. Two years ago, I asked Deon about moving to tight end. He flat out said no. I'm not big on making guys change positions when they don't want to, so he played the year at receiver. I approached him again this winter about moving to tight end and he said, 'Yes. Yes. Yes.' He was really good with embracing the move. He's up to 238 now from 219. One thing about Deon is that he is tough. We had no questions that he could line up on the line and match up with a defensive end. He's put on the size and strength to get it done. He knows the nuances with the routes and can put pressure on teams downfield. Being a wide receiver, he knows how to do all those things and he has good ball skills."<br />
<br />
<b>On chance this will be last year of Ford Field hosting Little Caesars Pizza Bowl:</b><br />
"I think it's up in the air from what I've heard from everybody. It's a great game. It's great for our league. It's going on it's 17th year and a lot of bowl games don't make it that long. Having participated in it last year, our coaches and players and fan base had a tremendous time."<br />
<br />
<b>On having built this roster the past few years:</b><br />
"One of my biggest jobs, and I say this to my staff all the time, is that I am the general manager of our team. I'm not just the coach, I'm the general manager too. We need to make sure we bring in the right people. I have a heavy hand in it. It's something I do every day. I continue to look at our roster and I am very pleased with these last three recruiting classes we have put together. Our last one is big and athletic and has the chance to make a real impact. We're excited about what we've put together. I see growth and development in all phases. I see more depth. I see bigger guys. I see a bigger defensive line. They are bigger everywhere. That's the big thing. I think we are doing a good job of developing the younger guys. The older guys are typically playing now and the younger guys are redshirting and developing. They are waiting to get their turn. In college football, you can't take a year off in recruiting. You can't have a bad class because it will come back to bite you somewhere down the line. We work very hard and we are very thorough in who we bring in. It's fun watching these guys grow and develop."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-14191783556458303802013-06-18T14:58:00.001-07:002013-06-18T16:38:17.874-07:00Updated 2013 CMU football game times<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2013 Central Michigan Football Schedule<br />
Saturday, Aug. 31 at Michigan - 3:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)<br />
Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. New Hampshire - 3 p.m. (ESPN3)<br />
Saturday, Sept. 14 at UNLV - TBA<br />
Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Toledo - 12 p.m. (ESPN Regional/ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3/WatchESPN)<br />
Saturday, Sept. 28 at North Carolina State - TBA<br />
Saturday, Oct. 5 at Miami (Ohio) - TBA<br />
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Ohio - 2 p.m.<br />
Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Northern Illinois - 3 p.m.<br />
Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Ball State - 8 p.m. (ESPN2)<br />
Saturday, Nov. 16 at Western Michigan - 12 p.m. (ESPN Regional/ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3/WatchESPN)<br />
Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. UMass - 1 p.m.<br />
Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Eastern Michigan - 2 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In other news, Ohio State has announced that it is canceling its 2016 home game against Central Michigan. </span></span>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-33167322299950885132013-06-02T11:49:00.001-07:002013-06-02T13:32:59.108-07:00All-State robberyTaylor Cole had one last opportunity to be an All-Stater.<br />
The Shepherd High School senior pole vaulter then proceeded to do exactly what she needed to Saturday afternoon to make that dream come true.<br />
Or at least so she thought.<br />
I was made aware yesterday through Twitter of an unfortunate situation involving Cole and Pewamo-Westphalia's Sasha Platte in the pole vault which ended with Cole eventually being shut out of Division 3 All-State honors.<br />
You see, the top eight in every event at the state finals earn All-State recognition. Cole cleared 9-foot-6 on her second attempt, while Platte achieved 9-6 on her third try.<br />
Somehow, in what can only be called an egregious error, Platte was given eighth place and an All-State medal. Cole settled for ninth and on the outside looking in. <br />
Everything in the pole vault is based on misses when there is a tie, so with Platte having missed twice before being successful there is no justifiable reason she would be ahead of Cole who missed once.<br />
Following the pole vault, Cole left the area to run in the mile relay believing she was eighth and would be awarded with an All-State medal shortly thereafter.<br />
I reached out to Cole Sunday and she explained what transpired in full details. <br />
"As soon as I got done running in the mile relay, I went over to the medals tent to get in line," said Cole. "When I went over there, there was a girl from Pewamo-Westphalia in the eighth place spot and I didn't really know what to do. That is when (Shepherd girls coach) Carey Hammel and (Shepherd boys coach) Rick Cahoon went up to the press box to see what happened."<br />
Apparently, Pewamo-Westphalia's coach had protested the results even though the results sheet had said Platte finished 10th.<br />
On one results sheet, it said that Platte only cleared 9-6 which she did and should have placed her behind Cole based on criteria. The other results stated that Platte achieved 9-9 which never actually happened and was later corrected, but it could be a major reason as to why she was listed as finishing ahead of Cole.<br />
I just can't see any way this was done in a correct fashion.<br />
"Even the P-W coach admitted she didn't go 9-9, but the misses were still wrong on the sheet and that never got corrected," Cole said.<br />
Platte was then awarded the eighth spot with little to no explanation, while Cole was left in shock realizing her All-State medal had essentially been ripped from her grasp.<br />
"There were coaches from Gladwin and Sanford-Meridian going up there with our coaches for no other reason than to get it right," Cole said. "The Sanford-Meridian coach was keeping track of the entire event because the official was messing up multiple times. She gave the results she had to the press box, which had me beating (Platte). They didn't care. They admitted there were multiple mistakes, but also said they weren't going to change anything as far as the eighth place spot goes. So there wasn't really anything we could do about it at that point."<br />
The MHSAA didn't get it right. Not even in the slightest.<br />
At the very least, the MHSAA needs to admit that Cole got the raw end of the deal and declare a tie for eighth place as it would be severely unfair at this point for Platte to lose her medal.<br />
Would it be so difficult to have an All-State medal delivered to Cole's home, one she rightly deserves? <br />
While the running events stream live on the internet and are all captured on video, there is no such video for the field events. Plus it is against the rules for spectators to shoot video.<br />
So what you have is word against word and from many different sources, the girls pole vault event was run incredibly poorly.<br />
"At the boys pole vault, there were two officials working it. Two or three," said Cole. "At the girls pole vault, there was only one official. There were athletes and coaches complaining about how it was run the whole time, but there was no one else to talk to except the one official. It was run just fine last year by the same official, but this year it was a mess." <br />
What you have is a deserving girl, a senior at that, in Cole who is being completely robbed of All-State honors.<br />
What you probably won't have is the MHSAA holding itself accountable and making a correction.<br />
It's shameful.<br />
"That was my only chance," Cole said. <br />
Cole is set to soon head off to Trine University to begin her freshman year, where she will be playing collegiate basketball. She'll be just fine in the long run, but not likely an All-State pole vaulter unless the MHSAA does the right thing.<br />
And that is a case of All-State robbery.Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-85259957023819250752013-04-18T12:29:00.001-07:002013-04-18T12:29:16.071-07:00Where will Eric Fisher go?Where CMU left tackle Eric Fisher will go in next week's draft is a question on plenty of people's mind. I certainly don't have the answer. But here are the latest mock drafts from most of the people who make NFL mock drafts famous. Here is where they have Fisher going:<br />
<br />
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com -<br />
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/170851" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions </a><br />
<br />
Todd McShay, ESPN.com -<br />
<a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/9134099/2013-nfl-draft-todd-mcshay-mock-draft-update" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Don Banks, Sports Illustrated -<br />
<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130417/2013-nfl-mock-draft-6/" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs</a><br />
<br />
Josh Norris, RotoWorld -<br />
<a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/42987/344/april-9-mock-with-trades" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Arizona Cardinals</a><br />
<br />
Dane Brugler, CBS Sports -<br />
<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-DaneBrugler" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs</a><br />
<br />
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News -<br />
<a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2013-04-05/nfl-mock-draft-2013-updated-geno-smith-joeckel-fisher-jordan-floyd" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Erik Galko, Sporting News -<br />
<a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2013-04-08/2013-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-joeckel-chiefs-geno-smith-jaguars-floyd" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Russ Lande, National Football Post -<br />
<a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Mock-Draft-Version-110.html" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs</a><br />
<br />
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk -<br />
<a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/07/2013-pft-mock-draft-version-2/" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Miami Dolphins</a><br />
<br />
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com -<br />
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-drafts/bucky-brooks/170850" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs</a><br />
<br />
Clark Judge, CBS Sports -<br />
<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/fullnflmockdraft-ClarkJudge" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Dan Shonka, Ourlads -<br />
<a href="http://www.ourlads.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs</a><br />
<br />
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com -<br />
<a href="http://walterfootball.com/draft2013archive_0409.php" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Philadelphia Eagles</a><br />
<br />
Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com - <br />
<a href="http://walterfootball.com/draft2013charlie.php" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times -<br />
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-nfl-mock-draft-20130407,0,3765585,full.story" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
Rob Rang, CBS Sports -<br />
<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-RobRang" target="_blank">Eric Fisher, Detroit Lions</a><br />
<br />
<br />Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-69502885764812241272013-04-08T10:39:00.000-07:002013-04-08T10:39:16.481-07:00Quotes from Coach Enos, Coach Watts, and WR Jerry HarrisI made it to CMU's post-scrimmage Saturday (the actual scrimmage was closed to media), but due to many other work responsibilities getting in the way along with family being in town I haven't had the chance to sit down and transcribe it.<br />
<br />
As we all know, the spring game is April 13 at 1 p.m. and this is the last week of preparation as it closes in. I spoke with head coach Dan Enos about where his team is at right now, QB coach Morris Watts about that battle, and Jerry Harris on his return from a knee injury.<br />
<br />
<b>Coach Enos:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On the quarterback battle:</b><br />
"It's pretty even. A lot of good going on from a lot of different people. It's too early to tell, but they're doing well. Cody Kater in particular is looking very, very good."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On Cody Kater in particular:</b><br />
"His intangibles and grasp of the offense. He's made plays when we've asked him to make plays. He's done that. Alex (Niznak), A.J. (Westendorp), and Coop (Cooper Rush) have too. We'll have to look at the video, but I think Cody had another really solid day today."<br />
<br />
<b>On the progression of the rest of the team:</b><br />
"I'll tell you what Nate, it's been a great spring. Great enthusiasm, great effort. It's been unbelievable. The coaches are doing a great job. Everybody that has been here to practice whether it's high school coaches, players, some of the guys that come every day have noticed it and said it too. There is great chemistry and it's very, very positive. A lot of good competition and we're very excited about this team."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> On the depth differences from his first year to this year:</b><br />
"Our first spring, we had one tight end and two quarterbacks and we had to cancel a practice because we didn't have enough wide receivers to practice. So we're way ahead of that obviously as far as that goes. We have two full D-lines, two full O-lines, we have two sets of receivers with spares, we have running backs, we have five quarterbacks. We're really functioning like a football program right now and it's paying dividends because we're practicing with that. It's been good."<br />
<br />
<b>On a couple players that have switched positions:</b><br />
"Maurice (Shoemaker-Gilmore) has been slowed down a little with a hamstring. Deon Butler has been outstanding at tight end. The change has been very good for him. He definitely blocks well enough for that position. He's extremely tough. Your mental approach to that position in blocking, 80 percent of it is how you approach it mentally. He's there. He has to gain some weight. He's got to gain some weight. He's about 228 right now and we need to get him to 238. But running the routes, ball skills, the toughness. That's all there. We just need to get him a little more lead in his pencil." <b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>On his thoughts on the fast approaching spring game:</b><br />
"I'm looking forward to that and staying healthy this week. Hopefully we can do that and sharpen up with two more good practices. We're just going to try and have some fun Saturday."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On Jerry Harris:</b><br />
"He's looking good. He's coming off that knee, so he's been a little rusty in there. But he provides speed. Him and Titus (Davis) can really stretch it. Jerry provides that and he provides leadership. We're excited to have him back. He's a great kid and we're excited for him."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Coach Watts:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On the evenness of the quarterback battle:</b><br />
"It's even. It's tied. Which is good because what you need at the point we are now without having a returning starter at quarterback, we need all those guys going into the summer battling. So everyone is working their fannies off all summer long. If I'm a guessing guy, it's probably going to go that way into the fall for a while because they're that close right now. They each have their days and they're all improving pretty well. Still a thing we need to get is a little more consistency, which happens with young quarterbacks. I think we're pleased with where we are with them, but eventually hopefully somebody jumps out of the crowd to become the guy. And they will. But they're all battling right now and have kept it close the whole spring. Sometimes you'd say that's not what you want, sometimes you'd say that's good. I think in our situation the way it is right now and the fact that nobody's been the man, it's good that it's close because it puts a lot of pressure on each guy to really work over the course of the summer."<br />
<br />
<b>On knowing that perhaps three or four QBs can do the job rather than just one:</b><br />
"At least we'll know there will be a little bit of depth there. But the real bonus is that those guys can make a lot of gains and a lot of improvements over the summer months working together with the receivers. We can't be out there coaching them, but we've coached them all spring and they know what we want improved and what they need to work on and all that. I think it's great that they are going to be out there battling each other for the entire summer."<br />
<br />
<b>On what Kater might bring to the table:</b><br />
Well, he has a little bit more maturity than the others just because he's been around another grade longer. And he's played. Even though it was junior college ball, he started there. I don't think it's a complete separator for him now, but I think that's the one thing he brings to the table a little bit. That he's been in those situations a little bit more. But all of them are throwing the ball really well and bringing a lot to the table at practice in terms of being competitive and that's what you want to see. Guys that want to be challenged and want to work hard every day to earn that spot. At the same time, they've been very cohesive and helping one another too. They all want to be better than the other guy every practice, but they are also guys that hang together in practice and help each other out. And really, they all have a chance to start at some point just because it is a good situation in terms of how the classes stack out and everyone having different years of eligibility left."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jerry Harris:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On how the knee is feeling:</b><br />
"The knee is feeling really good right now. I think the last couple of weeks it got to 100 percent and I got it out of my head when I'm running. I'm good to go."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> On the play in which he got hurt:</b><br />
"It was the Michigan State game, the first kick return of the first quarter. I got hit out of bounds by the kicker. At that point when it happened, I just thought it was a minor bruise because I got up and ran off the field. A couple plays later, I was running full speed and then all of a sudden it stopped on me. The official diagnosis was a partially torn PCL."<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>On whether he worried he wouldn't be granted a sixth year of eligibility:</b><br />
"At first, I thought I was done. But after talking to a couple coaches about the qualifications of getting a sixth year, I saw that I fit right in. They said that I had to miss two full years and I did, my freshman year and last year. So I wasn't too worried about it. I was just rehabbing and praying that the coaches would bring me back to give me a second opportunity. Very blessed."<br />
<br />
<b>On if he feels just as fast as before the injury:</b><br />
"I feel just as fast. And actually, through my rehab I got a lot stronger. I put on 10 pounds of muscle in order to help my knee get back to normal faster. So right now I am feeling a lot quicker."<br />
<br />
<b>On what he sees out of the quarterback battle:</b><br />
"It is pretty even. Every day those guys come to practice and it's heavy competition. There is no slacking. Coop is stepping up as a freshman. We have competition in that room. It's crazy. I've seen a lot of good things from that quarterback group."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On whether he feels even more of a leadership role with guys like Cody Wilson gone:</b><br />
"Yes sir. Most definitely. As you said, Cody's gone now so I'm the only senior left. A lot of guys look up to me. They don't know it, but I look up to a lot of guys in our room too because they motivate me to bring it every day. They bring a lot of energy in that room."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On the momentum going into the fall:</b><br />
"We finished the season the way we wanted to with the four-game winning streak. This year, we're looking forward to doing a lot better things."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On anything else he would like to throw in there:</b><br />
"Fire up Chips 2013!"<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-76812412358459328942013-03-27T15:05:00.004-07:002013-03-27T15:08:23.765-07:002013 MLB Season PredictionsWell, it is that time of year again and I am anxiously awaiting the start of the MLB regular season just like the rest of you. Gonna switch it up a little bit with this blog and offer up my season predictions. Check back in October to see how wrong I am.<br />
<br />
AL East<br />
1) Toronto Blue Jays<br />
2) Tampa Bay Rays<br />
3) New York Yankees<br />
4) Boston Red Sox<br />
5) Baltimore Orioles<br />
<br />
AL Central<br />
1) Detroit Tigers<br />
2) Chicago White Sox<br />
3) Cleveland Indians<br />
4) Kansas City Royals<br />
5) Minnesota Twins<br />
<br />
AL West<br />
1) Los Angeles Angels<br />
2) Seattle Mariners<br />
3) Texas Rangers<br />
4) Oakland A's<br />
5) Houston Astros<br />
<br />
NL East<br />
1) Atlanta Braves<br />
2) Washington Nationals<br />
3) Philadelphia Phillies<br />
4) New York Mets<br />
5) Miami Marlins<br />
<br />
NL Central<br />
1) Cincinnati Reds<br />
2) Pittsburgh Pirates<br />
3) St. Louis Cardinals<br />
4) Milwaukee Brewers<br />
5) Chicago Cubs<br />
<br />
NL West<br />
1) Los Angeles Dodgers<br />
2) San Francisco Giants<br />
3) Colorado Rockies<br />
4) Arizona Diamondbacks<br />
5) San Diego Padres<br />
<br />
AL Wild Cards: Tampa Bay Rays over Seattle Mariners<br />
NL Wild Cards: Washington Nationals over San Francisco Giants<br />
<br />
ALDS: Angels over Rays / Tigers over Blue Jays<br />
NLDS: Braves over Dodgers / Nationals over Reds<br />
<br />
ALCS: Angels over Tigers<br />
NLCS: Braves over Nationals<br />
<br />
World Series: Braves over Angels<br />
<br />
AL MVP: Mike Trout<br />
AL Rookie of the Year: Aaron Hicks<br />
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander<br />
AL Manager of the Year: Eric Wedge <br />
<br />
NL MVP: Matt Kemp<br />
NL Rookie of the Year: Julio Teheran<br />
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw<br />
NL Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-6563003453883992672013-03-16T11:11:00.002-07:002013-03-16T11:15:29.085-07:00A few minutes with CMU running back Zurlon TiptonCentral Michigan running back Zurlon Tipton busted out in a big way during the 2012 season and was a major force behind an offensive that averaged 28.8 points while scoring 30 or more points in nine games.<br />
In 13 starts last year, Tipton rushed 252 times for 1,492 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 289 yards and an additional score. He completed the year rushing for over 100 yards in his last seven games including 23 carries for 101 yards in the 24-21 win over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.<br />
Tipton will be a senior this fall and undoubtedly is going to again be a major focal point for the Chippewas offense, especially as they attempt to break in a new starting quarterback.<br />
With spring football in its first week, I chatted with Tipton for a few minutes after practice Friday. Here is what he had to say:<br />
<br />
<b>On the last few practice days:</b><br />
"The atmosphere has been great. Guys are flying around, players are wanting to be coached. It's a great feeling to be back out here and just looking forward to having a better season than we had last year."<br />
<br />
<b>On feeling as though last season just ended:</b><br />
"Especially playing in the bowl game, we didn't have that month to go home. We feel like we just got out of the pads. But I feel like everyone has been carrying their pads really well in these practices. It's been exciting."<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On how important the extra practices/bowl game were to the younger guys on the roster:</b><br />
"I think it was very beneficial. When they came out here for spring practice, we didn't even have to teach them. There were 15 extra days there to get them reps. It was like they were playing that season with us. You don't have to coach them up much. Just on techniques. As far as the scheme of things, they have it down pat."<br />
<br />
<b>On how his foot feels:</b><br />
"It doesn't bother me a lot. I don't even think about it. Mind over matter. It don't mind, it don't matter. I mean, of course there are always going to be aches and pains but I'll be alright."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On how the rest of the running backs group looks:</b><br />
"Everyone's looking we.. Especially with Martez (Walker) coming in there. It's not hard to play running back. Block left, block right. It's been exciting just being in that room and being around great people. Everyone's excited for the season."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On the added confidence levels of the team heading into this fall:</b><br />
"Whenever you come off a winning season, that confidence is there. We did this, now we can do better than that. I think everybody has that mindset of coming out and doing better than last year."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On how he is looking to improve his own game:</b><br />
"There are a few things. You can always clean up your own game. I felt like going into last year I wanted to work a lot on my protections. Now it's just technique, getting all the little things down that I need to work on. That's just me."<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-65346651654579036922013-03-11T13:35:00.004-07:002013-03-11T13:38:33.419-07:00What they had to say at CMU Pro DayCMU Pro Day was a swarm of players, NFL scouts, media, and onlookers Monday morning. Many of them wanted to get a look at projected top 10 pick Eric Fisher, but others who were getting looks included safety Jahleel Addae along with wide receiver Cody Wilson and quarterback Ryan Radcliff.<br />
<br />
Here is what they had to say:<br />
<br />
<b>Eric Fisher:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On his overall thoughts for the day:</b><br />
"It went good. I was happy with my NFL Combine results, so I stuck with O-line drills today. I thought they went very well. Just a quick 15 or 20-minute workout and did a little more work here (meetings) with some teams. It was a good day."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On what he felt he needed to prove:</b><br />
"I just think I needed to be consistent in my performance in the last two or three months. That's a big thing I try to do is just be consistent in everything I do."<br />
<br />
<b>On having former CMU standouts Joe Staley and Frank Zombo in attendance for support:</b><br />
"Joe is probably the biggest one just because he played my position. Him and Zombo being here was cool. I didn't know (Zombo) was coming, but I knew Joe was coming and it's always nice to have people in the building who have been there and done that. Joe just played in the Super Bowl and Frank has a Super Bowl ring. Hopefully I'll be following in those footsteps."<br />
<br />
<b>On the process of getting to this point:</b><br />
"It's been pretty hectic, but it's been a great process though. Very busy. My schedule constantly gets busier and busier. Been all over the country country, but this is my dream and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting drafted here in April."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On if he is surprised how fast he has risen on draft boards:</b><br />
"Yeah, I guess I've been known to be an under the radar player these last four years. Coming out of a MAC school and not having the national exposure the SEC, the ACC, and PAC-12 all have I've been under the radar for quite some time. And to be honest, I like being under the radar. Just quietly rising up and it's been my mission to get as high as possible. So we'll see what happens in April."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On if he thought he had a legitimate shot at being a top-five pick before his senior season:</b><br />
"Honestly, it's gone a lot farther than I ever dreamed of. Deep down it was always my goal to get as high as possible and I've worked really hard to get here."<br />
<br />
<b>On where he think he will go:</b><br />
"In the end it's not up to me where I go. Obviously until April 25th I'm going to be working to go No. 1. I think that would great for our program. It would be great for me and my family<b> </b>obviously, but it's great to represent my school and the Chippewas in this way."<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>On the next step in the process:</b><br />
"One-on-one workouts and team visits are happening now, so I'll be going around the country with some teams. I'm not sure exactly where I am going next, my agent just kind of calls me and tells me where to go."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On whether he pays attention to mock drafts:</b><br />
"No I don't. Coaches and general managers have the real draft so I don't need to pay attention to anyone else."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On if his process has changed him at all:</b><br />
"No, definitely not. Why would I change who I am because of something I'm going through? I'm always going to be the person I was and remember where I came from. I went to high school with this guy (points at CM Life reporter Ryan Zuke). But yeah, I just have to be<b> </b>me. When you start changing, that is when things catch up to you."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On his feelings on possibly being drafted by the Detroit Lions:</b><br />
"Anyone who wants to give me an opportunity, I'm in. I'm going to go to that organization and do my best. It would be cool staying home, but also with staying home there comes a lot of stress because there are so many more people who know who you are and whatnot. Wherever I go, I'm going to enjoy playing football."<br />
<br />
<b>On if he is going to New York for the draft:</b><br />
"I don't know yet. I haven't been invited at this point."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On the most difficult part of this process:</b><br />
"I pretty much knew what to expect with the process. That's why you go training and prepare yourself. I've been preparing for four years now in college. I always knew what was coming. It's here now. It's all pretty surreal, but it's starting to set in that this is all happening." <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> On how he would make his case if asked why he should be the first tackle taken:</b><br />
"I'm just a very competitive person. I work to be number one in everything I do. I'm a very hard worker and I'm good in everything I do. After that, it's up to them."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On if had any conversations with Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel at the NFL Combine:</b><br />
"No, I didn't really say anything to him.<b>"</b><br />
<br />
<b>On pro offensive tackles that he models his game after:</b><br />
"Yeah, obviously Joe (Staley). He was a first rounder and played in the Super Bowl. I love watching film of him and seeing what he does to defeat all his defenders. I look up to the guy. He's been there, done that. So I get in touch with him any time I need something and it's good having him there."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On what Staley has said to him recently:</b><br />
"Nothing motivational. He just said keep doing what you've been doing. You've prepared the last four years for all this, not just the last two months. That would be impossible. But he just tells me what to expect and to just relax and be yourself."<br />
<br />
<b>On having the NFL world focused on him:</b><br />
"It's been a cool experience. Not many people get to go through this. I'm grateful and blessed I have this opportunity. I'm thankful that a lot of people were here to watch my teammates who were here to perform today and that they were able to get that much more spotlight.<b> </b>That's obviously good for them. I don't know what all the results are, but I hope they did very well and I wish them the best."<br />
<br />
<b>On what the most fun aspect of the past couple months has been:</b><br />
"Meeting a lot of these people that you see on TV and stuff. These famous players with Super Bowl rings. That's pretty cool. The whole process is unbelievable. A great experience and I'm really enjoying it."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On the possibility of another Chippewa being drafted:</b><br />
"I think that would be awesome. Hopefully we can get Central Michigan on the level where we can get someone drafted every year. I wish the best to all the guys out there. I definitely wish the best for myself also, but it's a building process. The MAC's stepping out and you can see as a conference we beat a lot of Big Ten teams this year. We're just trying to make a name for ourselves.<b>"</b><br />
<br />
<b>On doing offensive line drills with Darren Keyton and Mike Repovz:</b><br />
"Working with Darren and Mike was awesome because I've been working with those guys for a long time now. We've started a ton of games together. There were definitely some familiar people around me."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Ryan Radcliff:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On his thoughts of his workout:</b><br />
"I thought my testing was OK. I was really focusing on the throwing and all in all I think that went well. I don't know what the scouts thought about it, but I did what I wanted to do out here. I only had one or two incompletions. So it was a good day as far as everything was considered."<br />
<br />
<b>On how Eric Fisher's presence benefited everyone else:</b><br />
"Just him doing as well as he is and improving his draft stock, we get a lot more people coming out here that want to watch him. That only helps all the other guys<b> </b>on the team to get us a look too."<br />
<br />
<b>On helping his wide receivers and defensive backs by throwing to them today:</b><br />
"Just having all these teams here and being familiar with the receivers out there. Guys that I know. We had Skylar Stoker (Ferris State) here as a new guy, but even with him we fit in pretty well. Rocky (Weaver), I played with him in the past. Just having receivers you are familiar with in their body motions and movements, it really helps."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On whether teams have talked to him:</b><br />
"Not really yet. I'm hoping after this, it will get the ball rolling. I think not having an agent hinders that a little bit, but at the same time they know I am here and can get a hold of me if they want to."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>On if he would be willing to play in the Canadian Football League:</b><br />
"I'm not sure. I think it would probably end up being NFL or nothing. I love me some football, but I have other things that I like to do and other opportunities where if football doesn't work out it's kind of a win-win honestly. I'm pretty blessed."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>On his workout regimen:</b><br />
"Probably three or four days usually. Lifting, running, throwing about that much. Kind of an every other day basis right now. I'm not out here killing myself to the point where I'm beating my body down. I'm staying in shape and gaining a little bit in terms of strength. Just staying on top of my throwing. When you come out here throwing every day, you're going to start getting a little dead arm and I don't want that."<br />
<br />
<b>Jahleel Addae:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On his overall thoughts:</b><br />
"I had a good showing today. I'm pleased with how I did."<br />
<br />
<b>On how many teams have talked to him this winter:</b><br />
"Since the East/West Shrine Game, I'd say about 13 or 14 teams have talked to me. Today I spoke to about five teams."<br />
<br />
<b>On finally having CMU Pro Day in the rear view mirror:</b><br />
"It's like a big sigh of relief. I've been waiting a long time for this moment and I finally got to work and showed what I can do. Now it's just a waiting game."<br />
<br />
<b>On what it says for the CMU program to have 26 NFL teams in attendance:</b><br />
"It says that we're not small-time football. There are big-time players that come out of here. Coach Enos does a great job of recruiting and it's great that our senior class had so many NFL scouts come out to watch us today."<br />
<br />
<b>On if he helped his draft status these past couple months:</b><br />
"I feel like I did. I had a good showcase today. I ran well. I jumped well. It was good."<br />
<br />
<b>On his everyday routine:</b><br />
"Get up, eat, work out, sleep. Treatment, trainers, workout, sleep. I mean, it's 24/7 football. All the time every day. I just wanted to go out there today and do a good job. I'm really happy with how I did."<br />
<br />
<b>On how Fisher's presence helped him and other CMU players:</b><br />
"Yeah,<b> </b>'Big Fish' brought a big crowd out and he deserves everything he's getting. That's really helped us showcase our talent. All in all, it's a plus for everybody."<br />
<br />
<b>On pro safeties he compares his game to:</b><br />
"I've heard I resemble Louis Delmas in this way he plays and comes downhill with reckless abandon along with the passion that he plays the game. I'll take it. He was a second rounder and is a successful safety in the league. Delmas and Polomalu. Guys that get in the box and can hit. Both play the game with intensity and passion. They go for it."<br />
<br />
<b>On how he would pitch himself to an NFL team:</b><br />
"I'm a dedicated leader and ready to work. Special teams, anything it takes to help the team win I'll do. I'm passionate and play the game with energy. I'm a football player."<br />
<br />
<b>On whether he was nervous at any point:</b><br />
<b> </b>"Not really. When I first came in here I was kind of nervous, but other than that it felt like game day. I was ready."<br />
<br />
<b>Cody Wilson:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On his overall thoughts:</b><br />
"I thought it went really well. I caught the ball well and ran good routes. Overall, I thought it went well."<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>On what he has been doing to prepare himself:</b><br />
"I've been training down in Georgia. Start at 9, meetings from 9-10, route work and position at 10, speed work 11, lifting 11:30-2. That was every day for about two months."<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>On benefits of Fisher bringing in more scouts:</b><br />
"I think it benefits all the guys running a lot. It's been something I've talked about with my agent. It's a blessing having a guy like Eric Fisher come out. He didn't do a ton today, but a lot of scouts came out so there are more eyes to see you. For Central, I think that was a good thing for the whole program and all the guys involved today."<br />
<br />
<b>On scouts requesting Radcliff throw to him instead of Jon Kitna:</b><br />
"Ryan threw great. It was kind of spur of the moment because we haven't been working together. He threw the ball great and everything went well. If anything, I just feel bad for Jon because he flew out here from Seattle. But he spoke at my dad's church, so he did something. It was really nice of him to come out and kind of a bummer that it happened this way. But everything worked out pretty well."<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On relationship with Kitna:</b><br />
"Once he came to Detroit, my dad's a chaplain over there. He's a guy that is really into his faith, so him and my dad developed a really close friendship. They are like best friends. So he threw a lot to me in high school which was really nice of him, so we've had a relationship. So after this all happened, he kind of reached out to my family and suggested he could come throw to me. That's kind of how it all went down."<br />
<br />
<b>On whether it helped having Kitna's support there:</b><br />
"I think so. Yesterday we went through some stuff. With the Pro Day stuff, he was talking football with me and what would be expected of me at the next level. He was in the NFL for 16 years. The amount of wisdom he has is unlimited, so it's really good in that aspect. He's a great guy. Anything I had a question with he could answer. He's been around an knows how the NFL works. He's a great guy to go to for advice on and off the field."<br />
<br />
<b>On doing 21 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press:</b><br />
"The most I've done before is 19. I'm kind of a meathead for a receiver. I don't if that hurts my 40 time, but I like lifting. I'm pretty happy with that number. I was trying to get 20 or north of 20. So that was right in the range I was expecting and I was pretty happy with it." <br />
<br />
<b>On the adrenaline rush of the day:</b> <br />
"I was kind of going crazy with the adrenaline on the lifting and after that was over, I was kind of hoping my energy would come back. The adrenaline definitely kicked in running those routes, but that is football and you have to deal with it."<br />
<br />
<b>On his 40 time:</b><br />
"I think it was in the 4.6 range, I think that is what some guys were saying. I was hoping for a 4.5 or maybe a 4.4 on a great day, but I'm happy with a 4.6.<b> </b>I think I'm more quick than linear."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On pro receivers he models his game after:</b><br />
"One guy when I was 16 because of my dad's relationship with the Lions is Mike Furrey. When he was with the Lions, I got to run routes with him. Running routes with him a couple times in high school, I probably learned more from him in high school than I have my entire career. He's a guy I probably play similar to. All those slot guys. Danny Amendola, Wes Welker, those are guys that my game is comparable to. So it's fun to watch those guys and see how they operate."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On how he would pitch himself to an NFL team:</b><br />
"I think I had a really good college career. Production-wise, I think I did well. I wouldn't change anything from my time at Central. From leadership and off-the-field stuff to what I did on the field, I don't think a lot of guys did that. I do things right and I'm a high-character guy. You want me in your locker room. I'm going to be a good leader and I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do, which is make plays. I don't think a lot of guys can say all around that they do that kind of stuff."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Coach Enos:</b><br />
<br />
<b>On how Fisher's presence helps everything:</b><br />
"I think when you look at us and you want to be an All-American, you can go to Central Michigan and be an All-American. You can be a first round draft pick. Fisher will probably be the second one we've had here. If you want to come here and be a first round draft pick, you can do that. He gives validity to everything we talk about. If you want to go to the NFL and be a first round draft choice, you don't have to go to a big-time program or an SEC school to do that. You can come to our school and do that. It's not just telling you that, we have people that have proved it. The big thing with Fisher is that he is obviously talented and has a lot of God-given ability, but our offensive line coach (Mike) Cummings did an outstanding job of developing him. One of the big things pro scouts talk to me about his how well-coached he is and our system that we run, how well that translates to the NFL. Those are all things we talk to young people about coming here."<br />
<br />
<b>On if he surprised by Fisher's rise up draft boards:</b><br />
"We saw glimpses of it a few years ago. We saw a big, lean guy that could run. Our thing was that we said if he could ever get to 300 pounds and maintain it, he could become very good and go as high as he could possibly go. That's been one thing he's been great at this year. This is the first year where as he got to 300, 302, and 304 he's maintained it pretty much the entire season. I've told this to pro people, I think his best days are yet to come. He didn't redshirt. He played tight end in high school. So he hasn't played tackle for all that long. I think that whoever gets him will not only get a great player but someone who will continue to get better and better as the years go on." <br />
<br />
<b>On having high-character guys like Fisher, Addae, Wilson, and Radcliff at CMU Pro Day:</b><br />
"It's great for our young guys that were here watching on the side. But what a great group of seniors. Their good people, their good young men. Some of them have already received their degrees. Their just good people. There were a lot of them to watch today. I know they're all anxious about the process, but it's fun for us to be able to watch them at this stage."<br />
<br />
<b>On why Addae's game might translate to the next level:</b><br />
"I think he could fit in a lot of different areas. I think he's a good tackler. That helps him. I think he's very explosive and very smart. He loves to play the game. He'll be a guy that is early to meetings and stay late to work on his trade. He can play in a lot of different special teams areas and helpful there. I think he can play safety as well as at nickel back. Again, his athletic ability and mental toughness I think will translate well to that league. Same goes with Cody Wilson. They're just looking for that team that will give them a chance."<br />
<br />
<b>On who might have stood out:</b><br />
"That is hard for me to say, but there was a buzz about Jahleel's workout. I think he did a 38-inch vertical and broad jumped at 10-foot-4. People can see he's explosive on video, but to see him do it live is another thing. I thought Cody Wilson performed extremely well especially in position drills. Just like everything, everyone has their own opinions. But I'm sure a lot of the guys did well. Eric Fisher.... he's pretty good. He kind of showed that again today. But those two other (offensive linemen) Mike Repovz and Darren Keyton, I think those guys are underrated. Fisher gets a lot of the attention, but those two guys if they get in a camp have a legitimate chance because of the system we run. They pick up things very quickly. They played a lot of football here and in that league, they're always looking for guys to come to camp and I think those two guys could have a good chance to stick around."<br />
<br />
<b>On what Cody Wilson brings to the table:</b><br />
"He is a guy who is really quick in and out of his breaks. His short shuttle time was probably outstanding. He is going to catch the ball in traffic, he is going to create separation. He is going to catch it. He is another guy who I really think could help an NFL team as far as being a punt returner or a guy running down the field making tackles on special teams. He just fits in a lot of different areas and is a high-character guy who is going to work hard. Someone asked me today if he can make a team. And I'll tell you this, the guy who is called in to cut him it's going to be tough to do. You are looking at a guy you are going to want on your football team. After looking at all our season cut-ups in the last month and a half, we're going to miss him. Watching the video, you saw a guy who was going to make big play after big play. Sometimes they're subtle plays that maybe the fans don't see, but they're obviously very noticeable to our coaching staff."<b> </b> <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On Ryan Radcliff's throwing:</b><br />
<b> </b>"I thought Ryan threw very well. He threw the deep ball very well and he was very accurate. I wish we could have Ryan back here another year if nothing else. But yeah, I thought Ryan threw the ball very well."<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>On having this event the day before spring practice starts: </b><br />
"We had a 5:45 a.m. workout this morning with our team to welcome them back from spring break. Then they were all out here because our guys don't have morning classes, most of them don't. It's great. It gives it a little energy, a little enthusiasm. You have to have goals and you have to have dreams. You have to have opportunities to reach those goals, so it's great for our young guys to be able to see something like this. They see the excitement and feel the adrenaline out here. I know that will carry over to tomorrow morning."<b> </b>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-33953335507399569532013-03-10T16:48:00.003-07:002013-03-10T16:48:53.061-07:00Tale of the tape - CMU vs. Buffalo<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">No. 9 seed CMU (11-19)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">67.3 points per game (5th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">71.7 points allowed per game (12th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">40.8% shooting as a team (10th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">72.6% free throw shooting (2nd<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">33.2% 3-point shooting (6th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">47.8% defensive field goal percentage (12th in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Sr. Kyle Randall (18.3 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Fr. John Simons (5.0 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak – 10</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Lost 1 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI – 255</span></div>
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No. 8 seed Buffalo (12-19<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">66.4 points per game (7th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>67.2 points allowed per game (7th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">45.1% shooting as a team (3rd in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">69.4% free throw shooting (6th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">34.9% 3-point shooting (3rd in MAC) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">42.0% defensive field goal percentage (4th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Jr. Javon McCrea (17.8 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Jr. Javon McCrea (7.9 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 3</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak – 3</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Lost 4 </span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI -226</span>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-8142313334791720702013-03-08T22:12:00.001-08:002013-03-10T16:32:05.587-07:00Tale of the tape - CMU vs. Western Michigan<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">CMU (11-18, 4-11 in MAC, 2-11 on road)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">67.3 points per game (5th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">71.8 points allowed per game (12th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">40.7% shooting as a team (10th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">73.1% free throw shooting (2nd<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">32.7% 3-point shooting (8th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">47.8% defensive field goal percentage (12th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Sr. Kyle Randall (17.8 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Fr. John Simons (5.0 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak – 10</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Won 2 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI – 259</span></div>
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Western Michigan<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> (18-11, 9-6 in MAC, 10-2 at home)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">67.0 points per game (6th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>63.4 points allowed per game (3rd in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">43.0% shooting as a team (6th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">69.0% free throw shooting (7th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">32.0% 3-point shooting (10th in MAC) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">40.3% defensive field goal percentage (3rd in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Jr. Shayne Whittington (12.8 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Jr. Shayne Whittington (8.8 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 7</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak –3</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Lost 2 </span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI -134</span>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-37218578193507557572013-03-05T10:44:00.000-08:002013-03-05T10:44:00.196-08:00Participating CMU Pro Day playersHere is the list of CMU football players who will take part in Pro Day March 11 starting at 8 a.m.:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">DB Jahleel Addae, Valrico, Fla.<br />
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DB Taylor Bradley, Cincinnati, Ohio<br />
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OL Eric Fisher, Rochester, Mich.<br />
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K David Harman, Traverse City, Mich.<br />
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K/P Curtis Huge, Bakersfield, Calif.<br />
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OL Darren Keyton, Traverse City, Mich.<br />
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DE Joe Kinville, Northville, Mich.<br />
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DB Mark Lathers, Grass Lake, Mich.<br />
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QB Ryan Radcliff, Sherwood, Ohio<br />
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DL Chris Reeves, Oak Park, Mich.<br />
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OL Mike Repovz, Lansing, Mich.<br />
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DE Caesar Rodriguez, Miami, Fla.<br />
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OL Rocky Weaver, Battle Creek, Mich.<br />
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DB Lorenzo White, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.<br />
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DL Nate Williams, New Haven, Mich.<br />
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WR Cody Wilson, Rochester Hills, Mich.<br />
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DL Steve Winston, Muskegon Heights, Mich.</span></span>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561213937640397570.post-44429406563237782462013-03-04T18:18:00.002-08:002013-03-04T18:18:40.109-08:00Tale of the tape - CMU vs. Eastern Michigan<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">CMU (10-18, 3-11 in MAC, 5-6 at home)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">67.5 points per game (5th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">72.2 points allowed per game (12th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">40.6% shooting as a team (10th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">72.9% free throw shooting (2nd<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">32.6% 3-point shooting (8th<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">47.8% defensive field goal percentage (12th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Sr. Kyle Randall (17.6 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Fr. John Simons (5.1 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak – 10</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Won 1 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI – 271</span></div>
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Eastern Michigan<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> (14-15, 7-7 in MAC, 2-11 on road)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">56.6 points per game (11th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>59.0 points allowed per game (1st in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">39.7% shooting as a team (11th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">67.5% free throw shooting (9th in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">32.2% 3-point shooting (9th in MAC) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">39.3% defensive field goal percentage (2nd in MAC)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading scorer – Sr. Derek Thompson (10.6 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Leading rebounder – Jr. Da'Shonte Riley (5.8 per game)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Winning Streak – 4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Longest Losing Streak – 4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Current Streak – Won 2 </span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">RPI - 215</span>Nate Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262067880535572738noreply@blogger.com0