On field success has netted CMU program exposure
With Northern Illinois loss to Ohio this weekend, Central Michigan had its place in the MAC Championship game locked up despite still having to play the Huskies in the regular season finale. CMU sits at 9-2 overall and still has an unblemished conference record of 7-0, two games ahead of Northern Illinois in the MAC West standings. The Chippewas will face the winner of the MAC East Division, which has boiled down to a MAC Championship play in game between the Temple Owls, who are 9-2 (7-0), and the Ohio Bobcats, who sit at 8-3 (6-1). The two squads face off this Friday at 11am and the winner will travel to Ford Field on December 4th to face CMU.
Reaching the conference championship for the third time in four years has made a noticeable difference in the way potential recruits view the Central Michigan program. With the game being played nationally on ESPN2, recruits are able to watch the game and get a feel for the type of program head coach Butch Jones is building at CMU and witness the program’s goals being accomplished. Recruits want to play for winning programs and in the Mid-American Conference where television exposure can be limited, a chance for CMU to showcase their program in front of thousands offers a multitude of benefits.
The Chippewas nine wins also has the program assured of their fourth straight bowl appearance and another opportunity to expose the program and university to a national audience. CMU will be looking at three possible bowl games: GMAC Bowl (Mobile, AL), Pizza Pizza Bowl (Detroit, MI) or the International Bowl (Toronto, CN). With CMU qualifying for both the MAC Championship game and a bowl game, potential recruits are taking notice.
“I like CMU a lot, they are all about winning and going to bowl games, and that’s the type of thing I’m looking for” said uncommitted two star athlete Jerry Gates from Middletown (OH).
In the game of recruiting, program success can go a long way in swaying the decision of recruits and the CMU program has another possible program goal looming: becoming a top 25 football team. The Chippewas were on the verge earlier this season when they traveled to Boston College with a record of 7-1, but a loss to the Eagles proved to be too much to overcome in the polls. Since losing to Boston College, CMU has not lost another game and wins in the regular season finale against Northern Illinois coupled with potential wins in the MAC Championship game and bowl game, and CMU could snag its first ever top 25 ranking.
“CMU being in the Top 25, that’s nothing that would surprise me,” said committed three star defensive tackle Kevin Henry from Morris (IL). “When I went there, I just got that vibe that they were headed in that direction. Talking to Coach (Butch) Jones and the other coaches, you could just see that CMU was headed in that direction”.
Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Central Michigan has established the roots of success within its football program over the last few years and that success is starting to pay dividends in the recruiting game.
