It's not just football
Greg Burghardt
Kickoff at WMU, where CMU (3-6 overall and 2-5 in the MAC) is 13-26-1 all-time, is set for 3 p.m.
“This is a great rivalry, it always has been and always will be,” CMU Head Coach Mike DeBord said.
He also saidt this game means a lot to the school, to the alumni and to the football program.
DeBord knows who will start at quarterback for the Chippewas, but is not letting the cat out of the bag.
“It will either be Derek (Gorney) or Derrick (Vickers). It will be a game-time decision. I don’t know how many problems it will create, but I am trying to cause as many problems as possible,” DeBord said.
Gorney, who has started the last two weeks against Ball State and Eastern Michigan has thrown for 464 yards on 36-of-73 completions.
“After Wednesday’s practice I had the starter picked out,” DeBord said.
“He has practiced ever yday this week,” DeBord said. “He still has some swelling, but he is moving on it very well.”
Tailback Terrence Jackson has ran for 207 yards against EMU last week. He has gained 961 yards in the six games he has started this season, including six straight games with more than 100 yards.
“He has great patience in the game. The last two games we have not been able to run the ball early in the game, but he has been patient and continued to run instead of giving up like some backs do,” DeBord said.
Western (4-5 overall and 3-3 in the MAC) will be without senior starting quarterback Jeff Welsh.
Jonathan Drach will start for the Broncos.
“They are not going to change their offense,” DeBord said. “At first Drach looked nervous, but it appears that he is settling into the job. He played well against Toledo.”
The winner of the game will take over fourth place in the MAC West Division.
Some seats still remain. If interested, call the WMU ticket office at 1-888-496-8849.
Notes:
Junior wide receiver Rob Turner has been named to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-American team in District IV.
Turner, a business major, has a 3.91 GPA. He is now on the Academic All-American ballot.
