CMU Football Preview 2002
Jerry HoffmanWith a 5-17 career record and one road victory in two seasons, Head Coach Mike DeBord and his football team find themselves with no excuses and a favorable schedule. Entering his third season as coach, DeBord finds his program ...
Under the magnifying glass
When Mike DeBord arrived as CMU head coach in 2000, he did not know what to expect of the team that he was taking over.
“Whenever you take over a program, you never know where you are starting at,” DeBord said. “The first year, we were not competitive at all. We just weren’t.”
CMU struggled to a 2-9 record, and a late victory over Western Michigan was virtually the only positive moment in a long season.
“Last year, we were a competitive football team,” he continued. “We got to that edge where we were playing for the Western division.”
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Central Michigan Football at a glance... 2001 Record: 2001 Composite Score: 18 returning starters |
“If we make the strides that we made from year one to year two, now from year two to year three, we are going to win. That’s where I feel that we are. Our players, they say that, our coaches believe that, I think there’s a lot of people that believe that,” he said.
Early in his stint at Central, DeBord would give younger players meaningful game experience. While that could be seen as an excuse for poor play early on, it is now perceived as a reason for production from those players.
“We played young kids. Year one, they were playing, and in year two they were as well. Now, they are bigger, they’re faster, and they’re stronger. Now, it’s time for them to make plays. And they will,” DeBord said.
Defensive tackle and co-captain Marvin Smith returns for his senior season as a third-year starter. Offensive guard and co-captain Kyle Croskey returns for his fourth season as a starter. Linebacker Darvin Lewis also returns for his fourth year as a starter. Senior wide receiver Rob Turner returns to the team with 69 career receptions. The experience is there.
Another thing working in the favor of the Chippewas is their schedule. While it is tough with quality opponents across the board, DeBord said he feels good about its makeup.
“I think it’s a great start getting to play two at home,” said DeBord, about hosting Sam Houston State and Wyoming. “I like how the last two are here as well (versus Ball State and Western Michigan). If we’re in the hunt and we got the last two at home, look out.”
Also, the short road trips to Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Northern Illinois, and the big name opponents are games that DeBord sees as winnable.
Indiana appears on the schedule, and is a team that has a first-year coach and is going through a transition period, much like CMU in 2000. That game could be the win that puts Central Michigan football on the map.
“I feel good about that game,” DeBord said.
Despite having an inexperienced secondary, Central is excited about hosting pass-happy Marshall, featuring Heisman candidate Byron Leftwich. Marshall is ranked in the top 25 in both the Associated Press poll and the CNN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
“I can’t wait for that game. That’s the game where we really get tested and we should be able to show what we can do,” said junior cornerback Dante McKnight, a converted wide receiver.
As much as CMU improves, they also will have to deal with the fact that their conference is improving every season. The MAC won both of their bowl games last season as Toledo defeated Cincinnati in the Motor City Bowl, 23-16; and Marshall beat East Carolina, 64-61, in the double-overtime GMAC Bowl. Both Toledo and Marshall ended he 2001 season ranked in the AP’s Top 25.
“This conference is now getting the recognition it deserves,” DeBord said. “This a good football conference. There are really some very good players in the MAC.”
The media picked Central to once again finish fifth in the MAC West in their annual pre-season poll, but DeBord and his Chippewas are out to prove that the 2002 Chippewas are not only out to be competitive in games, but to get over that hump and be a winning team.
“We are now in a position where we can win, I really believe that,” DeBord said. “I guess we’ll see what happens.”
