Tyus fed up with losing
Greg Burghardt
Losing stinks.
Losing means you weren’t the better person or team that day or year. Central Michigan football has been associated with losing the last three years, going 9-25 during that time.
Junior Anthony Tyus said he is fed up with losing. The linebacker has suffered through those 25 losses in his three years at CMU.
“I’m very tired of losing. I’m not used to it at all, and I don’t want to get used to it,” Tyus said.
At Sexton High School in Lansing, Tyus’ team went 2-7 his junior year, and followed that up with an undefeated senior season with the same team. Tyus thinks that same type of turnaround can happen here.
“I believe we can go out there and win a lot of games. We have the talent to beat anyone on our schedule,” he said.
Marshall Offensive Coordinator Mark McHale agrees with Tyus.
“I’ve seen a big improvement in CMU’s defense in the last three seasons,” he said. “When teams start winning games and get over the hump, that’s when you get better and Central’s not that far off.”
Tyus is part of a returning defense that allowed an average of 32 points a game last season, ranking fourth worst in the MAC. Tyus and Head Coach Mike DeBord both think one main thing was to blame.
“We were giving up too many big plays last year,” DeBord said. “For this year we threw out a few of our coverages to try and solve that.”
Northern Illinois Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada sees CMU on the rise.
“I’ve seen an improvement in the last three years under DeBord and we most definitely fear them and are always cautious against them,” Canada said. “They’re going to be a force in the conference this year.”
That force may have shown itself in bits and pieces last season, and perhaps it is a sign of things to come.
CMU held Marshall, the No. 12 offense in the country, to 23 points — 12 below its average.
“Central played pretty darn well against us, to be honest,” McHale said. “A play here and there could make a difference in a season.”
To hear other coaches in the conference think CMU is on the rise bodes well for the confidence of this team. Tyus thinks that confidence would do wonders for the Chippewas.
“We need to continue to improve and play with attitude and confidence,” he said. “That was our problem last year we didn’t play with a lot of confidence.”
Tyus had the chance to showcase his skills last season when coaches decided to move Darvin Lewis to safety and let Tyus shine.
“I think Anthony has been a guy who plays fast and is a great tackler,” DeBord said. “I see him having a great year.”
Tyus is coming off a season in which he played in all 12 games and recorded 63 tackles, good enough for sixth best on the team. Tyus had nine tackles for loss, including four sacks and an interception.
Tyus sees this squad having a tremendous season, starting Aug. 30 at the Big House in Ann Arbor.
“Before you win a MAC Championship, you just need to win, and I believe we will,” Tyus said. “The Michigan game is bigger than a normal game, just as big as the Western game if you ask me.”
The Lansing native doesn’t stop there. He believes this team can win the MAC title.
“I think we have the confidence (to turn it around), but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. This summer is the hump, and we’re going to be way over it once the season hits,” Tyus said.
With a one-game improvement every year for the past three seasons, this team is poised for a major jump. Anthony Tyus is more than ready to take that leap.
