The first Monday class of the fall semester — as a collective hangover lingers over campus courtesy of Welcome Weekend, there is a positive undertone to these back-to-school festivities.

Come this weekend, CMU athletics will be in full swing, and if last year was any indication, excitement will abound in a number of 2003 sports.

Chris Kaman and the men’s basketball team thrusting CMU into the national spotlight was the biggest story line of last school year. The team accomplished something it hadn’t since 1975: winning a game in the NCAA tournament.

And, while most CMU students were spending the summer living with mom and dad, Kaman was shaking NBA Commissioner David Stern’s hand, as the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Weeks later, the seven-footer signed a three-year, $6.46 million dollar contract.

Besides the basketball team, the Chippewas won MAC titles in five other sports. The men’s track team ended Eastern Michigan’s four year run atop the conference. Field hockey, wrestling, gymnastics and men’s cross country also were MAC titlests.

So what are the Chippewas going to do to repeat this showing? Some of the answers will be determined in the interesting fall storylines.

It is a make-or-break year for the football team. Head Coach Mike DeBord is in his fourth year, meaning the team is compiled chiefly of his recruits. Having improved by one win each of the past four seasons, a .500 season is imperative to DeBord and the program’s success. Kelly/Shorts Stadium will host six home games, including games against Toledo and NIU.

The men’s cross country team is looking to defend its title, but it will not be easy. EMU also boasts running talent, which should make for an interesting fall. It also will be interesting for the women’s cross country team, who will have to replace Head Coach Kathleen Raske.

An intriguing field hockey season also is in the cards, as the team must replace MAC Player of the Year goalkeeper Janel Spero.

The volleyball team looks to continue its building into a upper-tier MAC program, while the women’s soccer team hopes last season’s sub-par year was an uncommon blip.

And while he may be three time zones away, many CMU people will follow Kaman from afar. At this time last year, Kaman was that tall dude sitting next to you in math class. Now, he is that tall dude who will attempt to guard Shaq four times next season. While many expect big things from him, he has placed even bigger expectations on himself.

“I don’t want people to ever compare me to (Greg) Ostertag, (Bryant) Reeves or (Todd) MacCullough,” Kaman said before his drafting.

Which way will he go? In analyzing the No.6 draft picks of the past 10 years, stars like Antoine Walker and Wally Szczerbiak appear on the list. But so do busts like DerMarr Johnson, Sharone Wright and gulp, Reeves. If the prior track record means anything, Kaman’s success could go either way.

It should be an interesting year.

Life Sports Editor Jeremy Speer can be contacted at sports@cm-life.com