Central Michigan Chippewas football

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Central Michigan Chippewas football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas football team
Central Michigan Chippewas logo.svg
First season 1896; 129 years ago
Athletic directorAmy Folan
Head coach Matt Drinkall
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium Kelly/Shorts Stadium
(capacity: 35,127)
Field surface FieldTurf
Location Mount Pleasant, Michigan
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionWest
All-time record651–454–36 (.586)
Bowl record4–9 (.308)
Claimed national titles1 (1974) (Division II)
Conference titles16
Division titles5
Rivalries Western Michigan (rivalry)
Eastern Michigan (rivalry)
Current uniform
Central michigan football unif.png
ColorsMaroon and gold [1]
   
Fight songThe Fighting Chippewa
Marching band The Marching Chippewas
Website CMUChippewas.com

The Central Michigan Chippewas are a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU has the 24th highest overall winning percentage of programs playing in NCAA Division I. [2]

Contents

The Chippewas have played in six bowl games in the last nine years, most recently defeating Washington State in the 2021 Sun Bowl. CMU drew 60,624 fans in the 2007 Motor City Bowl. CMU has played a total of eighteen post-season games (conference championships and bowl games), winning seven.

Conference affiliations

Central Michigan has been a member of the following conferences. [3] : 109–117 

Championships

National championships

The Chippewas won the 1974 NCAA Division II National Championship.

YearLeagueCoachRecordCG OpponentResult
1974 NCAA Division II Roy Kramer 12–1 Delaware W 54–14

Conference championships

Central Michigan has won 16 conference championships including seven Mid-American Conference Championships. [3] : 109–117 

YearConferenceCoachRecordConference Record
1952 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Bill Kelly 7–26–0
1953 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly7–1–15–0–1
1954†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly8–25–1
1955 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly8–15–1
1956 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly9–06–0
1962 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly6–44–0
1966 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly5–53–0
1967†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Roy Kramer 8–22–1
1968†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceRoy Kramer7–22–1
1979 Mid-American Conference Herb Deromedi 10–0–18–0–1
1980 Mid-American ConferenceHerb Deromedi9–27–2
1990 Mid-American ConferenceHerb Deromedi8–3–17–1
1994 Mid-American Conference Dick Flynn 9–38–1
2006 Mid-American Conference Brian Kelly 10–47–1
2007 Mid-American Conference Butch Jones 8–66–1
2009 Mid-American ConferenceButch Jones12–28–0

† Co-champions

Division championships

Central Michigan has won 5 division championships:

YearDivisionCoachOpponentCG result
2006 MAC West Brian Kelly Ohio W 31–10
2007†MAC West Butch Jones Miami W 35–10
2009 MAC WestButch Jones Ohio W 20–10
2019 MAC West Jim McElwain Miami L 21–26
2021†MAC WestJim McElwainN/A lost tiebreaker to Northern Illinois

† Co-champions

Head coaches

Many notable coaches have contributed to CMU's culture. Some include legendary "Wild" Bill Kelly who won seven conference championships in sixteen years and whom Kelly/Shorts Stadium is named after; national championship winning coach Roy Kramer who had a 72% winning percentage and never had a losing season in more than a decade; College Football Hall of Fame coach Herb Deromedi who is the winningest coach in MAC history[ citation needed ] and Brian Kelly and Butch Jones who combined for three MAC Championships in four years, four consecutive bowl appearance and top 25 finish in the nation.

CMU head coaches through the 2024 season. [3]

CoachSeasonsYearsRecord
Pete McCormick189613–1
Carl Pray 1897–189936–5
Unknown190011–0
No team1901
Charles Tambling 1902–1905, 1918518–2
No team1906
Ralph Thacker 190712–4
Hugh Sutherland 190814–3
Harry Helmer 1909–1912414–9–2
No team1913–1915
Blake Miller 191611–5
Fred Johnson 191711–2
Garland Nevitt 191912–2–3
Joe Simmons 192014–3–1
Wallace Parker 1921–1923, 1926–1928632–10–6
Lester Barnard 1924–1925211–2–3
Butch Nowack 1929–193028–5–2
George Van Bibber 1931–1933312–9–2
Alex Yunevich 1934–193639–13–1
Ron Finch 1937–19461054–18–1
Lyle Bennett 1947–194938–15–1
Warren Schmakel 195016–4
Kenneth Kelly 1951–19661691–58–2
Roy Kramer 1967–19771183–32–2
Herb Deromedi 1978–199316110–55–10
Dick Flynn 1994–1999630–37
Mike DeBord 2000–2003412–34
Brian Kelly 2004–2006319–16
Jeff Quinn†2006–1–0
Butch Jones 2007–2009327–13
Steve Stripling†2009–1–0
Dan Enos 2010–2014526–36
John Bonamego 2015–2018422–29
Jim McElwain 2019–2024633-36
Matt Drinkall 2025–present10-0

† Interim

Bowl games

Central Michigan holds a 4–9 record in bowl games. [3] : 124–136 

YearBowlOpponentResult
1990 California Bowl San Jose State L 24–48
1994 Las Vegas Bowl UNLV L 24–52
2006 Motor City Bowl Middle Tennessee State W 31–14
2007 Motor City Bowl Purdue L 48–51
2008 Motor City Bowl Florida Atlantic L 21–24
2009 GMAC Bowl Troy W 44–41
2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Western Kentucky W 24–21
2014 Bahamas Bowl Western Kentucky L 48–49
2015 Quick Lane Bowl Minnesota L 14–21
2016 Miami Beach Bowl Tulsa L 10–55
2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Wyoming L 14–37
2019 New Mexico Bowl San Diego State L 11–48
2021 Sun Bowl Washington State W 24–21

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II playoffs

The Chippewas made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 3-0.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1974 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship 		Boise State
Louisiana Tech
Delaware 		W, 20–6
W, 35–14
W, 54–14

Rivalries

Western Michigan

These archrivals first met in 1907 and have faced one another annually since 1943. Since the two schools are separated by a two-hour drive, the visiting team typically has a strong fan and student presence at the game. The winner of the game receives the Cannon Trophy. [4] The outcome also helps determine the winner of the Michigan MAC Trophy, a trophy fought over between Michigan's three MAC football teams: the Chippewas, the Broncos, and the Eastern Michigan Eagles. [5] WMU leads the series overall 51–39–2.[ citation needed ][ when? ]

Eastern Michigan

Ryan Radcliff looks to pass during a 2011 game against Eastern Michigan Week77.JPG
Ryan Radcliff looks to pass during a 2011 game against Eastern Michigan

The Chippewas and Eagles maintain a less prominent, but steady rivalry. CMU holds the series lead over Eastern Michigan, leading 62–30–6. [6] [ when? ]

Traditions

Kelly/Shorts game day experience

Central Michigan has the largest on-campus stadium in the Mid-American Conference, [7] seating 32,885 fans and has been playing home football games dating back to 1896. The Sporting News has named Kelly/Shorts Stadium "the finest football facility in the Mid-American Conference" and "the best game day atmosphere in the MAC". [8]

The East End of the stadium (as of 2014) once again hosts the CMU Student section backing the football team.[ citation needed ] The Chippewa Marching Band, cheerleaders, and dance team add to the game day experience[ citation needed ] and has helped CMU become one of the nation's winningest schools at home with a .714 winning percentage all-time at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.[ citation needed ]

CMU drew a capacity crowd of 35,127 fans for the Central Michigan–Michigan State game televised on ESPNU [9] and has hosted schools from the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 conferences. Future opponents at home include schools from the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences. [10]

In 2010, the CMU Board of Trustees designed and set course to construct a state of the art stadium expansion to integrate a hotel, restaurant, and conference center connected by a glass atrium to new stadium suites on the east side. This addition will be custom-built into Kelly/Shorts Stadium. [11]

Newer upgrades include a video scoreboard standing six stories and featuring two video replay boards—one facing into the stadium and a second board facing outside the stadium by tailgating areas. NFL-quality permanent lighting has been installed for television and future ESPN night games. [12]

College Football Hall of Fame

One former Central Michigan coach has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. [13] [14]

NamePositionCareerInduction
Herb Deromedi Head coach 1978–19932007

Notable players

Retired numbers

Central Michigan Chippewas retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.TenureRef.
62 Jim Podoley HB 1952–1956 [19]

Media

Radio

The CMU Sports Network broadcasts all games live throughout Michigan and online for free.

CMU Sports Network Affiliates:

Television

The ESPN family of channels and Fox Sports affiliates have provided national and local television coverage.

CMU Sports Zone provides live and archive Internet video-feed of games, gameday coverage, and coaches shows. [21]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024. [22]

2025202620272030
at San Jose State (8/30)at New Mexico State (9/5)at Michigan State (8/31)
at Pittsburgh (9/6) Colgate (9/12)at Michigan State (9/11)at San Diego State (9/21)
at Michigan (9/13) Wyoming (9/19) Monmouth (9/18)
Wagner (9/20)at Miami (FL) (9/26)at Wyoming (9/25)

References

  1. ↑ "Graphic Identity Guidelines". Central Michigan University Brand Identity Standards (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Division I-A All-Time Winning Percentage". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2020 CMU Media Guide" (PDF). cmuchippewas.com. CMU Athletics. p. 113. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2008/10/20/Sports/Column.Cmuwmu.Game.Monumental.In.Multiple.Ways-3494654.shtml%5B‍%5D
  5. ↑ http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2008/12/05/Sports/Dethroned-3571428.shtml%5B‍%5D
  6. ↑ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan". mcubed.net.
  7. ↑ "CMUCHIPPEWAS.COM - Official Athletic Site". www.cmuchippewas.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kelly/Shorts Stadium - CMUChippewas.com—Official Web Site of Central Michigan University Athletics". Cmuchippewas.com. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Michigan State Spartans vs. Central Michigan Chippewas - Box Score - September 08, 2012 - ESPN". Espn.go.com. September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ "2014 Central Michigan Chippewas Football Schedule - CMU". www.fbschedules.com.
  11. ↑ "Central Michigan Life – Proposal for on-campus hotel to go before board Thursday". Cm-life.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Kelly/Shorts Stadium - CMUChippewas.com—Official Web Site of Central Michigan University Athletics". Cmuchippewas.com. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  13. ↑ "CMU legend Herb Deromedi named to Football Playoff Selection Committee". December 31, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Inductees - Football Players & Coaches - College Football Hall of Fame". www.cfbhall.com.
  15. ↑ "Brett Hartmann Stats - ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Gary Hogeboom NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. August 21, 1958. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gary Hogeboom - Survivor: Guatemala". Survivorfever.net. August 21, 1958. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Robert Jackson Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ "CMU Remembers Jim Podoley". cmuchippewas.com. February 19, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Listen to CMU Football on the Chippewa Sports Radio Network". Central Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  21. ↑ "More Info - Central Michigan". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  22. ↑ "Central Michigan Chippewas Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
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