Central Michigan Chippewas football

The Central Michigan Chippewas are a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU has the 30th highest overall winning percentage of programs playing in NCAA Division I.[2]

Central Michigan Chippewas
2023 Central Michigan Chippewas football team
First season1896
Athletic directorAmy Folan
Head coachJim McElwain
4th season, 24–21 (.533)
StadiumKelly/Shorts Stadium
(capacity: 30,255)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationMount Pleasant, Michigan
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest
All-time record643–442–36 (.590)
Bowl record4–9 (.308)
Claimed national titles1 (1974) (Division II)
Conference titles16
Division titles3
RivalriesWestern Michigan (rivalry)
Eastern Michigan (rivalry)
Current uniform
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
Fight songThe Fighting Chippewa
Marching bandThe Marching Chippewas
WebsiteCMUChippewas.com

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.

Year League Coach Record CG Opponent Result
1974NCAA Division IIRoy Kramer12–1DelawareW 54–14

Conference championships

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

Year Conference Coach Record Conference Record
1952Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly7–26–0
1953Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly7–1–15–0–1
1954†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly8–25–1
1955Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly8–15–1
1956Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly9–06–0
1962Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly6–44–0
1966Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBill Kelly5–53–0
1967†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceRoy Kramer8–22–1
1968†Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceRoy Kramer7–22–1
1979Mid-American ConferenceHerb Deromedi10–0–18–0–1
1980Mid-American ConferenceHerb Deromedi9–27–2
1990Mid-American ConferenceHerb Deromedi8–3–17–1
1994Mid-American ConferenceDick Flynn9–38–1
2006Mid-American ConferenceBrian Kelly10–47–1
2007Mid-American ConferenceButch Jones8–66–1
2009Mid-American ConferenceButch Jones12–28–0

† Co-champions

Division championships

Central Michigan has won 5 division championships:

Year Division Coach Opponent CG result
2006MAC WestBrian KellyOhioW 31–10
2007†MAC WestButch JonesMiamiW 35–10
2009MAC WestButch JonesOhioW 20–10
2019MAC WestJim McElwainMiamiL 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 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 2022 season.[3]

Coach Seasons Years Record
Pete McCormick189613–1
Carl Pray1897–189936–5
Unknown190011–0
No team1901
Charles Tambling1902–1905, 1918518–2
No team1906
Ralph Thacker190712–4
Hugh Sutherland190814–3
Harry Helmer1909–1912414–9–2
No team1913–1915
Blake Miller191611–5
Fred Johnson191711–2
Garland Nevitt191912–2–3
Joe Simmons192014–3–1
Wallace Parker1921–1923, 1926–1928632–10–6
Lester Barnard1924–1925211–2–3
Butch Nowack1929–193028–5–2
George Van Bibber1931–1933312–9–2
Alex Yunevich1934–193639–13–1
Ron Finch1937–19461054–18–1
Lyle Bennett1947–194938–15–1
Warren Schmakel195016–4
Kenneth Kelly1951–19661691–58–2
Roy Kramer1967–19771183–32–2
Herb Deromedi1978–199316110–55–10
Dick Flynn1994–1999630–37
Mike DeBord2000–2003412–34
Brian Kelly2004–2006319–16
Jeff Quinn†2006–1–0
Butch Jones2007–2009327–13
Steve Stripling†2009–1–0
Dan Enos2010–2014526–36
John Bonamego2015–2018422–29
Jim McElwain2019–present424–21

† Interim

Bowl games

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

Year Bowl Opponent Result
1990California BowlSan Jose StateL 24–48
1994Las Vegas BowlUNLVL 24–52
2006Motor City BowlMiddle Tennessee StateW 31–14
2007Motor City BowlPurdueL 48–51
2008Motor City BowlFlorida AtlanticL 21–24
2009GMAC BowlTroyW 44–41
2012Little Caesars Pizza BowlWestern KentuckyW 24–21
2014Bahamas BowlWestern KentuckyL 48–49
2015Quick Lane BowlMinnesotaL 14–21
2016Miami Beach BowlTulsaL 10–55
2017Famous Idaho Potato BowlWyomingL 14–37
2019New Mexico BowlSan Diego StateL 11–48
2021Sun BowlWashington StateW 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.

Year Round Opponent Result
1974 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship		 Boise State
Louisiana Tech
Delaware		 W, 20–6
W, 35–14
W, 54–14

Rivalries

Western Michigan
Main article: Central Michigan–Western Michigan football rivalry

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.

Eastern Michigan
Main article: Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan football rivalry
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]

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. The Chippewa Marching Band, cheerleaders, and dance team add to the game day experience 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.

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
See also: College Football Hall of Fame

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

Name Position Career Induction
Herb DeromediHead coach1978–19932007

Notable players
See also: List of Central Michigan Chippewas in the NFL Draft

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.[20]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 9, 2021.[21]


2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2030
at Michigan State (9/2) Central Connecticut (8/31) at San Jose State (8/30) at New Mexico State (9/5) at Michigan State (8/31)
New Hampshire (9/9) at Florida International (9/7) at Pittsburgh (9/6) Colgate (9/12) at Michigan State (9/11) at San Diego State (9/21)
at Notre Dame (9/16) at Illinois (9/14) at Michigan (9/13) Wyoming (9/19) Monmouth (9/18)
at South Alabama (9/23) San Diego State (9/28) 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. "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. "Listen to Chippewa Football Across the Entire State - CMUChippewas.com—Official Web Site of Central Michigan University Athletics". Cmuchippewas.com. August 14, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  20. "More Info - Central Michigan". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  21. "Central Michigan Chippewas Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
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