36 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 2002 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Key WMU player missing KALAMAZOO (AP) — The Western smooth one. Michigan football team looking to fill At 6-foot-4, Lewis is a legitimate key spots left by graduation and a sig- deep threat that is expected to spread nificant injury. the defense and open up the field for Anthony Allsbury, two-time All-Mid- All-MAC tight end Mobolaji Afariogun American Conference defensive end and the running game led by Philip and on the Lombardi Reed. Trophy award list, is The Broncos also have Kendrick out for the season Mosley and strong physical receivers with a knee injury Antonio Thomas and Brandon received in practice. Johnson to turn an off-season ques- WESTERN MI “It’s a crushing blow,” head coach tion mark into a real strength on Gary Darnell told the Kalamazoo offense. Gazette. Another receiver catching coaches’ The Broncos’ defense turned into eyes is junior Christopher Chestnut the ninth-best in the nation two years out of College of the Canyons. Junior ago when Western also enjoyed its college transfers Willie Pope and second consecutive MAC West Eugene Childs have impressed championship season. Allsbury and Darnell at the cornerback spot. Chris Browning, now also a senior, “When we get out here in pads, it were the bookends on a dominant really screws it down as far as who defensive line. can get into a block and fight off a The team’s defense has remained block and those sort of things,” dominant in practice. Darnell said. A key addition at the wide receiver Jonathan Drach is considered the spot is senior Jermaine Lewis, whose front-runner for the starting quarter- transition from safety has been a back job over Jeff Welsh.

The Associated Press QB uncertain at Central Marshall coach Larry Kueck, right, watches as passes to a receiver during summer practice at Marshall Stadium in Huntington, W.Va. MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) — The Turnovers probably will make the Central Michigan football team has its difference in who gets the top spot. entire starting lineup planed out for “We simply had too many intercep- this season — except for who is going tions last year,” DeBord said. “I don’t to be the quarterback. care who plays. I’ll play the guy who’s MAC: Disney to Buffalo The team returns this fall with a going to take care of the football. Last 1,000-yard rusher, four year, we also had 43 dropped passes. By The Associated Press 2001 STANDINGS nation. ... Bulls lost entire defensive starting linemen and That didn’t help either.” 2001 STANDINGS line and all but one linebacker. ... all its top receivers on Both had good and Scored 107 points in three wins, 98 Only in the Mid-American WEST DIVISION offense. The bad moments last season. points in eight losses. Conference is Orlando, Fla., consid- Chippewas have two Last year, Central Michigan went to Division All WEST ered to be in the nation’s heartland. returning starters at quarterback, but a no-huddle offense, and DeBord school W L GB W L BOWLING GREEN: Most improved “It sounds a little bit funny,” Central neither has established himself as the liked the results. Toledo 4 1 — 9 2 I-A program last year, going from 2-9 Florida coach Mike Kruczek said. starter. “Offensively, we know what we’re No. Illinois 4 1 — 6 5 to 8-3. ... Returns top two rushers UCF becomes the 14th member of Derrick Vickers, a junior, started the doing,” DeBord said. “It’s up to the (Josh Harris, Joe Alls), top two the MAC this fall. At least UCF won’t Ball State 4 1 — 5 6 first seven games last season before defense to react. The no-huddle passers (Harris, Andy Sahm) and top have to make the trek W. MICHIGAN 2 4 2.5 5 6 hurting his knee. Derek Gorney, a doesn’t allow them much time to receiver (Robert Redd). ... Must rebuild to Buffalo in senior, started the final four games. adjust or substitute.” C. MICHIGAN 1 4 3 3 8 defense; seven starters graduated. December. It’ll be “We are going to go with one quar- The strategy paid off last season. E. MICHIGAN 0 5 4 2 9 TOLEDO: Loses four offensive and in early terback,” coach Mike DeBord said.. Terrence Jackson rushed for 1,194 seven defensive starters from 10-2 “Derrick is probably in the lead for the yards and 10 on 252 car- November EAST DIVISION instead. team that beat Marshall in the MAC spot right now, but I’m not going to ries despite playing with a cast on his Division All title game and Cincinnati in the Motor name him the starter. We’ve got train- broken right hand. The 235-pound There might be school W L GB W L some fuzzy thinking City Bowl. ... Enters season with 14- ing camp to go through before we junior saw limited playing time in the Marshall 6 0 — 10 2 involved in the weird geography, but in game home winning streak. decide on the starter.” first three games. many ways Central Florida will feel Miami (Oh.) 4 2 2 7 5 WESTERN MICHIGAN: Signed 10 right at home. Bowling Green 4 2 2 8 3 juco transfers. ... Jermaine Lewis, a two-time All-MAC safety, shifts to WR. Kruczek was a record-setting quar- Kent State 3 3 3 6 5 ... Coming off first losing season (5-6) Schedule tough on Eagles terback at Boston College and spent Akron 3 3 3 4 7 in six years. four years with the YPSILANTI (AP) — Eastern and see what you need to do.” Buffalo 1 5 5 3 8 NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Won four of as a backup to . Michigan will kickoff the 2002 season Last year Eastern Michigan started Ohio 0 6 6 1 10 last five in 2001. ... Tied with Toledo The guy who developed the with games against four tough teams 1-3, losing three consecutive games and Ball State for West title last year, Minnesota Vikings’ and just a few returning starters. — to Maryland, Indiana State and CENTRAL FLORIDA: UCF is 11-4 first trophy since winning MAC in into a star passer at UCF will see a lot 1983. ... TB Thomas Hammock (1,096 The Eagles will open with games Western Michigan — by a composite vs. MAC teams since moving to I-A. ... of firepower at the position in the yards) is back but Josh Haldi takes against Michigan State, Toledo, score of 103-27. Golden Knights open at Penn State, at Southeast Missouri MAC. Six of the top seven quarter- over at QB. It could be a tougher challenge this Arizona State and at Marshall. ... QB State and Maryland. year. The combined 2001-02 record of backs in the league return — led by BALL STATE: TB Marcus Ryan Schneider passed for almost The Eagles, a unani- this season’s opening four opponents No. 19 Marshall’s Byron Leftwich. Merriweather is MAC’s leading return- 3,000 yards and 17 TDs. mous pick to finish is 31-16, including a 3-0 mark in bowl Team capsules, in predicted order of ing rusher (1,244 yards), and needs KENT STATE: After going 5-37, last in the Mid- games by defending MAC champion finish: 1,100 more to become No. 1 at the EASTERN Golden Flashes finished 2001 by American Conference West Division, Toledo (10-2), Maryland (10-2) and EAST school. ... Every offensive starter but going 5-2. ... Double-threat QB enter their second consecutive sea- Michigan State (7-5). Southeast MARSHALL: Thundering Herd have one lineman is back, while defense Joshua Cribbs ran for 1,019 yards and son without a predetermined starting Missouri State finished 4-7 last year. won the East every year since joining lost most of front wall and two LBs. quarterback, return just four offensive But Woodruff said the tough start the MAC in 1996. ... First league passed for 1,516. ... Drew only 2,973 CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Has most starters and 10 total from a squad that should give his players more confi- school to play in bowls five years in a fans to home win against Northern returning starters in MAC (18). ... LB had a 2-9 record. dence when playing against other row when it beat East Carolina 65-62 Illinois last year. James King tied NCAA record by Still, Eastern head coach Jeff MAC teams later in the season. in GMAC Bowl. ... Leftwich has eight AKRON: Season rests on return of blocking four punts vs. Michigan Woodruff said he has not apprehen- “You think, ‘OK, I played against other returning offensive starters, TB Brandon Payne, who averaged 100 State. ... TB Terrence Jackson back sions about a schedule featuring three that All-American tackle, now I can including RB Franklin Wallace. yards rushing in the first five games after 1,194-yard season. 2002 bowl teams. play against any tackle in the MAC.’ MIAMI (OHIO): QB Ben before knee injury. ... Allowed 471 EASTERN MICHIGAN: Lost nine of “I’m not getting wrapped up in So we’ll spend a lot of time in presea- Roethlisberger set MAC freshman yards per game in 2001. last 10, including 65-62 triple-overtime scheduling as much as I am in prepar- son camp talking about those kinds of records for passing yards (3,105) and OHIO: Only three starters back from loss at Akron to close season. ... WR ing the team for each game,” things,” he said. TDs (25). ... Miami returns a pair of All- defense that gave up 30 ppg (Bobcats Kevin Walter needs 18 catches to Woodruff said. “I think you can gain a “What an incredible opportunity for MAC linebackers, Terrell Jones and are at Florida Sept. 14). become school’s career leader. ... lot from playing top-20 teams early, us. You go out and get to play this Matt Robillard, and five other starters BUFFALO: Chad Bartoszek (42 Outscored 181-36 in first and third though. You can see where you’re at game against some top-notch teams.” on defense. catches, 441 yards) one of top TEs in quarters last season.