Mid-American Conference
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MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 2009 Eastern Michigan University FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE 111 Mid-American Conference Since its inception in 1946, the Mid- American Conference has progres- sively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I con- ferences in the country. One of only 11 football Bowl Sub- division (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in the 63-year history of the league this past March. Steinbrecher came to the MAC after serving for six years as the commis- sioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. deal will be the most extensive in the the NCAA Tournament before falling The league has grown its commit- 63-year history of the conference. The to Northwestern, 1-0. Steve Zakuani, ment to championships by expand- new deal calls for a minimum of 25 who helped guide the University of ing to six its number of neutral site events annually to be produced and Akron men’s soccer program to a re- post season events – football (De- aired on an ESPN platform including cord-setting campaign in 2008, was troit’s Ford Field), volleyball (Toledo’s the men’s and women’s basketball the first overall pick of the 2009 Major SeaGate Centre), men’s and wom- championships, a regular-season League Soccer Super Draft. Zakuani en’s basketball (Cleveland’s Quicken MAC presence on ESPN, the Mara- earned 2008 MAC Men’s Soccer Player Loans Arena), softball (Akron’s Fire- thon MAC Football Championship of the Year honors and was a finalist stone Stadium) and most recently and a minimum of 11 regular-season for the Hermann Trophy, which goes baseball (Chillicothe’s VA Memorial football games. to the best men’s soccer player in the Stadium). Women’s athletics shined for the country. The MAC tied a league record in MAC this past year. For the first time The conference now has national 2008 with five schools participating in the history of the conference the leadership positions on the following in bowl games – Buffalo (Internation- MAC sent three teams to the NCAA NCAA committees: Warde Manual, al); Ball State (GMAC); Central Michi- women’s volleyball tournament (Mi- Buffalo (Academic Cabinet); Susan gan (Motor City); Western Michigan ami, Ohio and Western Michigan). Lipnickey, Miami (Leadership Coun- (Texas); and Northern Illinois (Inde- Western Michigan became only the cil and Infractions Appeals); Derrick pendence Bowl). The 2008 season third team to make it to the Sweet Gragg, Eastern Michigan (Legislative also saw the first MAC football team Sixteen (Ohio 2005 and Western Council); Dr. John Peters, Northern ranked in the Top 25 since 2003. Ball Michigan 1983). In women’s basket- Illinois (Board of Directors); Tom Col- State was ranked as high as 12th in ball MAC Tournament Champion Ball lins, Ball State (Amateurism Cabinet); the BCS Standings, 12th in the AP State upset perennial national power Kelly Andrews, Toledo (Awards, ben- and 13th in the USA Today Poll. The Tennessee in the first round of the efits, Expenses & Financial Aid Cabi- Cardinals were ranked in all three NCAA tournament handing the Lady net); Stephannnie Harvey-Vanden- polls for 10 straight weeks. MAC foot- Vols their first ever loss in the open- burg, Eastern Michigan (Recruiting ball teams won a league record four ing round of the NCAA tournament. & Athletic Personal Issues Cabinet); games versus opponents from the The victory was named “Pontiac Brad Bates, Miami (Academic Per- Big Ten. Toledo became the first MAC Game Changing Performance” of the formance); Eileen Jennings, Central team to ever beat Michigan in Ann 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tour- Michigan (Infractions); Ted McKown, Arbor; Ball State won its first-ever nament, while first year head coach Kent State (International Students game against a Big Ten foe when the Kelly Packard was named Maggie Records); Jim Klein, Toledo (Legisla- Cardinals beat Indiana; Central Michi- Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the tive Review & Interpretations); Karin gan also defeated Indiana; and West- Year by the WBCA. Lee, Ball State (Minority Opportu- ern Michigan beat Illinois in a game Akron continued its dominance of nities and Interest); Melody Reifel played at Ford Field. MAC men’s soccer with its 11 regular- Werner, Eastern Michigan (Research); In its partnership with ESPN, the season championship to go along Catharine Marsszeky, Kent State (Stu- MAC signed an eight-year rights with its sixth MAC Tournament title dent-Athlete Advisory); Lee Merserve, agreement through the 2016-2017 – both league records. The Zips were Bowling Green (Walter Byers Scholar- academic year for football, as well as ranked as high as No. 2 during the sea- ship). men’s and women’s basketball. The son and reached the Sweet Sixteen of The MAC also has representation 112 2009 Eastern Michigan University FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE Mid-American Conference on Division I Sport Committees and History of the MAC PREVIOUS MAC BOWL Gam ES CALIFORNIA BOWL related governing groups: Cathy Based in Cleveland since July 1999 1981: Toledo -- 27 San José State -- 25 O’Donnell, Kent State (Field Hockey); following a 15-year stay in Toledo, 1982: Fresno State -- 29 Bowling Green -- 28 Dave Heeke, Central Michigan (Foot- Ohio, the MAC has established his- 1983: Northern Illinois -- 20 Cal State Fullerton -- 13 ball Issues); Marling “Newt” Engle, toric measurements in both football 1984: Nevada-Las Vegas -- 30 Toledo -- 13 * Akron (Rifle); Karin Lee, Ball State and men’s and women’s basketball 1985: Fresno State -- 51 Bowling Green -- 7 (Tennis); Rich Ceronie (Track & Field); since moving to Northeast Ohio. 1986: San Jose State -- 37 Miami -- 7 Laing Kennedy, Kent State (Men’s The Mid-American Conference 1987: Eastern Michigan -- 30 Basketball); Charlie Coles, Miami was founded as a five-school league San José State -- 27 1988: Fresno State -- 35 (Men’s Basketball Issues); Jim Schaus, on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Western Michigan -- 30 1989: Fresno State -- 27 Ohio and Reggie Witherspoon, Buf- Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Ball State -- 6 1990: San José State -- 48 falo (Men’s Basketball Rules); Steven Wayne State and Western Reserve Central Michigan -- 24 1991: Bowling Green -- 28 Cady, Miami (Men’s Ice Hockey); Mary admitted as charter members. The Fresno State -- 21 1992: Bowling Green -- 35 Lu Gribschaw, Akron (Men’s Soccer); Mid-American Conference has 12 Nevada-Reno -- 34 1993: Utah State -- 42 Greg Christopher, Bowling Green full-time schools and a 13th, Temple, Ball State -- 33 (Women’s Basketball); Anucha Brown- for football only. Comprising the 1994: Nevada-Las Vegas -- 52 Central Michigan -- 24 Sanders, Buffalo and Donyale Cana- East Division is the University of Ak- 1995: Toledo -- 40 Nevada -- 37 (OT) da, MAC (Women’s Basketball Issues); ron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green 1996: Nevada -- 18 Ball State -- 15 Curt Miller, Bowling Green (Women’s State University (1952), University at MOTOR CITY BOWL 1997: Mississippi -- 34 Basketball Rules); Jerry Reighard, Buffalo (1998), Kent State University Marshall -- 31 1998: Louisville -- 48 Central Michigan (Gymnastics); Matt (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio Marshall -- 29 1999: Marshall -- 21 Wolfert, Ball State (Women’s Soccer); University (1946) and Temple Univer- Brigham Young -- 3 Dee Abrahamson, Northern Illinois sity (2007). The West Division mem- 2000: Marshall -- 25 Cincinnati -- 14 (Women’s Softball Rules); Derek van bers are Ball State University (1973), 2001: Toledo -- 23 Cincinnati -- 16 der Merwe, Central Michigan (Wres- Central Michigan University (1971), 2002: Boston College -- 51 Toledo -- 25 tling). Eastern Michigan University (1971), 2003: Bowling Green -- 28 Northwestern -- 24 From two-time Super Bowl quar- Northern Illinois University (1975-86, 2004: Connecticut -- 39 Toledo -- 10 terback winning Ben Roethlisberger 1997), University of Toledo (1950) and 2005: Memphis -- 38 Akron -- 31 (Miami University), NFL Defensive Western Michigan University (1947). 2006 Central Michigan -- 31 MVP James Harrison (Kent State In 1946 men’s basketball was the Middle Tennessee St. -- 14 2007 Purdue -- 51 University), British Open winner Ben first competitive sport in the MAC, Central Michigan -- 48 2008 Florida Atlantic -- 24 Curtis (Kent State University), World which now sponsors a total 23 sports. Central Michigan -- 21 GMAC BOWL Series winning manager Bob Brenly Women’s sports were brought into 2001: Marshall -- 64 East Carolina -- 61 (2 OT) (Ohio University) and Olympic bob- the conference’s structure in 1980. 2002: Marshall -- 38 Louisville -- 15 sled team member Brock Kreitzburgh For men, championships (11) are 2003: Miami -- 49 Louisville -- 28 (University of Toledo), the Mid-Amer- sponsored in football, basketball, 2004: Bowling Green -- 52 ican Conference continues to excel baseball, cross country, soccer, swim- Memphis -- 35 2005: Toledo -- 45 in producing leaders in the world of ming and diving, indoor track and UTEP -- 13 2006: Southern Mississippi -- 28 athletics. field, outdoor track and field, wres- Ohio -- 7 2007: Tulsa -- 63 tling, golf and tennis. Bowling Green -- 7 2008: Tulsa -- 45 For women, championships (12) Ball State -- 13 INTERN A TION A L BOWL are sponsored in basketball, softball, 2006: Cincinnati -- 27 Western Michigan -- 24 volleyball, cross country, field hockey, 2007: Rutgers -- 52 Ball State -- 30 golf, soccer, swimming and diving, 2008: Connecticut -- 38 gymnastics, indoor track and field, Buffalo -- 20 POINSETTI A BOWL outdoor track and field and tennis. 2006: TCU -- 37 Northern Illinois -- 7 SILICON VA LLEY FOOT