It looked like it was going to be a difficult week for Mid American Conference teams in the second full week of action. Was it ever. Northern Illinois inexplicably was pummeled 37-6 by South Florida; Ohio was humiliated by Division 1-AA Northeastern, 31-0; Maryland pounded Akron 44-14; Missouri defeated Ball State 41-6 and Central Florida ended the MAC?s nightmare weekend on the wrong end of a 46-13 verdict against Arizona State. While not a blowout, or a surprise, it was a disappointment for Miami to drop a rare home game against Big Ten opposition, losing to Iowa 29-24.
Some losses were expected such as Ohio State defeating Kent State and Michigan defeating Western Michigan, but it is hard to explain Ohio losing at home to a 1-AA opponent in such a lopsided manner. Things are not looking good for the Bobcats and it appears they will be giving Eastern Michigan a run for worst team ?honors? this year (Eastern Michigan was embarrassed on its home field by Toledo in the conference opener for both teams, 65-13).
But, all was not doom and gloom for the MAC. Sometimes good news can come from the most surprising sources. Case in point: Buffalo. A week after getting admonished by this writer for losing at home to 1-AA Lehigh, the Bulls went to Rutgers and won convincingly, 34-11.
Over in Mt. Pleasant, Central Michigan recorded one of it?s biggest home victories over a non-conference opponent by defeating Mountain West Conference member, Wyoming, 32-20. Central Michigan starts the season with two straight wins for the first time since 1986 as the Chippewas appear to finally have turned the corner on their long rebuilding project.
Campus Rumblings: It appears that the long suffering alumni and fans of Eastern Michigan have finally had enough and an ever increasing vocal faction of fans and alumni are calling for the dismissal of Head Coach Jeff Woodruff with some also demanding the resignation of Athletic Director Dave Diles. Woodruff, in the third year of a five year deal, is currently 5-19 as EMU head coach with the team showing signs of regressing each season. The most recent home loss to Toledo which saw the Rockets score 52 unanswered points after EMU had tied the game, 13-13, has left what remains of the EMU faithful with a desire to demand the change. Many question if EMU can even compete at the 1-A level at this point.
NIU RB?s Career In Jeopardy: Less than a week after rushing for 172 yards in Northern Illinois? 42-41 victory over Wake Forest, the Huskies? standout running back, Thomas Hammock, underwent medical tests that revealed a significant amount of fatty tissue was present around Hammock?s heart. Most medical recommendations for this condition, would indicate that Hammock refrain any extra physical activity, such as collegiate athletics. The University has not yet announced whether Hammock will return to action. He was replaced by Junior tailback Michael Turner for the Huskies? game against South Florida Saturday. Hammock was among the nominees for the annual Doak Walker Award.
Week 2 Offensive MVP:
QB Derrick Vickers, Central Michigan: 361 yards passing. Two touchdowns
Runner-up:
WR Andre Ford, Buffalo: 8 receptions, 75 yards. Three touchdowns.
Week 2 Defensive MVP:
LB Stanford Rhule, Central Florida: 9 tackles, tackles for loss and 2 QB sacks.
Runner-Up:
LB Bryan Lape, Western Michigan: 10 tackles, 7 solo tackles 1 tackle for loss.
By The Numbers:
Here are some interesting stats and figures after the first two weeks of action in the MAC:
10-13 Overall Non-Conference
3-10 vs. BCS Conferences
1-1 vs. non-BCS teams
2-1 vs. ACC
1-1 vs. Big East
1-0 vs. Mountain West
0-1 vs. Big Twelve
0-1 vs. 1-A Independents
0-1 vs. PAC Ten
0-6 vs. Big Ten
6-2 vs. Division 1-AA
MAC Home Attendance:
Only four MAC teams played at home this week before a total of 82,030 fans or an average of 20,508.
On Tap:
17th ranked Marshall gets back into action by traveling to Blacksburg, VA to face the 9th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in a special Thursday night matchup. A Thundering Herd upset would certainly further the Heisman hopes of QB Byron Leftwich.
Bowling Green gets a tough Missouri squad at home. The Falcons continue the quest for respect and hope to use the home field advantage in the Upset Special of the week.
Miami travels to LSU. Last time in the Bayou, the Red Hawks pulled the upset, but this time an upset appears to be a rather daunting task.
In what is probably the rout of the week, Ohio gets the task of traveling to Gainesville and playing Number 13 Florida. This one could be over very early. Hide the women and children, because this is going to be brutal.
The MAC continues its quest for a victory against the Big Ten this season with Western Michigan traveling to Purdue; Toledo playing at Minnesota; and Northern Illinois visits Camp Randall to play the Wisconsin Badgers.
Other games: Indiana State at Ball State; Cal Poly at Kent State; Central Michigan at Akron; SE Missouri State at Eastern Michigan and Connecticut at Buffalo. Central Florida is idle this week.
Some losses were expected such as Ohio State defeating Kent State and Michigan defeating Western Michigan, but it is hard to explain Ohio losing at home to a 1-AA opponent in such a lopsided manner. Things are not looking good for the Bobcats and it appears they will be giving Eastern Michigan a run for worst team ?honors? this year (Eastern Michigan was embarrassed on its home field by Toledo in the conference opener for both teams, 65-13).
But, all was not doom and gloom for the MAC. Sometimes good news can come from the most surprising sources. Case in point: Buffalo. A week after getting admonished by this writer for losing at home to 1-AA Lehigh, the Bulls went to Rutgers and won convincingly, 34-11.
Over in Mt. Pleasant, Central Michigan recorded one of it?s biggest home victories over a non-conference opponent by defeating Mountain West Conference member, Wyoming, 32-20. Central Michigan starts the season with two straight wins for the first time since 1986 as the Chippewas appear to finally have turned the corner on their long rebuilding project.
Campus Rumblings: It appears that the long suffering alumni and fans of Eastern Michigan have finally had enough and an ever increasing vocal faction of fans and alumni are calling for the dismissal of Head Coach Jeff Woodruff with some also demanding the resignation of Athletic Director Dave Diles. Woodruff, in the third year of a five year deal, is currently 5-19 as EMU head coach with the team showing signs of regressing each season. The most recent home loss to Toledo which saw the Rockets score 52 unanswered points after EMU had tied the game, 13-13, has left what remains of the EMU faithful with a desire to demand the change. Many question if EMU can even compete at the 1-A level at this point.
NIU RB?s Career In Jeopardy: Less than a week after rushing for 172 yards in Northern Illinois? 42-41 victory over Wake Forest, the Huskies? standout running back, Thomas Hammock, underwent medical tests that revealed a significant amount of fatty tissue was present around Hammock?s heart. Most medical recommendations for this condition, would indicate that Hammock refrain any extra physical activity, such as collegiate athletics. The University has not yet announced whether Hammock will return to action. He was replaced by Junior tailback Michael Turner for the Huskies? game against South Florida Saturday. Hammock was among the nominees for the annual Doak Walker Award.
Week 2 Offensive MVP:
QB Derrick Vickers, Central Michigan: 361 yards passing. Two touchdowns
Runner-up:
WR Andre Ford, Buffalo: 8 receptions, 75 yards. Three touchdowns.
Week 2 Defensive MVP:
LB Stanford Rhule, Central Florida: 9 tackles, tackles for loss and 2 QB sacks.
Runner-Up:
LB Bryan Lape, Western Michigan: 10 tackles, 7 solo tackles 1 tackle for loss.
By The Numbers:
Here are some interesting stats and figures after the first two weeks of action in the MAC:
10-13 Overall Non-Conference
3-10 vs. BCS Conferences
1-1 vs. non-BCS teams
2-1 vs. ACC
1-1 vs. Big East
1-0 vs. Mountain West
0-1 vs. Big Twelve
0-1 vs. 1-A Independents
0-1 vs. PAC Ten
0-6 vs. Big Ten
6-2 vs. Division 1-AA
MAC Home Attendance:
Only four MAC teams played at home this week before a total of 82,030 fans or an average of 20,508.
On Tap:
17th ranked Marshall gets back into action by traveling to Blacksburg, VA to face the 9th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in a special Thursday night matchup. A Thundering Herd upset would certainly further the Heisman hopes of QB Byron Leftwich.
Bowling Green gets a tough Missouri squad at home. The Falcons continue the quest for respect and hope to use the home field advantage in the Upset Special of the week.
Miami travels to LSU. Last time in the Bayou, the Red Hawks pulled the upset, but this time an upset appears to be a rather daunting task.
In what is probably the rout of the week, Ohio gets the task of traveling to Gainesville and playing Number 13 Florida. This one could be over very early. Hide the women and children, because this is going to be brutal.
The MAC continues its quest for a victory against the Big Ten this season with Western Michigan traveling to Purdue; Toledo playing at Minnesota; and Northern Illinois visits Camp Randall to play the Wisconsin Badgers.
Other games: Indiana State at Ball State; Cal Poly at Kent State; Central Michigan at Akron; SE Missouri State at Eastern Michigan and Connecticut at Buffalo. Central Florida is idle this week.
