CMU accepts GMAC Bowl Bid
Why did Central accept the GMAC bid, when they could play in front of 60,000 of their fans in Detroit? Granted, it is in a nicer climate, but isn't it a bit of a slap in the face to the fans, who have supported them all year?
Also, they will be playing Troy in Alabama, which basically makes them the away team. If I were a student at CMU, I'd be pretty upset that after such an exciting run to the MAC Championship, they're not playing locally. Good luck getting 4,000 fans from CMU down to Mobile....
December 6th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
Well then, good thing you're not a CMU student.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:58 PM ^
I'm pretty sure they took it specifically so they can get out of Detroit - Kind of a been there, done that sort of thing, they're trying to branch out beyond Ford Field.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^
Couldn't have said it any better myself. Central has over the past 3-4 years played in Detroit 6 times. Definitely time for a change of scenery and as a student there, time for some new exposure for the program in a different location.
Also a great location for an awesome road trip which I plan on taking. I will be one of those 4,000 you speak of that will be there rooting them on!
Ahh the joys of college :)
December 6th, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
They rotate every year between GMAC and Detroit on who gets MAC #1. CMU was the pick they wanted, so thats why they are going to Mobile.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
the $$$$$$
December 6th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
Nice little MAC v. Sun-Belt Champs. This is a great play in game to the national tournament... er.... nevermind.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
I don't understand why that is a bad thing.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
Is it bad that I posbang you due to your avatar before even reading your post?
December 7th, 2009 at 6:21 AM ^
agreed, insectosaurus FTW!
December 6th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
This is a nice reward for the team. They get to travel and really get away. I don't see how it's a slap in the face. The fans have seen them play at Ford Field how many times in the last four years?
December 6th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
CMU in the Motor Bowl - however, I'm totally pumped about the Ohio/Marshall match up - parking at Greektown should be nice and easy this year.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:12 PM ^
Plus the way its going Central won't get a chance to match the Lions for wins at Ford Field this year.
If I was at Central I'd already be planning the road trip!
December 6th, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^
Who has more wins at Ford Field since its opening, CMU or the Lions?
December 6th, 2009 at 9:29 PM ^
CMU will be the second school from Michigan to play a big game in the state of Alabama; GVSU will be the first when they play Northwest Missouri State in the D2 National Championship.
Personally, I'd be excited if I were a CMU student. Road trip to Bama, baby!!
December 6th, 2009 at 9:30 PM ^
I would much rather go to the GMAC Bowl if I was a Central player. They have played in Detroit several times and it is probably getting old. Also, the weather in Alabama is much nicer and it would be a lot more memorable to take a trip hundreds of miles away than 50 miles away. It sucks for the fans but the players deserve to get away and see somewhere new.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
Also, I just looked up the bowl dates and that could have been a factor. The Little Caesar's Bowl is the day after Christmas and is surrounded by a bunch of other mediocre bowls. The GMAC Bowl is the second-to-last bowl, right in between the Orange Bowl and the Championship game on January 6, and it's prime time. A lot more people will probably be watching.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:31 PM ^
#1 Money
#2 They wanted to
#3 Recruiting
#4 They wanted to
December 6th, 2009 at 9:38 PM ^
the central fans didn't even sell out their home games this year. they played toledo on espn during prime time and the stadium was 1/2 empty.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
Or was it half full?
December 6th, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
Since when is a Wednesday Night game on espn 2 a prime time game? It's really hard for alumni, many of which live in Metro Detroit, to travel up to Mount Pleasant for an 8 PM game.
It's tough to get fans into those seats when you only have five home games, 3 of which are on Saturday's. Plus their biggest rival (WMU) was a road game this year. Not their fault. You gotta take those weekday games for national coverage when you play in the MAC.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
Sorry for the threadjack, but I didn't want to post this as a forum topic: I plan on snacking on a giant bowl of schadenfreude-flavored popcorn when Sparty's 103rd-ranked pass defense goes against Texas Tech's 2nd-ranked pass offense in the Something or Other Bowl.
I mean, good for Sparty and all, but it could be quite a show.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
Wow, that is one hell of a mismatch. And now that Dell and Cunningham most likely won't be playing in the bowl, Sparty's vaunted aerial assault won't be so vaunted. And with no run to speak of, I'm not sure how MSU is going to score.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
by actually just beating up the Texas Tech defense of course./dancing with all of their girlfriends?
December 6th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^
Mobile Alabama vs. Detroit Michigan
December 7th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
to have seen Central play a better opponent than Troy. Troy lost to Bowling Green this year, and got SMOKED by Florida and Arkansas. Central has little to gain by winning this game, where as if they had been matched up with a team from a BCS conference they could have been an underdog everyone would have pulled for.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:42 AM ^
I know they beat MSU, but they also played Arizona and Boston College and were basically dominated in both games.
Though I'd like to see them get another crack at a BCS school, too. The Chips are a good football team.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
CMU got blown out by BC, but they only lost to Arizona, I believe, 16-7. That doesn't sound like domination to me.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
The final score was 19-6, which may not seem like a blow out, but CMU couldn't move the ball, other than their TD scoring drive.
Arizona had 448 total yards to CMU's 182 and had nearly double the TOP.
Edit: After looking up the game stats, CMU was aided by two 15 yard personal foul penalties on their TD drive.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
Here is a final score for you: 14-3
By the score it doesn't look like a game where one team got dominated. However, this is not the case. This is because I am talking about the '07 Michigan/OSU game where Chad Henne went 11-34, Beanie Wells ran for 230, and OSU outgained Michigan 279-91 and outcontrolled Michigan 37:21-22:10.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:49 AM ^
Going into the season I thought that CMU had a very favorable chance to run the table, and against some decent teams. It would have been cool to see them play a mid level Big 12 or SEC team. Hopefully Lefevour can go out on top. He has had a tremendous career. Just 153 yards behind Harrell for second all time and 1464 behind Timmy Chang. That could have been in reach if not for some injuries last season. I'm looking forward to him putting up a few more touchdowns on that all time record as well!
He needs 64 yards rushing for 3,000. That would put him in the the 12,000/3,000 club.