Central Michigan coach envisions program as another Boise State

Mount Pleasant

Music from Central Michigan's marching band pounds the walls inside of Warriner Hall, drawing a few visitors inside to listen to the final rifts of the school fight song on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

There was pride as visitors smiled and politely clapped during the fight song. They were inspired by the words, moved by the beat. But the fight song sounds a little better these days because the Chippewas (7-2, 5-0 Mid American Conference) are enjoying one of their finest seasons.

If Central wins its final three games, including an 8 p.m. kickoff tonight at Kelly Shorts Stadium against Toledo, it would become the first Central team to win 10 regular-season games since 1979 when it finished 10-0-1 under Herb Deromedi.

Central has enjoyed a resurgence under current Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly and his replacement, Butch Jones. In the last four seasons, Central is 33-17, 24-4 in the MAC, with two conference titles and three appearances in the Motor City Bowl.

But this might be Central's best team.

The first win of the season was the biggest, a 29-27 shocker over Michigan State in East Lansing. The victory lifted the campus, alumni and the team. The school opened a permanent gift shop at the football stadium to meet demand. And the CM Life commemorative poster that proclaims "State Supremacy" has surpassed the "Twice as Nice" poster that commemorated back to back victories over the Spartans in 1991 and 1992.

Having beaten Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, Central lays claim to the unofficial state championship.

No mid-major

Jones strives for more. He wants Central to follow in the footsteps of Boise State, a supposed mid-major program with visions of a BCS bowl game.

But please don't use the term mid-major in front of Jones.

"I don't believe in the term mid-major," he said. "We are all Division I programs. We have been preaching about being a top-25 football program."

Three years ago, Jones asked players to write down who they believed were the top five programs in the nation. Only 17 of 97 players mentioned Central. That did not sit well with the coach.

"I told them you represent Central Michigan and there should be no better program in your minds than Central Michigan," Jones said. "That has bled down into our beliefs."

Tonight's game will be a four-hour infomercial about Central football, and Jones hopes recruits around the country consider making Mount Pleasant home. The Chippewas will play their final three games during prime time.

"It builds recognition of the flying C," Jones said. "Anytime you can get on the national stage you make the most of it."

Inspirational team

The football team even inspires other athletes. Sophomore softball player Molly Coldren of West Bloomfield works out with members of the football team during the week and their words of wisdom and motivational posts inspire her to do better next season.

"Yeah, it helps me through my workout," she said. "It makes me want to reach out and be a part of their team."

Inside the popular downtown watering hole The Bird, Michael and Leanne Smith spoke of their maroon-and-gold pride. Leanne predicted Central's victory over Michigan State because she sensed something magical would happen this season.

"I just knew it was going to happen. I just felt it," she said. "I don't know why."

When she told friends of the impending upset, they laughed at her. No one is laughing about Central football these days.

"You get a different sense about CMU on campus and around the nation," Jones said.

terry.foster@detnews.com">terry.foster@detnews.com (313) 222-1494