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2006 MAC Football Mid-Season Report

2006 MAC Football Overview:
This season may be looked back in time as "the changing of the guard" within MAC football. Longtime divisional leaders, Toledo and NIU in the West and Miami in the East, have little to no chance at winning their respected divisions. In the East, Kent State has catapulted itself from the doldrums into legitimate bowl destination consideration behind QB Julian Edelman, RB Eugene Jarvis, and a stout defense. Kent State already owns victories against BGSU, Akron, Miami and Toledo. Their biggest conference game left will be hosting Ohio on October 28. Ohio has an impressive victory over Illinois and will prove to be one of the final tests for the Golden Flashes. In the West, both Central Michigan and Western Michigan have pasted early tests as both have defeated Toledo and Western has added an impressive win against NIU. When these two longtime arch rivals clash in Mount Pleasant next month, the West division title and quite possibly the Motor City Bowl birth will be on the line. One thing we have learned during the first half of this crazy MAC football season – expect the unexpected. Below is a synopsis of the season to date.

Biggest Surprise Teams

1. Kent State – The Golden Flashes are the feel good team this year in the MAC and are begininng to get some national attention. Kent State ranks #1 in the MAC in pass defense and scoring defense and that includes their 44-0 loss to Minnesota. Take out that game and the Golden Flashes are giving up just 13.3 points per game. They currently have their longest winning streak in over thirty years. For the first time ever in KSU-MAC history (1951), Kent State is 4-0 in conference play. KSU’s defense already has 24 QB sacks.

2. Central Michigan – The Chippewas are quietly going through the MAC and with their win at Toledo last week, are in terrific position to win the West considering they host Western Michigan next month and have a two-game lead over NIU. Central nearly beat Boston College and Kentucky and already own a win over preseason MAC East favorite Akron. November 10th at Kelly/Shorts Stadium will be the game that determines if CMU gets a bowl bid.

3. Western Michigan – Like Central, Western has quietly played terrific ball and own a victory over an ACC team. Western has beaten the two MAC West favorites (NIU & Toledo) and should have beaten Indiana in week #1. With just one conference loss, the Broncos control their destiny to represent the West in the ’07 MACC.

Most Disappointing Teams

1. Toledo – The Rockets are by far the most disappointing team in the league this year. After a fantastic game that turned into a heartbreaking loss at Iowa State in week #1, the Rockets have looked lost in all three phases of the game ever since. Toledo is dead last in the MAC in turnover ratio giving up the ball 18 times already. Their offensive line has not performed well, their receivers drop the ball about ten times per game, and the defense is ranked #11 in the league to date. What is most disturbing though is their blatant lack of discipline. The Rockets are the most penalized team in the league and Amstutz has yet to address this serious problem.

2. Miami – The RedHawks finally got their first win of the season at Buffalo this past weekend. Miami ranks tenth in the league in scoring offense and 11th in rushing offense and has given up a league high 34 QB sacks. Until the offensive line begins consistent play, Miami will struggle offensively and put a tremendous burden on the defense, which has played respectable to date.

3. Ball State – The Cardinals make this list since this publication believed this was the year that the Cardinals would turn it around under Brady Hoke and make a run at a divisional title. The Cardinals lead the MAC in scoring offense with 29-points per game but the defense has not been very reliable. A home loss to Indiana should not have occurred considering the Cardinals blew a big lead but their home loss to I-AA North Dakota State is unacceptable.

Coach of Year Candidate(s)

Brian Kelly and/or Doug Martin – Take your pick here as both will be neck and neck in the voting. CMU’s Brian Kelly has taken an underachieving program and has quickly brought them back into title contention in just his third year. Kelly won Division II national championships at Grand Valley State and has proved to be a terrific hire for this program. Doug Martin has been on the offensive side of the ball most of his career but his Kent State defense has been nothing less than outstanding this season. Coming off of a 1-10 season, KSU is on pace for their first bowl appearance since the early 1970s, back when a linebacker named Jack Lambert roamed Dix Stadium.

Offensive POY

Garrett Wolfe is still the odds-on favorite to win this award even though he was totally shut down in Kalamazoo this weekend. Wolfe is averaging 195-yards per game rushing and has 13 TDs. Coming into his contest at WMU (Wolfe was averaging over 230-yards per game at that point), Garrett Wolfe averaged more rushing yards per game than 114 of the 119 IA teams – which is an amazing stat. If for some reason Wolfe has a total collapse – look out for Kent State’s Eugene Jarvis to make a late run. He is a real tiny, but strong dynamo.

Defensive POY

Dan Bazuin has been simply amazing this year and just may end up a first round draft choice in the NFL this April. Bazuin has forced three fumbles to date (scoring one TD off of that turnover), has nine tackles for loss, and has five QB sacks. He is doing all of this while being consistently double and triple teamed.

Freshman of the Year

Ball State’s Nate Davis, the #1 ranked incoming recruit by this site and several other publications, has certainly lived up to his hype. This true freshman has earned the starting nod over a senior, passed for over 1,000 yards, and has 12 TDs with just 2 INTs. Akron’s David Harvey (WR) will also receive serious consideration.

Best Game of the Year

Iowa State 45 – Toledo 43 (3OTs); this game looks like it was played a decade ago for Rocket fans.

Best Upcoming MAC Games

1. Western Michigan at Central Michigan – November 10

2. Central Michigan at NIU – November 17

3. Ohio at Kent State – October 28

4. Western Michigan at Akron – November 24

5. Akron at Ohio – November 16

Ranking the teams to date:

1. Central Michigan – on pace to win their first MAC title since 1994

2. Western Michigan – if they win at Central next month, they will be playing in the MACC

3. Kent State – from a 1-10 season to one of the league’s best this season – wow!

4. NIU – terrific player in Garrett Wolfe; also has underachieved to date with two conference losses

5. Akron – brutal schedule (just one home game in September & one in October) has taken its toll

6. BGSU – several young players are stepping up big making the Falcons a real factor in the east

7. Ohio – nice win at Illinois, still has a shot to win the East

8. Ball State – bright future with Nate Davis but the team has not performed to expectations

9. Eastern Michigan – just can’t seem to buy a win; improvement noted but cannot finish games

10. Toledo – see most disappointing teams above

11. Miami - ditto

12. Buffalo – displayed improvement and confidence under the new coaching staff