 Division winners Central Michigan and Ohio are among five MAC teams headed to bowl games. (Photo by Nate Thompson) Central Michigan, which captured the league title in a 20-10 win over Ohio Friday and is ranked No. 25 in the AP poll, heads the MAC list. League MVP Dan LeFevour and the Chippewas (11-2, 8-0 MAC) will face Troy (9-3, 8-0) January 6 in the GMAC Bowl at Mobile, Alabama. That is the next-to-last bowl game. Only the national championship game is later. That will be played the following night.
“We’re very excited to represent Central Michigan University and the Mid-American Conference in the GMAC Bowl,” Chippewas coach Butch Jones said. “I’m excited for our 13 seniors, who will be participating in their fourth consecutive bowl game and have one more opportunity to represent the ‘C’ of Central Michigan.”
While CMU’s success in recent years gives the Chippewas plenty of experience upon which to draw, Temple is bowl bound for the first time in 30 years. The Owls (9-3, 7-1 MAC) will face either Army or UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl December 29 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The exact opponent depends on the outcome of the Army-Navy game Dec. 12. If Army wins, it will go to the bowl. If Navy wins, UCLA gets the bid.
“I remember when we had a one-game win streak, and that was the longest in two years,” said Al Golden, who was recently voted 2009 MAC Coach of the Year. “This year we won nine games, and here we are going to a bowl game. I think it’s great for our team.”
“This is an awesome feeling,” said senior defensive back Dominique Harris, who is from the D.C. area. “It’s good to go home. All my family and friends can come to the bowl game and see us play.”
Ohio, which limped into the Mid-American Conference championship game after a grueling run to the MAC East title, will return to the Motor City Dec. 26 for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford Field.
While getting some time to mend, Ohio should have little trouble in mentally regrouping for its bowl match-up. The Bobcats (9-4, 7-1 MAC) will face a former MAC and area rival in Marshall (6-6, 4-4) of Conference USA.
“We are ecstatic about meeting a traditional rival in Marshall at a first-class bowl like the Little Caesars at a location that is close for our fans,” said Jim Schaus, Ohio University Director of Athletics. “I am excited that over 120,000 alumni are within just five hours drive. It will be a big-time atmosphere.”
Bowling Green, meanwhile, has a longer trip as the Falcons travel to Boise, Idaho, where they will meet Idaho (7-5, 4-4 WAC) Dec. 30 in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl.
“We’re excited and honored to have the opportunity to play in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl,” BG coach Dave Clawson said. “This is a special way for our seniors to finish their careers. We anticipate a great game with the University of Idaho.”
Northern Illinois (7-5, 5-3 MAC) doesn’t travel as far, but the Huskies will leave the country for their bowl encounter. They meet South Florida (7-5, 3-4 Big East) Jan. 2 in the International Bowl in Toronto.
“This is great time for the Huskies, said NIU coach Jerry Kill, who has led NIU to bowl games in each of his two seasons at the helm. “It’s the first time that NIU will be in back-to-back bowl games as an FBS school, which is a huge accomplishment for our seniors and another step forward for our program.
“We’re very excited about the International Bowl and the opportunity for our players and fans to have a first class experience in a beautiful stadium and a great city.”
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