Chippewas picked to win third straight MAC title
Dan LeFevour is the poster boy -- or shall we say billboard boy -- of Central Michigan football.
LeFevour, a junior quarterback, stepped out of Ford Field following the Mid-American Conference media day Tuesday afternoon, took a glance at the outside of the back of Comerica Park's scoreboard and saw himself on the billboard with the slogan: "High Octane Offense. More Miles Per Game."
LeFevour and the Chippewas will be trying to become the fourth team in MAC history to win three straight conference championships, the first since Marshall won four straight from 1997-2000. They will open Aug. 28 in Mt. Pleasant against Eastern Illinois.
The Chippewas are heavy favorites to win the title in voting by the MAC News Media Association. The Chippewas collected 29 of the 36 first-place votes to win the West Division and received 24 of the first-place votes to win the championship.
LeFevour led the Chippewas to an 8-6 record (6-1 MAC), including a 51-48 loss to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl. He threw for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,122 yards and 19 TDs. The Sporting News listed him as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
"It's an honor to be mentioned in the same category with so many great players," LeFevour said of the Heisman Trophy talk. "That billboard (at Comerica Park) is pretty big. It's not just about me though. It's a reflection on the success we've had as a team the last few years. It's pretty neat.
"We have 10 starters back on offense and we want to get off to a good start. We have a number of goals. We want to win the MAC West and the MAC championship. We also want to be a Top 25 team.
"We have to be ready for Eastern Illinois right out of the gate. We also play nonconference games against Georgia, Indiana and Purdue. We have to beat some of those teams if we want to be a Top 25 team."
Ball State was picked second in the West, followed by Western Michigan (5-7, 3-4), Toledo, Eastern Michigan (4-8, 3-4) and Northern Illinois. Bowling Green was picked to win the East.
"Preseason polls are usually based on historical references, but most of the voters didn't do that if last year's month of November was any indication," EMU coach Jeff Genyk said.
"We shut out Western Michigan (won 19-2), led Bowling Green with four minutes left before losing and then beat Central Michigan. I really think we can win the MAC title this year."
Dan LeFevour is the poster boy -- or shall we say billboard boy -- of Central Michigan football.
LeFevour, a junior quarterback, stepped out of Ford Field following the Mid-American Conference media day Tuesday afternoon, took a glance at the outside of the back of Comerica Park's scoreboard and saw himself on the billboard with the slogan: "High Octane Offense. More Miles Per Game."
LeFevour and the Chippewas will be trying to become the fourth team in MAC history to win three straight conference championships, the first since Marshall won four straight from 1997-2000. They will open Aug. 28 in Mt. Pleasant against Eastern Illinois.
The Chippewas are heavy favorites to win the title in voting by the MAC News Media Association. The Chippewas collected 29 of the 36 first-place votes to win the West Division and received 24 of the first-place votes to win the championship.
LeFevour led the Chippewas to an 8-6 record (6-1 MAC), including a 51-48 loss to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl. He threw for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,122 yards and 19 TDs. The Sporting News listed him as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
"It's an honor to be mentioned in the same category with so many great players," LeFevour said of the Heisman Trophy talk. "That billboard (at Comerica Park) is pretty big. It's not just about me though. It's a reflection on the success we've had as a team the last few years. It's pretty neat.
"We have 10 starters back on offense and we want to get off to a good start. We have a number of goals. We want to win the MAC West and the MAC championship. We also want to be a Top 25 team.
"We have to be ready for Eastern Illinois right out of the gate. We also play nonconference games against Georgia, Indiana and Purdue. We have to beat some of those teams if we want to be a Top 25 team."
Ball State was picked second in the West, followed by Western Michigan (5-7, 3-4), Toledo, Eastern Michigan (4-8, 3-4) and Northern Illinois. Bowling Green was picked to win the East.
"Preseason polls are usually based on historical references, but most of the voters didn't do that if last year's month of November was any indication," EMU coach Jeff Genyk said.
"We shut out Western Michigan (won 19-2), led Bowling Green with four minutes left before losing and then beat Central Michigan. I really think we can win the MAC title this year."
