(11-19-2020 09:51 AM)Nacho Wrote: It is crazy how streaky the rivalry is. Periods of time where WMU absolutely dominates and others where CMU owns is like from 77-87. Wtf was wrong with that decade?
I can help you with that last since I was around then and also had friends who played for Chimps.
There were several reasons but here were three biggies:
1) Coaching stability. Central had the basically same staff the entire period while Uzelac and Harbaugh had a lot of turnover (partly because we paid our coaches so badly).
2) The rivalry, believe it or not, was more important to them. They recruited entirely from the state (which they made a big deal out of) - Saginaw Valley, which was maybe best HS league in Michigan at the time; Big 9, a Class A Flint-are league; Grand Rapids, and some in Detroit.
While most of our roster was in-state kids we had a lot from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio. Rivalry didn't mean as much to outstate kids as it did to CMU's entirely home-grown roster.
3) Timing. Many of those years we played CMU last game of the year. Uzelac's practices were so physical that we typically had more than our share of injuries and by middle of November those that weren't injured were pretty beat up.
(This post was last modified: 11-19-2020 12:14 PM by MajorHoople.)
(11-19-2020 09:51 AM)Nacho Wrote: It is crazy how streaky the rivalry is. Periods of time where WMU absolutely dominates and others where CMU owns is like from 77-87. Wtf was wrong with that decade?
I can help you with that last since I was around then and also had friends who played for Chimps.
There were several reasons but here were three biggies:
1) Coaching stability. Central had the basically same staff the entire period while Uzelac and Harbaugh had a lot of turnover (partly because we paid our coaches so badly).
2) The rivalry, believe it or not, was more important to them. They recruited entirely from the state (which they made a big deal out of) - Saginaw Valley, which was maybe best HS league in Michigan at the time; Big 9, a Class A Flint-are league; Grand Rapids, and some in Detroit.
While most of our roster was in-state kids we had a lot from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio. Rivalry didn't mean as much to outstate kids as it did to CMU's entirely home-grown roster.
3) Timing. Many of those years we played CMU last game of the year. Uzelac's practices were so physical that we typically had more than our share of injuries and by middle of November those that weren't injured were pretty beat up.
Good list, Major.
But you've gotta give credit to former CMU Head Coach Herb Deromedi. He kept that staff together and built/maintained their culture, which included taking the WMU game v-e-ry seriously.
(11-19-2020 05:50 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote: I can't for the life of me understand why McElwain didn't line up Pimpleton in that wildcat and continue letting him run. We rarely stopped it.
Because, according to GRBRONCO and Bronco14, he's a better coach than Lester.
After rewatching the game, I wanted to add a few more thoughts.
- Refs missed a block in the back on one of CMU's TDs in the 3rd quarter. Clear as day.
- Our O-line bulldozed CMU all night. Just blew them right off the ball. What a performance. Eleby had all day to throw and our RBs were practically strolling behind our big guys up front.
- Our D-line actually played really admirably considering they were down 2 starting ends. Holley got penetration on every single play and the CMU center was holding on for dear life half the time. None of those holds were called. Holley showed some real fire out there. You love to see it.
- XPs just bounce off of CMU's new endzone building, which made me laugh. So silly. I don't know why the place is built practically right over the field. Also the endzone camera on top of the building is way too close to actually watch the extra point. What a stupid angle.
- Jaylen Hall's speed is so sneaky. He blew past CMU's P5 transfer corners all night. He's a huge threat in the deep passing game.
(This post was last modified: 11-19-2020 06:46 PM by ColinApocalypse.)
(11-19-2020 05:50 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote: I can't for the life of me understand why McElwain didn't line up Pimpleton in that wildcat and continue letting him run. We rarely stopped it.
Because, according to GRBRONCO and Bronco14, he's a better coach than Lester.
Don't look now but Lester 2-0 vs McElwain
(11-19-2020 12:30 PM)GullLake Wrote:
(11-19-2020 12:14 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:
(11-19-2020 09:51 AM)Nacho Wrote: It is crazy how streaky the rivalry is. Periods of time where WMU absolutely dominates and others where CMU owns is like from 77-87. Wtf was wrong with that decade?
I can help you with that last since I was around then and also had friends who played for Chimps.
There were several reasons but here were three biggies:
1) Coaching stability. Central had the basically same staff the entire period while Uzelac and Harbaugh had a lot of turnover (partly because we paid our coaches so badly).
2) The rivalry, believe it or not, was more important to them. They recruited entirely from the state (which they made a big deal out of) - Saginaw Valley, which was maybe best HS league in Michigan at the time; Big 9, a Class A Flint-are league; Grand Rapids, and some in Detroit.
While most of our roster was in-state kids we had a lot from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio. Rivalry didn't mean as much to outstate kids as it did to CMU's entirely home-grown roster.
3) Timing. Many of those years we played CMU last game of the year. Uzelac's practices were so physical that we typically had more than our share of injuries and by middle of November those that weren't injured were pretty beat up.
Good list, Major.
But you've gotta give credit to former CMU Head Coach Herb Deromedi. He kept that staff together and built/maintained their culture, which included taking the WMU game v-e-ry seriously.
Yeah, Deromedi. While Hoopie probably has some great points in regards specifically to the rivalry, I think Central was generally just pretty good back then.
(11-19-2020 05:50 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote: I can't for the life of me understand why McElwain didn't line up Pimpleton in that wildcat and continue letting him run. We rarely stopped it.
Because, according to GRBRONCO and Bronco14, he's a better coach than Lester.
I said Lester needs a talent advantage to beat him, which luckily we have. WMU has much more talent up and down the roster especially at the skill positions and yet we still came out flat and dug ourselves in a hole. Credit to Lester for continuing to recruit near the top in the conference though.
I heard Lester comment about the slow starts and he’s trying to address it... it’s just not something that’s easy to diagnose. I have noticed it during his entire tenure as HC. I have to wonder if this has to be addressed by the players first... not the coaching staff. Does the team still implement a “players council” like they had under Fleck? We need someone to bring the juice before kickoffs.. we just seem to sleep walk through the first two drives.
Looks like in the early 1990s they played 2 games in Kalamazoo & then 2 in Mount Pleasant instead of alternating. Wonder if they do something like that these next 4 years?
(This post was last modified: 11-21-2020 04:09 PM by Bronco'14.)
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CMU Week
