2009 Mid-American Conference football season
Introduction The '''2009 Mid-American Conference football season''' is an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 7, 2010.The Mid-American Conference consists of twelve full-time members, with Temple University holding an affiliate membership for football.
Previous season Ball State entered the 2008 MAC Championship Game undefeated and as the champion of the West Division. This was also their first ever appearance in the game. Ranked #12 in the country, they faced East Division champion Buffalo in the annual contest held at Ford Field. That was Buffalo's first appearance as well. The Bulls upset Ball State and took the MAC Championship, giving Ball State their first loss of the season.After the championship game ended, four MAC football head coaches either resigned or were fired from their teams. This began with Ball State's coach Brady Hoke, who resigned to pursue a head coaching job at San Diego State University. He was replaced by Stan Parrish for the 2009 season. Parrish was promoted internally after serving as Ball State's assistant football coach for four seasons. The only other head coaching change in the West Division was in Eastern Michigan where Jeff Genyk, head coach for the past five years, was fired after a combined 15–42 record. He was replaced by Ron English, who served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for five years as well as the University of Louisville during the 2008 season.In the East Division, two schools also saw head coaching changes. Miami University's head coach Shane Montgomery resigned after a 2–10 record in the 2008 season. His best season at Miami was in 2005 when he led the team to a 7–4 overall record and a tie for the MAC East title. However, in that season Akron won the tiebreaker to play in the MAC Championship Game against West champion Northern Illinois. Montgomery was replaced by Mike Haywood who served four years as Notre Dame University's offensive coordinator. At Bowling Green, six-year head coach Gregg Brandon was fired. However, Brandon did find another job in college football when he was named the new University of Virginia offensive coordinator. He was replaced at Bowling Green by Dave Clawson, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee.
Preseason === Preseason poll ===The 2009 MAC Preseason Poll was announced at the Football Media Preview in Detroit on July 31.In the East Division, Buffalo was selected to repeat as divisional champions, and Central Michigan selected to top the West. Also, Central Michigan received 18 votes to win the MAC Championship Game.====West Division====# Central Michigan – 154 points# Western Michigan – 126 points# Northern Illinois – 103 points# Toledo – 71 points# Ball State – 58 points# Eastern Michigan – 34 points====East Division====# Buffalo – 155 points# Temple – 144 points# Akron – 128 points# Ohio – 116 points# Bowling Green – 101 points# Kent State – 51 points# Miami – 33 points====MAC Championship====# Central Michigan – 18 votes# Western Michigan – 4 votes# Buffalo – 2 votes# Temple – 2 votes=== Award watch lists === Award  School  Player Bronko Nagurski Trophy Temple Andre Neblett Toledo Barry Church Dave Rimington Trophy Bowling Green Ben Bojicic Central Michigan Colin Miller Northern Illinois Eddie Adamski Lombardi Award Central Michigan Nick Bellore Frank Zombo Western Michigan Austin Pritchard Manning Award Bowling Green Tyler Sheehan Central Michigan Dan LeFevour Western Michigan Tim Hiller Maxwell Award Central Michigan Dan LeFevour Lou Groza Award Northern Illinois Mike Salerno Toledo Alex Steigerwald Outland Trophy Temple Andre Neblett Fred Biletnikoff Award Buffalo Naaman Roosevelt Central Michigan Antonio Brown Eastern Michigan Jacory Stone Ohio Taylor Price Toledo Stephen Williams Walter Camp Award Ball State MiQuale Lewis Western Michigan Tim Hiller Jim Thorpe Award Toledo Barry Church Ted Hendricks Award Central Michigan Frank Zombo Ray Guy Award Western Michigan Ben Armer Doak Walker Award Ball State MiQuale Lewis Buffalo James Starks Kent State Eugene Jarvis Toledo DeJuane Collins Western Michigan Brandon West Davey O'Brien Award Central Michigan Dan LeFevour Western Michigan Tim Hiller
Regular season Index to colors and formattingMid-American Conference member wonMid-American Conference member lostMid-American Conference teams in '''bold'''=== Week one ===Opening weekend for the Mid-American Conference consisted of six home games and six away games. Also, Miami faced Kentucky in a battle contested at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bowling Green, Kent State, and Buffalo were the only teams to win the opening weekend. Buffalo was also the only team to win an away game as their season opener. Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance September 3  7 p.m. Troy  '''Bowling Green'''  Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH    '''W''' 31–14  14,514 September 3  7 p.m.   Coastal Carolina  '''Kent State'''  Dix Stadium • Kent, OH    '''W''' 18–0  16,481 September 3  7 p.m.   Villanova  '''Temple'''  Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA    '''L''' 24–27  27,759 September 3  7:30 p.m.   North Texas  '''Ball State'''  Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN  ESPNU  '''L''' 10–20  16,054 September 5  12 p.m.   '''Toledo'''  Purdue  Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 31–51  47,551 September 5  12 p.m.   '''Akron'''  Penn State  Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 7–31  104,968 September 5  12 p.m.   Kentucky  '''Miami'''  Paul Brown Stadium • Cincinnati, OH  ESPNU  '''L''' 0–42  41,037 September 5  3:30 p.m.   '''Western Michigan'''  Michigan  Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI  ABC/ESPN2  '''L''' 7–31  109,019 September 5  7 p.m.   Army  '''Eastern Michigan'''  Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI    '''L''' 14–27  14,499 September 5  7 p.m.   '''Northern Illinois'''  Wisconsin  Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 20–28  80,532 September 5  7 p.m.   Connecticut  '''Ohio'''  Peden Stadium • Athens, OH  ESPN360  '''L''' 16–23  24,617 September 5  9 p.m.   '''Central Michigan'''  Arizona  Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ    '''L''' 6–19  51,683 September 5  9 p.m.   '''Buffalo'''  UTEP  Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX    '''W''' 23–17  35,213=== Week two === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance September 11  9 p.m.  Colorado  '''Toledo'''  Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH  ESPN  '''W''' 54–38  20,082 September 12  12 p.m.   Pittsburgh  '''Buffalo'''  UB Stadium • Amherst, NY  ESPN Plus  '''L''' 27–57  21,870 September 12  12 p.m.   '''Western Michigan'''  Indiana  Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 19–23  35,162 September 12  12 p.m.   '''Eastern Michigan'''  Northwestern  Ryan Field • Evanston, IL  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 24–27  19,239 September 12  12 p.m.   '''Central Michigan'''  Michigan State  Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI  ESPN/ESPN2  '''W''' 29–27  76,221 September 12  2 p.m.     '''Akron'''  InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, OH    '''W''' 41–0  27,881 September 12  2 p.m.   '''Kent State'''  Boston College  Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA  ESPN360  '''L''' 7–34  25,165 September 12  7 p.m.   '''Bowling Green'''  Missouri  Faurot Field • Columbia, MO    '''L''' 20–27  65,401 September 12  7 p.m.   '''Ohio'''  North Texas  Fouts Field • Denton, TX    '''W''' 31–302OT  16,674 September 12  7 p.m.   New Hampshire  '''Ball State'''  Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN    '''L''' 16–23  11,884 September 12  7:30 p.m.   Western Illinois  '''Northern Illinois'''  Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL    '''W''' 41–7  21,427 September 12  8 p.m.   '''Miami'''  #12 Boise State  Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID    '''L''' 0–48  32,228=== Week three === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance September 19  12 p.m.  '''Northern Illinois'''  Purdue  Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN  Big Ten Network  '''W''' 28–21  53,240 September 19  12 p.m.  '''Temple'''  Penn State  Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 6–31  105,514 September 19  12 p.m.  '''Ball State'''  Army  Michie Stadium • West Point, NY    '''L''' 17–24  25,646 September 19  12 p.m.  Ohio State  '''Toledo'''  Cleveland Browns Stadium • Cleveland, OH  ESPN Plus  '''L''' 0–38  71,727 September 19  12 p.m.  '''Eastern Michigan'''  Michigan  Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 17–45  107,903 September 19  3:30 p.m.  Alcorn State  '''Central Michigan'''  Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI   '''W''' 48–0  18,323 September 19  3:30 p.m.  Indiana  '''Akron'''  InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, OH  ESPNU  '''L''' 38–21  18,340 September 19  7 p.m.   Iowa State  '''Kent State'''  Dix Stadium • Kent, OH  ESPN360  '''L''' 34–14  15,808 September 19  7 p.m.   Cal Poly  '''Ohio'''  Peden Stadium • Athens, OH    '''W''' 28–10  16,018 September 19  7 p.m.  '''Bowling Green'''  Marshall  Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV    '''L''' 17–10  23,029 September 19  7:30 p.m.  '''Buffalo'''  Central Florida  Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL    '''L''' 23–17  33,689=== Week four === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance September 26  3:30 p.m.  Idaho  '''Northern Illinois'''  Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL  CSN Chicago  '''L''' 34–31  16,320 September 26  7 p.m.  Hofstra  '''Western Michigan'''  Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI  College Sports Direct  '''W''' 24–10  16,116 September 26  7 p.m.  Boise State  '''Bowling Green'''  Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH  KTVB, ESPN360  '''L''' 49–14  22,396 September 26  7 p.m.  '''Toledo'''  Florida International  FIU Stadium • Miami, FL  College Sports Direct  '''W''' 41–31  11,047 September 26  7 p.m.  '''Ohio'''  Tennessee  Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN  ESPN360  '''L''' 34–23  95,535 September 26  7 p.m.  '''Ball State'''  Auburn  Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL  Fox Sports Net  '''L''' 54–30  83,118=== Week five === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance October 3  1 p.m.  Cincinnati  '''Miami'''  Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH    '''L''' 37–13  23,493 October 3  7 p.m.  '''Kent State'''  Baylor  Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX  Fox Sports Net  '''L''' 31–15  27,047=== Week six === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance October 10  12 p.m.   '''Miami'''  Northwestern  Ryan Field • Evanston, IL  ESPN  '''L''' 6–16  23,085 October 10  3:30 p.m.     '''Buffalo'''  UB Stadium • Amherst, NY    '''W''' 40–3  15,812=== Week seven === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance October 17  1 p.m.   Army  '''Temple'''  Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA    '''W''' 27–13  14,275=== Week eight === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance October 24  3:30 p.m.   '''Akron'''  Syracuse  Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY    '''L''' 28–14  36,991=== Week nine === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance October 31  3:30 p.m.   '''Temple'''  Navy  Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD  CBS College Sports  '''W''' 27–24  28,305 October 31  3:30 p.m.   '''Central Michigan'''  Boston College  Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA  ESPNU  '''L''' 31–10  34,128 October 31  7:00 p.m.   '''Eastern Michigan'''  Arkansas  Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR  ESPNU  '''L''' 63–27  62,501=== Week ten === Date  Time  Visiting team  Home team  Site  TV  Result  Attendance November 7  12 p.m.   '''Western Michigan'''  Michigan State  Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI  Big Ten Network  '''L''' 49–14  73,910=== Homecoming games ====== Players of the Week ======= East Division ==== Week Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team 1 Freddie Barnes Bowling Green Cobrani Mixon Kent State Matt Weller Ohio 2 Zach Maynard Buffalo Brian Wagner Akron Jerry Phillips Bowling Green 3 Tyler Sheehan Bowling Green Brian Lainhart Kent State Brandon McManus Temple 4 Theo Scott Ohio Elijah Joseph Temple Freddy Cortez Kent State 5 Bernard Pierce Temple Dak Notestine Ohio Jerry Phillips Bowling Green 6 Freddie Barnes Bowling Green Jaiquawn Jarret Temple Melvin Payne Ohio 7 Tyler Sheehan Bowling Green Mike Newton Buffalo Chad Clemens Ohio 8 Bernard Pierce Temple Kevin Hogan Kent State Dashan Miller Akron 9 Bernard Pierce Temple Monte Simmons Kent State Matt Weller Ohio 10 Tyler Sheehan Bowling Green Miguel Graham Akron Brandon McManus Temple 11 Naaman Roosevelt Buffalo Jerett Sanderson Bowling Green Matt Weller Ohio==== West Division ==== Week Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team 1 Aaron Opelt Toledo Cory Hanson Northern Illinois Mike Salerno Northern Illinois 2 Aaron Opelt Toledo Austin Pritchard Western Michigan Andrew Aguila Central Michigan 3 Me'co Brown Northern Illinois Jamail Berry Western Michigan Antonio Brown Central Michigan 4 Dan LeFevour Central Michigan Austin Pritchard Western Michigan Alex Steigerwald Toledo 5 Stephen Williams Toledo Jake Coffman Northern Illinois Brett Hartmann Central Michigan 6 Brandon West Western Michigan Nick Bellore Central Michigan Antonio Brown Central Michigan 7 Dan LeFevour Central Michigan Brandon Bice Northern Illinois Barry Church Toledo 8 MiQuale Lewis Ball State Larry Knight Central Michigan Brandon West Western Michigan 9 Chad Spann Northern Illinois Justin Braska Western Michigan Mike Salerno Northern Illinois 10 Chad Spann Northern Illinois Cory Hanson Northern Illinois Brandon West Western Michigan 11 Dan LeFevour Central Michigan Jamail Berry Western Michigan Brandon West Western Michigan
Bowl games Bowl GameDateStadiumCityTelevisionMatchup/ResultsPayout (US$)AttendanceLittle Caesars Pizza BowlDecember 26, 2009Ford FieldDetroit, MichiganESPNMarshall 21, Ohio 17$750,00030,311EagleBank BowlDecember 29, 2009RFK StadiumWashington, D.C.ESPNUCLA 30, Temple 21$1,000,00023,072Roady's Humanitarian BowlDecember 30, 2009Bronco StadiumBoise, IdahoESPNIdaho 43, Bowling Green 42$750,00026,726International BowlJanuary 2, 2010Rogers CentreToronto, OntarioESPN2South Florida 27, Northern Illinois 3$750,00022,185GMAC BowlJanuary 6, 2010Ladd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AlabamaESPNCentral Michigan 44, Troy 41 (2OT)$750,00034,486
References