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Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan football rivalry

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Central Michigan Chippewas
Eastern Michigan Eagles
SportFootball
First meetingNovember 1, 1902
Central Michigan, 10–0
Latest meetingOctober 19, 2024
Eastern Michigan, 38–34
Statistics
Meetings total102
All-time seriesCMU leads 64–32–6[1]
Largest victoryEMU 63–0 (1917)
Longest win streakCMU, 8 (1937–1947)
Current win streakEMU, 1 (2024–present)
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
50km
30miles
Eastern Michigan
.
Central Michigan
Locations of Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan

The Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan football rivalry is an annual college football game between Central Michigan University (CMU) and Eastern Michigan University (EMU). The football series between the two universities dates back to 1902 and is the oldest rivalry in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), having begun five years before the Central Michigan–Western Michigan rivalry and six years before the Miami–Ohio rivalry. With 100 games having been played, it is also the most frequently-played series between MAC schools.[2]

Michigan State Normal, as EMU was then known, dominated the series in the first 25 meetings, compiling a record of 14–8–3 from 1902 to 1936. The tide then shifted to CMU which compiled a 37–5–3 from 1937 to 1992. From 1993 to 2024, CMU has won 19 games to 13 for EMU.

History

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Early years: 1902–1939

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The first game in the rivalry series was played on November 1, 1902, at Ypsilanti, Michigan. Central Michigan, under coach Charles Tambling, won the game by a 10–0 score.[3]

Eastern Michigan, then known as the Michigan State Normal School, achieved its first victory in the series on November 16, 1907. The Ypsilanti team won the game by a score of 38–0. The game was played starting at 9:30 a.m. to allow both teams to attend the Michigan–Michigan Agricultural football game in Ann Arbor.[4]

On October 20, 1917, Michigan State Normal defeated Central by a score of 63 to 0 – the largest margin of victory by either school in the rivalry's long history. The Detroit Free Press reported: "Mt. Pleasant failed to make a first down and gained only about 15 yards in the entire game, their team being light and lacking experience."[5]

From 1925 to 1930, Michigan State Normal compiled a 40–4–2 record under head coach Elton Rynearson. Rynearson's teams won five consecutive games against Central during this period, outscoring Central by a total of 119 to 0. Michigan State Normal dominated the series in the first 25 meetings, compiling a record of 14–8–3 from 1902 to 1936.

Middle years: 1937–1992

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From 1937 to 1992, the tide shifted heavily in Central Michigan's favor. During that period, Central compiled 37–5–3 record against Eastern Michigan.

In November 1963, the teams terminated the rivalry due to Eastern Michigan's affiliation with the Presidents' Athletic Conference. At the time, the Detroit Free Press called it an "honored . . . rivalry" and "one of Michigan's all-time great collegiate football series."[6] Central Michigan won the 1963 game by a 55–20, leading the UPI to report: "A rivalry that began in 1902 ended somewhat inauspiciously . . ."[7]

After the longest break in the rivalry's history, lasting from 1964 to 1971, the teams met in October 1972 at the new Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant. The 1972 match was also the 50th gridiron game between the two schools.[8] Eastern defeated Central, 28–3, as Houston Booth threw three touchdown passes and George Duranko had a 100-yard interception return.[9]

In 1972, Central Michigan won the NCAA Division II championship and defeated Eastern by a score of 28–13. In 1979, Central Michigan won the Mid-America Conference championship, compiled an undefeated record, and defeated Eastern by a 37–14 score.

Modern era: 1993–present

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The 2011 edition of the rivalry game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium

From 1993 to 2017, the rivalry again became competitive. During that time, Central Michigan won 15 games to 10 for Eastern Michigan. Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly noted in 2005: "I think the rivalry's when two teams are very competitive. It wasn't much of a rivalry because I think Central had beaten Eastern for a number of years. Now Eastern obviously holds the upper hand ... It creates a real rivalry situation."[10]

In 1995, Charlie Batch, who went on to play in the NFL from 1998 to 2012, ran for three touchdowns and passed for 385 yards to lead Eastern Michigan to a 34–24 victory over Central Michigan.[11]

In 1996, Central Michigan came back from a 27–10 deficit in the second half to win by a 41–36 score. CMU receiver set a school record with 14 receptions for 241 yards.[12]

In 1997, Charlie Batch, playing in his final year of college football, threw three touchdown passes and ran for the winning touchdown as Eastern Michigan defeated Central Michigan, 31–24.[13]

In 2002, Central Michigan's Robbie Mixon broke the MAC single-game record with 377 rushing yards in a 47–21 victory over Eastern Michigan.[14]

In 2004, the teams played at Ford Field in Detroit. In the highest scoring game in the rivalry's history, Eastern Michigan defeated Brian Kelly's Central team by a 61–58 score in five-hour, quadruple overtime game.[15]

In 2005, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame created the Michigan MAC Trophy awarded annually to the team with the best head-to-head record among Michigan's three Mid-American Conference programs – Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan University. Since its inception, Central Michigan has won the Michigan MAC Trophy five times, and Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan have each won it four times.

Days before the 2008 game, Eastern Michigan's head coach Jeff Genyk was fired. During pregame warmups, Central's coach Butch Jones approached one of the Eastern coaches to say "'I know you guys are out of a job and I'm not going to help you' with a few expletives thrown in there."[16] Jones' comments inspired the Eastern players who scored 42 points in the first half and won the game by a 56–52 score. Eastern's quarterback Andy Schmitt also broke Drew Brees' NCAA Division I-A record with 58 pass completions in the game. Genyk credited his team's performance to "the emotion of the rivalry."[16]

In 2011, Ryan Radcliff led Central to two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the last five-and-a-half minutes to tie the score at 28–28. Eastern Michigan then scored a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to secure the win. After the game, Eastern coach Ron English said: "The one thing about rivalry games is you have to be able to win them in the end. There are tremendous highs and tremendous lows, but what happens is both sides usually keep playing because it means so much to everybody."[17]

Game results

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Central Michigan victoriesEastern Michigan victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1November 1, 1902Mount PleasantCentral Michigan10–0
2November 17, 1905Mount PleasantCentral Michigan13–0
3November 16, 1907YpsilantiMichigan State Normal38–0
4November 7, 1908Mount PleasantCentral Michigan11–0
5November 5, 1909YpsilantiMichigan State Normal17–0
6November 12, 1910Mount PleasantCentral Michigan13–0
7November 9, 1912Mount PleasantTie0–0
8October 20, 1917YpsilantiMichigan State Normal63–0
9November 7, 1919Mount PleasantTie7–7
10October 16, 1920YpsilantiMichigan State Normal7–6
11October 15, 1921Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal7–6
12November 4, 1922YpsilantiTie0–0
13October 27, 1923Mount PleasantCentral Michigan27–3
14October 25, 1924YpsilantiCentral Michigan13–0
15October 23, 1926Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal41–0
16October 29, 1927Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal6–0
17October 27, 1928Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal36–0
18October 26, 1929YpsilantiMichigan State Normal24–0
19October 25, 1930Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal13–0
20October 24, 1931YpsilantiCentral State 20–12
21October 22, 1932Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal28–0
22October 21, 1933YpsilantiMichigan State Normal13–7
23October 20, 1934Mount PleasantCentral State 13–12
24October 19, 1935YpsilantiMichigan State Normal7–0
25October 24, 1936Mount PleasantMichigan State Normal13–7
26October 23, 1937YpsilantiCentral Michigan27–10
27October 21, 1938Mount PleasantCentral Michigan7–6
28October 21, 1939YpsilantiCentral Michigan14–0
29October 25, 1940Mount PleasantCentral Michigan24–0
30October 24, 1941YpsilantiCentral Michigan12–6
31October 16, 1942Mount PleasantCentral Michigan14–0
32October 19, 1946YpsilantiCentral Michigan26–13
33November 1, 1947Mount PleasantCentral Michigan33–0
34November 6, 1948YpsilantiMichigan State Normal6–0
35November 4, 1949Mount PleasantCentral Michigan18–7
36October 28, 1950YpsilantiCentral Michigan26–7
37October 20, 1951YpsilantiCentral Michigan19–13
38October 25, 1952Mount PleasantCentral Michigan26–7
39November 14, 1953YpsilantiTie33–33
40November 13, 1954Mount PleasantCentral Michigan28–7
41November 5, 1955YpsilantiCentral Michigan27–20
42November 3, 1956Mount PleasantCentral Michigan19–0
43October 11, 1957YpsilantiEastern Michigan39–6
44October 11, 1958Mount PleasantCentral Michigan7–6
45October 17, 1959YpsilantiCentral Michigan21–8
46October 15, 1960Mount PleasantCentral Michigan28–0
47October 21, 1961YpsilantiCentral Michigan13–11
48October 20, 1962Mount PleasantCentral Michigan24–0
49November 2, 1963YpsilantiCentral Michigan55–20
50November 18, 1972Mount PleasantEastern Michigan28–3
51November 3, 1973Mount PleasantCentral Michigan31–21
52November 2, 1974YpsilantiCentral Michigan28–13
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
53October 11, 1975Mount PleasantCentral Michigan20–7
54November 6, 1976YpsilantiEastern Michigan30–27
55September 10, 1977Mount PleasantCentral Michigan9–3
56November 11, 1978YpsilantiCentral Michigan41–9
57November 10, 1979Mount PleasantCentral Michigan37–14
58November 1, 1980YpsilantiCentral Michigan51–15
59October 3, 1981Mount PleasantCentral Michigan63–14
60October 2, 1982YpsilantiCentral Michigan13–8
61October 8, 1983Mount PleasantCentral Michigan24–3
62October 6, 1984YpsilantiTie16–16
63October 26, 1985Mount PleasantCentral Michigan17–10
64October 25, 1986YpsilantiEastern Michigan34–16
65October 10, 1987Mount PleasantCentral Michigan16–6
66October 8, 1988YpsilantiCentral Michigan20–6
67October 28, 1989Mount PleasantCentral Michigan24–9
68October 27, 1990YpsilantiCentral Michigan16–12
69November 2, 1991YpsilantiTie14–14
70November 7, 1992Mount PleasantCentral Michigan30–13
71October 16, 1993Mount PleasantEastern Michigan28–21
72September 17, 1994YpsilantiCentral Michigan30–29
73October 7, 1995YpsilantiEastern Michigan34–24
74October 19, 1996Mount PleasantCentral Michigan41–36
75September 27, 1997Mount PleasantEastern Michigan31–24
76October 10, 1998YpsilantiCentral Michigan36–23
77November 13, 1999Mount PleasantCentral Michigan29–26
78November 4, 2000YpsilantiEastern Michigan31–15
79November 10, 2001Mount PleasantCentral Michigan35–30
80November 2, 2002YpsilantiCentral Michigan47–21
81November 1, 2003Mount PleasantCentral Michigan38–10
82November 6, 2004DetroitEastern Michigan61–58
83September 24, 2005Mount PleasantEastern Michigan23–20
84September 23, 2006YpsilantiCentral Michigan24–17
85November 16, 2007Mount PleasantEastern Michigan48–45
86November 28, 2008YpsilantiEastern Michigan56–52
87October 10, 2009Mount PleasantCentral Michigan56–8
88September 18, 2010YpsilantiCentral Michigan52–14
89October 15, 2011Mount PleasantEastern Michigan35–28
90November 10, 2012YpsilantiCentral Michigan34–31
91November 29, 2013Mount PleasantCentral Michigan42–10
92November 1, 2014YpsilantiCentral Michigan38–7
93November 27, 2015Mount PleasantCentral Michigan35–28
94November 22, 2016YpsilantiEastern Michigan26–21
95November 8, 2017Mount PleasantCentral Michigan42–30
96November 3, 2018YpsilantiEastern Michigan17–7
97October 5, 2019Mount PleasantCentral Michigan42–16
98November 27, 2020YpsilantiCentral Michigan31–23
99November 26, 2021Mount PleasantCentral Michigan31–10
100November 25, 2022YpsilantiEastern Michigan38–19
101September 30, 2023Mount PleasantCentral Michigan26–23
102October 19, 2024YpsilantiEastern Michigan38–34
Series: Central Michigan leads 64–32–6[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Winsipedia – Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ Through the 2018 season, the most frequently played series between MAC schools are Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan (100 games), Miami–Ohio (95 games), and Central Michigan–Western Michigan (89 games).
  3. ^ "Mt. Pleasant's Line Too Strong". Detroit Free Press. November 2, 1902. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Trounce Central Normal: Ypsilanti Collegians Win by Score of 38 to 0". Detroit Free Press. November 17, 1907. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Ypsilanti Has Easy Victory: Michigan State Normal College Rolls Up 63 to 0 Score on Its Ancient Rival". Detroit Free Press. October 21, 1917. p. 22.
  6. ^ "Chips, EMU End Series". Detroit Free Press. November 2, 1963. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Central Michigan Routs EMU, 55–20". Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 3, 1963. pp. 4–1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "It's EMU vs. Central In State Grid Windup". Detroit Free Press. November 18, 1972. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "2 TD Pass 'Bombs' Ignite the Hurons, 28–3". Detroit Free Press. November 19, 1972. p. 2E – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Eastern at Central". Detroit Free Press. September 20, 2005. p. 8E – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Batch lifts EMU, 34–24". Detroit Free Press. October 8, 1995. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "CMU, down 27–10, turns back EMU, 41–36". The Detroit News. October 20, 1996. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Eastern Michigan rallies for 31–24 win over CMU". Detroit Free Press. September 28, 1997. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Central's Mixon runs over Eastern". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 2002. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "EMU wins thriller: Eagles go four OTs to top Chippewas, complete rare sweep of instate rivals". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 2004. pp. 1D, 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Mark Snyder (November 29, 2008). "Schmitt sets NCAA completion record: Eagles upset Chippewas in Genyk's last game at Eastern Michigan". Detroit Free Press. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Eastern Michigan scores in final minute, wins 35–28 at Central Michigan". The Ann Arbor News. October 15, 2011.
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