Sept. 2, 2009

Page 1

dan in real life

football preview 10 pages to get you ready for season, 1b

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

staff picks How do we think LeFevour’s last season will go? 2B

You might be surprised once you really get to know him, 1B

Central Michigan Life

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

[cm-life.com]

Brooks Hall research could be in jeopardy Freezers shut off during renovation may have ruined DNA samples By Aaron McMann Staff Reporter

Code violations that forced university officials to rush to open Brooks Hall for the start of classes were not the only issues following construction.

Two freezers containing 7,000 to 8,000 samples of DNA from two student research projects were turned off. Bradley Swanson, associate professor of biology, returned from a conference in late0June to discover the freezers in Brooks Hall Room 152, the Applied Technology in Conservation Lab. “We don’t know how long they were turned off for because faculty was told not to go in,” Swanson said. The freezers were supposed to stay on the entire time, he said.

Swanson was disappointed when he found them turned off, but did not have much time to think about it because he was preparing for a forensic science camp. Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, confirmed the freezers were turned off. “I’m aware of the power getting turned off to a freezer this summer; however, I don’t have knowledge of the extent of the impact on (research) project(s),” Lawrence said in an e-mail to

Central Michigan Life. A little too warm One graduate and undergraduate student’s research were affected, Swanson said. The freezers were originally set at minus-20 degrees Celsius, and were found at 26 degrees Celsius, which left open the possibility for degraded DNA. “DNA is stored at low temperatures because it can be degraded if exposed to high temperatures,” Swanson said. “The bonds that link individual

Fitness

(iPump Pilates, iMap My Ride) w

Whether it is Demetri Martin, Eve 6 or the upcoming Stephen Lynch, Central Michigan University’s Program Board has been bringing all kinds of entertainers to campus. Bringing entertainment, however, comes at a cost. With a $37,000 price tag for Stephen Lynch to replace comedian Zach Galifianakis, who was set to receive $40,000, Program Board has to be prepared to shell out bigger dollar amounts for performers. Although Program Board keeps all profits from tickets, the profits usually only make up the cost of the event, if that. “In order to bring these folks to campus, of course there is a dollar amount to it,” Coordinator of Student Activities Damon Brown said. “We don’t try to gouge students but, at the same time, Program Board has a financial responsibility as well. We try to find a ticket price that allows us to break even or as close as possible. “We aren’t trying to make a profit, but (we have to figure out) how much are we comfortable with losing.” Brown said Program Board has $290,000 to spend on entertainment, encompassing comedians, musical acts, movies and any other events they organize. The money comes from the Central Programming Fund, money put aside specifically for entertainment on campus. Brown said for each event, Program Board has to pay all costs for the entertainment

Around the house

(Home Sizer, Chef, Brain Challenge) w

Going out

(Rocket Taxi, Shazam, Eventful) w

Fun and games

(Cro-Mag Rally, Texas Hold ‘Em, Scrabble) Source: Apple.com

MCT Photo

[inside] NEWS w Thousands stolen from Campus Dining each year, 3A

By Connor Sheridan Staff Reporter

w New law requires buildings one fire drill a year, 6A

Central Michigan football fans will have a new identity when they come to Kelly/Shorts Stadium’s student section. “It’s the Maroon Platoon,” said Mike Dabbs, the assistant director of marketing, promotions and community relations for Central Michigan University athletics. The choice of student section names was put to a vote open to all students and alumni on Central Michigan Life’s Web site, among other locations. “We did one on Survey Monkey with CM Life. We (also) did a tab vote

w Pair of sophomores lead running game, 3B

CM-LIFE.com w Check for a video on ‘Thrill the World’ practice

weather w Sunny High 75/ Low 47

Cast of upcoming celebrities brought by Program Board

* Cosponsored by On the Fly Productions.

and production costs, which sometimes can cost as much as the performer. Program Board President and Muskegon junior Dave Breed said the group could probably make back what it pays for some entertainment by charging more for admission, but members do not feel good about forcing students to pay more than they have to.

Bigger acts Breed and Brown said many students ask for big acts but, with a $290,000 budget, the group cannot bring those acts to campus without raising ticket prices or drastically reducing the amount of entertainment. “It’s tough to find the right fit,” Breed said. “Students want to see the cost low.” In an interview with Central Michigan Life in July, Kyle Dysarz, the student assembly chairman for the Associated Students of Michigan State University, said their aim is much like Program Board’s because they don’t look to make money. “We (see it as) investing (the students’) money,” Dysarz said. “We look to take a hit and not make revenue.” Brown said because East Lansing is a different demographic and can have events at the Breslin Center, it is tough to compare

A entertainment | 2A

‘Maroon Platoon’ now official name of student section

w Some departments sharing resources, 6A

sports

metro@cm-life.com

w Sean Astin: $13,000 w Fabolous: $25,000* w Stephen Lynch: $37,000

By Eric Dresden Student Life Editor and Brad Canze Senior Reporter

Elizabeth Thompson said she has an application for her iPhone that most people might not know exists. “I have (a sex) offender locator,” the Flint sophomore said. She said she is not sure why she has it, but keeps it on her phone nonetheless. Users never know when certain applications might come in handy. Either way, the notion of cell phones as mere telephones that fit in a pocket is a thing of the past. A Iphone | 5A

Some of the types of applications you can throw onto your iPhone: w

$290,000 budget limits number of performances

By Connor Sheridan | Staff Reporter

App it up

company is expected to begin testing this week, a process that will span several months. U.S. Sheet Metal in Saginaw, one of the contractors working in the hall over the summer, denied knowledge of the freezers while on the job. Block Electric Co. of Weidman declined comment, while MidState Plumbing & Heating, Inc. of Mount Pleasant and Serenus Johnson Construction of Bay City could not be reached.

Program Board’s balancing act

There’s an App for that Plethora of fun, not-so-fun applications for loyal iPhone users

pieces of DNA (nucleotides) together can break. This results in a single piece of DNA fracturing into several smaller pieces of DNA, which may not be usable for our needs.” Swanson did not know how the research was affected and said tests would need to be done to find out if any damage was done. “I need to stress that we don’t know yet if any research projects were affected yet,” Swanson said. CMU and the insurance

and we did a survey at cmuchippewas.com,” Dabbs said. Other options included “Chip Crew” and “Pleasantville.” The athletic department also polled students at MAINStage and Get Acquainted Day. Voting officially ended Friday. “(Maroon Platoon) was overwhelmingly the choice. It was unanimous,” Dabbs said. “This is the first solidified effort to name the student section.” The reaction Ashley Billcheck, a Dearborn junior, said she likes the new name. “I think it sounds good. It brings out our school colors and hopefully our school spirit will be shown by

How you voted w Maroon Platoon – 51 percent w Chip Crew – 33 percent w Pleasantville – 16 percent that,” Billcheck said. Staff members also seemed happy with the results of the vote. “Maroon Platoon (is) funny. I think it’s the most catchy,” said Angie Dalton, Residence Life Coordinator for Fitness Facilities and Wellness. “Platoon symbolizes group unity. I think it gives them a theme. Something that students can identify with.” For the Athletics Department, it was the perfect occasion to offer a

name to its contingent of loyal fans. “It’s a great time for this because of the success of the football program and high attendance,” Dabbs said. Several students are already planning on joining the Platoon. “I’m excited for (the football games),” said Stephanie Snyder, a Shepherd freshman. “I want to go to the Michigan State one (Sept. 12).” The idea for naming the student section was talked about with the Student Government Association last year, but was never decided on. “I think it’s great. We finally have an identity for our student section,” Dabbs said. studentlife@cm-life.com

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2A || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

EVENTS CALENDAR Today

w Canadian Art from the Dennos Museum Center, a Canadian Indian art on exhibition from the Dennos Museum Center’s permanent collection runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Park Library Baber Room and runs through Oct. 28. w “Lakelight: Images from the Great Basin,” landscape photography by Gale Nobes, on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 4 in the Third Floor Exhibition area of Park Library. w Christian RSO Fair, offering entertainment and campus involvement, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Warriner Mall. w Department of Art Faculty Exhibition, an annual event highlighting work by Art Department faculty members, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the University Art Gallery Main and West galleries.

Thursday, sept. 3

w Soup and Substance: join students who attended the 2009 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education for soup and a presentation from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bovee University Center’s Maroon & Gold room. w The College Democrats will hold their first meeting of the school year from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Bovee University Center and offer involvement opportunities. w “Ask Congressman Bart Stupak, a Town Hall Meeting,” a live Town Hall meeting on WCMU with Congressman Bart Stupak, will happen from 8 to 9 p.m. at CMU Public Television and CMU Public Radio station. Questions can be sent in advance by e-mail to schud1ra@cmich.edu.

Corrections Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. © Central Michigan Life 2009 Volume 91, Number 6

www.cm-life.com

[News]

Donor found Rose Arena safer for his $100,000 By Jake May Senior Reporter

Former University President Michael Rao’s departure instigated the $100,000 loss in contributions to the medical school. But it is not the lone factor alumnus Todd Anson used in his decision to transfer his donation to the Rose Arena renovation. Anson, a Mount Pleasant native and 1977 alumnus, said when he pulled his donation just two weeks after Rao’s announcement to leave for Virginia Commonwealth University in late February, he wanted his donation to be put into the Rose Arena renovations project. He said he wanted to give necessary funding to aid in the Board of Trustees’ approval of the project’s budget. “Upon Rao’s resignation announcement, the plans for the medical school were somewhat in doubt,” Anson said. “Knowing that funding for the medical school was premature, my wife and I wanted to explore the new Rose renovation project. It was a natural transition. “We backed the medical school with our contribution dollar-for-dollar with Rao because we backed Rao. Once he left, the medical school didn’t have a president, Mike Rao,

driving it forward anymore.” His intentions were nothing but good, Anson said, as he and his wife wanted to commit their funds to the renovations in Rose Arena as a tribute to their dear friend and sports commentator Dick Enberg, a 1957 alumnus. The change was made to promote Enberg’s legacy as a sports commentator, his untarnished career, Anson said. Ted Tolcher, interim vice president of development and alumni relations, said donors do not frequently relocate contributions from one purpose or project to another, but this is not the first time it happened. It is, however, the first time this occurred with medical school contributions, he said. “It’s not a habitual type of thing, and it is not common either,” Tolcher said. “Someone might find a new project they weren’t aware of and want to transfer funds.” Anson said although his contribution was transferred, he and his wife are still huge supporters of the medical school. “This is by no means a withdrawal of support from the medical school,” Anson said. “I’m glad Kathy Wilbur supports it, and they’ve hired a capable dean that is willing to work to make this project on its way.”

Today

CM-LIFE.COM online media

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Thursday

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friday

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Give us your feedback on the new Web site!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

jake may/staff photographer

Farmington Hills sophomore Christine Renshaw laughs with fellow Delta Zeta members as they share stories and hand out information Tuesday on Greek Life, encouraging female passersby to join a sorority. “Joining a sorority is a good way to meet people on campus and allows you to find new ways to help the community,” she said.

university@cm-life.com

IN THE NEWS

troops in afghanistan WASHINGTON (MCT) — A majority of Americans think the country isn’t winning the war in Afghanistan, and an even larger majority opposes sending more troops in an effort to turn things around, according to a new McClatchy Newspapers/Ipsos poll. The survey found that 54 percent of Americans think the U.S. isn’t winning the

WEATHER FORECAST

war, while 29 percent think it is winning. Another 17 percent weren’t sure or had no opinion. At the same time, 56 percent oppose sending any more combat troops to Afghanistan, while 35 percent support sending more troops. Another 9 percent had no opinion or weren’t sure.

entertainment | continued from 1A

the entertainment MSU brings to what CMU brings. Although the bigger shows at CMU usually cost between $40,000 and $50,000, Brown said Program Board still keeps ticket prices relatively inexpensive for students, though lectures are set up differently. “We don’t charge for lectures and so that’s one of those things (where) we bring somebody to campus (for) $20,000 to $25,000 and that’s gone. There’s no money coming

back from that,” Brown said. Brown said each year, the group goes through the budget to figure out how much each chair will get ­— the concert and comedy chairs usually get the most money. Lobbying for more Student Government Association President Jason Nichol said increasing the Central Programming Fund, where Program Board’s budget comes from, is one of his primary goals this year. “This is one of my pet

projects, to get more money for these groups,” the Mount Pleasant senior said. “What we’re planning on doing is every Board (of Trustees) meeting we’re doing, we ask for more money. We are trying to stress the vitality and the importance of programming on CMU’s campus. “ The Central Programming Fund has appropriated $800,000 a year to fund Program Board, Greek Life, registered student organizations and other organizations that bring programming and events to campus. studentlife@cm-life.com

CAREER SERVICES

www.careers.cmich.edu

THIS SEPTEMBER... RESUME INFORMATION SESSION & REVIEWS September 14, 6 pm - 7 pm Bovee UC - Maroon Room

TRANSFERRING LEADERSHING SKILLS TO YOUR CAREER September 15, 6 pm - 7 pm Bovee UC - Maroon Room

COVER LETTERS & THANK YOU INFO SESSIONS & REVIEWS September 16, 6 pm - 7 pm Bovee UC - Maroon Room

RESUME INFORMATION SESSION & REVIEWS September 17, 6 pm - 7 pm Bovee UC - Maroon Room

INTERVIEW PRACTICE & FEEDBACK “OPEN HOUSE”

September 18, 11 am - 2 pm Bovee UC - Lake St. Clair & Lake Huron Rooms

THE CAREER “ONE-STOP-SHOP” 3 DAYS TO STOP BY FOR: RESUME/COVER LETTER CRITIQUES & SCHEDULE MOCK INTERVIEWS September 18, 22, 23, 11 am - 3 pm 215 Bovee UC

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CAREERS IN...

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 8 SCIENCE & RESEARCH October 13 WRITING & PUBLISHING November 10 HEALTH ADMINISTRATION February 9

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MOVIE STAR! WELCOME BACK CMU!

SUSTAINABILITY (GREEN JOBS) March 23 COMMUNICATION & MEDIA April 6

IMPRESS THE RECRUITER September 21, 6 pm - 8 pm Bovee UC - Maroon Room

ETIQUETTE DINNER

September 22, 5:45 pm - 8 pm Bovee UC - Maroon & Gold Rooms

PROFESSIONAL DRESS FASHION SHOW “WHAT NOT TO WEAR”

ALL “CAREERS IN”... SESSIONS ARE HELD IN THE CMU BOVEE UC - GOLD & CHIPPEWA ROOM FROM 3 PM - 5 PM

September 23, 7 pm - 9 pm Bovee UC - Auditorium

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inside life Central Michigan Life

3A Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

Stolen items from residential restaurants cost CMU $20,000 By Alex Washington Staff Reporter

Students are reminded stealing is a crime every time they reach for a napkin in residential restaurants. In an effort to stop the stealing of dishes and other dining ware from Central Michigan University’s residential restaurants, Campus Dining placed inserts into napkin holders that ask students to leave them in the cafeteria.

In 2008-09, approximately $20,000 was spent on replacing dishes and dining ware in the residential restaurants. Real Food on Campus Residential Restaurant Director Ron Souva said dishes and dining ware are replaced several times throughout the academic year. “Two or three times a year, we replace most of the items stolen that we suspect get put in book bags and under coats,” Souva said. “If they are caught

Graduation taking students longer

stealing, we can have Student Life handle the situation or call CMU Police.” Although no reports indicate police handled such a situation in recent years, it is possible for a student to be arrested for hoarding dining ware. “If they called us and decided they wanted to pursue the matter, it would be classified as a larceny to the building,” said CMU Community Police Officer Jeff Ballard. “It could go anywhere from a small mis-

demeanor to higher larceny charge, but that all depends on the value of the property stolen.” If a student is charged with a larceny misdemeanor, he or she could face up to one year in jail and additional fees and fines. In 2008, campus dining launched the iCare campaign to allow students to return any university dishes and dining ware they may have had, no questions asked.

“When that (dining ware) supply dwindles, it affects our ability to keep up and serve our guests efficiently and requires that we replace the dishes, thus increasing our costs,” said Director of Robinson Residential Restaurant Jane Wilsher. “I would rather put the money spent on continually replacing service ware on additional upgrades to our dining program.” university@cm-life.com

Thrilling the world

A Graduation RATES| 5A

Enhanced licenses in Clare

photos by neil blake/staff photographer

Livonia junior Ryan O’Neill leads the “Thiller” dance during a practice Tuesday night for a larger event on Oct. 24, when people across the world will dance at the same time in tribute to Michael Jackson. O’Neill said he always wanted to learn the dance and volunteered to lead a group at CMU for the event.

‘You guys are zombies’ Group practicing for big “Thriller” dance Oct. 24 By Joe Borlik Senior Reporter

Several Central Michigan University students are planning to shock the world — by dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. On Tuesday night, about 40 students filled the tennis courts between Calkins and Trout halls, learning the famous ’80s dance tune. “The most important thing to remember is that you guys are zombies,” Livonia junior Ryan O’Neill, who organized the event, told the dancers. “You must look like zombies.” They hope to shock the world at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 24 by breaking the world record for the largest simultaneous thriller dance in history. The Mount Pleasant location where participants will be dancing is not yet decided, O’Neill said.

CMU students are not the only ones involved with “Thrill the World.” The event is worldwide that has been ongoing since 2007. The idea came after 62 “zombies” in Canada set the Guinness World Record for the largest version of the dance. Since then, thousands of people from all different countries have participated in the event. “We are a small part of something huge,” O’Neill said. He said anyone can learn the Thriller dance in about two hours, although memorizing it is a different story. He just learned the dance earlier this summer. O’Neill and his dancers will meet at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday nights at the tennis courts between Calkins and Trout halls until Oct. 24 to practice the dance. Many student dancers

By Brad Canze Senior Reporter

Midland junior Julie Mitchell always finds a way to keep busy. At age 15, while bored at her family’s cabin in Alpena, she saw a flyer for a sailing class at the Alpena Youth Sailing Club. This summer, the 20-year-old was part of a three-person crew, racing a 21-foot yngling sailboat in

the International Yngling Association’s Open World Championships in Kalmar, Sweden, on the Baltic Sea. “I started sailing just kind of on a whim. I saw an ad for a local sailing class up at my cottage,” Mitchell said. “So I took this class ... and I picked up on it right away.” Mitchell applies the same work ethic at Central Michigan University, where she is in the Honors Program, majoring in electrical engineering. She is also involved in Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, is the president of the CMU chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and is spear-

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said Tuesday residents now can get the enhanced state ID and driver’s license at the Clare Secretary of State office at 121 Schoolcrest Ave. Michigan residents also can choose from more than 120 offices statewide that will allow them to apply for the enhanced ID. The cards let people re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean at land or sea crossings in compliance with federal regulations that took effect June 1. To apply for the Enhanced ID, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen and a Michigan resident. Applicants must have a driving record that does not prevent them from legally operating a motor vehicle. Cost of the Enhanced Drivers License is $45 and the ID card is $30. Residents who are blind or age 65 or older pay the reduced fee of $20 for the card. Visit michigan.gov/sos for more information.

Power outage in Mount Pleasant

Saginaw senior Rachel Singer practices Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance Tuesday night.

were laughing in excitement when O’Neill first demonstrated the dance for them. “There’s a body roll in the dance that looks fun,” said Grand Rapids sophomore Janet Price, who danced along. “I wanted to learn this ever since I saw the video. It’s the highlight of my week.” Croswell sophomore Sarah Sly said she has been trying to learn the dance for a long time and this is the perfect opportunity to learn it.

“Right now, I don’t know anything, this might take a while,” she said. Durand sophomore Brett Warner and a few of his friends were among several students who watched the dancers from the side of the tennis courts. He said the Thriller dance is the best dance a person can learn. “The director seems like he has his stuff together,” Warner said. “I’m confident they’ll do good.” studentlife@cm-life.com

Midland junior sailing away Boat racing takes Julie Mitchell to Sweden to compete

The Dollar Tree store at 2215 S. Mission St. is moving to Indian Hills Plaza by Oct. 2. Manager and two-year employee Andrew Lillywhite said the company is moving because the new location is larger. “It will provide a lot more room for items, and it’s a good location because it’s right off the highway,” he said. He also believes business will pick up and there will be an increase in customers. “It will be a lot bigger, it will be new and we’ll be able to have a lot more stuff. We’ll also be hiring to add to our staff,” Lillywhite said.

There is a call for models, dancers and actors to participate in the Historical Fashion Show on Oct. 25 at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St. The audition is at 6 p.m. Tuesday in room 320 of the Isabella County Building at the corner of Main and Mosher streets. Organizers are asking potential participants to bring two snapshots of themselves. Participants will need to attend several rehearsals. Address questions or concerns to Tammy at 433-5507.

By Darnell Gardner Staff Reporter

Many factors Jamie Brown, an academic adviser in the Towers Student Success Center, is not sure if the removal of the CMU Promise and rising tuition will alter the graduation rate and believes the traditional image of a student graduating in four years is unrealistic. Brown said some students are working to pay their way through college, which decreases the number of credits they pursue each semester, extending their stay at CMU. “A lot of factors influence the graduation rate,” Brown said. She also said students’ indecisiveness about their choice of major is a reason for prolonged studies.

Dollar Tree moving

Time to take a catwalk

Tuition increase, indecisiveness among reasons

Students who think they will graduate in four years may have to think again. According to Central Michigan University’s Office of Institutional Research, 19 percent of freshmen who entered the university in 2004 graduated within four years. Of those who entered in 2002, 57 percent graduated within six years. “Of a typical freshman class, about 59 percent graduate from CMU with a bachelor’s degree within seven years, with 20 percent finishing in four years or less and 47 percent in five years or less,” the document reads. The CMU Promise, which gave freshmen from 200508 a fixed five-year tuition rate, offered students financial stability, but whether or not its discontinuation will affect graduation rates is still under debate. Without it, some students think freshmen may have an even harder time graduating within four years, especially since they will be paying 4.63 percent more per credit hour ($339). “I think more people will want to drop out if tuition goes too high,” said Midland freshman Nick Talbott.

[Life in brief]

heading the creation of a campus chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. “She’s always working on something,” said Richmond junior John Fraser, a friend of Mitchell’s. “She’d come over and hang out with me, and she’d bring her laptop and her bag and all her homework. She always has something to do and she’s always working hard.” Mitchell continued taking sailing classes and has been an instructor at the Alpena Youth Sailing Club for the past four years, including some time as the club’s head instructor.

A vehicle struck a pole on Federal Road in Shepherd around 2:26 p.m. Tuesday and left customers without power for approximately 45 minutes, said Consumers Energy Spokeswoman Mary Gust. Mount Pleasant’s east side was affected and several apartment complexes, including South Point Village Apartments, Jamestown Apartments, Canterbury Apartments and Yorkshire Apartments lost power. The power was restored to 2,800 Mount Pleasant residents at 3:11 p.m.

Eating Local Challenge

The Eat Local Challenge is a GreenTree Grocery-sponsored initiative to challenge people to eat more local foods in Mount Pleasant. The challenge runs until Saturday. In hopes to make it more fun, people can register at GreenTree for the challenge, where they will get a guide with helpful hints along with a passport that has coupons to local restaurants and businesses. Green Tree is at 214 N. Franklin St. Contact Liz or Sarah at 772-3221 or liz@greentree.coop for more information.

Synchronized skating team tryouts

There will be an informational meeting about CMU’s synchronized skating club at 8 p.m. today in the Down Under Food Court in the lower level of the Bovee University Center. Information about tryouts, practice and this season’s competition will be discussed. courtesy photo

Val Upha, left, and Julie Mitchell, two crew members of the boat Anniversary, stand on the boat harbor in Copenhagen.

A sailing | 5A

David Veselenak, Managing Editor | news@cm-life.com | 989.774.4343

If you have an interesting item for Life in Brief, let us know by e-mailing news@cm-life.com

voices Central Michigan Life

4A Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

[cm-life.com/category/voices]

Brian Manzullo, Editor

in

Chief | Will Axford, Voices Editor | Matthew Stephens, Presentation Editor | Lindsay Knake, Metro Editor | David Veselenak, Managing Editor

EDITORIAL |University needs to find donors commited to the medical school

A fundless project

C

entral Michigan University does have some impressive characteristics. A renowned teaching program, a successful football team, some distinguished professors — all of these aspects are part of this school. CMU continually looks to expand this impressive repertoire and, this time, it is a medical school it is after. But it is losing support before the first brick has been laid. A $100,000 donation was pulled away from the medical school, signaling a shaky start to an immense project. CMU needs to start securing support and keep donors committed to the medical school if it expects results. Donor Todd Anson, a CMU alumnus, will use his $100,000 donation

instead on renovations for Rose Arena. This brings the total medical school commitment to $202,000 from $302,000 — a large loss, even for a project that is still relatively young. Interim Dean Cam Enarson said the loss is insignificant. Donator Sam Kottamasu said he isn’t concerned about early drops since the donations have five years to accumulate. That may be true. But any donations

being pulled away from the medical school should be a concern. $100,000 may seem like nothing when it takes millions to open up a medical school, but every dollar to such a momentous undertaking counts. Psychologically, it sends a message to other potential donors that the medical school is not a sound investment. With such few donors to begin with, the foundation the school needs to launch just shrunk considerably. Officials admitted a fundraising campaign is not in place, leaving donations up to whoever feels like it. If the medical school is to become a reality, a fundraising campaign should be at the top of the list. If enough donors are not found to open the medical school, it will be the students who end up paying the difference. Tuition, which already is too costly, could become an exorbitant. Students may not see a point in attending a university with a newly opened medical school.

If CMU is to take the proposed medical school seriously, retaining donors has to be the first step. $100,000, $10,000, $10 — any amount of money donated needs a commitment behind it; it’s up to the university to see those commitments are upheld. Beyond keeping pledges, CMU needs to actively find new donors. Hard facts need to be used with real numbers in order to recruit donors. Exactly how many doctors are needed for Michigan? Who is the medical school partners with? Does it have the capacity to become viable and reputable? Representatives of the school need to push these issues with facts to recruit solid donors. Although the loss is a large amount, the medical school is still in its infancy. There is still plenty of time to find new donors that can help push the medical school as a driving force behind Central’s repertoire. But officials need to start pushing and putting forth more effort.

ASHLEY WEISS [CARTOON]

Nicolas Persons columnist

Rappers or Scholars? One night of expletives from rapper Fabolous: $25,000. One night of laughs from comedian Demetri Martin: $43,000. One night of intellectually-stimulating discussion: not priceless, and maybe not as popular among students. But definitely worth it. As CMU decides whether to host performers such as Fabolous and Martin, or intellectuals such as Salman Rushdie, it should be guided by a simple principle: intellectual discussion is more befitting in a university than is entertainment. This doesn’t seem to be the consensus at Central Michigan University. The school continues to back the “Campus Program Fund.” According to Anthony Voisin, Director of Student Life, the fund alloted $292,000 to the Program Board. Most of this cash is used to sponsor entertainment, though some money goes to educational causes. The Program Board receives nearly $300,000 in funding. The Speaker Series must scrounge together resources. According to Bob Ebner, Director of University Events, it gathered $40,000 this year, which covers the cost of one speaker. If the university really does value its reputation as a forum for intellectual discussion, it should restore funding to the Speaker Series, even if it entails reducing financial support for committees that fund entertainment. Of course many students prefer a relaxing night of entertainment to an academic lecture. Sometimes students need time away from their studies. When deciding whether to fund entertainment or intellectual discussion, the university should make its decisions based it’s role in society. Is it to provide quality entertainment at a reasonable price to its students? Or is it to be a beacon of intellectual advancement? Hopefully, CMU’s funding priorities will begin to reflect that.

[our readers’ voice]

Think of students and attendees when writing tailgating rules I understand that everyone does not tailgates the same. Not everyone does everything the same. Some people tailgate with a hot dog and some friendly conversation. Some tailgate with a lot of alcohol and the hopeful possibility of meeting new people. The point of this message, and of all protest against these rules, is to fight for the rights of the students and attendees that make football the number one income of public universities! I understand that tailgate has different connotations for everyone. But just because tailgating means different things, people don’t have to be enemies or opposites. As I look at it, this is just like freedom of religion (but not equal, nobody pounce on me for that comparison). Students should be able to tailgate in a manner that they see fit, within reason, of course.

The university takes adequate precautions to make us all safe. I hope that if you saw a fellow tailgater in trouble, you would help them out. Tailgate brings us all together as Chippewas, young and old, men and women. I will refute these new rules because I believe them to be unnecessary regulations that hinder our abilities to live our lives as the four fathers intended, with the freedom to make choices that follow our own morals and feelings. Make no mistake, I respect all tailgate styles and all tailgaters. I have been the drunk at the end of the truck looking for a ride out of the student lot. I have been a respectable member of the marching band, just wishing that, for once, the students would quiet down enough to hear us play the fight song for them. But in no way, shape, or form

have I ever let tailgate get in the way of what I really wake up on gameday to do — support CMU athletics. Whether I am drunk or sober, you best believe that I walk through those gates and get counted as a CMU fan who holds the game-day atmosphere sacred and wish that the university would see it as such as well. Nobody is looking for a verbal debate here. We are looking for the freedom to express ourselves as fans equally. Whether that be with a hot dog in hand and a win on our mind, or with a 30-pack driven into us and dreams of a third MAC championship floating through our heads, we all think the same thing on game day. Chris Mueller Grandville Senior

C M Y o u | What was your reaction to the chemical spill last week?

Central Michigan Life Editorial Brian Manzullo, Editor in Chief David Veselenak, Managing Editor Matthew Stephens, Presentation Editor Eric Dresden, Student Life Editor Lindsay Knake, Metro Editor Sarah Schuch, University Editor Andrew Stover, Sports Editor Ashley Miller, Photo Editor Tim Ottusch, Assistant Sports Editor Will Axford, Voice Editor Caitlin Wixted, Design Editor Advertising Lindsey Reed, Katie Sidell Advertising Managers Carly Schafer, Shawn Wright Multi-Media Marketing Coordinators Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life Central Michigan Life, the independent voice of Central Michigan University, is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and every Wednesday during CMU’s summer sessions. The newspaper’s online edition, cm-life.com, contains all of the material published in print, and is updated on an as-needed basis.

Chris Schanz columnist

A working student Jobs while in college creates needful skills

They call it working for the weekend, but what happens when you work the weekends, too? Then what are you working for — time to go to class or time for sleep? I have been employed in some way or another since I turned 16 and, recently, I had the revelation that I am missing out on the “real” college experience by working to offset the rising tuition instead of attending events on campus. Entering my second and hopefully final college football season as a fan, I don’t foresee myself being able to attend any of the tailgating extravaganzas. Other events on campus, such as the recent appearance by comedian Bo Burnham or the upcoming visit from Sean Astin, won’t include me in the crowd. The annual Fire Up Fest on Sept. 17? You guessed it, I most likely won’t be there. This responsibility of being employed, managing time between work and school, having an income with finances to manage and monthly bills to pay will make me more prepared once graduation arrives. Mom and Dad are not looking over my shoulder anymore. To a point, I’m already there. But, if need be, I know my parents are only a phone call away. The value of learning these responsibilities now outweigh learning them after graduation. Delaying this process will only create more of a shock once school is over and students are out on their own with careers, mortgages and car payments. Students today without jobs are not building those lifelong skills necessary to survive when their parents are not around to spoonfeed them everything. Need some extra beer money? Ask Dad. Want some money to go to a movie this weekend with your love interest? Ask Mom. It seems students these days are handed everything they ever want by their parents. I know of a few people who have never worked a day in their lives. When they graduate in May and find jobs, will they have any idea what to do without their parents telling them what to do? Doubtful. From the other side of the glass, spending all of our time while working in college deprives us of experiencing the “best four years of our lives.” Is it necessary to spend this time working when we do not have to? Why put ourselves through the unnecessary stress of work in addition to academic stress? I work for the extra beer money. I work to be able to go out to a movie on the weekend. I work so I am not completely dependent on my parents to give me the things I want. I am creating my own college experience, even if it includes working to pay the bills. At least I can say I’m prepared once I graduate.

[letters to the editor] E-mail | letters@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805

“I was kind of surprised. I thought we had bigger chemical spills on campus.” Theron Cheatham,

“I hope no one was injured too badly. I hope it was not Dr. Lee again.” Kristina Morris,

Dearborn junior

Roseville sophomore

“The professor should be avoiding these kinds of things. Maybe they will learn from their mistake.” Othman Alqahtani,

“I was a little surprised when I heard it from my roommates, but it can happen when you work with chemicals.” Chen Liu,

China freshman

Saudi Arabia freshman

Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via email. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on www.cm-life.com in the order they are received.

Victoria Zegler/Staff Photographer Central Michigan Life serves the CMU and Mount Pleasant communities, and is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Neil C. Hopp serves as Director of Student Media at CMU and is the adviser to the newspaper. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Central Michigan University. Cen-

tral Michigan Life is a member of the Associated Press, the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Michigan Home Builders Association, Mount Pleasant Housing Associa-

tion and the Mount Pleasant Downtown Business Association. The newspaper’s online provider is College Publisher. Central Michigan Life is distributed throughout the campus and at numerous locations throughout Mount Pleasant. Non-university subscriptions are $75 per academic year. Back copies are available at 50 cents per copy, or $1 if mailed.

Photocopies of stories are 25 cents each. Digital copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life are available upon request at specified costs. Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone 774-3493 or 774-LIFE.

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || 5A

[News]

Iphone | continued from 1A

Apple’s iPhone is leading a wave of mobile phones with expanding capabilities since its 2007 release. These new realms of utility are implemented through downloadable applications, or “apps,� which were made popular through Apple’s marketing slogan, “There’s an app for that.� Many students across campus have embraced the wide variety of independently produced products available on Apple’s App Store, accessible from the iPhone itself. They are finding new ways to play favorites games and update social applications while on the go. Handy when stolen On some campuses, apps can aid in the apprehension of criminals. A student at

sailing | continued from 3A

Mitchell said during sailing season, she spends 40 hours on average teaching, four hours coaching, three to four hours practicing and she races every Wednesday and Sunday. “It was pretty much all I did this summer,� Mitchell said.

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Sailing in Sweden Along with two peers from the sailing club, Mitchell competed in the Youth Championship in Sweden from July 31 to Aug. 2 and the World Championship from Aug. 3 to Aug. 8. “I had actually never been out of the country, besides Canada,� Mitchell said. “It was my first international experience, as well as my first World Championship.� Both championships consisted of two races each day,

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh was robbed and had his wallet and iPhone stolen Saturday. Using his phone’s GPS app, the student was able to track where his phone was and alert police. Many of the popular apps include Facebook and Global Positioning Systems. Apps are not just made because they are useful in the real world, however. Like anything, there are some apps just made for some fun. “There’s one called paper toss, where you toss paper into a trash can,� Thompson said. Rockford freshman Andrew Smith said he admitted spending too much time absorbed in one app called “Zombieville (USA).� Some apps beg for stronger terminology than “wacky.� Smith said both “Dog Whistle,� which sends out frequencies like a dog whistle, and “Tap Tap Revenge 2,� a game

similar to Guitar Hero, are downright embarrassing. The worst thing an iPhone application can do is fail to function. “The first time I downloaded ‘MapQuest,’ it didn’t work. I had to delete and re-download it,� Smith said. But many applications for iPhones are not just questionable time-wasters for lengthy bus rides or between classes. Many are genuinely useful. “’MapQuest,’ for sure. I can flip to my directions page and know where I’m going,� Smith said. Thompson is a fan of keeping up to date with the weather and entertainment on her iPhone, no matter where she is. “’The Weather Channel’ comes in handy a lot. (I like) the movies app so I can look at movie times,� Thompson said.

Mitchell said. The winner of each race would get one point, each consecutive finisher would get a number of points corresponding with their place and the lowest point total decided the winner. Mitchell operated the middle sail of the three-sailed yngling, called the Spinnaker, and helped see her team to a seventh-place finish in the youth championship and a 21st-place finish in the world competition out of a field of 34 boats from all age groups. “It was really different for us in the youth championship because there was a lot of wind and it was really freaky,� Mitchell said. “We never really trained in those conditions. We were really happy with our seventh-place finish.� Joe Jacquemin, a University of Michigan senior who sailed with Mitchell in Sweden, said the racing conditions were more daunting than any

North American race he had been in. “It was definitely more competitive,� said Jacquemin, who also competed in the World Championships last year. “It was a little different style of racing than we’re used to and a lot more boats that we’re racing against. Certainly more extreme conditions.� Mitchell said she was invited to sail in Australia’s national championship this December and she and Jacquemin hope to return to the World Championship next year. Mitchell said she plans to continue sailing for the rest of her life, but her competitive career depends on her academic career. “I would like to continue to do competitive events, just now that I’m in college plans are kind of up in the air,� she said.

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Graduation rates| continued from 3A

Ultimately, Brown said the demand for a college degree in the workplace will outweigh any financial concerns students may have. Shawn Wilson, director of student retention, said he believes what the university offers academically outweighs its price. “Students who enter Central Michigan University are aware of the cost of attendance before they enroll,� Wilson said. “I do not see cost of attendance attributing to a higher drop-out rate.� Wilson said the high-caliber programs offered by CMU are what will keep students enrolled. Wilson’s office is one year old and he credits its creation to CMU’s desire to continue

increasing its graduation rate in spite of economic strain. Greenville senior Kaitlin Irish is going into her fifth year at CMU and does not think the removal of the CMU Promise and increased tuition will have any effect on graduation rates. She stressed that many of the students who spend longer than four years at CMU do so not because they slacked off, but because they are working to meet University Program requirements, competency requirements and the requirements to get a degree in their field of study. “People who are going to work hard are going to work hard no matter what,� Irish said. “People who mess around are going to mess around no matter what.�

Four-year graduation rates w Lowest four-year rate was 14 percent in 1991 w Highest rate was 21 percent in 2003, 2002, 2000 and 1999 w Lowest six-year rate was 47 percent in the 1900s w Highest rate was 57 percent since 2000

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w To view the report, visit this story at cm-life.com.

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6A || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

www.cm-life.com

[News]

New state law requires annual routine fire drills

Prospective students

What’s included?

By Jake May Senior Reporter

Sean Proctor/Staff Photographer

Grandville senior Chris Mueller guides prospective students and their parents around campus Aug. 26 during an 11 a.m. campus tour in the Health Professions Building. “I’ve been doing this for a year or two, it’s just a good way for me to give back to the university,” Mueller said.

Tours critical for economy Despite rising tuition, CMU visits continue to thrive By Sherri Keaton Senior Reporter

Melissa Kocefas stepped out of her car Tuesday and into the admission office with hopes Central Michigan University may become her new home. Seventeen other students and family members on the tour, hailing from Oxford, Chicago and Canada, to name a few, also had hopes to learn more about the campus and academic life while experiencing CMU firsthand. The tour, which went through Warriner Mall, Powers Hall, the Health Professions Building, East Campus and more, gave Kocefas, a Grayling High School junior, a good look at the university. “I love how everything is very accessible from campus, and it makes it easier for students to

find out what they need without going so far,“ Kocefas said. Despite rising tuition and a struggling economy, the university said campus tours are on the rise. Senior Associate Director of Admissions Marcie Otteman said 25,000 students and guests annually tour the campus. Betty Wagner, director of admissions, said the university is seeing a steady increase in students and family taking tours, and has large visitation days as well. To attract more students, the Admissions Office staff mails prospective students directly so they can view CMU booklets and brochures about residence life, student activities and other informative material. Visitations to more than 800 high schools in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana also are efforts to attract students, she said. Continuing the tour effort Sometimes, the concern for

all colleges and universities is the number of high school graduates is declining, Wagner said. “There are 4,000 fewer high school graduates this year than last in the state of Michigan, and tours may decline, but it is our job to make sure they do not,” Wagner said. Interim Provost Gary Shapiro said it is critical to have campus tours in this economy in order to bring more students to the university. “It is not only the economy, but the demographics of Michigan. It is critical that we continue every effort to attract students,” Shapiro said. Grandville senior Mike Mueller has been a campus ambassador for three years, and said some people visit other campuses depending on the convenience of their schedules. He also said money is not necessarily the biggest worry when taking the tours. university@cm-life.com

CMU and Alcorn State will join forces to give students experience Agreement to be signed the day of home football game By Tony Wittkowski Staff Reporter

Central Michigan and Alcorn State will not just meet on the football field Sept. 19. Representatives from the two universities will meet on campus that day to sign the Partnership in Education Agreement as well. The goal is to give undergraduate students more opportunities of to gain experience in their chosen career path. The agreement is basically a Memorandum of Understanding, which gives the schools the chance to use each others’ resources. The undergraduate programs that will link these two schools include Broadcast of Cinematic Arts, English, Physical Education and Sport and other athletic programs. Robert Hassen, CMU’s coor-

dinator of graduate recruiting, joined several others in visiting ASU’s campus in Mississippi to promote graduate programs. Accompanied by Tyrone Jordan, executive assistant to the president, they met with ASU President George Ross, CMU’s former vice president of finance and adminstrative services. “We were really impressed by the faculty and students,” Hassen said. “There were even 45 students that were interested in our programs, which was twice as many as what we usually get.” The exchange CMU will acquire a great number of students from ASU’s undergraduate programs. In turn, ASU will get interns in physical education and athletics. The internships were the leading idea behind the agreement. The students from ASU going into broadcasting look for a midwestern school to get rid of their southern accents because most television broadcast stations speak with midwestern

accents, Hassen said. “What’s particularly exciting is the additional opportunity for departments within the two schools to work together,” said Peter Malik, associate professor of English at Alcorn. “For example, my department chairperson Dr. Cynthia Scurria and I have already been talking with Dr. Marcia Taylor, chairperson of CMU’s English Department, about a collaborative arrangement that will allow our top English majors to enter one of the outstanding master’s degree programs offered by the English Department at CMU, particularly in the fields of language and literature, as well as composition and communication.” Four undergraduates from ASU are scheduled to visit CMU the day before the game. The signing of the agreement, however, will take place the following morning. The two teams play football at 3:30 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The university is running fire drills in 31 buildings on campus after the state Legislature approved a Michigan law that requires at least one drill annually per building. “We want people to understand how to evacuate in the event of a real emergency or a real fire,” said Caren Pankow, safety administrator of Central Michigan University’s risk management environmental and safety services. “When students or faculty hear a fire drill, they need to take it seriously.” The 31 buildings do not include residence halls, but only state buildings such as the Student Activity Center, Charles V. Park Library and Indoor Athletic Complex. Also included are classroom buildings. On Friday, university officials completed fire drills in Anspach Hall, Pearce Hall, Brooks Hall and Moore Hall, as well as the Music Building. The Dow Science Complex also was on Friday’s checklist, but the anticipated fire drill scheduled for 1:30 p.m. was not necessary after a real building evacuation occurred. The university shut the building down after a faculty member spilled a flammable chemical on the third floor Friday morning. Some students who had classes in Dow Science Complex at the time were displeased with instructors and procedures. Faculty members told Mason sophomore Jared Clapsaddle to leave his personal items in the classroom, under the impression it was only a practice fire drill. He and his class stood in the hallway, until police asked them to leave the building. “The police yelled at us

w w w w

Student Activity Center Charles V. Park Library Indoor Athletic Complex Classroom buildings

to get out quickly,” Clapsaddle said. “We definitely just thought it was just a drill. Looking back on this, people definitely need to take it more seriously — drills that is. I wouldn’t be waiting for my stuff in the rain if that was the case.” Coldwater sophomore David Bailey was in a physics class on the first floor when the fire alarm sounded. He said it is important for people to react quickly and leave the building without hesitation, especially in a science building. “It’s not as easy as spraying down a chemical fire with water,” he said. “If you do that, the building could blow up. One drop of a vase and the building could be shut down

for five hours. Students need to be aware of that. They need to get out when a fire alarm goes off.” Sgt. Michael Dunham of the Mount Pleasant Fire Department said the students in Dow did not take their items which, although problematic for students who left backpacks, purses or laptops in classrooms, it is exactly what is expected in any real situation. The average response time for any fire alarm on campus, Dunham said, is about four to five minutes. “They did not try to grab anything,” he said. “What people need to take advantage of is the maps inside of the buildings on campus. This is probably more for freshmen who aren’t familiar with the exits, or where they should go. “People usually just walk by the maps without looking on how to evacuate. Take the time, read the maps.” university@cm-life.com

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || 7A

[News]

Finding employment difficult

A buying of ‘Superhero’ proportions

Job applications increase as availability decreases

Reaction to Disney’s move: Let Marvel do its own thing

Follow the tip sheet Job seekers should often call specific departments they are interested in because they may be able to get a jump on a position before it hits the Web site, Jon Goodwin said. “The students who have followed the tip sheet have had a better chance of finding a job on campus,” he said. Still, some students are

Application increase Growing applications at the Charles V. Park Library w Fall 2008: 1,600 w Fall 2009: 2,225 w Average employment: 175 students having trouble finding a job, on or off campus. “I think the reason some students are having trouble finding a campus job is because upperclassmen are not giving up their oncampus jobs for off-campus ones. That takes away from the availability,” said Muskegon junior Brittany Houser. The same sentiment is echoed by Jon Goodwin. “What may make the oncampus job more attractive to many people is the security it offers,” Jon Goodwin said. “Campus employers want to keep a student for as many years as they can, so many upperclassmen want to stay.” Sometimes jobs just may not be available, but one can only be found by being vigilant to the vacant position boards and being persistent, Jon Goodwin said. -University Editor Sarah Schuch contributed to this report. university@cm-life.com

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ting all the money down for all of these,” he said. Jaskula is appreciative of the influ- Mike Malone ence college campuses can have on a comedian’s career. “College campuses are a gold mine (for potential fans),” Jaskula said. “Dane Cook is a perfect example.”

studentlife@cm-life.com

Public Relations Skills,

The Broadway Theatre is usually quiet. But Thursday, it will be full of laughs when the New Age Comedy Tour comes to visit. A diverse sampling of comedic talents will perform from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the downtown theater at 216 E. Broadway St. The four comedians performing are Mike Malone, Warren B. Hall, Deon Curry and the event’s organizer, Mike Jaskula. Admission is $15. “People can come out to see good comedy at a better price,” said Jaskula, a Michigan native stand-up comedian and former Eastern Michigan University student. The four are from the Indianapolis area, but are setting out on a tour around the Great Lakes region to show the world a “new age” in comedy. “It’s a different type of comedy,” Jaskula said. “These comics are the new people on the way up.” “If they loved the pre-

show performance for Bo Burnham, they’ll love this,” Phil Mikus said. “They’ve got new-edge comedy that Warren B. Hall I think the students are going to love.” Mikus, chairman of Friends of the Broadway, the nonprofit group which operates the historic Broadway theatre, is expecting high attendance. “We’re expecting a big turnout because Mike is a new comedian who has connections to CMU,” Mikus said. Mikus said the event is a fundraiser to restore the theatre. The New Age Comedy Tour also is performing Sept. 9 at Eastern Michigan University, Sept. 11 in Trenton and Sept. 12 in Decatur, Ill. “It’d be great if we could get 150 people out,” Jaskula said. Jaskula said he is confident the show will get going. “I’m the one that’s put-

‘Hands off’ Saginaw junior Bryan Burnham agrees Disney should keep its creative distance. “As long as Disney stays really hands off, and lets Marvel do its own thing, it should work out,” Burnham said. “What might happen is they take upper-level people from Marvel and put them in posi-

tions at Disney.” Similarly, when Disney acquired Pixar, executive producer and “Toy Story” director John Lasseter was given creative oversight for Pixar and Disney’s animation studios, as well as Walt Disney Imagineering, which helps create theme park attractions. Business-wise, it could prove to be advantageous for both companies. “The way I understand it, they have the youth girl side with ‘Hannah Montana,’ so they were looking for something to keep the boys involved,” Travis-Schuler said. “I think, in the end, Disney has a bigger machine to get things out quickly, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to quality.”

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the library. “On average, 175 students are employed at the library,” she said. “There is a large number of freshmen, so we can get people in who will stay. We don’t get a turnover frequently.” She said she believes there are fewer openings this year, which makes it difficult to bring in new students to work. Jon Goodwin said finding a job on campus is no different than finding one off campus and the same basic job searching skills are required. A list of the most important aspects to finding a job is available on the Student Employment Services Web site. The list puts a premium on persistence, citing the importance of follow-up phone calls and the willingness to approach departments that may not have a position listed on the Student Employment Services Web site.

If anybody heard a highpitched squeal Monday morning, that was the collective comic book fan community jumping on a table and yelling, “Eek! A mouse!” The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is planning to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc. in a deal worth roughly $4 billion. Shareholders in Marvel will receive $30 and a 0.745 percent share of Disney stock for each share of Marvel stock they hold. “I don’t know that it’s a bad thing, but I would never associate those two groups, so I don’t know how I feel about ‘Disney presents Spider-Man,’ you know what I mean?” said Michael TravisSchuler, owner of Hall of Heroes comic shop, 315 N. Mission St. Travis-Schuler said he thinks the worst thing that could happen is Disney trying to exert creative control over Marvel. “I think Marvel and DC (Comics) both right now are doing some really edgy things, and I would hate to see Marvel lose that,” he said. “I hope this doesn’t do anything to keep them from doing the edgy stories they’ve been doing lately. “Creatively, the worst-case scenario (is) Wolverine meets Mickey Mouse. Best case scenario? Wolverine guts Mickey Mouse,” he said.

Marvel’s main publishing competition, DC Comics, has been owned by Warner Brothers since 1969, although it maintains a large level of creative independence. In a conference call Monday morning, Disney said they do not want to “upset the apple cart” as far as Marvel’s creative process, and wants to keep a relationship similar to that between Disney and animation studio Pixar.

Student Leaders,

More competition Student Employment Services Manager Jon Goodwin pointed out there are approximately the same number of jobs that have traditionally been available in the past, but more people are competing for the jobs, which may make it more difficult for incoming students to find jobs. “I have filled out applications in the chain stores off campus, and turned in a ton of on-campus applications, and I still can’t find a job,” said Midland sophomore Jeff Tomalia. Currently, the library received 2,225 applications for the fall semester compared to 1,600 last fall, said Deb Goodwin, resource specialist for business services at

are having trouble finding campus jobs.

Public Relations Skills,

Students looking for oncampus jobs may find it more difficult than in previous years. The largest employer on campus, Campus Dining, which usually employs 800 students, has slightly cut back its number of employees because of efficient scheduling practices, said Nikki Smith, marketing manager of Campus Dining. This may play a role in the added difficulty of finding an on-campus job this year, along with other departments cutting employment. The on-campus job market has a comparable feel to the off-campus market, where employers are peeling back on the number of employees.

By Brad Canze Senior Reporter

Opportunities,

Brittany Houser, Muskegon junior, on why students

Student Leaders,

By Jared Buchholz Staff Reporter

“Upperclassmen are not giving up their on-campus jobs for off-campus ones. That takes away from the availability.”

8A || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

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Semester speakers Other speakers for the exhibit’s opening night include Jim Elliott of Elliott’s Amusements, Inc., Joe Skerbeck of Skerbeck Bros, Inc., and Curt Pollie, son of John Pollie. Matyn said John Pollie and his father owned a circus between

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The circus is coming to town Sept. 15. The Clarke Historical Library is gearing up for “Rides and Spangles: Michigan Circuses and Carnivals,� an exhibit featuring circus and carnival history. Set to run from Sept. 15 to Jan. 31, the exhibit will feature various events and speakers throughout the months. “I’m really excited about the exhibit. This is definitely my project and my baby. I hope people enjoy all the events. We are even having circus and carnivalthemed refreshments like popcorn and lemonade on opening night,� said Marian J. Matyn, assistant professor for the Clarke Historical Library. The exhibit also will feature videos, books, artifacts, famous lion tamer Clyde Beatty’s whip and a miniature circus and carnival train. Opening night is 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Charles V. Park Library auditorium and will feature 92-year-old Bill Thomas of the Flying Melzoras, Matyn said. She said Thomas and his family are Saginaw natives and performed as trapeze artists from the 1920s to 1960s.

www.cm-life.com

[News]

4245 South Lincoln Road Just South of Broomfield libby march/staff photographer

Rebecca Zeiss, artistic director of exhibits at the Clarke Historical Library, tapes a circus ring Monday afternoon for the “Rides and Spangles: Michigan Circuses and Carnivals� exhibit.

Exhibit hours wOpen Sept. 15 to Jan. 31. w Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. w Most Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1910 and 1927. John Pollie later operated carnival games. Matyn said she hopes people will learn a lot of carnival and circus history from her research, despite a decrease in the library’s budget for exhibits. “I’m not sure how much less we have to work with but, in the past, we’ve had paper catalogs for the exhibits. This time we will use John Pollie’s pictures and post them on the Clark Historical Library’s Web site,� she said. “However, I think this exhibit is going to be one of the most exciting we’ve had.� The second speaker series event is Sept. 29 and will feature Detroit circuses and maritime historian John Polacsek and

Erin Foley, archivist at the Circus World Museum. They will discuss their circus research, research trends on the topic and the museum, home of the Ringling Bros. and Gollmar Bros. circuses. Algonac freshman Kailin Kleintjes said she plans on attending the exhibit. “I learned about the exhibit from my library class and I think the history is really interesting. I heard about the 90-some-yearold trapeze artist, and I’m excited to go,� she said. “I really hope to learn something I didn’t know beforehand.� Mike and Karen “Janke� Janczewski of “Janke’s� Circus will speak at the event Oct. 13. They will discuss circus fans, model buildings and miniature circuses. Pat Pagel, current national president of the Circus Fans of America Association, also is scheduled to speak that day. university@cm-life.com

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Wide ReCeivers | Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown head an impressive group of playmakers, 3B Central Michigan Life

football preview Wednesday, September 2, 2009 | Section B

Not always as he seems

People know him as the face of Central Michigan Unversity. He has won championships. He is on billboards. He is on watch lists. But there is more to Dan LeFevour than what you see on Saturdays.

Photos By Matthew Stephens/Presentation Editor

Dan

Despite the perceptions many have of star quarterback Dan LeFevour, he can be a normal 22-year-old college student. LeFevour battled homesickness and even quit the football team for a short period of time.

In real life By Andrew Stover | Sports Editor

D

an LeFevour was at a crossroads four years ago in his first week of training camp. The freshman quarterback from Downers Grove, Ill., had yet to achieve one thing at Central Michigan University and had yet to adjust. He was facing a strong bout of homesickness, and the internal battle put a large burden on his shoulders. “I’d say every freshman goes through it,” LeFevour said. “It’s hard to like it at a place if you’re not having any success on the field and, especially during camp, (when) you can’t escape football. It’s football all day.” He approached Brian Kelly’s office with a firm grasp of his decision. He wasn’t nervous for what he was about to do. After all, Kelly was not only his head coach, but his position coach, and he saw him every day. This meeting culminated from a difficult three-day stretch of camp. He made up his mind, and picked his direction. Dan LeFevour quit the football team. A Dan | 8b

LeFevour drops back in the pocket during the 2009 Spring Game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

CMU INSIDE A Secondary Chance The secondary looks to improve on last season’s poor ranking, 6B

Multi-Threat Antonio Brown, Jahleel Addae blur the line between wide receiver, running back, 3B

Arizona Live Check CM-Life.com for a live chat and updates during Saturday’s game

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2B || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

Staff Football Picks Andrew Stover Sports Editor Record: 10-2 (8-0 MAC) Key Game: Western Michigan Big Win: Western Michigan Big Loss: Michigan State MVP: Dan LeFevour Breakout Player: Jake Olson MAC Game: CMU v. Buffalo MAC Winner: CMU

Tim Ottusch Assistant Sports Editor Record: 9-3 (7-1 MAC) Key Game: Western Michigan Big Win: Boston College Big Loss: Western Michigan MVP: Dan LeFevour Breakout Player: Jerry Harris MAC Game: WMU v. Buffalo MAC Winner: WMU

Brian Manzullo Editor In Chief Record: 8-4 (6-2 MAC) Key Game: Bowling Green Big Win: Boston College Big Loss: Western Michigan MVP: Antonio Brown Breakout Player: D.J. Scott MAC Game: CMU v. BGSU MAC Winner: CMU

cm-life.com/category/sports

[Footal Preview]

2008 season featured its ups and downs By Dave Jones Senior Reporter

Starting Strong Aug. 28 vs. Eastern Illinois, W 31-12 Running back Ontario Sneed broke a 23-yard touchdown run and wide receiver Jean Pitts scored on an 18-yard pass from quarterback Dan LeFevour as the Chippewas used a 14-point second quarter to secure the win. LeFevour threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and Bryan Anderson led receivers with nine catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Sneed ran for 91 of the team’s 172 rushing yards. . Disaster between the hedges Sept. 6 at Georgia, L 56-17 LeFevour threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bulldogs’ combination of quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno was too much for the Chippewas’ defense to handle. Leading the No. 2 team in the nation, Stafford threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Moreno, in 18 rushes, totaled 168 yards on the ground and 30 yards through the air. CMU’s two scores came in the second and third quarters with LeFevour passing to wide receivers Joe Bockheim and Pitts, respectively. Close Call Sept. 12 at Ohio, W 31-28 The Bobcats took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Central came back to win as the team opened Mid-American Conference play . Ohio wide receiver Chris Garrett scored twice in the opening quarter, first on a 12-yard run, then on a 45-yard reception from quarterback Boo Jackson. Central came back with 10 points in the second — Andrew Aguila an Andrew Aguila field goal and Sneed’s 1-yard touchdown run — while the defense blanked the Ohio offense. Wide receiver Antonio Brown opened the second half fast, scoring on a 75-yard punt return to take the lead. Gone in 18 seconds Sept. 20 at Purdue, L 32-25 Central Michigan led after

the first quarter when Sneed capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass from LeFevour. But Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter connected on 27of-36 pass attempts for 261 yards and a touchdown as the Boilermakers came away with the win in a rematch from the previous season’s Motor City Bowl. CMU took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a LeFevour touchdown pass and a completed two-point conversion. However, Purdue’s Kory Sheets scored on a 46-yard run the very next down to give the Boilermakers the win. Win by a hair Sept. 27 vs. Buffalo, W 27-25 The Bulls took a 5-3 lead into halftime, but the Chippewas came out in the second half scoring 14 points. LeFevour scored on a 3-yard run after an 11-play drive, then Sneed scored on a 16yard run. Sneed added another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Aguila hit a 43-yard field goal to preserve the victory. Buffalo scored in the final minutes on a 75-yard pass from quarterback Drew Willy to wide receiver James Starks to get to within two points. After a recovered onside kick, Buffalo missed a last-second field goal that would have given the Bulls the win. Gaining Momentum Oct. 10 vs. Temple, W 24-14 Central Michigan scored first on a LeFevour 15-yard touchdown pass to Brown as the team took a 17-14 lead into halftimee. It never trailed on its way to a non-conference, Homecoming victory. Quarterback Brian Brunner replaced an injured LeFevour, who left after completing 10of-11 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Brunner completed seven passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Anderson caught eight passes for a game-high 149 yards and a touchdown. Defensive tackle Murnane led with nine tackles, three for losses, and 1.5 sacks, while Zombo added two sacks. Safety Eric Fraser added to his team lead in interceptions with two off of Temple quarterback Chester Stewart. Brunner’s day Oct. 18 vs. Western Michigan, W 38-28

Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller threw for 471 yards, but Central Michigan came away victorious in the rivalry. Brunner completed 20for-28 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown in his first start of the season. CMU took a 14point lead after Brunner found Bockheim with a 24yard pass and running back B r y a n Schroeder broke a 19yard run to cap a 98Bryan Schroeder yard drive. Schroeder led with a game-high 106 rushing yards and scored twice, the second coming on a 1-yard run to break a 14-14 tie in the second quarter. After the score, Central Michigan never trailed and built a lead by as many as 14 points. Fourth quarter comeback Oct. 25 at Toledo, W 24-23 A 15-play, 68-yard CMU drive started the fourth quarter. It culminated with Sneed taking it in the final yard, followed by Aguila’s point-after, to keep the Chippewas undefeated in the conference. CMU’s defense forced two fourth quarter punts and gave up just 38 yards to seal the one-point victory. LeFevour connected on 24 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both to Anderson. Sneed led with 72 yards on the ground as part of a rushing attack which totaled 146 yards. A Big Victory Nov. 1 at Indiana , W 37-34 Aguila connected on a 48yard field goal to begin the fourth quarter, and Brunner finished a 56-yard drive and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give Central Michigan its first victory against a Big Ten opponent in 16 years. Brunner, starting in place of an injured LeFevour, completed 35 passes for 485 yards and four touchdowns while being intercepted just once in 53 pass attempts. Anderson and Brown combined for more than 250 yards through the air. Anderson finished with nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Field goal in the fog Nov. 12 at Northern Illinois, W 33-30 (OT) Aguila hit a 40-yard field goal attempt in overtime to edge the Chippewas past the Huskies and remain undefeated in the MAC. Central Michigan took a 23-3 lead into halftime, highlighted by two LeFevour touchdown passes to Brown and Sneed and a rushing touchdown. Northern Illinois came back in the second half, scoring 27 points to tie the game at the end of regulation. LeFevour finished 19-for-26 for 189 yards and two touchdowns through the air while leading the team in rushing with 121 yards and two touchdowns. Cardinal Sin Nov. 19 vs. Ball State, L 31-24 LeFevour led the Chippewas with 75 rushing yards and added 345 passing yards, completing 30 pass attempts for two touchdowns and one interception. But the No. 14 ranked team in the nation was too much to handle. Cardinals quarterback Nate Davis threw for 175 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, while running back MiQuale Lewis rushed 28 times for Kito Poblah 177 yards. The teams entered the final quarter tied at 17 and Central Michigan took a 24-17 lead on LeFevour’s 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kito Poblah. But Davis hit receiver Louis Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown and Briggs Orsbon for an 11-yard

Record: 9-3 (7-1 MAC) Key Game: Western Michigan Big Win: Boston College Big Loss: Western Michigan MVP: D.J. Scott Breakout Player: Tim Phillips MAC Game: WMU v. Buffalo MAC Winner: WMU

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! N U F Record: 9-3 (7-1 MAC) Key Game: Western Michigan Big Win: Boston College Big Loss: Western Michigan MVP: Nick Bellore Breakout Player: Malek Redd MAC Game: WMU v. Buffalo MAC Winner: WMU

Bowl Blunder Dec. 26 against Florida Atlantic in Detroit (Motor City Bowl), L 24-21 The Chippewas came up short for the second consecutive Motor City Bowl. It entered halftime tied at 10 after a LeFevour touchdown pass to Poblah and an Aguila 35-yard field goal. But Florida Atlantic opened the second-half scoring with a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rusty Smith to cap a 98-yard drive. Central Michigan managed just one touchdown in the fourth quarter when LeFevour found Brown for 15 yards to get within a field goal.

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Defensive Disaster Nov. 28 at Eastern Michigan, L 56-52 In the team’s highest scoring game of the season, Sneed gained 97 yards on 11 rushes and a touchdown while Dan LeFevour threw for 378 yards and four touchdowns, including a 98-yard touchdown to Brown. But Eastern Michigan quarterback Andy Schmitt attempted 80 passes, completing an NCAA-record 58 of them, for 516 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception. The Eagles took a 42-35 lead into halftime, but the Chippewas were able to take the lead in the third quarter. Eastern Michigan, however, would retake the lead for good two minutes later after an eight-play, 80yard drive.

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cm-life.com/category/sports

[Football preview]

Brown, Addae blur line of position Two form hybrid of runner, receiver By Tim Ottusch Assistant Sports Editor

File photo

Senior wide receiver Bryan Anderson has been an All-MAC first-team honoree twice.

Wide receivers retain core Anderson leads veteran position By Tim Ottusch Assistant Sports Editor

For a team with question marks on how it will protect its quarterback, there is little worry on who will catch his passes. The football team retained its three key wide receivers from last season: senior Bryan Anderson and juniors Antonio Brown and Kito Poblah. “We’re extremely deep at wide receiver,” Anderson said. “We have a lot of experience between me, Antonio and Kito.” The ability to get the receivers the ball in space could hide any inexperience along the offensive line, particularly at the tackle position, where there are two new starters (Rocky Weaver and Jake Olson). “In our offense, the wide receiver position takes on such a big role,” said coach Butch Jones. Anderson enters his final season as the active leader in

the Football Bowl Subdivision in receptions (226) and receiving yards (2,864). He was an All-MidA m e r i c a n Kito Poblah Conference first-team selection twice and an All-MAC second-team selection once. He also was named a first-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News three seasons ago. “I have pretty high expectations for myself,” Anderson said. The other guys Also leading the receiving core will be the multi-threat Brown. Brown caught 195 passes in his first two years and has more than 2,000 receiving yards. Brown, last year’s MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, also threw a touchdown pass in last year’s win against Western Michigan. Poblah, redshirt freshmen Jerry Harris and Jahleel Addae, and freshman Cody Wilson make up the rest of the wide receiving core.

Poblah finished last season third in receptions (43) and receiving yards (532) on the team, both career highs. Also expected to contribute is Harris. “I’m extremely excited about Jerry Harris, he’s going to push Bryan Anderson,” Jones said. “Everything is about competition ... Nobody’s entitled to anything, there is no entitlement. You have to earn your spot each and every day.” Addae is expected to be used in a similar way Brown is used. He will line up in different spots on the field as the offense tries to get him the ball in space. Jones has Addae as a work in progress as he adjusts to playing the wide receiver position. Addae was a running back in high school, scoring 15 touchdowns as a senior. Brown said as one of the players with experience, he has tried to look after the younger receivers. “I’ve really tried to take on a leadership role, helping the young guys out with coverage,” Brown said. sports@cm-life.com

Schroeder, Cotton lead running backs Staff Reports

The football team seemed to have plenty of depth in the backfield heading into last season. Seniors Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins were supposed to lead the way. Sophomore Carl Volny and true freshmen Bryan Schroeder and Paris Cotton were to add additional carries as needed. But Sneed and Hoskins came into the season with injuries and did not perform as expected. Sophomore Carl Volny, who started the team’s first game, finished the year with just 41 yards. Returning runners Schroeder and Cotton showed promising signs. After starting the season with a knee injury, Schroeder rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s win against Western Michigan. Cotton averaged four

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || 3B

yards per carry in just 25 rushes last season. “We do have to run the football more effectively this year,” said coach Butch Jones. Hurting the team’s rushing game even more was the injury to quarterback Dan LeFevour. LeFevour, now a senior, rushed for 763 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers paled in comparison to his 1,267 rush yards and 19 rushing touchdowns his sophomore year. The rushing game will again look to LeFevour to lead in those categories, but Schroeder, Cotton and freshmen Tim Phillips, Malek Redd and Zurlon Tipton all are expected to contribute. “I want to be a back that the coaches feel they can put in on any down,” Schroeder said. Jones said having Schroeder and Cotton see action last

year will help them progress this season. “We’re the benefactor of playing two true freshmen (last year) back there in Paris Cotton and Bryan Schroeder,” Jones said. “They’ve had great game experience.” Phillips ran for more than 1,500 yards and scored 25 touchdowns as a senior at Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky. He also caught four touchdown passes. Redd had more than 1,000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns his senior campaign at River Hill High School in Columbia, Md. Tipton finished his high school career with more than 5,000 career rushing yards and 76 touchdowns at Parkway Christian in Detroit, Mich. Jones said all three true freshmen will see playing time this season. sports@cm-life.com

Antonio Brown has the look of a running back with the ball in his hands. But he caught nearly 200 passes the last two seasons as a wide receiver. Brown’s emergence the last two years has created mismatches on the field. Brown has been used as a hybrid of running back and wide receiver. CMU, a spread offense file photo team, has found innovaJunior wide receiver Antonio Brown was first team All-MAC in three categories in 2008. tive ways to utilize talent and receiving, Brown also in its system. “I’ve just been working “In order to do that, you can be used as a throwing hard and trying to learn the have to have individuals that weapon in select situations. receiver position,” Addae can come Brown threw a touchdown said. in, and not pass last season in the team’s Addae came to CMU inionly possess win against Western Michi- tially as a running back. He good speed, gan. ran for almost 1,500 yards Despite his success on the as a senior at Riverview but have the ability to filed, Brown’s main goal is to High School in Valrico, Fla. make some- keep everything in perspec“We’re going to use his body miss tive. running knowledge to our “I just want to stay focused advantage,” said wide rewith bubble Jahleel Addae screens and and stay humble,” Brown said. ceiver coach Zach Azzanni. things like He also said there will be that,” said coach Butch Jones. Runner to receiver many times when Addae This season, the team and Brown are used at the “I think we really, really upgraded our team when you started to transition red- same time. look at the Malek Redd(s) shirt freshman Jahleel Adand the Jahleel Addae(s) dae to a similar position. sports@cm-life.com and Tim Phillips and Cody Wilson(s) and those types of individuals. “So it becomes a space game and it becomes a matchup game, so it’s critical in our offense.” Brown, a junior, frequently lines up in the backfield, but rushed just 30 times in two seasons. The 5-foot10-inch receiver caught 93 passes last year, scoring seven receiving touchdowns. A threat on the ground

4B || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

Transition seen in offensive line

LeFevour prepares for final season

Weaver makes transition from tight end to tackle By Andrew Stover Sports Editor

Backup position down to Radcliff and Rifenbury By Andrew Stover Sports Editor

Dan LeFevour’s junior year in 2008 saw a statistical decline when compared to the previous year. The standard he set for himself in a 46-touchdown sophomore season was too high to eclipse in 2008. LeFevour passed for 3,652 yards and rushed for 1,122 yards, becoming only the second player in NCAA history to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in one season. He led the Chippewas to their second consecutive MidAmerican Conference Championship. But last year, CMU’s Ryan Radcliff star quarterback came back to earth. An injured ankle forced LeFevour to miss two games and a part of another. That contributed to statistics that paled in comparison to the year before. CMU also lost the MAC West Division late in the season, failing to make it to the conference championship game. The Chippewas lost their last three games of the season to Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Florida Atlantic in the Motor City Bowl. “It’s just nice to have a fresh start and have everything that happened last year behind me,” LeFevour said. “Everyone in the conference starts out with no wins or losses.” Depth chart With the graduation of former backup quarterback Brian Brunner, who won two games in reserve duty last season, LeFevour’s health will be in the spotlight. Sophomore Derek Rifenbury is competing with redshirt freshman Ryan Radcliff for the number two position on the depth chart. Neither quarterback has any game experience, but the battle is heating up. “Last year, with Brunner being here, everyone knew he was the number two guy,

cm-life.com/category/sports

[football preview]

File photo

Sophomore Derek Rifenbury is battling for the second string position.

“It’s just nice to have a fresh start and have everything that happened last year behind me.” Dan LeFevour, senior quarterback and there wasn’t as much of a pressing issue,” Radcliff said. “Now with him gone, we’re both battling for that number two spot, splitting reps. The competition is definitely there.” Rifenbury repeated a similar statement his coach said: Every rep counts, especially with the limited reps each backup quarterback will get during practice. Coach Butch Jones said he does not want to get caught up in being overly protective of his starting quarterback, however. “The one thing I don’t want to do is (let) keeping him healthy become such the focal point that he loses his edge,” Jones said. “His edge is his instincts.” LeFevour said part of staying healthy is to avoid taking unnecessary hits. And if he can stay healthy, LeFevour will have a chance to do what he has yet to accomplish. LeFevour is winless against teams from conferences which receive automatic Bowl Championship Series bowl bids. While injured last year, Brunner beat Indiana, a Big Ten team, on the road, 37-34. The focus will be on the first part of the schedule, LeFevour said. “Arizona and Michigan State, (it’s) like a left-hook and then an uppercut,” he said. sports@cm-life.com

QB depth chart Dan LeFevour w w w w w

Senior, 22 6-feet, 3-inches 238 pounds Downers Grove, Ill. Benet Academy

Ryan Radcliff w w w w w

Redshirt freshman, 19 6-feet, 2-inches 202 pounds Sherwood, Ohio Fairview H.S.

Derek Rifenbury w w w w w

Sophomore, 20 6-feet, 3-inches 208 pounds Deerfield Beach, Fla. Monarch H.S.

A.J. Westendorp w w w w w

Freshman, 18 6-feet, 1-inch 213 pounds Holland, Mich. Holland Christian H.S.

The offensive line is taking a new look this fall. The Chippewas will have three new starters along the line, two being offensive tackles. Senior offensive guard Allen Ollenburger joins redshirt freshman tackle Jake Olson and sophomore tackle Rocky Weaver as the three newcomers. Despite just two returning starters, the group has garnered the confidence of its peers. “You always hear, ‘It starts up front.’ And it does for us,” said senior quarterback Dan LeFevour. “If they can block well up front running the ball and give some time to pass the ball, I think we’ll have some success.” Junior center Colin Miller and junior offensive guard Jeff Maddux are the lone returners to the unit. Maddux is the only player along the line weighing more than 300 pounds. Coach Butch Jones said he is more concerned with their ability to play in space. “We still focus on a more athletic player that can play

in space with all the screens that we do,” he said. “The outside zone runs, the different type of things that Jake Olson we do, we want to be able to have players that can move a little bit.” Ollenburger started six games last season for CMU — three at right guard and three at right tackle. He played in all 13 games. Miller started six games at center last season and three games at guard, showing the versatility he brings to the interior line. Miller said the group is meshing well, and looks at itself as the pulse of the team. “The rest of the team is going to follow,” he said. “They look to us when times are hard. They look to the O-line. How are they performing?” Inexperienced tackles One of the most documented offseason occurrences was the weight added by both new tackles, Weaver and Olson. Weaver, a former tight end, bulked up to 272 pounds from his previous weight, just above 250. Jones said the other tackle, Olson, has the frame to add weight and be around 300

pounds. Olson gained 10 to 15 pounds since spring ball and now weighs 280 pounds. Jones said the staff stresses the linemen to add weight the proper way. “We monitor everything they eat,” he said. “We monitor their calorie intake, how many calories they burn, (if they are) getting the proper rest (and) getting the proper nutrition.”

Coaching philosophy The Chippewas plan to be a more balanced team on offense, Jones said. CMU ranked second in the MidAmerican Conference in passing yards behind Western Michigan, but just eighth in rushing yards. “You have to be able to run the football,” Jones said. “From the weather elements to controlling the football, to also protecting your defense.” In passing situations, the team will find creative ways to ease the transition for the two new comers on the edge. “We do so many protection schemes,” Jones said. “Whether it’s full slide protections where the back has the edge, or locking big on big, or putting the tight ends beside them or chipping as the running backs release.” sports@cm-life.com

cm-life.com/category/sports

2009 Roster

2009 Schedule Game 1

at Arizona Sat., Sept. 5 Game 2

at MSU Sat., Sept. 12 Game 3

Alcorn State Sat., Sept. 19 Game 4

Akron Sat., Sept. 26 Game 5

at Buffalo Sat., Oct. 3 Game 6

EMU

Sat., Oct. 10 Game 7

at WMU Sat., Oct. 17 Game 8

at BGSU Sat., Oct. 24 Game 9

at BC Sat., Oct. 31 Game 10

Toledo Wed., Nov. 11 Game 11

at. Ball State Wed., Nov. 18 Game 12

NIU

Fri., Nov. 27

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || 5B

[football Preview]

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 44 45 46 47 47 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

Name Poblah, Kito Schroeder, Bryan Kennedy, Ronnie Addae, Jahleel Phillips, Tim Cotton, Paris Anderson, Bryan Radcliff, Ryan Seay, Bobby Harman, David White, Lorenzo Gallon, Cornelius Wilson, Cody Fraser, Eric LeFevour, Dan Mama, Tommy Williams, Sam Rifenbury, Derek Brazzel, Tim Westendorp, A.J. Gordy, Josh Redd, Malek Jackson, Gary Agnew, Vince Carter, Derek Williams, LaVarus Skergan, Sean Benton, Shamari Brown, Antonio Scott, D.J. Volny, Carl Ray, Evan Edwards, Kirkston Smith, Alex Petrucci, Mike Tipton, Zurlon McConnell, Jordan Aguila, Andrew Gagnon, Connor Masztak, Ben Johnson, Jason Reed, Tyler Carr, John Staten, Armond Eaddy, Leron Bellore, Nick Bolden, Dannie Linklater, Jake Carter, Landon Berning, Matt Falls, James Zelinsky, Kyle Schwarz, Will Maletzke, Matt Sweet, Kevin Fenton, Adam McCord, Aaron Murnane, Sean Winston, Steve Fraser, Kashawn Bentley, Jake Wiersma, Zach Torzy, Shane

Position WR RB WR WR RB RB WR QB DB K DB WR WR DB QB DB DE QB LB QB DB RB DB DB LB DB WR LB WR DB RB DB DB LB LB RB WR K K LB DB FB DB LB DB LB DB P LB LB RB LB LB DL LB LB DL DL DE DE LB OL LB

Class Jr. So. Fr. RFr. Fr. So. Sr. RFr. Jr. Fr. RFr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. So. RFr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Jr. So. RFr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. RFr. Fr. Fr. Jr. RFr. So. RFr. Fr. Jr.

No. 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 99

Name Reeves, Chris Bennyhoff, Brian Miller, Colin Ollenburger, Allen Keyton, Darren Maddux, Jeff Repovz, Mike Hayes, Richard Reynolds, Nick Torzy, Kyle Schneid, Adam Kanitz, Matt Pettit, Cody Olson, Jake Fantuzzi, Jeff Kaczmarski, Aaron Johnson, Todd Czerwienski, Jon Weaver, Rocky Fisher, Eric Fraser, Cedric Harris, Jerry Blackburn, David Brown, Reggie Alexander, Deja Torres, Matt James, Bobby Wilson, Jeremy Showers, Valtorrey Odykirk, Connor Clemons, Galen Jackson, Daniel Ekkens, Jake Starkey, Chris Williams, John Knight, Larry Hartmann, Brett Stinson, Darryll Zombo, Frank Hogan, Richie Rodriguez, Caesar

Position DL LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL LB OL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL WR WR TE WR WR WR TE WR WR WR DE DL LS LS/TE DL DE K/P DE DE K DE

Class RFr. So. Jr. Sr. RFr. Jr. RFr. RFr. RFr. RFr. Fr. RFr. Fr. RFr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. So. RFr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. RFr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. RFr. Sr. Fr. Fr.

6B || Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

Brown, Aguila lead special teams Both players earned All-MAC honors last season By D.J. Palomares Staff Reporter

file photo

Senior cornerback Josh Gordy is one of the two returning secondary players.

Secondary looking for improved play Positions a mix of young and old By D.J. Palomares Staff Reporter

The secondary has almost nowhere to go but up after finishing 118th out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in passing defense last season. This year’s secondary features a mix of upperclassmen and true freshmen. “We don’t want to be the reason people point to if we lose a game,” said junior cornerback Vince Agnew. “We have to be the quarterback of the whole defense.” Freshmen D.J. Scott and Evan Ray bring some energy to the secondary. Both are expected to play this season. “This game is much faster than what I was used to playing in high school, but I love the challenge,” Scott said. “In my time here, I think I have already improved my

ability to read the offense.” Scott intercepted 11 passes last season for Thomas J o h n s o n Eric Fraser High School in Frederick, Md. His efforts were rewarded with an invitation to the Maryland Crab Bowl, where his team played an all-star team from Washington D.C. Senior cornerback Josh Gordy said he acknowledged the competition the freshmen are bringing. “The young guys are pushing us. We can’t get comfortable,” Gordy said. “If they do the right things in practice, they could all play.” Gordy joins Eric Fraser as the two returning seniors in the secondary. Gordy and Fraser combined for 49 tackles and three interceptions last season. As seniors, they have seen the defense at its worst and

now are trying to set a new precedent in CMU football, Gordy said. “We are tired of hearing people talk bad about the defense every year,” Gordy said. “But until we do something about it, it’s not going away. We know what we have to do.” A team effort As coach, Butch Jones said he understands the secondary is only the surface of passing defense. “When everyone says pass defense, its easy just to look at the secondary,” Jones said. “But it is all 11 on the field doing their jobs.” The Chippewas ranked 104th last season in total defense. “Up front, you have to have a good pass rush,” Jones said. “It doesn’t matter what we do in the secondary if the quarterback has all the time to throw the football.” sports@cm-life.com

Front seven returns depth at all positions By Dave Jones Senior Reporter

The CMU football team ranked No. 104 in total defense of the 119 teams that make up the Football Bowl Subdivision. But its rush defense finished 49th, and it brings a returning core to 2009. “We still think the D-line is going to be the strength of our team,” said defensive coordinator Tim Banks. “(We have guys) who have played a lot of football for us. We just really think we’re going to be good up there, particularly on the edges.” Returning and anchoring the line are senior defensive ends Frank Zombo and Sam Williams, who combined for 15.5 sacks last season. Zombo led the Mid-Amer-

cm-life.com/category/sports

[football preview]

ican Conference with nine sacks for a loss of 45 yards. “I thought we had a great season last season, Matt Berning and we got a lot of guys coming back,” Zombo said. “It’s always kind of a given that if you get pressure on the opposing quarterback, you shut down the whole team.” Junior defensive tackle Sean Murnane, who started much of last season as well, will soon return from injury. Behind the line At linebacker, the team returns three starters, but they are rotating positions.

Junior Nick Bellore, after leading the team with 148 tackles last season from the middle linebacker position, switched to his more natural position on the outside. Switching from the outside to the middle is junior Matt Berning, who only started the final nine games, but still managed to rank third on the team in tackles (70). “It’s been good,” Bellore said. “Matt’s done a really good job so far, and we’re really starting to get things solidified at the position going into Arizona.” Tim Brazzel is the position’s lone senior and started all but one game last season, finishing with 53 tackles. Junior Mike Petrucci also will see playing time. sports@cm-life.com

On a team in which the focus is mostly on senior quarterback Dan LeFevour and the offense, a different senior led the team in scoring last season: kicker Andrew Aguila. Aguila went 16-of-21 on field goals last season and led the team with 92 total points. “I just take care of each kick as it comes,” Aguila said. “Every point counts. You never know when a field goal in the first quarter is going to make the difference in the game.” Aguila began his career at Central Michigan in 2007 after transferring from Compton Junior College in Compton, Calif. In his first season with the Chippewas, he set a record for kickers with 60 point-after attempts. Aguila converted 104 PATs and can break the record for most in school history with 28 more this year. That record has been held by Rade Savich since 1978. “Field goals are starting to come a lot more fluidly,” Aguila said. “I go out there knowing that every kick counts, every time.” Aguila was called on to win the game last season at Northern Illinois. The two teams were tied at 30 in overtime until Aguila hit a 40-yard field goal that kept CMU undefeated in the MidAmerican Conference. “I will always remember that game at NIU,” Aguila said. “It was such an amazing experience. It is one of

file photo

Senior kicker Andrew Aguila earned third team All-MAC honors last season.

my favorite memories in my career.” Aguila earned All-MAC third team honors last season. Aguila converted a season-long field goal of 48 yards last season in the fourth quarter against Indiana, a Big Ten foe. The kick led CMU to a 37-34 victory. Six of last season’s games were decided by three points or less. Five went in CMU’s favor. Coach Butch Jones said he is glad to have such an asset in the special teams group. “His strength is his accuracy,” Jones said. “It gives us a lot of confidence having and experienced kicker that we can rely on.” Running it back Junior wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to be CMU’s premiere kick and punt returner for the third consecutive year. Brown took a punt 75 yards for a touchdown against

Ohio early last season, helping CMU win 31-28. “If I can score without bringing the offense on the field, its amazing,” Brown said. “It gives them a chance to rest their legs.” B r o w n’s punt return average of 20.5 yards led the nation last year. Brown e a r n e d Antonio Brown first-team All-MAC honors in kick and punt returning last season. “I like that I just get to get the ball and go,” Brown said. “There is no assignments like when I am playing wide receiver. I just get it and go.” Junior Brett Hartmann is CMU’s punter. Hartmann earned MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors last season against Indiana. sports@cm-life.com

8B || Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2009 || Central Michigan Life

cm-life.com/category/sports

[Football Preview]

“Whether you call it irony or destiny, that’s really what the substance of the meeting was. (It allowed) him to see that someday he was going to be a great leader, and obviously that’s worked out.” Brian Kelly, former CMU Coach

File Photo

Dan LeFevour celebrates in the student section after a home football game against Buffalo in 2008.

Dan | continued from 1B

Reconsidering Kelly, who coached CMU from 2004 to 2006 and now coaches the Cincinnati Bearcats, dealt with similar situations in the past. This was not the first time a freshman walked into his office and conceded his efforts. “Most of the time, when a guy comes to my office, he’s done,” Kelly said. “He’s ready to go home. I’ve never really, as a head Brian Kelly coach going on 19 years, talked somebody out of quitting.” But Kelly saw past that. LeFevour showcased traits he did not see in other people. He told his freshman quarterback he would be a captain one day. “He couldn’t see that, obviously, because he was certainly thinking about other things,” Kelly said. “That meeting and its substance (happened) because I felt so strongly about his ability to be a leader in our program.” After the meeting, LeFevour called his father, Jack, and told him of his decision. Jack was at work at the time. The last thing he expected was a call from his youngest of five children who was halting his pursuit toward what he worked so hard to achieve through high school. “He called me up and he told me he had just quit,” Jack said. “He had just gone into Kelly’s office and quit.” Getting his son to reconsider and go to the team’s afternoon practice was his only goal. He and his wife, Judy, were making the trek to Mount Pleasant immediately. Kelly also knew how to handle the situation. “Coach Kelly said, ‘I’m not going to let you quit in the middle of the day. You have to finish the day out,’” LeFevour said. With his parents on a four-hour drive to CMU, LeFevour obeyed the wishes of his family and coach. He showed up to practice. Arriving in Mount Pleasant, Judy said she knew he would be fine if he stayed put for one season. They urged him to be patient and play a year. After the season, if he still felt Division I football was not for him, they would accept his decision. The trip he and Judy made was the best time investment they could have made. A day

later in Chicago, they received a phone call from their son with a simple message. He was going to gut it out. Making the adjustment That is not to say things went smoothly after his parents left. LeFevour still did not know many people. He was out of his comfort zone and had not established himself on campus. “He truly did have a tough time up there,” Jack said. “He had just left his girlfriend. You could probably count on one hand the number of kids from Illinois at Central Michigan.” All three of LeFevour’s roommates in Thorpe Hall were from Michigan. They were redshirted as well, and that allowed them to leave on weekends. When his roommates left for the weekend or had girlfriends visit, it intensified the nostalgia for life near Chicago. LeFevour was still homesick. He vividly recalled the weekend of Sept. 17, 2005, when CMU faced Penn State in University Park, Penn. While his team was losing 40-3, he was taking advantage of being redshirted and not traveling with the team. LeFevour found a ride to East Lansing and got on a train heading home. “It took like seven hours, but it was worth it,” LeFevour said. “I would go home any minute I actually could.” Becoming Mr. Relevant LeFevour began to settle in during the second semester of school. He said it was clear he would live a life his friends from high school were not. “You had to make a decision,” LeFevour said. “Am I going to go out Thursday night and then have a workout at 7 a.m.? Probably not.” But as he began to embrace his role and mesh with teammates, opportunity followed. Kelly named sophomore quarterback Brian Brunner the starter prior to the August 2006 home opener against Boston College. But a concussion on the third play of the game forced Brunner out. Suddenly, LeFevour became relevant. And, after a 31-24 loss in which he almost led a stunning comeback, his legacy began. LeFevour’s 72 yards on 14 rushes against an Atlantic Coast Conference team raised eyebrows. He was quickly labeled a dual-threat quarterback. The following week, he was awarded his first start against Michigan in Ann Arbor. But this was no Kelly/ Shorts Stadium. The Big House seats more than

110,000 people. LeFevour was more than nervous. “It was awful,” he said without hesitation, regarding the pressures of playing in the biggest stadium in America. Naturally, a glimpse of doubt crept into his head. “Could I be productive every game? I wouldn’t say I did a great job against Boston College,” LeFevour said, “but I did pretty well for my first time ever playing.” Michigan’s defense featured future NFL players at nearly every position. LaMarr Woodley, Alan Branch, Leon Hall, David Harris and Shawn Crable were all on the field, and they all play on Sundays today. LeFevour said it was one of the best defenses he ever played against. Competition But prior to the Eastern Michigan game on Sept. 23, LeFevour suffered an injury in practice, and the competition with Brunner was on. Brunner and LeFevour had a complex relationship. Brunner, a year older, had taken LeFevour into his Mount Pleasant house during the first two summers LeFevour was on campus. The two also were roommates when the team was on road trips. W h e n Brunner excelled against EMU – he earned MAC West Player of the Week honors in a 24-17 overtime victory – it set Brian Brunner the stage for the quarterback competition the following week on the road against Kentucky. Brunner got the start. But things quickly went south for CMU. After a sequence of misfortunes, Brunner was pulled, despite not being at fault for a number of miscues. LeFevour entered the game and took advantage of the opportunity. He threw for 360 yards and four touchdowns without turning the ball over in three quarters of action. Despite a 45-36 loss, the competition was officially over. “That’s where it was difficult to handle, but that was more of a personal thing,” Brunner said. “It was tough to rationalize (losing the job) in my mind.” For LeFevour, things seemed easier on the late September night. It felt natural. “There’s just games you really feel like you’re in the zone, and that was one of them,” LeFe-

vour said. “We were clicking.” Kelly said both quarterbacks had the ability, but over the year since the meeting in his office, LeFevour’s attitude toward football changed. He was now a confident quarterback. One who, in the eyes of Kelly, was destined to lead CMU. “His confidence level really to me was the tipping point between the two quarterbacks. They both had the ability to do it, but I just liked the way Dan handled himself,” Kelly said. Handling the spotlight In a short time, Dan LeFevour transformed from just another student to a recognizable face. His success brought celebrity status to CMU and, as the accolades piled, so did the media spotlight. National publications seemingly swarmed to the small rural campus in midMichigan. ESPN, Sports Illustrated and USA Today, among others, made LeFevour the most recognizable face at the university. The energy level surrounding him increased significantly. Luckily, LeFevour understands the responsibilities that come with exposure. He said he knows the attention comes with the territory of being a successful quarterback at the Division I level, and after totaling 11,702 total yards from scrimmage in his career, he has the most yardage of all active players, despite a down junior season. “I realized (people) know me because of one thing and, if I don’t do it well, no one will care,” LeFevour said. And now, every move is noticed. Whether he is on campus, at a bar or in class, people notice Dan LeFevour. But he knows to stay above public opinion. “You just really can’t care what the public opinion is in a sense. Whether that be if you go to a bar and they think, ‘Oh, he’s out partying.’ Maybe I’m not drinking,” LeFevour said. “Maybe I’m just hanging out with some people. Things like that.” His record is clean and his academics are in check, as indicated by his 3.57 grade point average. LeFevour is just three credits away from graduation. Now, he is recognized and identified on a regular basis. The No. 13 at CMU is synonymous with the dual-threat quarterback, and he also is on the billboard outside of Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. But LeFevour takes it in stride. “If we go to a public place or I go somewhere (and I get identified), if it happens, it happens,” he said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh man, poor me. People know who I am.’” Striving for normalcy Dan LeFevour is human. Despite being a recognizable commodity, he is just another student athlete. He occasionally still plays video games. LeFevour was pleasantly surprised with his 92 rating in NCAA Football 2010, but he claims he has not played the game since he was a 65 or 70 rating.

“I must be pretty good then,” he said, jokingly. “That’s crazy.” But to his father’s appreciation, LeFevour remains humble through success. “I think the humility is real, I really do. I think it goes back to his idolization of Walter Payton,” Jack said. “That guy, as a running back, always gave his credit to the offensive line.” As Judy said, he will likely get the opportunity to play at the next level, which has been his dream since he was in grade school. Yet, all of it could have been negated by an emotional decision in August 2005 inside Brian Kelly’s office. “Whether you call it irony or destiny, that’s really what the substance of the meeting was,” Kelly said. “(It allowed) him to see that someday he was going to be a great leader, and obvi-

ously that’s worked out.” If he followed through on his strong stance in Kelly’s office four years ago, he could be doing something else today. He would not receive the hype or scrutiny he embraces today. “For as long as I live, I’m never going to go to a place like Georgia or Michigan and have 90,000 people hope I get hurt,” LeFevour said. “You have to take that as a positive.” LeFevour is just a 22-yearold kid who happened to win a Mid-American Conference Championship as a freshman. He has been compared to college greats Vince Young and Tim Tebow. His face is plastered on a 30-by-60 foot billboard overlooking downtown Detroit. But as abnormal a life he lives, make no mistake, Dan LeFevour is normal. sports@cm-life.com

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