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For the second straight season, CMU doesn’t have a starting quarterback
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David DiLeo becomes CMU leader in career 3-pointers
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DILEO BREAKS CAREER 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORD IN LOSS TO BUFFALO
David DiLeo has passed Josh Kozinski and now holds the Central Michigan career 3-point record .
DiLeo broke the record in Central Michigan’s game at Buffalo on Friday. DiLeo needed just one triple to break the record. He hit the shot from right wing to break Kozinski’s record.
Kozinski held the record since Jan. 30, 2018. In that night’s contest against Northern Illinois, Kozinski hit eight 3-pointers. DiLeo was Kozinski’s teammate for two years and shared the moment with him. DAVID DILEO
“Hopefully I’ll have David chasing me,” Kozinski said following the game.
DiLeo and Kozinski shared a close bond throughout their time together at Central Michigan, one that has withstood Kozinski’s move to Fort Worth, Texas following the end of his playing career.
“Playing with him, it was awesome,” Kozinski said. “Great guy, great teammate, he’s one of my best friends. Being able to develop that friendship together was truly a blessing and how grateful I am that it’s Dave DiLeo beating my record, it’s a blessing.”
DiLeo, a senior, has played in 124 games in his career. The native of Iowa City, Iowa has started 92 of those games, all consecutively.
-Christian Booher, Staff Reporter
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Super Sweet Super Sweet FEBRUARY IS WITH AMG With just over half the Mid-American Conference season to play, both basketball teams at Central Michigan are in prime spots for the postseason.
The Chippewa women’s basketball team remains undefeated in the conference after two wins over conference foes this week. The men’s team split the week with a 10-point win over Bowling Green followed by a tightly contested five-point loss to Buffalo on Friday. Women’s basketball
The Chippewas are now 11-0 in MAC play after a pair of wins over Northern Illinois and Miami (Ohio). The West Division leaders hold a threegame lead over Ohio, the current East Division leader, for the top spot in the conference.
After losing on Feb. 1 to the Chippewas, the Bobcats rallied off two-straight victories. Sitting at 8-3 in the MAC, the Bobcats are now 2.5 games ahead of Kent State (5-5) for the East Division race. Outside of Ohio and Kent State, no other team in the East Division has a .500 or better record. The Chippewas lead the West by 3.5 games over Ball State. The Cardinals have won four of their last five games. Both teams are vying for the top spot and will face off in Muncie, Indiana on Feb. 29.
CMU has a week off before facing Bowling Green in McGuirk Arena on Saturday to open a three-game homestand. Men’s basketball
CMU is now one game back of Northern Illinois (8-3) in the West Division. In the East Division, Bowling Green (9-2) holds a 1.5 game lead over Akron (7-3).
Both divisions have a log jam near the top, with fourth-place Buffalo only three games back in the East. The West Division has fewer teams involved but third place Ball State sits only 1.5 games back of the Huskies.
The Chippewas are set to face Akron on Friday following a game against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, both in McGuirk Arena.
-Andrew Loveland, Staff Reporter MAC BASKETBALL UPDATE: WOMEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE PLAY
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FOOTBALL SEARCHES FOR QUARTERBACK
Chippewas to enter second straight season without clear starter at QB
By Christian Booher Staff Reporter sports@cm-life.com
When Central Michigan takes the field for the start of spring practices on Feb. 15, it will do so without a set starting quarterback for the second straight season.
However, at this time last year, the options were much more clear. Graduate transfer quarterback Quinten Dormady was becoming acclimated to the program. It didn’t take him long to assert himself as the starting quarterback, a spot he would hold for the entirety of the season except for an injury that cost him four weeks.
This time around, second-year coach Jim McElwain is left with uncertainty at the position.
Though it appeared the Chippewas had their answer at the position in Texas Tech transfer Jett Duffey, he was denied admission to Central Michigan as a previously unknown 2019 Title IX investigation was made known to the administration.
Here are three options for Central Michigan at the quarterback position heading into the 2020 season:
Graduate transfer market
Central Michigan plucked both Dormady and Duffey from the graduate transfer market, meaning McElwain isn’t opposed to securing a quarterback with immediate eligibility. Though many of the quarterbacks in the transfer portal have already signed or committed elsewhere, two intriguing options remain.
Joe Critchlow, formerly a quarterback at Brigham Young University, remains on the market and has two years of eligibility remaining. Critchlow, who is “interested” in playing for the Chippewas, has connections to defensive coordinator Robb Akey. The junior from BYU took two years off following his high school graduation to serve as a church missionary in Montreal, Canada. In his career, Critchlow has thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions in eight career games. He’s compiled 715 yards through the air and has a career passer rating of 111.5. Critchlow has the in-game experience and will likely jump at the opportunity to compete for a starting job.
Another option still available through the transfer market with immediate eligibility is former Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey. Ramsey is a more polished option than Critchlow, having played in 31 games throughout three seasons with the Hoosiers.
Ramsey has thrown for over 6,000 yards in his career to go with 42 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He would be a high-profile player in McElwain and offensive coordinator Charlie Frye’s offense. Given his skill set and the overall body of work, he will likely draw interest from higher-profile schools.
Senior David Moore
When Moore was on the field for the Chippewas last season, he demonstrated an ability to sling the football around with the best. In his final start of the season, Moore threw for 279 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 42-16 victory over Eastern Michigan. In four games as a starter, Moore crossed over 300 passing yards twice and looked to be a potential star moving forward.
He was then hit with a 365-day suspension for testing positive for an NCAA banned substance. Moore appealed the suspension and will await a verdict from the NCAA, which should become public by the time the regular season rolls around. Should Moore’s suspension be dropped, the Chippewas have their answer at quarterback. If the appeal is denied and suspension is upheld, Moore will be ineligible to compete until Oct. 7. The 2020 season is his final year of eligibility.
Evaluate the remainder of the QB room
Should Central Michigan elect against bringing in a transfer and see Moore’s appeal denied, the responsibility falls on a relatively inexperienced quarterback room for the Sept. 5 season opener against San Jose State.
McElwain would be forced to choose between redshirt sophomores George Pearson and John Keller, redshirt freshmen Daniel Richardson and true freshman Tyler Pape to take the reins of the offense for the opener.
Of the four, Pearson is the only one to complete more than just a single pass at the collegiate level. Richardson was sought out and promptly brought in by McElwain, hinting that the Miami native may be McElwain’s quarterback of the future. In his first season with the Chippewas, Richardson went 1 of 4 for 1-yard passing in three appearances.
Keller, as a JUCO transfer, and Pape will be in their first season with the Chippewas.
If this is the route the Chippewas are forced to take, the coaching staff will be tasked with speeding up the development of the young quarterbacks.
Following the opener against San Jose State, the Chippewas travel to Big Ten opponents Nebraska and Northwestern in back to back weeks, a daunting task for any young quarterback.
How McElwain handles the quarterback situation will likely play a big role in not only the outcome of the 2020 season but possibly the future of the program.
