NFL | CMU rookies adjust to playing pro football, 3B
SPORTS Central Michigan Life
Section B
FIELD HOCKEY | Sights set
| Thursday, August 18, 2011
high for 2011 season 6B SOCCER | Match ends with loss
against Mountaineers, 6B
| cm-life.com
BACK TO BUSINESS CMU looks to improve on 3-9 season under head coach Dan Enos’ leadership By John Manzo | Sports Editor
Central Michigan quarterback Ryan Radcliff and wide receiver Cody Wilson are the offensive leaders on a team looking to get back to its winning ways. Last season was tough for CMU fans, especially after just getting out of an era that contained former CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour. LeFevour was arguably the face of CMU during his career. He broke CMU records for most passing yards (12,905), rushing touchdowns (47), touchdown passes (102), and total offense (15,853) along with having the most pass attempts and completions. Radcliff’s previous season certainly didn’t compare with LeFevour’s final one. Radcliff passed for 3,358 yards and had 18 total touchdowns. LeFevour threw for 3,438 yards with 43 touchdowns total. However, it’s a new era of Chippewas’ football. Wilson said he knows that this team will work together through thick and thin. “I think regardless of what happens, I know our team, obviously last year going through some hard stuff, we stuck together the whole time and nobody stopped working any harder,” he said. “We’re going to stick together regardless of what happens.” Last season’s 3-9 record is a far cry from the previous season, which ended with 11 wins, a 29-27 victory over Michigan State and a top-25 ranking for the first time in school history. Despite a vibe of doubt, history is on Enos’ side. Success didn’t occur in season one for former head coaches at CMU, Brian Kelly and Butch Jones. It was a process to get to where they left the program. Kelly coached three seasons at CMU. Improving on a 2004 season, in which the team finished 4-7, he turned his next season into a 6-5 record. Finally, he achieved a nine-win season and qualified for a bowl game. Jones inherited a better team, but it wasn’t a bed of roses. His first season ended with an 8-6 record. He improved it in the loss column, going 8-5 the next season. Then it was the 11-win season in LeFevour’s senior season. Neither went 3-9, but can fans expect a year two like Kelly? “I feel more comfortable with our football team now,” Enos said. “I feel we’re better in a lot of areas and have a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. I think that our football team has a blue collar workman-like attitude right now and I think they have a chip on their shoulder.”
Jeff Smith/Photo Editor
A ENOS | 3B
Zeigler: Pat Miller ‘right fit’ Women’s Soccer opens regular as men’s basketball assistant season Friday against Detroit By John Manzo Sports Editor
When head coach Ernie Zeigler and Pat Miller first met, Miller was the coaching Zeigler at Northwood. Now they reunite, but this time Miller’s not coaching Zeigler, he’s coaching with him. The Central Michigan men’s basketball team hired of Pat Miller as an assistant coach after the departure of Keith Noftz. Zeigler wanted a coach that he was comfortable with, and he found him. “There’s a comfort level,” he said. “And comfort level is a huge part in any immediate camaraderie you’re able to have, particularly when you have to have a new addition to your staff. All of our staff is very much familiar with coach through my relationship with him.” Miller, a shooting instructor for multiple
playing levels, is expected to improve an offense that finished 11th in the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense with 59.4 points per game. “I think I bring a wealth of experience,” he said. “I’ve been involved with basketball Pat Miller for a long time at multiple levels.” Zeigler and Miller had a player-coach relationship at Northwood University. Miller said it’s an honor to work with someone who was once a former player of his. “It’s quite an honor,” he said. “All players don’t necessarily like their coaches, nor do they respect them. And to have one of your for-
By Ryan Zuke Staff Reporter
Central Michigan’s women’s soccer team looks to kick off the regular season Friday at the CMU Soccer Complex against Detroit Mercy. After ending in a tie with the Titans last season, CMU expects a more positive outcome for this season’s match. “I think last year’s game was very choppy and that is credit to Detroit,” head coach Neil Stafford said. “But we have to create and we have to score. If we can do that and Jeff Smith/Photo Editor
A miller | 3b
A Soccer | 2b
Senior defender Liesel Toth practices drills on Tuesday evening at the CMU soccer complex.
CMU Defensive back Lorenzo White found guilty of larceny
Player receives three months probation, not expected to miss season By John Manzo Sports Editor
Central Michigan defensive back Lorenzo White, a Florida junior, was found guilty on one count of larceny
greater than $200 on July 29 and received three months probation with $630 on court fines and charges. According to Isabella County court documents, the Lorenzo White CMU Police Department ran a “Bait Bike” operation and caught White. “Bait Bike” is an opera-
tion that allows the department to track a bike’s location with a GPS system. The bike was originally placed in a bike rack near the Education and Human Services Building on Ojibway Ct., and investigated once the GPS notified Central Police Dispatch its location had changed, police said. White was found at McDonalds, 1804 S. Mission St., when the CMU Police confronted him about the
missing bike. He said he didn’t know the owner of the bike and wasn’t granted permission to use it, police said. Head coach Dan Enos and his staff said the issue was resolved internally over the summer, according to Scott Rex assistant sports information director White is not expected to miss any games. sports@cm-life.com
John Manzo, Sports Editor | sports@cm-life.com | 989.774.5433
BIO Brief Lorenzo White w Position: Defensive back w Height: 6’0" w Weight: 180 lbs. w Class: Junior w Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.