All-MAC teams announced--Sheehan Robbed, Ignorance Reigns

The All-MAC teams were announced yesterday, and the Falcons fared pretty well, although I have one pretty major quibble with what was decided.

To no one's surprise, LeFevour won the Leadership Award (MVP) as well as offensive player of the year, both well deserved awards. I wondered if they wouldn't split the two of them (one for LeFevour and one for Barnes), but even in my orangest heart I can't quibble with these choices. 

Beyond that, four Falcons were honored.

• Freddie did make first team All-MAC, which he deserved.
  
• Jimmy Sheidler, second team at TE, which surprised me, though I don't know why.  He's a good player.
• Shane Steffy on the third team line, also well deserved.

Now, there's one more.  Tyler Sheehan was third-team All-MAC....behind Tim Hiller of WMU.

And that, my friends, is total and complete BS...unencumbered by the thought process.

Let's look at some facts.

• Yards/game:  Sheehan 1st in MAC, Hiller 2nd
• Completion %:  Sheehan 64%, Hiller 60%
• TD Passes:  Sheehan 23, Hiller 23
• Interceptions:  Sheehan 6, Hiller 12
• Passing Efficiency:  Sheehan 134, Hiller 122 (Hiller is (9TH in the MAC)
  Yards per attempt:  Sheehan 6.9, Hiller 6.4
• Yards per completion:  Sheehan 10.8, Hiller10.5
• Leadership:  Sheehan's team bowl-bound, Hiller's team tanked on high expectations

These numbers tell the story. 

Sheehan leads Hiller on every measure except one, and that one is a tie.  There is only one reason for Hiller to be ranked ahead of Sheehan, and that's because whatever numb-nuts vote on this award decided before the season that Hiller was the better QB and didn't both to check and see who had the better season, because it isn't even close.

The choice of Hiller as second team ALL-MAC is completely wrong and just ridiculous.  Tyler Sheehan was the second best QB in the MAC this year....there can be no doubt about it, and a voter with even a passing amount of thought would have seen it that way.

I know these awards don't mean anything.  But, it just seems to me that the voters--out of respect for the game--would show a little more respect for the players who are working to earn these honors.  


2009 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

Coach of the Year: Al Golden, Temple

Offensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Robinson, Temple

Special Teams Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan

Freshman of the Year: Bernard Pierce, Temple



All-MAC First Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan #^~

Center - Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois %

Offensive Lineman - Allen Ollenburger, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois %

Offensive Lineman - Darius Morris, Temple

Offensive Lineman - Colin Madison, Temple

Tight End - Jesse Rack, Buffalo

Wide Receiver - Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @

Wide Receiver - Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo @&

Wide Receiver - Stephen Williams, Toledo #!

Running Back - Bernard Pierce, Temple

Running Back - Chad Spann, Northern Illinois

Placekicker - Matt Weller, Ohio



All-MAC First Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Lee Renfro, Ohio

Outside Linebacker - Elijah Joseph, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Nick Bellore, Central Michigan @

Inside Linebacker - Cobrani Mixon, Kent State

Down Lineman - Andre Neblett, Temple #!

Down Lineman - Adrian Robinson, Temple

Down Lineman - Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

Down Lineman - Frank Zombo, Central Michigan @

Defensive Back - Barry Church, Toledo @^~

Defensive Back - Davonte Shannon, Buffalo @^

Defensive Back - Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple

Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State #

Punter - Matt Rinehart, Kent State



All-MAC First Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - Chris Garrett, Ohio

Punt Return Specialist - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @^

All-MAC Second Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Tim Hiller, Western Michigan %

Center - Colin Miller, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Peter Bittner, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman - Brandon Brooks, Miami

Offensive Lineman - Anthony Parker, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Devin Tyler, Temple

Tight End - Jimmy Scheidler, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver - Eric Page, Toledo

Wide Receiver - Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan @!~

Wide Receiver - Taylor Price, Ohio

Wide Receiver - LaVon Brazill, Ohio

Running Back - Brandon West, Western Michigan %!

Running Back - MiQuale Lewis, Ball State @

Placekicker - Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois #



All-MAC Second Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan @

Outside Linebacker - Robert Eddins, Ball State

Inside Linebacker - Brian Wagner, Akron

Inside Linebacker - Noah Keller, Ohio #

Down Lineman - Brandon Crawford, Ball State #&

Down Lineman - Jake Coffman, Northern Illinois

Down Lineman - Monte Simmons, Kent State

Down Lineman - Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois

Defensive Back - Mike Newton, Buffalo #

Defensive Back - Thad Turner, Ohio

Defensive Back - Josh Gordy, Central Michigan

Defensive Back - Miguel Graham, Akron

Punter - Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan



All-MAC Second Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - James Nixon, Temple

Punt Return Specialist - LaVon Brazill, Ohio

All-MAC Third Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green

Center - John Palumbo, Temple

Offensive Lineman - Joe Flading, Ohio

Offensive Lineman - Shane Steffy, Bowling Green

Offensive Lineman - Chris Rodgers, Ohio

Offensive Lineman - Corey Woods, Akron

Tight End - Steve Maneri, Temple

Wide Receiver - Robert Arnheim, Western Michigan

Wide Receiver - Juan Nunez, Western Michigan %

Wide Receiver - Armand Robinson, Miami

Wide Receiver - Brett Hamlin, Buffalo

Running Back - DaJuane Collins, Toledo %

Running Back - Me'co Brown, Northern Illinois

Placekicker - Alex Steigerwald, Toledo



All-MAC Third Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Andre Hatchett, Eastern Michigan

Outside Linebacker - Amara Kamara, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Alex Joseph, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Archie Donald, Toledo

Down Lineman - Almondo Sewell, Akron %!

Down Lineman - Ernie Hodge, Ohio

Down Lineman - Larry Knight, Central Michigan

Down Lineman - Sean Murnane, Central Michigan %

Defensive Back - Gerald Moore, Ohio

Defensive Back - Dominique Harris, Temple

Defensive Back - Anthony Kokal, Miami

Defensive Back - Jalil Carter, Akron

Punter - Ben Armer, Western Michigan



All-MAC Third Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - Dashan Miller, Akron

Punt Return Specialist - Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois



@ 2008 First team All-MAC

# 2008 Second team All-MAC

% 2008 Third team All-MAC

^ 2007 First team All-MAC

! 2007 Second team All-MAC

& 2007 Third team All-MAC

~ 2006 First team All-MAC

MAC Blogger Roundtable....

The MAC Blogger roundtable is back this week, as Fire Up Chips took a break from his preparations for the MAC Championship Game to throw some suggestions into the cage.

I. As a Patriots fan since the mid 90's I have learned that once you start winning, everybody hates you. So go ahead and vent. Give me the top 3 things that bothers you about CMU. Something they did to your team, the headlines, or the Dan LeFevour love. If you don't feel comfortable with that, than summarize what the Dan LeFevour era at CMU has meant to the MAC Conference.

I actually don't hate CMU at all.  Or at least I didn't until I found out you root for the Patriots.  Now, everything is different.

OK, not really.

My lone scarring vision of a Chippewa is the sight of a very fat punter waddling down the Doyt Perry Field grass in 1994, ripping my heart from my chest with every step.  I respect the CMU program, especially because they have been able to sustain their momentum through a coaching change, which has caused, uh, problems in the MAC.

Oh, and I thought the billboard outside Comerica Park was a joke.  Think, actually.

II. Akron just gave J.D Brookhart his marching orders. Do you think this move is justified, or would you agree with me that winning in the MAC is all about luck and timing...getting that one elite QB the BCS overlooks and riding that Pony as long as you can.

This is a really good question.  I talk about this with people all the time.  Sustaining your success in the MAC appears to be something no one can do, which is why it is smart for coaches to get up and go when the chance presents itself.  I have no satisfactory reason why.  I suspect that high school players don't want to go to the MAC and sit on the bench, so they look for places where they can play right away, and that is the up and coming teams.

I don't know if the Brookhart firing was justified, but as with the Brandon firing, there was more than just losing involved.  The issues with the program this year suggest that it was out of control.

III. So its the Fightin' Dan LeFevour's versus the Banged Up Bobcats. Do you think CMU will win this, or do you think there is a chance that CMU get's "Buffaloed" like Ball State did last year.

No, I don't.  I like CMU a lot.

IV. MAC Player of the Year. Dan LeFevour or Freddie Barnes?

This might surprise you, but I do think it is LeFevour.  He led his team to an undefeated season and deserves the honor.  In most years, Barnes would have been a shoo-in and certainly is deserving  if he does win it.

V. What thing about the 2009 MAC season disapointed you the most?

Not too much falls in this category for me.   Usually, there is a crazy race down the stretch involving tie-breakers, but that didn't happen this season.

VI. Which teams will be picked to with the whole thing in 2010?

No idea at all.  I believe Bowling Green will have to work to get to 7-5 again as it replaces offensive playmakers and most of its defensive starters.

CBSSports Blogpoll is Final and on the AIR

Savannah State Preview

The Falcons take the floor for the third time in a week when they host the Savannah State Tigers on Thursday night at Anderson Arena.  Savannah plays as a D1 independent, which is a particularly tough way to go.

BG did play them last season in Georgia, and it probably goes down as one of the more disappointing games of the season, at least to Brian Moten, who said this:

"I'll probably never be over that," BG's senior guard said. "Hopefully something good happens like I get married and then I'll get over it."

What happened?  Well, BG had a 35-14 lead at the break and lost the game by 3 points.  We gave up 43 points in the second half and lost the game, while failing to hit too many shots on our own.   Savannah State finished the year at 15-14.

This year, the Tigers are 4-3.  Their losses are to Georgetown, North Florida, and Central Connecticut State, and while their wins are over Central Connecticut State (yes, they have played twice), Webber, Western Illinois and Virginia-Wise.

Everything is relative here, the Western Illinois win might be decent and the the North Florida loss probably isn't too bad.  There are 2 non D-1 wins on the docket right now.

But I don't know how BG can look past anyone right now.

I think we will see a pretty similar style to ours.  Even against that schedule, they are average 53 points per game, which is pretty low.  Really low, actually.  To their credit, they also allow 53 points per game, which is also really low.

Even on a tempo-neutral basis, there points per possession is only .89 which is lower than BG's (.97).  They play a VERY down-tempo game, with 60 possessions per game.....even BG is at 66 so far.

In other words, we should be able to establish our defensive foundation against these guys.

They do not shoot the 3 especially well, but have been very effective on the offensive boards.  They commit turnovers on about 25% of their possessions, (BG is 19%), but they also force turnovers on 27.9% of their opponent's possessions, which is really very solid and a big part of their success.

They do give up shots, so if our veteran point guard and teammates can take care of the ball, and we can get shots, we should be able to score some points.  Then, this is an opportunity for our defense to really stop somebody, because, based on their performance, these guys are ready to be stopped.  They appear to crash the offensive boards, so we need to watch our fundamentals there and then there could be some baskets in transition the other way.

Tracy Rankins is their best scorer (12 ppg) and Arnold Louis (or Louis Arnold, not sure) is the best rebounder with a little over 8 per game (he is only 6'7").

If we're a work in progress, this is an opportunity to get better and get a victory.

Bowl Update----April in Paris, December in Boise

Ordinarily, tracking this whole bowl thing would be onerous, but in this case, our friends at NIU's Huskie Wire are doing a great job tracking their team, and our team is a mirror image of theirs.  Today's news update is that the Humanitarian Bowl dude wants Idaho there (for obvious reasons) and doesn't like the idea of having an Idaho-NIU rematch for their game.  Which, they believe, means it could be NIU in the EagleBank bowl and BG in Boise.

Gallows humor:  might be the only way we ever win a game in Boise.

And, it would forestall a BG-Marshall rematch in the Eagle Bank Bowl.

Anyway, FWIW.

News from the Nation....

On a tragic note, Lyndsey Rice of Dublin was killed in an auto accident with her boyfriend in the Columbus area over the week.  She was 15, and the sister of Jason Rice, a Falcon football player.  Condolences to both families on this tragic loss.

The Sentinel reports that Falcon D-Lineman Kevin Alvarado was arrested yesterday and charged with assault for an incident that occurred in November.  All usual cautions to remember that things are not always what they first seem to be.

Finally, on a bizarre note, apparently the Falcon sideline crew committed a scorekeeping error at Saturday's Bowling Green-UWM game.  The error credited UWM with 2 extra points.  Courtesy the BG News Sports blog:

Since the mistake was not caught before the next dead ball timeout, the points remained on the scoreboard and eventually part of the final score.

Obviously, since the game went into overtime, you would have to think that this was a significant error.  Of course, it isn't that clear, since the game would have been played differently with a different score and could easily have ended differently.  On the other hand, it wasn't a 20-point game, either.

The BG News excerpts Greg Christopher's statement that says the error was "unfortunate."  I am hoping that the full statement contains an apology to the people who paid to see a game that was not what it appeared to be.

Falcons Beat Panthers

The Falcon men's basketball team picked up their first D-1 win of the season as they held off Florida International to win at Anderson Arena.  Early in the second half the Falcons were holding a 17 point lead and looking like they were going to do what every other team has done to FIU this year, which is deliver a double digit defeat.

FIU went on an 8-minute, 23-11 run to get the game back with 5 with about 9 left, and from there on in it was pretty tight.  The game never got to within one score until inside a minute (a 3 point lead) and BG's Scott Thomas hit a rare BG free throw to make it 4 points and at that point, the Falcons had salted away the victory.

NCAA Basketball Stats

The key story for the game was Dee Brown.  I liked Dee Brown last year and thought he showed potential in limited playing time.  He's a barrel-chested guy and doesn't always look like today's ideal college basketball player (long and lean), but he seemed to have some guys and be a heady basketball player and Coach kept saying he was "old school," which I think I understand. 

Anyway, Brown had a fantastic, game-saving night against FIU, with 20 precious points.  When FIU was on their run, he was the only guy getting anything going offensively for the Falcons, and is probably responsible for keeping the run from being even more severe.

Apparently, he told the media after the game that Isiah Thomas is his hero, and Coach Orr suggested that they should put a picture of Thomas in his locker because Brown "sure played" with Thomas on the floor.

FIU is a small team, and BG did dominate the rebounding game, which FIU has done OK at, despite their size.

NCAA Basketball Stats

It is nice for our guys to win for their confidence and for a little reward for their hard work.  To no one's surprise, there is more work to be done.

BG was fine defending in a zone, but tried to switch to a man and that's when FIU went on its run.  On the other end of the floor, BG had trouble with FIU's press and with their zone defense.  There were 15 turnovers again, and some silly fouls down the stretch that made things more difficult than they needed to be.

Worse of all, perhaps, was the free throw shooting.  BG did a great job getting to the line, with 27 free throws against 13 for FIU.  Sadly, the Falcons were only barely above 50%, and turned that 14 FT advantage into only 5 actual points.  Worse, as Coach Orr said after the game, it seems to be "catching," as players who have formerly shot FTs well have now come down to the level of those who haven't.

Coach Orr said they are trying various things to turn this around, but in the meantime, it makes it harder to win games.

BG did block 7 shots.

Again, though, a victory is a good thing for this team after some tough assignments.  I continue to think we have the ability to be very competitive this season if we can continue to improve, particularly over the next month.