The Wiz of Odds

Central Michigan

John Bonamego is the new coach at Central Michigan. Bonamego takes over for Dan Enos, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Arkansas. The nonconference schedule Bonamego will face is daunting — games against Oklahoma State, Syracuse and Michigan State. But his biggest challenge is cancer. The university announced in June that Bonamego has cancer in his left tonsil but plans to continue to work while undergoing treatment.

Central Michigan

Dan Enos enters his fifth season as Central Michigan's coach with a record of 19-30. For a team that previously enjoyed success under Brian Kelly (Notre Dame) and Butch Jones (Tennessee), that's not good enough. Enos needs to win this fall and get the Chippewas into a bowl game, something he has done only once in his tenure.

Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Central Michigan

Central Michigan has been a coaching hotbed in recent years. First there was Brian Kelly, who left for Cincinnati and later Notre Dame. He was followed by Butch Jones, who also left for Cincinnati (to replace Kelly) and is now at Tennessee. Jeff Quinn actually coached the team for one game — a victory in the Motor City Bowl — and is now the coach at Buffalo.

Dan Enos arrived in 2010 and won a combined six games in two seasons. He was on the hotseat entering last season and it didn't look good when the Chippewas started 2-5. But the team won five of its last six, including a victory over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Bowl. The strong finish bought Enos time, but he'll need to keep the momentum going.

Poster designed by Old Hat Creative. Thanks to Robert.

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Central Michigan

Remember when Central Michigan was a force in the Mid-American Conference? Brian Kelly took over the program in 2004 and by the time he left in 2006, the Chippewas had won a MAC title. Butch Jones replaced Kelly and the team won 27 of 40 games, including 20 of 23 in league play. But Jones was tabbed to replace Kelly at Cincinnati at the end of the 2009 regular season and Central Michigan hasn't been the same since. Dan Enos, the current coach, has won only six games in two seasons. Yes, they're getting restless in Mount Pleasant.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Rob.

Central Michigan

After playing in four consecutive bowl games, Central Michigan slumped to a 3-9 record in 2010. Getting back to the postseason in 2011 will be a challenge. The Chippewas' schedule includes seven road games, including trips to Kentucky and Michigan State.

Thanks to Scott. Click the image to enlarge.

Central Michigan Lost $188,903 on Trip to GMAC Bowl

Central Michigan won a thrilling 44-41 victory over Troy in the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl, but the Chippewas returned from Mobile without a dime in their pocket. The team lost of $188,903 on the trip, and officials are defending the expenditure, saying the true value of the trip could not be measured.

"Bowl games are not profit. It's the extended value that helps grow a university," athletics director Dave Heeke said.

It's the second year in a row a team from the Mid-American Conference has run up a big bill traveling to Mobile. Ball State reported a loss of $142,398 last year.