Without question the Central Michigan football team is disappointed with not having a chance to play for the Mid-American Conference championship next week.
On the same note, the team has to be proud of what it has accomplished in 2021, and how it can build it into something special.
While the Chippewas tied with Northern Illinois at the top of the MAC West division standings, the Huskies won the tiebreaker with a head-to-head record after beating CMU back on October 23. Yes, a botched snap on a potential game-winning field goal is what will keep the Chips out of the title game.
But there's so much more to be found in the 2021 season than a disappointing loss.
The obvious one, redshirt freshman running back Lew Nichols. In his third season with the program, Nichols had the opportunity to be the cowbell this season after lead runner Kobe Lewis was injured before the start of the season. And all Nichols did was lead the nation in rushing with 1,710 yards with 15 touchdowns. Is it possible Nichols wins MAC Freshman of the Year for the second straight season? (Pandemic season in 2020 did not count against eligibility).
Nichols is 180 yards away from passing Brian Pruitt for the greatest rushing season in CMU history. The Chippewas currently await their bowl game announcement, and he will surely be a big part of the game plan no matter what scenario they face.
Next on the list? A 9-win season.
The Chippewas haven't won 9 games in a single season since 2009, when the team went 12-2 overall. That squad featured multiple NFL players and All-MAC talent, including quarterback Dan LeFevour's last season as a Chippewa. Winning 9 games would go a long way to building this team back up to where it wants to be, a mainstay near the top of the conference for years to come.
In order to win that ninth game, the Chippewas will have to win their bowl game, something they haven't done since 2012. Bowl games are crucial for collegiate programs. It secures you an extra 15 practices with your team, more chances to build comradery and more opportunity to showcase for recruits. There have been a couple of rumors floating around for CMU and their bowl-game fate in 2021, including the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit and the Myrtle Beach Bowl in South Carolina.
CMU completed the Michigan MAC Trophy run this past Friday by beating Eastern Michigan, and winning the trophy for the first time since 2017. To others outside of the state, this doesn't mean much. But to fans of the program, beating your in-state rivals, especially Western Michigan, means a ton.
What else is there to love about 2021? Health and prosperity.
The Chippewas, for the most part, had a very healthy season in 2021. Offensive lineman Danny Motowski sadly saw his career come to an end with back injuries, but he remained a part of the team and helped the offensive line enjoy one of its best seasons in program history. Tackles Bernhard Raimann and Luke Goedeke both enjoyed incredible seasons, and although they are not seniors they are expected to enter the NFL draft and go pro next season. Raimann has the potential to be a first-round pick at the left tackle position.
The fact is the Chippewas have had a special season in 2021 and have a chance to make it great next month with a bowl victory. Many questions circled the Jim McElwain hire about how long he will stick around if he did good things with the program. McElwain has said he feels comfortable where he is and appears in a position to continue taking CMU to the next level.
There's a ton to love about this season and still so much more for the Chippewas to accomplish. Yes, this is the best team in the MAC right now. Sometimes the bounces don't go your way, but it's what you do on the other side the shows who you really are.
CMU should hear within the next week who and where they will play in a bowl game.
