2011 Mid-American Conference football season
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Mid-American Conference football season is the 66th season for the Mid-American Conference
(MAC). The season began on Thursday, September 1, with four games: Bowling Green
played at Idaho
, Central Michigan
hosted South Carolina State
, Temple
hosted #14 (FCS) Villanova
, and Toledo
hosted #10 (FCS) New Hampshire
. The conference's other nine teams began their respective 2011 seasons
of NCAA
Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) competition on Saturday, September 3. The first in-conference game was September 10, with Temple hosting Akron
.
West Division
as the new head coach for the Golden Flashes. Hazell was the first Ohio State assistant coach to leave for a head coaching job in six years; the last was Mark Snyder
, who was hired by Marshall in 2004.
On November 23, three days after Ball State concluded its season with a 4-8 record, Ball State athletic director Tom Collins announced the firing of Stan Parrish, saying, "As we evaluated the on-field performance and the football program in its entirety, we decided it was time for a change in direction in the leadership of the program". On December 19, Collins announced that he had hired Pete Lembo
, formerly the head coach at Elon
.
On December 5, Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill accepted the position of head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
. His announcement came less than two weeks before the Huskies were scheduled to play in the Humanitarian Bowl
. Leaving the team in the manner he did (many teammates learned about his new job via Twitter
instead of from Kill himself) dealt an emotional blow to the members of the team; star quarterback Chandler Harnish saying about Kill's departure, "I have a horrible taste in my mouth". Additionally, besides the emotional impact, USA Today
noted "The timing of the announcement further hurts the program due to Kill most likely taking the bulk of his staff to Minnesota." On December 9, linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz
was announced as the interim head coach for the Huskies bowl game, and on December 13, the university hired Wisconsin Badgers
defensive coordinator Dave Doeren
as the head coach, to begin after the Humanitarian Bowl.
On December 12, ESPN
reported that Al Golden was offered and accepted the head coaching job at the University of Miami. Prior to the 2010 season, provisions requiring bowls to pick teams with seven or more wins if available before picking six-win teams were eliminated from NCAA bylaws, and Temple was the first team go uninvited under the rule change, despite going 8–4 including a win over eventual Big East
BCS representative Connecticut
. On December 22, a rumor was quickly confirmed that Florida
offensive coordinator, and former Florida interim head coach (winter of 2009-2010
), Steve Addazio
would be the new Temple coach.
On December 16, ESPN reported that Michael Haywood, who had been named the 2010 Mid-American Conference Football Coach of the Year days before, had accepted the head football coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh. Haywood was arrested in South Bend, Indiana on December 31, 2010 on felony domestic violence charges arising from a custody dispute, and was fired by Pittsburgh hours after being released on bond the next morning. Defensive backs coach Lance Guidry will coach Miami University in the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl. On December 31, 2010, Miami University hired Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell
as its head coach.
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
(MAC). The season began on Thursday, September 1, with four games: Bowling Green
2011 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The 2011 Bowling Green Falcons football team represents Bowling Green State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons are led by third year head coach Dave Clawson and play their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium. They are a member of the East Division of the...
played at Idaho
2011 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2011 Idaho Vandals football team represents the University of Idaho in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Vandals, led by fifth-year head coach Robb Akey, are members of the Western Athletic Conference and play their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
, Central Michigan
2011 Central Michigan Chippewas football team
The 2011 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represents Central Michigan University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Chippewas are led by second year head coach Dan Enos and play their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. They are a member of the West Division of the...
hosted South Carolina State
2011 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team
The 2011 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represented South Carolina State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by tenth year head coach Oliver Pough and played their home games at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. They are a member of the Mid-Eastern...
, Temple
2011 Temple Owls football team
The 2011 Temple Owls football team represents Temple University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls are led by first year head coach Steve Addazio and play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field. They are a member of the East Division of the Mid-American...
hosted #14 (FCS) Villanova
2011 Villanova Wildcats football team
The 2011 Villanova Wildcats football team represented Villanova University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by 27th year head coach Andy Talley and played their home games at Villanova Stadium. They are a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They...
, and Toledo
2011 Toledo Rockets football team
The 2011 Toledo Rockets football team represent the University of Toledo during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets are led by second-year head coach Tim Beckman, compete in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and play their home games at the Glass...
hosted #10 (FCS) New Hampshire
2011 New Hampshire Wildcats football team
The 2011 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represents the University of New Hampshire in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats are led by 13th year head coach Sean McDonnell and play their home games at Cowell Stadium. They are a member of the Colonial Athletic...
. The conference's other nine teams began their respective 2011 seasons
2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, began on Thursday, September 1, 2011...
of NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) competition on Saturday, September 3. The first in-conference game was September 10, with Temple hosting Akron
2011 Akron Zips football team
The 2011 Akron Zips football team represents the University of Akron in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Zips are led by second year head coach Rob Ianello and play their home games at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. They are a member of the East Division of the Mid-American...
.
Preseason poll
The 2011 MAC Preseason poll results were announced at the Football Media Preview in Detroit on July 26. In the East Division, Miami was picked as champion, while Toledo was picked to win the West Division and the MAC Championship Game.East Division
- Miami - 97 points; 4 first-place votes
- Ohio - 96 points; 8 first-place votes
- Temple - 88 points; 4 first-place votes
- Kent State - 57 points
- Bowling Green - 48 points
- Buffalo - 37 points
- Akron - 25 points
West Division
- Toledo - 83 points; 8 first-place votes
- Northern Illinois - 81 points; 5 first-place votes
- Western Michigan - 76 points; 2 first-place votes
- Central Michigan - 55 points; 1 first-place vote
- Ball State - 27 points
- Eastern Michigan - 24 points
MAC Championship
Three votes were not cast for any team.- Toledo - 5 votes
- Northern Illinois - 3 votes
- Miami - 3 votes
- Ohio - 1 vote
- Western Michigan - 1 vote
Head coaches
East Division- Rob IanelloRob Ianello-External links:*...
, Akron (2nd Year) - Dave ClawsonDave ClawsonDave Clawson is the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons college football team. Before joining Bowling Green, Clawson was the short-lived offensive coordinator for the University of Tennessee Volunteers and was the coach at Fordham University and the University of Richmond where he won two Div...
, Bowling Green (3rd Year) - Jeff QuinnJeff Quinn (American football)Jeff Quinn is a college football coach who is the head coach of the University at Buffalo football team. He is the 24th head coach in University at Buffalo football history...
, Buffalo (2nd Year) - Darrell HazellDarrell HazellDarrell Hazell is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at Kent State University.A native of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Hazell attended Muskingum University starting in the fall of 1982. He played on the football team as a starter for his final three years at the school...
, Kent State (1st Year) - Don TreadwellDon TreadwellDon Treadwell is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head coach at Miami University...
, Miami (1st Year) - Frank SolichFrank SolichFrank Solich is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Ohio University, a position he has held since the 2005 season...
, Ohio (7th Year) - Steve AddazioSteve AddazioSteve Addazio is an American college football coach and former player, and is head coach of the Temple Owls football team that represents Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Temple (1st Year)
West Division
- Pete LemboPete Lembo-External links:*...
, Ball State (1st Year) - Dan EnosDan EnosDan Enos is the current head coach of the Central Michigan Chippewas football team. Enos previously served as running backs coach for the Michigan State Spartans, where he played quarterback 1987-1990.- Playing career :...
, Central Michigan (2nd Year) - Ron EnglishRon English (American football)-External links:**...
, Eastern Michigan (3rd Year) - Dave DoerenDave Doeren-External links:*...
, Northern Illinois (1st Year) - Tim BeckmanTim Beckman-External links:...
, Toledo (3rd Year) - Bill CubitBill Cubit-External links:*...
Western Michigan (7th Year)
Pre-season coaching changes
On November 21, the day after Kent State's seventh loss of the season assured them of a losing record, Doug Martin announced that he would resign at the end of the season. On December 20, Kent State athletic director Joel Nielsen introduced former Ohio State receivers coach Darrell HazellDarrell Hazell
Darrell Hazell is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at Kent State University.A native of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Hazell attended Muskingum University starting in the fall of 1982. He played on the football team as a starter for his final three years at the school...
as the new head coach for the Golden Flashes. Hazell was the first Ohio State assistant coach to leave for a head coaching job in six years; the last was Mark Snyder
Mark Snyder
Mark Snyder is the former head coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team in Huntington, West Virginia. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of South Florida...
, who was hired by Marshall in 2004.
On November 23, three days after Ball State concluded its season with a 4-8 record, Ball State athletic director Tom Collins announced the firing of Stan Parrish, saying, "As we evaluated the on-field performance and the football program in its entirety, we decided it was time for a change in direction in the leadership of the program". On December 19, Collins announced that he had hired Pete Lembo
Pete Lembo
-External links:*...
, formerly the head coach at Elon
Elon
In the Bible, Elon was a Judge of Israel.He followed Ibzan and was succeeded by Abdon. It is said that he was from the Tribe of Zebulun, led Israel for ten years, and was buried in Ajalon in Zebulon .- See also :*Biblical judges*Book of Judges...
.
On December 5, Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill accepted the position of head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. His announcement came less than two weeks before the Huskies were scheduled to play in the Humanitarian Bowl
2010 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2010 Humanitarian Bowl was the fourteenth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho, on the campus of Boise State University. The game started at 3:30 pm MST on Saturday, December 18, 2010 and was telecast on ESPN...
. Leaving the team in the manner he did (many teammates learned about his new job via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
instead of from Kill himself) dealt an emotional blow to the members of the team; star quarterback Chandler Harnish saying about Kill's departure, "I have a horrible taste in my mouth". Additionally, besides the emotional impact, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
noted "The timing of the announcement further hurts the program due to Kill most likely taking the bulk of his staff to Minnesota." On December 9, linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz
Tom Matukewicz
-External links:*...
was announced as the interim head coach for the Huskies bowl game, and on December 13, the university hired Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
defensive coordinator Dave Doeren
Dave Doeren
-External links:*...
as the head coach, to begin after the Humanitarian Bowl.
On December 12, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
reported that Al Golden was offered and accepted the head coaching job at the University of Miami. Prior to the 2010 season, provisions requiring bowls to pick teams with seven or more wins if available before picking six-win teams were eliminated from NCAA bylaws, and Temple was the first team go uninvited under the rule change, despite going 8–4 including a win over eventual Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
BCS representative Connecticut
2010 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2010 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
. On December 22, a rumor was quickly confirmed that Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
offensive coordinator, and former Florida interim head coach (winter of 2009-2010
2009 Florida Gators football team
The 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season...
), Steve Addazio
Steve Addazio
Steve Addazio is an American college football coach and former player, and is head coach of the Temple Owls football team that represents Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
would be the new Temple coach.
On December 16, ESPN reported that Michael Haywood, who had been named the 2010 Mid-American Conference Football Coach of the Year days before, had accepted the head football coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh. Haywood was arrested in South Bend, Indiana on December 31, 2010 on felony domestic violence charges arising from a custody dispute, and was fired by Pittsburgh hours after being released on bond the next morning. Defensive backs coach Lance Guidry will coach Miami University in the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl. On December 31, 2010, Miami University hired Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell
Don Treadwell
Don Treadwell is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head coach at Miami University...
as its head coach.