# 2009 Mid-American Conference football season

The 2009 Mid-American Conference football season is an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 7, 2010. The Mid-American Conference consists of twelve full-time members, with Temple University holding an affiliate membership for football.

## Previous season

Ball State entered the 2008 MAC Championship Game undefeated and as the champion of the West Division. This was also their first ever appearance in the game. Ranked #12 in the country, they faced East Division champion Buffalo in the annual contest held at Ford Field. That was Buffalo's first appearance as well. The Bulls upset Ball State and took the MAC Championship, giving Ball State their first loss of the season.
After the championship game ended, four MAC football head coaches either resigned or were fired from their teams. This began with Ball State's coach Brady Hoke, who resigned to pursue a head coaching job at San Diego State University. He was replaced by Stan Parrish for the 2009 season. Parrish was promoted internally after serving as Ball State's assistant football coach for four seasons. The only other head coaching change in the West Division was in Eastern Michigan where Jeff Genyk, head coach for the past five years, was fired after a combined 15–42 record. He was replaced by Ron English, who served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for five years as well as the University of Louisville during the 2008 season.
In the East Division, two schools also saw head coaching changes. Miami University's head coach Shane Montgomery resigned after a 2–10 record in the 2008 season. His best season at Miami was in 2005 when he led the team to a 7–4 overall record and a tie for the MAC East title. However, in that season Akron won the tiebreaker to play in the MAC Championship Game against West champion Northern Illinois. Montgomery was replaced by Mike Haywood who served four years as Notre Dame University's offensive coordinator. At Bowling Green, six-year head coach Gregg Brandon was fired. However, Brandon did find another job in college football when he was named the new University of Virginia offensive coordinator. He was replaced at Bowling Green by Dave Clawson, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The 2009 MAC Preseason Poll was announced at the Football Media Preview in Detroit on July 31. In the East Division, Buffalo was selected to repeat as divisional champions, and Central Michigan selected to top the West. Also, Central Michigan received 18 votes to win the MAC Championship Game.

#### West Division

* Central Michigan – 154 points
* Western Michigan – 126 points
* Northern Illinois – 103 points
* Toledo – 71 points
* Ball State – 58 points
* Eastern Michigan – 34 points

#### East Division

* Buffalo – 155 points
* Temple – 144 points
* Akron – 128 points
* Ohio – 116 points
* Bowling Green – 101 points
* Kent State – 51 points
* Miami – 33 points

#### MAC Championship

* Central Michigan – 18 votes
* Western Michigan – 4 votes
* Buffalo – 2 votes
* Temple – 2 votes

### Award watch lists

| Award | School | Player |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Temple | Andre Neblett |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Toledo | Barry Church |
| Dave Rimington Trophy | Bowling Green | Ben Bojicic |
| Dave Rimington Trophy | Central Michigan | Colin Miller |
| Dave Rimington Trophy | Northern Illinois | Eddie Adamski |
| Lombardi Award | Central Michigan | Nick Bellore |
| Lombardi Award | Central Michigan | Frank Zombo |
| Lombardi Award | Western Michigan | Austin Pritchard |
| Manning Award | Bowling Green | Tyler Sheehan |
| Manning Award | Central Michigan | Dan LeFevour |
| Manning Award | Western Michigan | Tim Hiller |
| Maxwell Award | Central Michigan | Dan LeFevour |
| Lou Groza Award | Northern Illinois | Mike Salerno |
| Lou Groza Award | Toledo | Alex Steigerwald |
| Outland Trophy | Temple | Andre Neblett |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Buffalo | Naaman Roosevelt |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Central Michigan | Antonio Brown |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Eastern Michigan | Jacory Stone |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Ohio | Taylor Price |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Toledo | Stephen Williams |
| Walter Camp Award | Ball State | MiQuale Lewis |
| Walter Camp Award | Western Michigan | Tim Hiller |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Toledo | Barry Church |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Central Michigan | Frank Zombo |
| Ray Guy Award | Western Michigan | Ben Armer |
| Doak Walker Award | Ball State | MiQuale Lewis |
| Doak Walker Award | Buffalo | James Starks |
| Doak Walker Award | Kent State | Eugene Jarvis |
| Doak Walker Award | Toledo | DeJuane Collins |
| Doak Walker Award | Western Michigan | Brandon West |
| Davey O'Brien Award | Central Michigan | Dan LeFevour |
| Davey O'Brien Award | Western Michigan | Tim Hiller |

## Regular season

* Index to colors and formatting
* Mid-American Conference member won
* Mid-American Conference member lost
* Mid-American Conference teams in bold

### Week one

Opening weekend for the Mid-American Conference consisted of six home games and six away games. Also, Miami faced Kentucky in a battle contested at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bowling Green, Kent State, and Buffalo were the only teams to win the opening weekend. Buffalo was also the only team to win an away game as their season opener.
| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 7 p.m. | Troy | Bowling Green | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | | W 31–14 | 14,514 |
| September 3 | 7 p.m. | Coastal Carolina | Kent State | Dix Stadium • Kent, OH | | W 18–0 | 16,481 |
| September 3 | 7 p.m. | Villanova | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | | L 24–27 | 27,759 |
| September 3 | 7:30 p.m. | North Texas | Ball State | Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN | ESPNU | L 10–20 | 16,054 |
| September 5 | 12 p.m. | Toledo | Purdue | Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN | Big Ten Network | L 31–51 | 47,551 |
| September 5 | 12 p.m. | Akron | Penn State | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA | Big Ten Network | L 7–31 | 104,968 |
| September 5 | 12 p.m. | Kentucky | Miami | Paul Brown Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | ESPNU | L 0–42 | 41,037 |
| September 5 | 3:30 p.m. | Western Michigan | Michigan | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | ABC/ESPN2 | L 7–31 | 109,019 |
| September 5 | 7 p.m. | Army | Eastern Michigan | Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI | | L 14–27 | 14,499 |
| September 5 | 7 p.m. | Northern Illinois | Wisconsin | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | Big Ten Network | L 20–28 | 80,532 |
| September 5 | 7 p.m. | Connecticut | Ohio | Peden Stadium • Athens, OH | ESPN360 | L 16–23 | 24,617 |
| September 5 | 9 p.m. | Central Michigan | Arizona | Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ | | L 6–19 | 51,683 |
| September 5 | 9 p.m. | Buffalo | UTEP | Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX | | W 23–17 | 35,213 |

### Week two

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 11 | 9 p.m. | Colorado | Toledo | Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH | ESPN | W 54–38 | 20,082 |
| September 12 | 12 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Buffalo | UB Stadium • Amherst, NY | ESPN Plus | L 27–57 | 21,870 |
| September 12 | 12 p.m. | Western Michigan | Indiana | Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN | Big Ten Network | L 19–23 | 35,162 |
| September 12 | 12 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Northwestern | Ryan Field • Evanston, IL | Big Ten Network | L 24–27 | 19,239 |
| September 12 | 12 p.m. | Central Michigan | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPN/ESPN2 | W 29–27 | 76,221 |
| September 12 | 2 p.m. | Morgan State | Akron | InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, OH | | W 41–0 | 27,881 |
| September 12 | 2 p.m. | Kent State | Boston College | Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA | ESPN360 | L 7–34 | 25,165 |
| September 12 | 7 p.m. | Bowling Green | Missouri | Faurot Field • Columbia, MO | | L 20–27 | 65,401 |
| September 12 | 7 p.m. | Ohio | North Texas | Fouts Field • Denton, TX | | W 31–30$^{2OT}$ | 16,674 |
| September 12 | 7 p.m. | New Hampshire | Ball State | Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN | | L 16–23 | 11,884 |
| September 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Western Illinois | Northern Illinois | Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL | | W 41–7 | 21,427 |
| September 12 | 8 p.m. | Miami | #12 Boise State | Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID | | L 0–48 | 32,228 |

### Week three

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 19 | 12 p.m. | Northern Illinois | Purdue | Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN | Big Ten Network | W 28–21 | 53,240 |
| September 19 | 12 p.m. | Temple | Penn State | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA | Big Ten Network | L 6–31 | 105,514 |
| September 19 | 12 p.m. | Ball State | Army | Michie Stadium • West Point, NY | | L 17–24 | 25,646 |
| September 19 | 12 p.m. | Ohio State | Toledo | Cleveland Browns Stadium • Cleveland, OH | ESPN Plus | L 0–38 | 71,727 |
| September 19 | 12 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Michigan | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | Big Ten Network | L 17–45 | 107,903 |
| September 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Alcorn State | Central Michigan | Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI | | W 48–0 | 18,323 |
| September 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Indiana | Akron | InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, OH | ESPNU | L 38–21 | 18,340 |
| September 19 | 7 p.m. | Iowa State | Kent State | Dix Stadium • Kent, OH | ESPN360 | L 34–14 | 15,808 |
| September 19 | 7 p.m. | Cal Poly | Ohio | Peden Stadium • Athens, OH | | W 28–10 | 16,018 |
| September 19 | 7 p.m. | Bowling Green | Marshall | Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV | | L 17–10 | 23,029 |
| September 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Buffalo | Central Florida | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | | L 23–17 | 33,689 |

### Week four

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Idaho | Northern Illinois | Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL | CSN Chicago | L 34–31 | 16,320 |
| September 26 | 7 p.m. | Hofstra | Western Michigan | Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI | College Sports Direct | W 24–10 | 16,116 |
| September 26 | 7 p.m. | Boise State | Bowling Green | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | KTVB, ESPN360 | L 49–14 | 22,396 |
| September 26 | 7 p.m. | Toledo | Florida International | FIU Stadium • Miami, FL | College Sports Direct | W 41–31 | 11,047 |
| September 26 | 7 p.m. | Ohio | Tennessee | Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN | ESPN360 | L 34–23 | 95,535 |
| September 26 | 7 p.m. | Ball State | Auburn | Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL | Fox Sports Net | L 54–30 | 83,118 |

### Week five

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 3 | 1 p.m. | Cincinnati | Miami | Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH | | L 37–13 | 23,493 |
| October 3 | 7 p.m. | Kent State | Baylor | Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX | Fox Sports Net | L 31–15 | 27,047 |

### Week six

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 10 | 12 p.m. | Miami | Northwestern | Ryan Field • Evanston, IL | ESPN | L 6–16 | 23,085 |
| October 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Gardner-Webb | Buffalo | UB Stadium • Amherst, NY | | W 40–3 | 15,812 |

### Week seven

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 17 | 1 p.m. | Army | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | | W 27–13 | 14,275 |

### Week eight

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Akron | Syracuse | Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY | | L 28–14 | 36,991 |

### Week nine

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Temple | Navy | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD | CBS College Sports | W 27–24 | 28,305 |
| October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Central Michigan | Boston College | Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA | ESPNU | L 31–10 | 34,128 |
| October 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Arkansas | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR | ESPNU | L 63–27 | 62,501 |

### Week ten

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| November 7 | 12 p.m. | Western Michigan | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | Big Ten Network | L 49–14 | 73,910 |

### Players of the Week
#### East Division

| Week | Offensive | Offensive | Defensive | Defensive | Special teams | Special teams |
| Week | Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
| 1 | Freddie Barnes | Bowling Green | Cobrani Mixon | Kent State | Matt Weller | Ohio |
| 2 | Zach Maynard | Buffalo | Brian Wagner | Akron | Jerry Phillips | Bowling Green |
| 3 | Tyler Sheehan | Bowling Green | Brian Lainhart | Kent State | Brandon McManus | Temple |
| 4 | Theo Scott | Ohio | Elijah Joseph | Temple | Freddy Cortez | Kent State |
| 5 | Bernard Pierce | Temple | Dak Notestine | Ohio | Jerry Phillips | Bowling Green |
| 6 | Freddie Barnes | Bowling Green | Jaiquawn Jarret | Temple | Melvin Payne | Ohio |
| 7 | Tyler Sheehan | Bowling Green | Mike Newton | Buffalo | Chad Clemens | Ohio |
| 8 | Bernard Pierce | Temple | Kevin Hogan | Kent State | Dashan Miller | Akron |
| 9 | Bernard Pierce | Temple | Monte Simmons | Kent State | Matt Weller | Ohio |
| 10 | Tyler Sheehan | Bowling Green | Miguel Graham | Akron | Brandon McManus | Temple |
| 11 | Naaman Roosevelt | Buffalo | Jerett Sanderson | Bowling Green | Matt Weller | Ohio |

#### West Division

| Week | Offensive | Offensive | Defensive | Defensive | Special teams | Special teams |
| Week | Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
| 1 | Aaron Opelt | Toledo | Cory Hanson | Northern Illinois | Mike Salerno | Northern Illinois |
| 2 | Aaron Opelt | Toledo | Austin Pritchard | Western Michigan | Andrew Aguila | Central Michigan |
| 3 | Me'co Brown | Northern Illinois | Jamail Berry | Western Michigan | Antonio Brown | Central Michigan |
| 4 | Dan LeFevour | Central Michigan | Austin Pritchard | Western Michigan | Alex Steigerwald | Toledo |
| 5 | Stephen Williams | Toledo | Jake Coffman | Northern Illinois | Brett Hartmann | Central Michigan |
| 6 | Brandon West | Western Michigan | Nick Bellore | Central Michigan | Antonio Brown | Central Michigan |
| 7 | Dan LeFevour | Central Michigan | Brandon Bice | Northern Illinois | Barry Church | Toledo |
| 8 | MiQuale Lewis | Ball State | Larry Knight | Central Michigan | Brandon West | Western Michigan |
| 9 | Chad Spann | Northern Illinois | Justin Braska | Western Michigan | Mike Salerno | Northern Illinois |
| 10 | Chad Spann | Northern Illinois | Cory Hanson | Northern Illinois | Brandon West | Western Michigan |
| 11 | Dan LeFevour | Central Michigan | Jamail Berry | Western Michigan | Brandon West | Western Michigan |

## Bowl games

| Bowl Game | Date | Stadium | City | Television | Matchup/Results | Payout (US$) | Attendance |
| Little Caesars Pizza Bowl | December 26, 2009 | Ford Field | Detroit, Michigan | ESPN | Marshall 21, Ohio 17 | $750,000 | 30,311 |
| EagleBank Bowl | December 29, 2009 | RFK Stadium | Washington, D.C. | ESPN | UCLA 30, Temple 21 | $1,000,000 | 23,072 |
| Roady's Humanitarian Bowl | December 30, 2009 | Bronco Stadium | Boise, Idaho | ESPN | Idaho 43, Bowling Green 42 | $750,000 | 26,726 |
| International Bowl | January 2, 2010 | Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario | ESPN2 | South Florida 27, Northern Illinois 3 | $750,000 | 22,185 |
| GMAC Bowl | January 6, 2010 | Ladd–Peebles Stadium | Mobile, Alabama | ESPN | Central Michigan 44, Troy 41 (2OT) | $750,000 | 34,486 |

## 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 Conference Teams

2009 All-MAC First Team Offense Quarterback – Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan Center – Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman – Allen Ollenburger, Central Michigan Offensive Linemen – Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois Offensive Linemen – 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
2009 All-MAC First Team Defense 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
2009 All-MAC First Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Chris Garrett, Ohio Punt Return Specialist – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
2009 All-MAC Second Team Offense 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
2009 All-MAC Second Team Defense 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
2009 All-MAC Second Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – James Nixon, Temple Punt Return Specialist – LaVon Brazill, Ohio
2009 All-MAC Third Team Offense 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
2009 All-MAC Third Team Defense 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
2009 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Dashan Miller, Akron
Punt Return Specialist – Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois