# 2008–09 Mid-American Conference season

The 2008–09 Mid-American Conference season is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) sponsors 23 sports (11 men's and 12 women's). The MAC is made up of 12 full-time members and five affiliate members.
The 2008–09 season is the 63rd season in existence.

## Member schools

There are twelve schools with full membership:
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment |
| East Division ||||||
| University of Akron | Zips | Akron, Ohio | 1870 | Public | 24,704 |
| Bowling Green State University | Falcons | Bowling Green, Ohio | 1910 | Public | 22,882 |
| University at Buffalo | Bulls | Buffalo, New York | 1846 | Public | 28,054 |
| Kent State University | Golden Flashes | Kent, Ohio | 1910 | Public | 22,352 |
| Miami University | RedHawks | Oxford, Ohio | 1809 | Public | 20,126 |
| Ohio University | Bobcats | Athens, Ohio | 1804 | Public | 20,437 |
| West Division ||||||
| Ball State University | Cardinals | Muncie, Indiana | 1918 | Public | 20,113 |
| Central Michigan University | Chippewas | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 1892 | Public | 26,788 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Eagles | Ypsilanti, Michigan | 1849 | Public | 22,974 |
| Northern Illinois University | Huskies | DeKalb, Illinois | 1895 | Public | 25,313 |
| University of Toledo | Rockets | Toledo, Ohio | 1872 | Public | 19,706 |
| Western Michigan University | Broncos | Kalamazoo, Michigan | 1903 | Public | 24,818 |
Five schools have affiliate membership status:
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Sport |
| Chicago State University | Cougars | Chicago, Illinois | 1867 | Public | 7,131 | Men's tennis |
| Florida Atlantic University | Owls | Boca Raton, Florida | 1964 | Public | 26,245 | Men's soccer |
| Hartwick College | Hawks | Oneonta, New York | 1797 | Private | 1,520 | Men's soccer |
| Missouri State University | Lady Bears | Springfield, Missouri | 1905 | Public | 17,425 | Field hockey |
| Temple University | Owls | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1884 | Public | 34,218 | Football |

## Reese and Jacoby trophies

The Reese and Jacoby trophies are awarded to the top men's and women's athletic departments in the Mid-American Conference.
Points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school. An institution may count either indoor track and field or outdoor track and field but not both.

### Reese standings

| Institution | BB | BKB | CC | FB | Golf | Soc | Sw | Ten | TFI | TFO | W | No. sports | Total | Avg |
| Kent State | 10½ | 9½ | 9 | 5 | 12½ | – | – | – | 12 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 70½ | 10.07 |
| Central Michigan | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11½ | – | – | – | – | 4 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 46½ | 7.75 |
| Eastern Michigan | 6½ | 3½ | 12½ | 2½ | 11½ | – | 11 | – | 9 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 61½ | 7.69 |
| Ohio | 12 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 6 | 46 | 7.67 |
| Ball State | 9½ | 6 | – | 13 | 6 | – | 2½ | 8 | – | – | – | 6 | 45 | 7.50 |
| Western Michigan | 2 | 6 | – | 11½ | – | 5 | – | 12 | – | – | – | 5 | 36½ | 7.30 |
| Akron | 5 | 9½ | 5 | 5 | 1 | 12 | – | – | 7 | 12 | – | 7 | 49½ | 7.07 |
| Miami | 8½ | 9½ | 11½ | 1 | 5 | – | 8½ | – | – | 2 | – | 7 | 46 | 6.57 |
| Bowling Green | 13 | 12½ | 1 | 7½ | 2½ | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 6 | 38½ | 6.42 |
| NIU | 3½ | 1½ | – | 9½ | 7 | 11 | – | 8 | – | – | 4 | 7 | 44½ | 6.36 |
| Buffalo | 1 | 12½ | 6 | 9½ | – | 9 | 5½ | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 55½ | 6.17 |
| Toledo | 7½ | 1½ | 2½ | 2½ | 9 | – | – | 8 | – | – | – | 6 | 31 | 5.17 |
| Temple * | – | – | – | 7½ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7½ | 7.50 |
| Hartwick * | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 7.00 |
| Florida Atlantic * | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 3.00 |
| Chicago State * | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2.00 |
* Affiliate status only. Does not qualify for trophy.

### Jacoby standings

| Institution | BKB | CC | FH | Golf | Gym | SB | Soc | Sw | Ten | TFI | TFO | VB | No. sports | Total | Avg |
| Miami | 6 | 13 | 10 | – | – | – | 5½ | 12½ | 12½ | 10 | – | 9½ | 8 | 79 | 9.9 |
| Central Michigan | 8½ | 9½ | 7 | – | – | – | 11¼ | – | – | 6½ | – | 9½ | 6 | 52¼ | 8.7 |
| Western Michigan | 2 | 4½ | – | 8½ | – | – | 8½ | – | 10¼ | 8½ | – | 13 | 7 | 55¼ | 7.9 |
| Toledo | 10½ | 7½ | – | 7 | – | – | 13 | 10 | 6½ | 3½ | – | 5 | 8 | 63 | 7.9 |
| Kent State | 7½ | 5½ | 12 | 12½ | – | – | 3½ | – | – | 12 | – | 2 | 7 | 55 | 7.9 |
| Ohio | 6 | 10½ | 7 | 5 | – | – | 4½ | 7 | – | 5½ | – | 12 | 8 | 57½ | 7.2 |
| Akron | 4½ | 12 | – | 8½ | – | – | 2 | 5 | 6½ | 13 | – | 5 | 8 | 56½ | 7.1 |
| Eastern Michigan | 3½ | 3½ | – | 11½ | – | – | 11¼ | 10 | 5 | 4½ | – | 3½ | 8 | 52¾ | 6.6 |
| Bowling Green | 13 | 8½ | – | 1 | – | – | 6½ | 2¼ | 8 | 2 | – | 9½ | 8 | 50¾ | 6.3 |
| Ball State | 12 | 2 | 3 | 6 | – | – | 6½ | 2¼ | 1 | 10 | – | 6½ | 9 | 49¼ | 5.5 |
| Buffalo | 1 | 6½ | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 10¼ | 7½ | – | 1 | 7 | 34¼ | 4.9 |
| NIU | 9½ | 1 | – | 2½ | – | – | 7½ | – | 2½ | 1 | – | 7½ | 7 | 31½ | 4.5 |
| Missouri State * | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 3.0 |
* Affiliate status only. Does not qualify for trophy.

## Sports
### Basketball (men's)
#### Players of the week

The following are the MAC men's basketball players of the week. Number of awards won this season are in parentheses.
| Week | Division | Player | School |
| November 17 | East | Michael Bramos | Miami |
| November 17 | West | David Kool | Western Michigan |
| November 24 | East | Al Fisher | Kent State |
| November 24 | West | Anthony Newell Mike DiNunno | Ball State NIU |
| December 1 | East | Kenny Hayes | Miami |
| December 1 | West | Darion Anderson | NIU |
| December 8 | East | Michael Bramos (2) | Miami |
| December 8 | West | Anthony Newell (2) | Ball State |
| December 15 | East | Michael Bramos (3) | Miami |
| December 15 | West | Darion Anderson (2) | NIU |
| December 22 | East | Chris Singletary | Kent State |
| December 22 | West | Anthony Newel (3) David Kool (2) | Ball State Western Michigan |
| December 29 | East | Chris Knight | Bowling Green |
| December 29 | West | Justin Anyijong | Toledo |
| January 6 | East | Jerome Tillman Andy Robinson | Ohio Buffalo |
| January 6 | West | Jonathon Amos | Toledo |
| January 12 | East | Chris Knight (2) | Bowling Green |
| January 12 | West | David Kool (3) | Western Michigan |
| Week | Division | Player | School |
| January 19 | East | Jerome Tillman (2) | Ohio |
| January 19 | West | Brandon Bowdry | Eastern Michigan |
| January 26 | East | Rodney Pierce | Buffalo |
| January 26 | West | Marcus Van | Central Michigan |
| February 2 | East | Tyler Dierkers | Miami |
| February 2 | West | Jarrod Jones | Ball State |
| February 9 | East | Nate Miller | Bowling Green |
| February 9 | West | Robbie Harman | Central Michigan |
| February 16 | East | Al Fisher (2) | Kent State |
| February 16 | West | Darion Anderson (3) | NIU |
| February 23 | East | Al Fisher (3) | Kent State |
| February 23 | West | Tyrone Kent | Toledo |
| March 2 | East | | |
| March 2 | West | | |
| March 9 | East | | |
| March 9 | West | | |

### Basketball (women's)
#### Standings

Through March 8, 2009
* Receives E3 seed based on 2–0 head-to-head record vs. Miami.

#### Tournament
### Cross country (men's)

Eastern Michigan won its fourth consecutive MAC Championship in 2008. The All-MAC team consisted of Ryan Bloom (Buffalo), Josh Karanja (Eastern Michigan), Sammy Kiprotch (Central Michigan), Aiman Scullion (Kent State), Kevin Silver (Miami), Pat Sovacool (Miami) and Curtis Vollmar (Eastern Michigan).
Sovacool of Miami was the only runner to qualify for the NCAA Championship. He finished 65th overall.
In the preseason poll voted by the MAC head coaches, Eastern Michigan was chosen to win the 2008 men's MAC Cross Country Championship. EMU had won the past three MAC Championships and had five All-MAC runners returning.

#### MAC Championship results

* Eastern Michigan, 42 points
* Miami, 56
* Kent State, 61
* Central Michigan, 103
* Ohio, 122
* Buffalo, 169
* Akron, 179
* Toledo, 186
* Bowling Green, 270

#### Players of the week

| Week | Player | School |
| September 2 | Pat Sovacool | Miami |
| September 9 | Pat Sovacool (2) | Miami |
| September 16 | Tony Jordanek | Kent State |
| September 23 | Pat Sovacool (3) | Miami |
| September 30 | Shamus Eaton | Ohio |
| Week | Player | School |
| October 7 | Josh Karanja | Eastern Michigan |
| October 14 | R. P. White | Eastern Michigan |
| October 21 | Josh Karanja | Eastern Michigan |
| October 28 | Curtis Vollmar | Eastern Michigan |

### Cross country (women's)
#### MAC Championship results

* Miami, 39 points
* Akron, 81
* Ohio, 107
* Central Michigan, 141
* Bowling Green, 147
* Toledo, 165
* Buffalo, 177
* Kent State, 184
* Western Michigan, 218
* Eastern Michigan, 238
* Ball State, 251
* NIU, 355

#### Players of the week

| Week | Player | School |
| September 2 | Laura Neufarth | Miami |
| September 9 | Kim Lorentz | Akron |
| September 16 | Laura Neufarth (2) | Miami |
| September 23 | Kim Lorentz (2) | Akron |
| Week | Player | School |
| September 30 | Kari Summers | Ohio |
| October 7 | Kim Lorentz (3) | Akron |
| October 14 | Kari Summers (2) | Ohio |

### Field hockey
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | W | L | Pct. |
| Kent State | 9 | 1 | .900 | – | 15 | 4 | .789 |
| Miami | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 | 14 | 6 | .700 |
| Central Michigan | 6 | 4 | .600 | 3 | 7 | 11 | .389 |
| Ohio | 6 | 4 | .600 | 3 | 9 | 11 | .450 |
| Ball State | 1 | 9 | .100 | 8 | 2 | 16 | .111 |
| Missouri State | 1 | 9 | .100 | 8 | 6 | 14 | .300 |

### Football

Ball State started the 2008 football season 12–0, going undefeated in conference play and defeating Indiana and Navy in out of conference games. BSU was ranked as high as 12th in the Associated Press Poll and 13th in the Coaches' Poll. They were also ranked 12th at one point in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings. However, Ball State was upset by Buffalo in the MAC Championship game, lost their bowl game vs. Tulsa and finished unranked in each of the polls.
In regular season non-conference games, the MAC defeated BCS opponents #25 Pittsburgh (Bowling Green won 27–17), Syracuse (Akron won 42–28), Indiana (Ball State won 42–20 and Central Michigan won 37–34), Illinois (Western Michigan won 23–17) and Michigan (Toledo won 13–10).
Despite having a successful non-conference record and gaining five bowl bids, the MAC finished the bowl season poorly. The MAC was the only conference to not win a bowl game and finished 0–5.

### Golf (women's)
#### MAC Championship

    1. Kent State (1217)
    2. Eastern Michigan (1256)
    3. Akron (1297)
    3. Western Michigan (1297)
    5. Toledo (1305)
    6. Ball State (1313)
    7. Ohio (1318)
    8. NIU (1366)
    9. Bowling Green (1401)

### Soccer (men's)
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | GB | W | L | T | Pct. |
| Akron | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 17 | 2 | 4 | .826 |
| NIU | 4 | 1 | 1 | .750 | 1½ | 11 | 6 | 4 | .619 |
| Buffalo | 3 | 1 | 2 | .667 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 4 | .700 |
| Hartwick | 2 | 2 | 2 | .500 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 7 | .553 |
| Western Michigan | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 1 | .194 |
| Florida Atlantic | 1 | 4 | 1 | .250 | 4½ | 5 | 13 | 1 | .289 |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 6 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 2 | .263 |

### Soccer (women's)
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | GB | W | L | T | Pct. |
| Toledo | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | – | 16 | 5 | 1 | .750 |
| Central Michigan | 6 | 2 | 3 | .682 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 3 | .675 |
| Eastern Michigan | 6 | 2 | 3 | .682 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 5 | .630 |
| Bowling Green | 6 | 3 | 2 | .636 | 1½ | 12 | 6 | 4 | .636 |
| Western Michigan | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 1 | .395 |
| NIU | 5 | 4 | 2 | .545 | 2½ | 9 | 6 | 5 | .575 |
| Ball State | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 1 | .475 |
| Miami | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 3½ | 6 | 12 | 1 | .342 |
| Ohio | 4 | 5 | 2 | .455 | 3½ | 5 | 10 | 3 | .361 |
| Kent State | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | .361 |
| Akron | 2 | 7 | 2 | .273 | 5½ | 7 | 9 | 2 | .444 |
| Buffalo | 0 | 9 | 2 | .091 | 7½ | 4 | 10 | 4 | .278 |

### Swimming (men's)
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | W | L | Pct. |
| Eastern Michigan | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 5 | 2 | .714 |
| Miami | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 | 4 | 7 | .364 |
| Buffalo | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2 | 4 | 3 | .571 |
| Ball State | 0 | 3 | .000 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .200 |

#### MAC Championship results

* Eastern Michigan, 1046.5 points
* Buffalo, 639.5
* Miami, 588
* Ball State, 267

### Swimming (women's)
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | W | L | Pct. |
| Miami | 6 | 1 | .857 | – | 10 | 2 | .833 |
| Eastern Michigan | 5 | 2 | .714 | 1 | 7 | 4 | .636 |
| Toledo | 5 | 2 | .714 | 1 | 6 | 5 | .545 |
| Ohio | 4 | 3 | .571 | 2 | 9 | 3 | .750 |
| Buffalo | 4 | 3 | .571 | 2 | 8 | 3 | .727 |
| Akron | 2 | 5 | .286 | 4 | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| Ball State | 1 | 6 | .143 | 5 | 2 | 7 | .222 |
| Bowling Green | 1 | 6 | .143 | 5 | 2 | 7 | .222 |

#### MAC Championship results

* Miami, 639½ points
* Ohio, 611½
* Toledo, 568½
* Eastern Michigan, 497½
* Akron, 347
* Buffalo, 335
* Bowling Green, 305½
* Ball State, 200½

### Track and field (men's)
#### Indoor MAC Championships

* Kent State, 159 points
* Eastern Michigan, 132
* Akron, 109
* Central Michigan, 64
* Buffalo, 61

### Track and field (women's)
#### Indoor MAC Championships

    1. Akron, 126 points
    2. Kent State, 101
    3. Miami, 73
    3. Ball State, 73
    5. Western Michigan, 62
    6. Buffalo, 52
    7. Central Michigan, 44½
    8. Ohio, 42½
    9. Eastern Michigan, 42
    10. Toledo, 35
    11. Bowling Green, 11
    12. NIU, 1

### Volleyball
#### Tournament bracket

| November 18 Campus sites | November 18 Campus sites | November 18 Campus sites | November 21 SeaGate Centre | November 21 SeaGate Centre | November 21 SeaGate Centre | November 22 SeaGate Centre | November 22 SeaGate Centre | November 22 SeaGate Centre | | November 23 SeaGate Centre | November 23 SeaGate Centre | November 23 SeaGate Centre |
| 8 | Toledo | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Akron | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Akron | 1 | 8 | Toledo | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Western Michigan | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1 | Western Michigan | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Bowling Green | 1 | | | | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 3 | | | | | | | 5 | Bowling Green | 1 | | | | |
| 12 | Buffalo | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Buffalo | 1 | 5 | Bowling Green | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Central Michigan | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Western Michigan | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ohio | 3 |
| 7 | Ball State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ohio | 3 |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan | 0 | 7 | Ball State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Ohio | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Ohio | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Miami | 1 | | | | |
| 6 | NIU | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | Miami | 1 | | | | |
| 11 | Kent State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Kent State | 2 | 6 | NIU | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Miami | 3 | | | | | | | |

#### Standings
### Wrestling
#### Standings

| Team | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | GB | W | L | T | Pct. |
| Kent State | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 |
| Central Michigan | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 1 | .833 |
| Ohio | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | .500 |
| Buffalo | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 0 | .450 |
| Eastern Michigan | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 0 | .389 |
| NIU | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 |