1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football
NCAA Division II champion
AP College Division national champion
Camellia Bowl, W 54–14 vs. Delaware
ConferenceIndependent
Record12–1
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorHerb Deromedi (6th season)
MVPMike Franckowiak
Home stadiumPerry Shorts Stadium
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Central Michigan ^   –   12 – 1 – 0
No. 6 UNLV ^   –   12 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Delaware ^   –   12 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Western Carolina ^   –   9 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Tennessee State   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 12 Youngstown State ^   –   8 – 2 – 0
Santa Clara   –   7 – 3 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   7 – 3 – 0
Kentucky State   –   6 – 4 – 0
Northeastern   –   6 – 4 – 0
Central State (OH)   –   6 – 5 – 0
Akron   –   5 – 5 – 0
Indiana State   –   5 – 5 – 0
Nevada   –   5 – 6 – 0
Portland State   –   5 – 6 – 0
American International   –   4 – 5 – 0
Eastern Michigan   –   4 – 6 – 1
Milwaukee   –   4 – 6 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   4 – 6 – 0
Eastern Illinois   –   3 – 6 – 1
Arkansas–Pine Bluff   –   3 – 5 – 0
Chattanooga   –   4 – 7 – 0
Nebraska–Omaha   –   3 – 7 – 0
Bucknell   –   2 – 8 – 0
Northern Michigan   –   0 – 10 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football team was an American football team that represented Central Michigan University as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. In their eighth season under head coach Roy Kramer, the Chippewas compiled a 12–1 record, losing the opening game to Kent State and then winning 12 straight games.[1]

In postseason play, they defeated Boise State 20–6 at Perry Shorts Stadium in a Division II quarterfinal,[2][3][4] Louisiana Tech 35–14 in the Pioneer Bowl (semifinal) in Texas,[5] and Delaware 54–14 in the Camellia Bowl to win the Division II championship. The team was also later voted number one in the AP's "College Division" poll.[6]

The 1974 Chippewas held 11 of their 13 opponents to 14 or fewer points and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 450 to 127.[7] The team played its home games in Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan,[8] with attendance of 93,236 in six home games.[9]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Franckowiak with 1,262 passing yards (81 of 149 passing), running back Walt Hodges with 1,463 rushing yards (251 carries), and Matt Means with 848 receiving yards (55 receptions).[10] Hodges' 1,463 rushing yards was a Central Michigan record at that time.[11] Franckowiak received the team's most valuable player award.[12]

After the 1974 season, Central Michigan jumped to Division I and joined the Mid-American Conference. In 2004, the 1974 team was inducted as a group into the Central Michigan University Hall of Fame.[13]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 7 Kent State
L 14–2116,825–18,325[14]
September 14at Ball State
W 24–1711,318[15]
September 21at Northern Michigan Marquette, MIW 21–73,532[16]
September 28 Dayton
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 42–818,466–18,644[17]
October 5at Illinois State
W 21–1410,000[18]
October 12 No. 7 Indiana State
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 49–014,795[19]
October 19 Western IllinoisNo. 12
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 58–718,907[20]
November 2at Eastern MichiganNo. 8
W 28–1314,000[21]
November 9at Western MichiganNo. 8
W 42–624,235–24,250[22]
November 16 Southern IllinoisNo. 7
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 42–012,830[23]
November 30 No. 4 Boise StateNo. 6
W 20–69,913[24]
December 7vs. No. 1 Louisiana TechNo. 6
W 35–1412,200[25]
December 14vs. No. 3 DelawareNo. 6
W 54–1414,137[26]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[27]

Roster

1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 4 Mike Franckowiak Sr
QB Greg Drypen Fr
QB Ronald Rummel Fr
QB Thomas Screws Fr
WR Gene Harris Sr
WR Matthew Means Sr
WR 28 Dennis Proctor Sr
WR John Fossen Jr
WR Shawn McCarthy So
WR Lonnie Ford So
RB Gary Baginski Sr
RB Timothy Cashen Jr
RB Walter Hodges So
RB Mose Rison Fr
RB Wayne Schwalbach Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Herb Deromedi (defense coordinator)
  • Chris Allen (offensive line)
  • Jesse James (defensive line)
  • Dennis Swenson (secondary)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 13, 2022

NFL Draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Mike Franckowiak Running back 3 54 Denver Broncos
Tom Ray Defensive back 17 425 Green Bay Packers

[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 112. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "Boise beaten". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 1, 1974. p. 9D.
  3. ^ "CMU whips Boise St.; meet Louisiana Tech next". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). UPI. December 2, 1974. p. 5.
  4. ^ "Central Michigan Stings Boise in Division 2 Tilt". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 1, 1974. p. 32.
  5. ^ "Central Michigan Upsets Bulldogs". Panama City News-Herald. December 8, 1974. p. 23.
  6. ^ AP (December 24, 1974). "Central Michigan gains small college No. 1 poll rating". The Daily Leader. Pontiac, Illinois. Retrieved February 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Central Michigan Drubs Delaware in Bowl, 54-14". The Bridgeport Post. December 15, 1974. p. E4.
  8. ^ "Football Facilities". Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  9. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 87.
  10. ^ 2015 Media Guide, pp. 88-89.
  11. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 90.
  12. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 95.
  13. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 97.
  14. ^ "Kent Survives, 21-14". The Lansing State Journal. September 8, 1974. p. C1.
  15. ^ "Chips Down Ball State on Freshman's 3 TDs". The Muncie Star. September 15, 1974. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Chips Win, 21-7". Detroit Free Press. September 22, 1974. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Chips Cavort Smashing Dayton". The Lansing State Journal. September 29, 1974. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Central Michigan defeats ISU, 21-14". The Pantagraph. October 6, 1974. p. B3.
  19. ^ "Chips Crush Indiana State, 49-0". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Another Massacre for Rampaging Chippewas, 58-7". The Lansing State Journal. October 20, 1974. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Central Chugs Along -- Eastern Falls, 28-13". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1974. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Playoff Beckons ... CMU Churns Past Broncos, 42-6". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Salukis shut out for first time in 27 games, lose 42-0 to 9-1 Central Michigan team". Southern Illinoisan. November 17, 1974. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Chippewas Get a Bowl ... Win 20-6". Detroit Free Press. December 1, 1974. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "CMU Rolls In Pioneer Bowl, 35-14". Detroit Free Press. December 8, 1974. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Chips Roast Blue Hens, 54-14: Central Michigan Claims National Title". The Lansing State Journal. December 15, 1974. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "1975 Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved November 27, 2019.


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