Central Michigan Chippewas
Encyclopedia
The Central Michigan Chippewas are the sixteen men's and women's athletics teams of Central Michigan University
. CMU was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
from 1950-1970. The school's athletics programs are affiliated with the NCAA
and compete in the Mid-American Conference
. The school colors are maroon and gold, and the school, and its students and alumni are referred to as Chippewas which is sometimes shortened to Chips. This nickname is used with consent of the nearby Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
, who have a positive relationship with the university. The university was placed on the NCAA
's list of schools with "hostile or abusive" nicknames in August 2005, but appealed the decision, with the support of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
. On September 2, 2005 the university announced that their appeal of the decision had been upheld.
CMU's football team won the second NCAA Division II national championship in 1974 by defeating the University of Delaware
54 to 14. The team was voted national champion in the Associated Press College Division poll. The Chips have also been national runner-up twice. In 1958 the men's swimming and diving team was runner-up to North Central College
at the second annual NAIA
national meet, which was held in Muncie, Ind. Central's baseball team was NCAA Division II runner-up in 1971, having lost to Florida Southern College
4 to 0 in the championship game. In 2006, they won the MAC Championship in football against Ohio
and then defeated Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl. In 2007, the team defended their MAC Championship title in the game against Miami University
, but lost to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl
. The team was also beaten by Florida Atlantic in the 2008 Motor City Bowl.
In Chippewa club sports, the roller hockey team was national runner-up in 2009 in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Division II tournament.
Although wrestling is not among the most popular of NCAA sports, the Chippewa Matmen, lead by coach Tom Borrelli are among the best in the nation. Chippewa nation claims former standout Rob Matigian as one of their own.
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
. CMU was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.-History:...
from 1950-1970. The school's athletics programs are affiliated with the 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...
and compete in the Mid-American Conference
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...
. The school colors are maroon and gold, and the school, and its students and alumni are referred to as Chippewas which is sometimes shortened to Chips. This nickname is used with consent of the nearby Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation is a band of Chippewa Indians located in central Michigan in the United States. The tribal government offices are located on the Isabella Indian Reservation, near the city of Mount Pleasant. The tribe owns and operates Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant and...
, who have a positive relationship with the university. The university was placed on the 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...
's list of schools with "hostile or abusive" nicknames in August 2005, but appealed the decision, with the support of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation is a band of Chippewa Indians located in central Michigan in the United States. The tribal government offices are located on the Isabella Indian Reservation, near the city of Mount Pleasant. The tribe owns and operates Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant and...
. On September 2, 2005 the university announced that their appeal of the decision had been upheld.
History
The school athletics logo has changed over time, once featuring an Indian spear, but is now a stylized block letter "C". Within the university this logo is often referred to as the "flying C".The current version of the athletic trademark was first used in 1997. The "flying C" logo was designed by an IET Department undergraduate student in 1995.CMU's football team won the second NCAA Division II national championship in 1974 by defeating the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
54 to 14. The team was voted national champion in the Associated Press College Division poll. The Chips have also been national runner-up twice. In 1958 the men's swimming and diving team was runner-up to North Central College
North Central College
North Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
at the second annual NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
national meet, which was held in Muncie, Ind. Central's baseball team was NCAA Division II runner-up in 1971, having lost to Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
4 to 0 in the championship game. In 2006, they won the MAC Championship in football against Ohio
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
and then defeated Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl. In 2007, the team defended their MAC Championship title in the game against Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, but lost to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl
Motor City Bowl
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually since 1997. The first five games were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Starting in 2002, the game was moved to 65,000-seat Ford Field in downtown...
. The team was also beaten by Florida Atlantic in the 2008 Motor City Bowl.
In Chippewa club sports, the roller hockey team was national runner-up in 2009 in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Division II tournament.
Although wrestling is not among the most popular of NCAA sports, the Chippewa Matmen, lead by coach Tom Borrelli are among the best in the nation. Chippewa nation claims former standout Rob Matigian as one of their own.
See also
- Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketballCentral Michigan Chippewas men's basketballThe Central Michigan Chippewas team is the basketball team that represent Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2003...
- Central Michigan Chippewas footballCentral Michigan Chippewas footballThe Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...