1978 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 1978 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Herb Deromedi, the Chippewas compiled a 9–2 record (8–1 against MAC opponents), finished in second place in the MAC standings, held seven of eleven opponents to fewer than ten points, and outscored all opponents, 331 to 119.[1][2] The season marked the beginning of a school record 23-game unbeaten streak that ran from October 7, 1978, to October 11, 1980.[3] The team played its home games in Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan,[4] with attendance of 98,011 in five home games.[5]

1978 Central Michigan Chippewas football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
1978 record9–2 (8–1 MAC)
Head coach
MVPBryan Gross
Home stadiumPerry Shorts Stadium
1978 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Ball State $ 8 –0 –0  10 –1 –0
Central Michigan 8 –1 –0  9 –2 –0
Miami 5 –2 –0  8 –2 –1
Western Michigan 5 –4 –0  7 –4 –0
Bowling Green 3 –5 –0  4 –7 –0
Ohio 3 –5 –0  3 –8 –0
Northern Illinois 2 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Kent State 2 –6 –0  4 –7 –0
Toledo 2 –7 –0  2 –9 –0
Eastern Michigan 1 –5 –0  3 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Gary Hogeboom with 1,095 passing yards, Willie Todd with 746 rushing yards, and Brian Blank with 384 receiving yards.[6] Linebacker Bryan Gross received the team's most valuable player award.[7] Offensive guard Tim Sopha, placekicker Rade Savich, and defensive back Robert Jackson received first-team All-MAC honors.[8] Savich broke the school record with 15 field goals in a season and tied a school record with 38 point after touchdown kicks in a season.[9]

Herb Deromedi, a native of Royal Oak, Michigan, was hired as Central Michigan's head football coach in August 1978. He had previously been the Chippewas' defensive coordinator under head coach Roy Kramer. He replaced Kramer, who left the program to become the athletic director at Vanderbilt University.[10] Deromedi remained the program's head football coach for 16 years, compiling a 110–55–10 record.[11] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.[12]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 9 Kent State
W 41–0
September 16at Miami (OH)
W 37–18
September 23at Alcorn State *
L 16–24
September 30 Ball State
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
L 0–27
October 7at Ohio
W 17–3
October 14 Illinois State *
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 45–7
October 21 Northern Illinois
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 34–7
October 28at Bowling Green
W 38–7
November 4 Toledo
  • Perry Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 27–3
November 11at Eastern Michigan
W 41–9
November 18at Western Michigan
W 35–14
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "1978 Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  2. "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 112. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  3. 2015 Media Guide, p. 85.
  4. "Football Facilities". Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  5. 2015 Media Guide, p. 87.
  6. "1978 Central Michigan Chippewas Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  7. 2015 Media Guide, p. 95.
  8. 2015 Media Guide, p. 92.
  9. 2015 Media Guide, p. 82.
  10. "CMU names Deromedi as new football coach". Detroit Free Press. August 8, 1978. p. 3D.
  11. Jack Saylor. "Deromedi takes charge: CMU football coach quits, becomes athletic director (part 2)". Detroit Free Press. pp. 2C.
  12. "Herb Deromedi". College Football Hall of Fame. National Football Foundation. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
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