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1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

ConferenceIndependent
Record12–1
Headcoach
DefensivecoordinatorHerb Deromedi (6th season)
Quick facts Central Michigan Chippewas football, Camellia Bowl, W 54–14 vs. Delaware ...
1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football
Camellia Bowl, W 54–14 vs. Delaware
ConferenceIndependent
Record12–1
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorHerb Deromedi (6th season)
MVPBruce Marble
Home stadiumPerry Shorts Stadium
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
1974 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW 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
Ball State – 6–4–0
Kentucky State – 6–4–0
Northeastern – 6–4–0
Central State (OH) – 6–5–0
Akron – 5–5–0
Illinois College – 4–4–0
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
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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

More information Date, Opponent ...
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 7 Kent StateL 14–2116,825–18,325[14]
September 14at Ball StateW 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 StateW 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. 8W 28–1314,000[21]
November 9at Western MichiganNo. 8W 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
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[27]

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1974 Central Michigan Chippewas football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
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
RB Michael Woroniecki Jr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB Tom Ray Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
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: January 26, 2026

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NFL draft

The following players were selected in the 1975 NFL draft following the season.

PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
Mike FranckowiakRunning back354Denver Broncos
Tom RayDefensive back17425Green Bay Packers

[28]

See also

References

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