View source for Central Michigan Chippewas

{{Short description|Athletic teams for Central Michigan University}}
{{For|Native American tribe|Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation}}
{{Infobox college athletics
| name = Central Michigan Chippewas
| logo = Central Michigan Chippewas logo.svg
| logo_width = 200
| university = [[Central Michigan University]]
| association = NCAA
| conference = [[Mid-American Conference|Mid-American]]
| division = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] ([[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]])
| director = Amy Folan
| location = [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan]]
| teams = 17
| stadium = [[Kelly/Shorts Stadium]]
| fightsong = CMU Fight Song
| basketballarena = [[McGuirk Arena]]
| baseballfield = [[Bill Theunissen Stadium]]
| arena2 = [[Jack Skoog Indoor Track]]
| nickname = Chippewas
| mascot = Action C
| pageurl = https://cmuchippewas.com/
| altlogo = [[File:Cmichigan chippewas wordmark 1996.png|200px]]
}}

The '''Central Michigan Chippewas'''  are the [[college athletics in the United States|intercollegiate athletic]] teams that represent [[Central Michigan University]] (CMU), located in [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Michigan University Athletics - Official Athletics Website |url=https://cmuchippewas.com/index.aspx |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Central Michigan University Athletics |language=en}}</ref> The school fields sixteen men's and women's intercollegiate teams that compete at the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] level.

CMU was a member of the [[Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] from 1950 to 1970. The school's athletics programs are affiliated with the NCAA and compete in the [[Mid-American Conference]] (MAC). The women's lacrosse team formerly competed in the [[Southern Conference]], until the MAC began sponsoring that sport in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2019/11/5/general-womens-lacrosse-coming-in-2020-21-detroit-mercy-youngstown-state-as-affiliates.aspx|title=Women's Lacrosse Coming in 2020–21; Detroit Mercy & Youngstown State As Affiliates|website=Mid-American Conference|date=November 6, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref> 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''.

The nickname is used with the consent of the nearby [[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council|Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe]]. The university was placed on the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s list of schools with "hostile or abusive" nicknames in August 2005, but appealed the decision, with the support of the [[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation]]. 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 "Action C" or "Flying C".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Action C {{!}} University Communications |url=https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/university-communications/brand-guidelines/signature-marks/action-c |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=www.cmich.edu |language=en}}</ref> The current version of the athletic trademark was first used in 1997.

===Nickname===
[[File:MAC logo in Central Michigan colors.svg|thumb|left|150px|Central Michigan is a member of the Mid-American Conference]]
The Chippewas nickname was put forth by assistant football coach Lawrence "Doc" Sweeney in 1942 to replace the then-current Bearcats. He argued that [[Binturong|Bearcats]] not only had nothing to do with the school and the area but was also a nearly extinct beast that none of the students had ever seen or heard of. He further argued that not only was Chippewa the name of the school's yearbook, but the Chippewa River flows through Mount Pleasant, and the "American Indian image" would provide "... unlimited opportunities for pageantry and showmanship for the band as well as athletic teams." The new name was passed by a vote of the student body.

When negative reaction to racial stereotypes grew in the 1970s and 1980s, it was recommended by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission that the Chippewas name be dropped. Instead, in 1989 the university instituted several measures to enhance the name, including introducing special educational programs developed in conjunction with the [[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council]], headquartered on the local [[Isabella Indian Reservation]]; orientation programs were set up to familiarize CMU students and staff with traditional Native American culture; the school's Native American logos were eliminated along with tom-tom drumbeats by the pep bands and other activities that would reflect racial stereotypes.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=CBS Interactive |title=History of the Chippewa name |url=http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ot/chippewa-name.html |access-date=July 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702184910/http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ot/chippewa-name.html |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{see also|NCAA Native American mascot decision}}

==Varsity sports==
A member of the West Division of the [[Mid-American Conference]] (MAC), Central Michigan sponsors teams in six men's and eleven women's [[NCAA]] sanctioned sports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ |title=The Official Site of Chippewa Athletics Central Michigan |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=26 November 2016 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style=" "
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Central Michigan Chippewas|Men's sports|Women's sports}}
|-
|[[Central Michigan Chippewas baseball|Baseball]] ||[[Central Michigan Chippewas women's basketball|Basketball]]
|-
|[[Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball|Basketball]] || Cross country
|-
| Cross country || Field hockey 
|-
|[[Central Michigan Chippewas football|Football]] || Golf 
|-
| Golf || Gymnastics 
|-
| Wrestling || Lacrosse
|-
| || Soccer
|-
| || Softball 
|-
| || Track & field<sup>†</sup>
|-
| || Volleyball 
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Central Michigan Chippewas }}" | {{small|† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.}}
|}

===Baseball===
{{Main|Central Michigan Chippewas baseball}}
Central's baseball team was [[NCAA]] Division II runner-up in 1971, having lost to [[Florida Southern College]] 4–0 in the championship game.

===Men's basketball===
{{Main|Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball}}
[[File:Dan Roundfield CMU.jpg|thumb|200px|Central Michigan game in 1974–75 season]]
Coach Davis was introduced by Central Michigan University as the Chippewas' 20th head men's basketball coach on April 3, 2012. In his inaugural season, he led a team of 8 new student-athletes to 11 wins. The seven non-conference victories match the 2002–2003 team's mark, and the most wins in the last 25 years. Four freshmen started for Coach Davis during the final 10 games of the season.

Under Coach Davis, Chris Fowler set the program record for a freshman with 167 assists, which ranks fourth all-time in single season history, securing him a spot on the All-MAC Freshman team. Fellow guard Kyle Randall led the MAC in scoring in 2013, averaging 18.7 points per game against conference opponents, en route to earning Second Team All-MAC and NABC All-District recognition.

===Women's basketball===
{{Main|Central Michigan Chippewas women's basketball}}

===Football===
{{Main|Central Michigan Chippewas football}}
The football team won the second [[NCAA]] Division II national championship in 1974 by defeating the [[University of Delaware]] 54–14.  The team was voted national champion in the Associated Press College Division poll.  The Chips have also been national runner-up twice.

In 2006, they won the MAC Championship in against [[Ohio University|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.

===Men's golf===
Men's golf returned to Central Michigan in 2022, after a 37-year absence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cmuchippewas.com/news/2022/10/11/resurrected-cmu-mens-golf-team-completes-fall-portion-of-schedule.aspx|title=Resurrected CMU Men's Golf Team Completes Fall Portion of Schedule|website=Central Michigan Chippewas|date=October 11, 2022|access-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref> After eliminating the men's indoor and outdoor track and field teams in 2020, in response to budget issues caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan|COVID-19 pandemic]], CMU fell below six men's sports sponsored, the minimum required by the NCAA for a Division I institution. The NCAA granted Central Michigan a two-year waiver to correct its non-compliance with the rule. CMU claims to save approximately $600,000 per year by not sponsoring men's track and field and expects the men's golf program to cost less than half of that.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/golf/2021/08/05/central-michigan-add-mens-golf-2022-23-meeting-ncaas-minimum-sports-requirement/5502266001|title=CMU to Add Men's Golf for 2022–23, Meeting NCAA's Minimum Sports Requirement|last1=Paul|first1=Tony|website=The Detroit News|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref>

===Softball===
{{Main|Central Michigan Chippewas softball}}
The Chippewa softball team has appeared in two [[Women's College World Series]] in [[1982 AIAW Women's College World Series|1982]] and 1987.<ref name="Plummer">{{cite book|title=A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series|first1=William|last1=Plummer|first2=Larry C.|last2=Floyd|year=2013|publisher= Turnkey Communications Inc.|location= Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States|isbn=978-0-9893007-0-4}}</ref>

===Men's swimming and diving===
In 1958 the men's swimming and diving team was runner-up to [[North Central College]] at the second annual [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] national meet, which was held in Muncie, Ind.

===Wrestling===
Chippewa Matmen have been at CMU dating back to 1955. Central Michigan Chippewa wrestling team is led by head coach Tom Borrelli are among the best in the nation each year competing in the [[NCAA Division I]]. Currently in his 22nd season with CMU wrestling, Borrelli has accomplished: 13 Mid-American Conference titles, seven top-15 national finishes in the last nine years, led the first program in MAC history to qualify all 10 wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, and named 2008 National Coach of the Year by two publications. Chippewa Wrestling has produced 2 Academic All-Americans in Mark DiSalvo (2006) & Wynn Michalak (2008), 53 NCAA All-Americans, and 2 individual NCAA Champions: Casey Cunningham (157) 1999, and John Rollins (137) 1959 & 1961 with 11 top-20 team finishes at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.<ref>{{cite web|title=CMU Wrestling|url=http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=668620&SPID=4196&DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=204955073|publisher=Central Michigan University Athletics|access-date=2014-01-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222024611/http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=668620&SPID=4196&DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=204955073|archive-date=2014-02-22}}</ref>

The wrestling practice facility, located at the CMU Events Center, opened during the 2010–11 season. The practice room includes three full-size mats, as well as an area adjacent to the mats for fitness equipment. The facility is located just steps from the competition floor at [[McGuirk Arena]], providing an ideal warm-up area for the Chippewas during home dual meets.<ref>{{cite web|title=CMU Wrestling|url=http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=205736648|publisher=Central Michigan University Athletics|access-date=2014-01-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209063204/http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=205736648|archive-date=2014-02-09}}</ref>

Former Chippewa Wrestlers [[Phil Baroni]] and three-time All-American Jarod Trice are current Mixed Martial Artists. Baroni has competed in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]], [[Pride Fighting Championship]], [[Bellator MMA|Bellator]] fighter. Trice is a currently an undefeated Bellator fighter.

==Club sports==

CMU currently supports the following club sports teams,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cmich.edu/fas/ras/urec/Programs_and_Events/Club_Sports/Pages/default.aspx# |title=Club Sports &#124; Central Michigan University |access-date=2014-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071636/https://www.cmich.edu/fas/ras/urec/Programs_and_Events/Club_Sports/Pages/default.aspx# |archive-date=2014-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*[[Archery]]
*[[College baseball|Baseball]]
*Men's [[basketball]] 
*Bass pro fishing
*Women's basketball
*[[Cycle sport|Cycling]]
*[[Dodgeball]] 
*[[Equestrianism|Equestrian]]
*[[Fencing]] 
*[[Golf]]
*[[Grappling]] 
*Hip hop
*Men's [[Ice hockey|hockey]] 
*[[Women's ice hockey|Women's hockey]]
*[[Judo]] 
*[[Karate]]
*[[Cricket]] 
*Men's [[lacrosse]]
*[[Paintball]]
*Competitive pom 
*[[Racquetball]]
*[[Roller hockey]] 
*[[Rowing (sport)|Rowing]]
*Men's [[Rugby union|Rugby]] 
*[[Women's rugby union|Women's rugby]]
*Club running at CMU 
*Ski and snowboard
*Men's [[Association football|soccer]] 
*Women's soccer
*[[Softball]] 
*Co-ed [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]]
*Synchronized skating 
*[[Table tennis]]
*[[Taekwondo]] 
*[[Tennis]]
*[[Triathlon]] 
*Men's [[ultimate Frisbee]]
*Women's ultimate Frisbee
*Men's [[volleyball]]
*Women's volleyball
*[[Water polo]] 
*[[Olympic weightlifting|Weightlifting]]
}}

Women's lacrosse had been a club sport through the 2015 season, but became a full varsity sport in the 2016 season, playing in the [[ASUN Conference]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.atlanticsun.org/sports/wlax/2013-14/releases/page_8630.html |title=A-Sun Welcomes Central Michigan as #ASunWLAX Affiliate |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref> The team moved to the [[Southern Conference]] when that league added women's lacrosse for the 2018 season.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=1161510&SPID=186908&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211445189&DB_OEM_ID=4000 |title=SoCon to Add Women's Lacrosse as 22nd Sport |publisher=Southern Conference |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=November 5, 2017}}</ref>

===Roller hockey===
The roller hockey team was national runner-up in 2009 in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Division II tournament.

===Men's rugby===

The Central Michigan Rugby was initially established in November 1975. Founded as a Central Michigan University entity, a funding disagreement between the Club and University administration resulted in the club membership voting to become independent of the university, responsible for attaining their own autonomous funding sources, and become the Mount Pleasant Rugby Football Club on April 17, 1976.  The team took on the name "EXILES" because of their new-found status even though three quarters of the roster was Central Michigan undergrad- and graduate students. The team played both city and university teams across Michigan and southern Ontario as well as "representing Central" as participants in the MAC tournaments at Bowling Green and Athens, Ohio in 1977 and 1978 as well as the Stroh's Great Lakes, Windsor Borderer's, and Traverse Cherry Pit tournaments.

The Club returned to a "club status sport" at the university in 1980 after sponsorship and funding rules were relaxed by the university. From Fall 1977 to the late 1990s, the Exiles were a division 1 team in the MAC. Early 2000, were then moved to DIV 2 and played instate schools such as Grand Valley, Ferris State, and Western Michigan as a Club sport again for the university. The Rugby Club did make 2 Midwest Div 2 playoff appearances in  2008, and in 2011. In 2011 they made it to the Elite 8 round for the first time in team history by Defeating Xavier Rugby, but then falling to Northern Illinois. In that same year, In the Spring of 2011, The MAC Rugby Conference was reformed and Central announced they were to join the Conference along with school and state rivals Western Michigan, and are currently still in the Conference today.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Central Michigan University}}
{{Navboxes
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Central Michigan Chippewas|color=white}}
|list =
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}}

[[Category:Central Michigan Chippewas| ]]