The MAC doesn’t always get a lot of respect in the college football world, but one team from that conference deserving of respect and admiration is the Central Michigan Chippewas. Compared to teams in power conferences, it’s relatively easy for fans to find cheap Central Michigan football tickets. Of course, that’s great news for fans. The Chippewas have risen from the lower levels of college football to become one of the most consistent programs in the MAC. With the program continuing to grow, the demand for last-minute Central Michigan football tickets will no doubt continue as well.

Building a Winner

Kenneth “Wild Bill” Kelly is the man who helped build a winning tradition at CMU. He coached the Chippewas for 16 seasons, starting in 1951. Starting with his second season at the helm, Central Michigan won five straight conference titles, culminating in an undefeated season in 1956. In total, he won seven conference championships before passing the torch to Roy Kramer, who continued the program’s success. Kramer won two more conference crowns before the Chippewas became a Division II independent program in 1970. In 1974, Kramer guided CMU to the Division II national championship, the greatest accomplishment in program history that came right before the Chippewas joined the MAC.

MAC Kings

From their first season in the MAC, the Chippewas quickly became one of the league’s top programs. They finished first or second in the conference in five of their first six seasons, including back-to-back titles in 1979 and 1980 under Herb Deromedi, the winningest coach in MAC history.

Brian & Butch

After a brief descent into mediocrity, Brian Kelly brought Central Michigan back to the top, leading the Chippewas to a MAC title in 2006. Butch Jones followed Kelly’s footsteps, winning MAC championships in 2007 and 2009. Before leaving for better jobs, the two coaches laid a foundation for CMU to become a perennial bowl team and contender inside the MAC for many years to come.