The 2009 Mid-American Conference football season is an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 7, 2010. The Mid-American Conference consists of twelve full-time members, with Temple University holding an affiliate membership for football.
Previous season
Ball State entered the 2008 MAC Championship Game undefeated and as the champion of the West Division. This was also their first ever appearance in the game.[2] Ranked #12 in the country, they faced East Division champion Buffalo in the annual contest held at Ford Field. That was Buffalo's first appearance as well. The Bulls upset Ball State and took the MAC Championship, giving Ball State their first loss of the season.
After the championship game ended, four MAC football head coaches either resigned or were fired from their teams. This began with Ball State's coach Brady Hoke, who resigned to pursue a head coaching job at San Diego State University.[3] He was replaced by Stan Parrish for the 2009 season.[4] Parrish was promoted internally after serving as Ball State's assistant football coach for four seasons. The only other head coaching change in the West Division was in Eastern Michigan where Jeff Genyk, head coach for the past five years, was fired after a combined 15–42 record.[5] He was replaced by Ron English, who served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for five years as well as the University of Louisville during the 2008 season.[6]
In the East Division, two schools also saw head coaching changes. Miami University's head coach Shane Montgomery resigned after a 2–10 record in the 2008 season.[7] His best season at Miami was in 2005 when he led the team to a 7–4 overall record and a tie for the MAC East title. However, in that season Akron won the tiebreaker to play in the MAC Championship Game against West champion Northern Illinois. Montgomery was replaced by Mike Haywood who served four years as Notre Dame University's offensive coordinator.[8] At Bowling Green, six-year head coach Gregg Brandon was fired.[9] However, Brandon did find another job in college football when he was named the new University of Virginia offensive coordinator.[10] He was replaced at Bowling Green by Dave Clawson, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee.[11]
Preseason
Preseason poll
The 2009 MAC Preseason Poll was announced at the Football Media Preview in Detroit on July 31.[12] In the East Division, Buffalo was selected to repeat as divisional champions, and Central Michigan selected to top the West. Also, Central Michigan received 18 votes to win the MAC Championship Game.
Opening weekend for the Mid-American Conference consisted of six home games and six away games. Also, Miami faced Kentucky in a battle contested at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bowling Green, Kent State, and Buffalo were the only teams to win the opening weekend. Buffalo was also the only team to win an away game as their season opener.
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Coach of the Year: Al Golden, Temple
Offensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Robinson, Temple
Special Teams Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Bernard Pierce, Temple
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All Conference Teams
2009 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Center – Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Allen Ollenburger, Central Michigan
Offensive Linemen – Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois
Offensive Linemen – Darius Morris, Temple
Offensive Lineman – Colin Madison, Temple
Tight End – Jesse Rack, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Stephen Williams, Toledo
Running Back – Bernard Pierce, Temple
Running Back – Chad Spann, Northern Illinois
Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio
2009 All-MAC First Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Lee Renfro, Ohio
Outside Linebacker – Elijah Joseph, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Nick Bellore, Central Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Cobrani Mixon, Kent State
Down Lineman – Andre Neblett, Temple
Down Lineman – Adrian Robinson, Temple
Down Lineman – Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Down Lineman – Frank Zombo, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Barry Church, Toledo
Defensive Back – Davonte Shannon, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple
Defensive Back – Brian Lainhart, Kent State
Punter – Matt Rinehart, Kent State
2009 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Chris Garrett, Ohio
Punt Return Specialist – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
2009 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Center – Colin Miller, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Peter Bittner, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Brandon Brooks, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Anthony Parker, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Devin Tyler, Temple
Tight End – Jimmy Scheidler, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Eric Page, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Taylor Price, Ohio
Wide Receiver – LaVon Brazill, Ohio
Running Back – Brandon West, Western Michigan
Running Back – MiQuale Lewis, Ball State
Placekicker – Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois
2009 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan
Outside Linebacker – Robert Eddins, Ball State
Inside Linebacker – Brian Wagner, Akron
Inside Linebacker – Noah Keller, Ohio
Down Lineman – Brandon Crawford, Ball State
Down Lineman – Jake Coffman, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Monte Simmons, Kent State
Down Lineman – Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Mike Newton, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Thad Turner, Ohio
Defensive Back – Josh Gordy, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Miguel Graham, Akron
Punter – Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan
2009 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – James Nixon, Temple
Punt Return Specialist – LaVon Brazill, Ohio
2009 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green
Center – John Palumbo, Temple
Offensive Lineman – Joe Flading, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Shane Steffy, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Chris Rodgers, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Corey Woods, Akron
Tight End – Steve Maneri, Temple
Wide Receiver – Robert Arnheim, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Juan Nunez, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Armand Robinson, Miami
Wide Receiver – Brett Hamlin, Buffalo
Running Back – DaJuane Collins, Toledo
Running Back – Me'co Brown, Northern Illinois
Placekicker – Alex Steigerwald, Toledo
2009 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Andre Hatchett, Eastern Michigan
Outside Linebacker – Amara Kamara, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Alex Joseph, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Archie Donald, Toledo
Down Lineman – Almondo Sewell, Akron
Down Lineman – Ernie Hodge, Ohio
Down Lineman – Larry Knight, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Sean Murnane, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Gerald Moore, Ohio
Defensive Back – Dominique Harris, Temple
Defensive Back – Anthony Kokal, Miami
Defensive Back – Jalil Carter, Akron
Punter – Ben Armer, Western Michigan
2009 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Dashan Miller, Akron
Punt Return Specialist – Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois