2008–09 Mid-American Conference season

The 2008–09 Mid-American Conference season is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) sponsors 23 sports (11 men's and 12 women's). The MAC is made up of 12 full-time members and five affiliate members.

Mid-American Conference

Conference	NCAA
Founded	1946
Commissioner	Rick Chryst (since 1999)
Sports fielded	23 men's: 11 women's: 12
Division	Division I
Subdivision	FBS
No. of teams	12
Headquarters	Cleveland, Ohio
Region	Great Lakes
Official website	https://www.mac-sports.com/
Locations

The 2008–09 season is the 63rd season in existence.

Member schools

There are twelve schools with full membership:

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment
East Division
University of Akron	Zips	Akron, Ohio	1870	Public	24,704
Bowling Green State University	Falcons	Bowling Green, Ohio	1910	Public	22,882
University at Buffalo	Bulls	Buffalo, New York	1846	Public	28,054
Kent State University	Golden Flashes	Kent, Ohio	1910	Public	22,352
Miami University	RedHawks	Oxford, Ohio	1809	Public	20,126
Ohio University	Bobcats	Athens, Ohio	1804	Public	20,437
West Division
Ball State University	Cardinals	Muncie, Indiana	1918	Public	20,113
Central Michigan University	Chippewas	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	1892	Public	26,788
Eastern Michigan University	Eagles	Ypsilanti, Michigan	1849	Public	22,974
Northern Illinois University	Huskies	DeKalb, Illinois	1895	Public	25,313
University of Toledo	Rockets	Toledo, Ohio	1872	Public	19,706
Western Michigan University	Broncos	Kalamazoo, Michigan	1903	Public	24,818

Five schools have affiliate membership status:

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Sport
Chicago State University	Cougars	Chicago, Illinois	1867	Public	7,131	Men's tennis
Florida Atlantic University	Owls	Boca Raton, Florida	1964	Public	26,245	Men's soccer
Hartwick College	Hawks	Oneonta, New York	1797	Private	1,520	Men's soccer
Missouri State University	Lady Bears	Springfield, Missouri	1905	Public	17,425	Field hockey
Temple University	Owls	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1884	Public	34,218	Football

Reese and Jacoby trophies

The Reese and Jacoby trophies are awarded to the top men's and women's athletic departments in the Mid-American Conference.

Points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school. An institution may count either indoor track and field or outdoor track and field but not both.

Reese standings

Institution	BB	BKB	CC	FB	Golf	Soc	Sw	Ten	TFI	TFO	W	No. sports	Total	Avg
Kent State	10½	9½	9	5	12½	–	–	–	12	8	12	7	70½	10.07
Central Michigan	5	6	8	11½	–	–	–	–	4	6	10	6	46½	7.75
Eastern Michigan	6½	3½	12½	2½	11½	–	11	–	9	10	4	8	61½	7.69
Ohio	12	6	7	5	8	–	–	–	–	–	8	6	46	7.67
Ball State	9½	6	–	13	6	–	2½	8	–	–	–	6	45	7.50
Western Michigan	2	6	–	11½	–	5	–	12	–	–	–	5	36½	7.30
Akron	5	9½	5	5	1	12	–	–	7	12	–	7	49½	7.07
Miami	8½	9½	11½	1	5	–	8½	–	–	2	–	7	46	6.57
Bowling Green	13	12½	1	7½	2½	2	–	–	–	–	–	6	38½	6.42
NIU	3½	1½	–	9½	7	11	–	8	–	–	4	7	44½	6.36
Buffalo	1	12½	6	9½	–	9	5½	4	2	4	4	9	55½	6.17
Toledo	7½	1½	2½	2½	9	–	–	8	–	–	–	6	31	5.17
Temple *	–	–	–	7½	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	7½	7.50
Hartwick *	–	–	–	–	–	7	–	–	–	–	–	1	7	7.00
Florida Atlantic *	–	–	–	–	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	1	3	3.00
Chicago State *	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2	–	–	–	1	2	2.00

* Affiliate status only. Does not qualify for trophy.

Jacoby standings

Institution	BKB	CC	FH	Golf	Gym	SB	Soc	Sw	Ten	TFI	TFO	VB	No. sports	Total	Avg
Miami	6	13	10	–	–	–	5½	12½	12½	10	–	9½	8	79	9.9
Central Michigan	8½	9½	7	–	–	–	11¼	–	–	6½	–	9½	6	52¼	8.7
Western Michigan	2	4½	–	8½	–	–	8½	–	10¼	8½	–	13	7	55¼	7.9
Toledo	10½	7½	–	7	–	–	13	10	6½	3½	–	5	8	63	7.9
Kent State	7½	5½	12	12½	–	–	3½	–	–	12	–	2	7	55	7.9
Ohio	6	10½	7	5	–	–	4½	7	–	5½	–	12	8	57½	7.2
Akron	4½	12	–	8½	–	–	2	5	6½	13	–	5	8	56½	7.1
Eastern Michigan	3½	3½	–	11½	–	–	11¼	10	5	4½	–	3½	8	52¾	6.6
Bowling Green	13	8½	–	1	–	–	6½	2¼	8	2	–	9½	8	50¾	6.3
Ball State	12	2	3	6	–	–	6½	2¼	1	10	–	6½	9	49¼	5.5
Buffalo	1	6½	–	–	–	–	1	7	10¼	7½	–	1	7	34¼	4.9
NIU	9½	1	–	2½	–	–	7½	–	2½	1	–	7½	7	31½	4.5
Missouri State *	–	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	3	3.0

* Affiliate status only. Does not qualify for trophy.

Sports

Basketball (men's)

2008–09 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
East
Bowling Green	11	–	5		.688			19	–	14		.576
Buffalo	11	–	5		.688			21	–	12		.636
Miami	10	–	6		.625			17	–	13		.567
Akron †	10	–	6		.625			23	–	13		.639
Kent State	10	–	6		.625			19	–	15		.559
Ohio	7	–	9		.438			15	–	17		.469
West
Ball State	7	–	9		.438			14	–	17		.452
Central Michigan	7	–	9		.438			12	–	19		.387
Western Michigan	7	–	9		.438			10	–	21		.323
Eastern Michigan	6	–	10		.375			8	–	24		.250
Northern Illinois	5	–	11		.313			10	–	20		.333
Toledo	5	–	11		.313			7	–	25		.219
† Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Tournament

Main article: 2009 MAC men's basketball tournament

Players of the week

The following are the MAC men's basketball players of the week. Number of awards won this season are in parentheses.^[1]

Week Division Player School November 17 East Michael Bramos Miami West David Kool Western Michigan November 24 East Al Fisher Kent State West Anthony Newell Mike DiNunno Ball State NIU December 1 East Kenny Hayes Miami West Darion Anderson NIU December 8 East Michael Bramos (2) Miami West Anthony Newell (2) Ball State December 15 East Michael Bramos (3) Miami West Darion Anderson (2) NIU December 22 East Chris Singletary Kent State West Anthony Newel (3) David Kool (2) Ball State Western Michigan December 29 East Chris Knight Bowling Green West Justin Anyijong Toledo January 6 East Jerome Tillman Andy Robinson Ohio Buffalo West Jonathon Amos Toledo January 12 East Chris Knight (2) Bowling Green West David Kool (3) Western Michigan

Week Division Player School January 19 East Jerome Tillman (2) Ohio West Brandon Bowdry Eastern Michigan January 26 East Rodney Pierce Buffalo West Marcus Van Central Michigan February 2 East Tyler Dierkers Miami West Jarrod Jones Ball State February 9 East Nate Miller Bowling Green West Robbie Harman Central Michigan February 16 East Al Fisher (2) Kent State West Darion Anderson (3) NIU February 23 East Al Fisher (3) Kent State West Tyrone Kent Toledo March 2 East West March 9 East West

Basketball (women's)

Standings

Through March 8, 2009

East Team Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Bowling Green 15 1 .938 – 26 3 .897 Kent State 8 8 .500 7 19 9 .679 Ohio * 7 9 .438 8 12 17 .414 Miami 7 9 .438 8 15 14 .517 Akron 6 10 .375 9 11 18 .379 Buffalo 2 14 .125 13 6 23 .207

West Team Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Ball State 14 2 .875 – 22 8 .733 Toledo 11 5 .688 3 17 12 .586 NIU 10 6 .625 4 15 14 .517 Central Michigan 9 7 .563 5 17 13 .567 Eastern Michigan 4 12 .250 10 8 20 .286 Western Michigan 3 13 .188 11 7 22 .241

* Receives E3 seed based on 2–0 head-to-head record vs. Miami.

Tournament

Main article: 2009 MAC women's basketball tournament

Cross country (men's)

Eastern Michigan won its fourth consecutive MAC Championship in 2008. The All-MAC team consisted of Ryan Bloom (Buffalo), Josh Karanja (Eastern Michigan), Sammy Kiprotch (Central Michigan), Aiman Scullion (Kent State), Kevin Silver (Miami), Pat Sovacool (Miami) and Curtis Vollmar (Eastern Michigan).^[2]

Sovacool of Miami was the only runner to qualify for the NCAA Championship. He finished 65th overall.^[3]

In the preseason poll voted by the MAC head coaches, Eastern Michigan was chosen to win the 2008 men's MAC Cross Country Championship.^[4] EMU had won the past three MAC Championships and had five All-MAC runners returning.^[4]

MAC Championship results

1. Eastern Michigan, 42 points
2. Miami, 56
3. Kent State, 61
4. Central Michigan, 103
5. Ohio, 122
6. Buffalo, 169
7. Akron, 179
8. Toledo, 186
9. Bowling Green, 270

Players of the week

Week Player School September 2 Pat Sovacool Miami[5] September 9 Pat Sovacool (2) Miami[5] September 16 Tony Jordanek Kent State[5] September 23 Pat Sovacool (3) Miami[5] September 30 Shamus Eaton Ohio[5]

Week Player School October 7 Josh Karanja Eastern Michigan[5] October 14 R. P. White Eastern Michigan[5] October 21 Josh Karanja Eastern Michigan[6] October 28 Curtis Vollmar Eastern Michigan[7]

Cross country (women's)

MAC Championship results

1. Miami, 39 points
2. Akron, 81
3. Ohio, 107
4. Central Michigan, 141
5. Bowling Green, 147
6. Toledo, 165
7. Buffalo, 177
8. Kent State, 184
9. Western Michigan, 218
10. Eastern Michigan, 238
11. Ball State, 251
12. NIU, 355

Players of the week

Week Player School September 2 Laura Neufarth[5] Miami September 9 Kim Lorentz[5] Akron September 16 Laura Neufarth (2)[5] Miami September 23 Kim Lorentz (2)[5] Akron

Week Player School September 30 Kari Summers[5] Ohio October 7 Kim Lorentz (3)[5] Akron October 14 Kari Summers (2)[5] Ohio

Field hockey

Standings

Team	Conference				Overall
	W	L	Pct.	GB	W	L	Pct.
Kent State	9	1	.900	–	15	4	.789
Miami	7	3	.700	2	14	6	.700
Central Michigan	6	4	.600	3	7	11	.389
Ohio	6	4	.600	3	9	11	.450
Ball State	1	9	.100	8	2	16	.111
Missouri State	1	9	.100	8	6	14	.300

Football

2008 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Buffalo x$		5	–	3					8	–	6
Bowling Green		4	–	4					6	–	6
Temple		4	–	4					5	–	7
Ohio		3	–	5					4	–	8
Akron		3	–	5					5	–	7
Kent State		3	–	5					4	–	8
Miami (OH)		1	–	7					2	–	10
West Division
Ball State x		8	–	0					12	–	2
Central Michigan		6	–	2					8	–	5
Western Michigan		6	–	2					9	–	4
Northern Illinois		5	–	3					6	–	7
Toledo		2	–	6					3	–	9
Eastern Michigan		2	–	6					3	–	9
Championship: Buffalo 42, Ball State 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions

Ball State started the 2008 football season 12–0, going undefeated in conference play and defeating Indiana and Navy in out of conference games. BSU was ranked as high as 12th in the Associated Press Poll and 13th in the Coaches' Poll. They were also ranked 12th at one point in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings. However, Ball State was upset by Buffalo in the MAC Championship game, lost their bowl game vs. Tulsa and finished unranked in each of the polls.

In regular season non-conference games, the MAC defeated BCS opponents #25 Pittsburgh (Bowling Green won 27–17), Syracuse (Akron won 42–28), Indiana (Ball State won 42–20 and Central Michigan won 37–34), Illinois (Western Michigan won 23–17) and Michigan (Toledo won 13–10).

Despite having a successful non-conference record and gaining five bowl bids, the MAC finished the bowl season poorly. The MAC was the only conference to not win a bowl game and finished 0–5.

Golf (women's)

MAC Championship

1. Kent State (1217)

2. Eastern Michigan (1256)

3. Akron (1297)

3. Western Michigan (1297)

5. Toledo (1305)

6. Ball State (1313)

7. Ohio (1318)

8. NIU (1366)

9. Bowling Green (1401)

Soccer (men's)

Standings

Team	Conference					Overall
	W	L	T	Pct.	GB	W	L	T	Pct.
Akron	6	0	0	1.000	–	17	2	4	.826
NIU	4	1	1	.750	1½	11	6	4	.619
Buffalo	3	1	2	.667	2	12	4	4	.700
Hartwick	2	2	2	.500	3	7	5	7	.553
Western Michigan	2	4	0	.333	4	3	14	1	.194
Florida Atlantic	1	4	1	.250	4½	5	13	1	.289
Bowling Green	0	6	0	.000	6	4	13	2	.263

Soccer (women's)

Standings

Team	Conference					Overall
	W	L	T	Pct.	GB	W	L	T	Pct.
Toledo	8	2	1	.773	–	16	5	1	.750
Central Michigan	6	2	3	.682	1	12	5	3	.675
Eastern Michigan	6	2	3	.682	1	13	5	5	.630
Bowling Green	6	3	2	.636	1½	12	6	4	.636
Western Michigan	6	4	1	.591	2	7	11	1	.395
NIU	5	4	2	.545	2½	9	6	5	.575
Ball State	5	5	1	.500	3	9	10	1	.475
Miami	5	6	0	.455	3½	6	12	1	.342
Ohio	4	5	2	.455	3½	5	10	3	.361
Kent State	3	7	1	.318	5	6	11	1	.361
Akron	2	7	2	.273	5½	7	9	2	.444
Buffalo	0	9	2	.091	7½	4	10	4	.278

Swimming (men's)

Standings

Team	Conference					Overall
	W	L	Pct.	GB	W	L	Pct.
Eastern Michigan	3	0	1.000	–	5	2	.714
Miami	2	1	.667	1	4	7	.364
Buffalo	1	2	.333	2	4	3	.571
Ball State	0	3	.000	3	1	4	.200

MAC Championship results

1. Eastern Michigan, 1046.5 points
2. Buffalo, 639.5
3. Miami, 588
4. Ball State, 267

Swimming (women's)

Standings

Team	Conference					Overall
	W	L	Pct.	GB	W	L	Pct.
Miami	6	1	.857	–	10	2	.833
Eastern Michigan	5	2	.714	1	7	4	.636
Toledo	5	2	.714	1	6	5	.545
Ohio	4	3	.571	2	9	3	.750
Buffalo	4	3	.571	2	8	3	.727
Akron	2	5	.286	4	6	6	.500
Ball State	1	6	.143	5	2	7	.222
Bowling Green	1	6	.143	5	2	7	.222

MAC Championship results

1. Miami, 639½ points
2. Ohio, 611½
3. Toledo, 568½
4. Eastern Michigan, 497½
5. Akron, 347
6. Buffalo, 335
7. Bowling Green, 305½
8. Ball State, 200½

Track and field (men's)

Indoor MAC Championships

1. Kent State, 159 points
2. Eastern Michigan, 132
3. Akron, 109
4. Central Michigan, 64
5. Buffalo, 61

Track and field (women's)

Indoor MAC Championships

1. Akron, 126 points

2. Kent State, 101

3. Miami, 73

3. Ball State, 73

5. Western Michigan, 62

6. Buffalo, 52

7. Central Michigan, 44½

8. Ohio, 42½

9. Eastern Michigan, 42

10. Toledo, 35

11. Bowling Green, 11

12. NIU, 1

Volleyball

Tournament bracket

	November 18 Campus sites					November 21 SeaGate Centre					November 22 SeaGate Centre					November 23 SeaGate Centre
	8	Toledo	3
	9	Akron	1
						8	Toledo	0
						1	Western Michigan	3
											1	Western Michigan	3
											5	Bowling Green	1
	5	Bowling Green	3
	12	Buffalo	1
						5	Bowling Green	3
						4	Central Michigan	1
																1	Western Michigan	1
																2	Ohio	3
	7	Ball State	3
	10	Eastern Michigan	0
						7	Ball State	0
						2	Ohio	3
											2	Ohio	3
											3	Miami	1
	6	NIU	3
	11	Kent State	2
						6	NIU	2
						3	Miami	3

Standings

East Team Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Ohio 13 3 .813 – 21 7 .750 Bowling Green 12 4 .750 1 25 8 .758 Miami 12 4 .750 1 19 10 .655 Akron 5 11 .313 8 11 17 .393 Kent State 3 13 .188 10 13 17 .433 Buffalo 1 15 .063 12 6 25 .194

West Team Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Western Michigan 14 2 .875 – 24 4 .857 Central Michigan 12 4 .750 2 19 11 .633 NIU 9 7 .563 5 18 14 .563 Ball State 6 10 .375 8 12 21 .364 Toledo 5 11 .313 9 14 17 .452 Eastern Michigan 4 12 .250 10 9 22 .290

Wrestling

Standings

Team	Conference					Overall
	W	L	T	Pct.	GB	W	L	T	Pct.
Kent State	5	0	0	1.000	–	13	4	0	.765
Central Michigan	4	1	0	.800	1	17	3	1	.833
Ohio	3	2	0	.600	2	9	9	1	.500
Buffalo	1	4	0	.200	4	9	11	0	.450
Eastern Michigan	1	4	0	.200	4	7	11	0	.389
NIU	1	4	0	.200	4	5	8	0	.385

See also

• Mid-American Conference
• List of Mid-American Conference champions