Two Eagles Win MAC Weekly Awards

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University football players Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) and Patrick Treppa (Livonia, Mich.-Stevenson) were singled out as Mid-American Conference West Division Players of the Week for the final week of the 2008 season.

Schmitt was named the West Division Offensive Player of the Week and Treppa was named the West Division Special Teams Player of the Week after the Eagles upset defending MAC champion Central Michigan, 56-52, Nov. 28, at home in Rynearson Stadium.

Schmitt, a 6-foot-4, 238-pound redshirt junior quarterback, came up with eight records, including one NCAA mark, to lead the Eagles to the win over CMU. Schmitt completed 58-of-80 passes for 516 yards and five touchdown passes and rushed nine times for 38 yards and one score against the Chippewas.

Schmitt's 58 completions against Central broke the NCAA collegiate record of 56 set by Jarrod DeGeorgia of Wayne State (Neb.) against Drake, Nov. 9, 1996. Schmitt set EMU and MAC single-game records for pass completions (58), and pass attempts (80), and established additional EMU records for passing yards (516), total offensive plays (89) and total offensive yards (554).

In addition to his MAC award, Schmitt was named the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The foundation honors one offensive and one defensive player of the week during the regular season. Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Treppa, a 5-foot-10, 157 pound redshirt sophomore, punted four times for a 40-yard average with a long of 49 yards and had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line against CMU. Treppa's 30-yard punt, under extreme pressure with less than two minutes left in the game, went out of bounds at the CMU 29-yard line, letting the defense set up a stand that helped the Eagles preserve the win.

Toledo football coach resigns after 3 losing years

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Toledo football coach Tom Amstutz is resigning.

The university said Monday that Amstutz (AM'-stuht-s) will step down at the end of the season.

Toledo is 2-6 and will finish the year with a losing record for the third straight time.

One of the two victories this season did come against Michigan, but the Rockets have lost two in a row since beating the Wolverines.

Amstutz is 57-38 in eight years at Toledo. He's taken the Rockets to four bowl games and two Mid-American Conference championships.

Ball State's season to be one of a kind without support

MUNCIE, Ind. -- It is early Saturday morning, though the sign outside the Ball State football facility reminds its players that it's actually Wednesday, at least in terms of preparation for Tuesday's upcoming game against Miami (Ohio).

Cardinals football coach Brady Hoke walks over to one side of a cavernous room and unfolds a large partition that provides a modicum of privacy. FULL STORY