DETROIT – Miami and Toledo were the surprise of the Mid-American Conference football season in 2010.
Miami became the first team in college football FBS history to go from double digit losses (1-11 in 2009)
to double digit wins (10-4 in 2010) in consecutive years. The RedHawks beat Northern Illinois in the MAC
title game and then topped Middle Tennessee State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Toledo went from 5-7 in 2009 to 8-5 in 2010, earning a berth in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford
Field. The Rockets lost to Florida International in the bowl game.
This season, Miami and Toledo are the selections of the MAC media to win the East and West, respectively.
The Rockets are also the choice to win the MAC championship game. The vote was announced at the annual
football meetings at Detroit’s Ford Field Tuesday.
Tim Beckman, now in his third year as Toledo’s head coach, said the Rockets didn’t get what they wanted
last season which was a MAC championship and a victory in a bowl game. A former assistant coach at
Bowling Green State University, Beckman, the rest of the coaching staff and the players are wearing a
wrist band this season to remind them of the date of the 2011 MAC title game.
Bowling Green was picked to finish fifth in the MAC East.
Dave Clawson, in his third year at Bowling Green, was not concerned with the poll, saying the MAC was one
of the few conferences in which a team could flip its position in the standings in just one year.
"We’re not going to use this as motivation, but I think our players expect us to be good this year.
We expect to have a successful season. I’m not going to bring up where we were picked at all – if (the
players) read it, they read it," Clawson said.
"We definitely have to turn it around a little bit – a lot, actually – off of a 2-10 season. We can
ignore the prediction to finish fifth in the MAC and show people what we are really about. That’s what
we have worked for all winter and all spring," said BG junior linebacker Dwayne Woods Jr.
The complete voting totals were: East, 1) Miami, four firsts, 97 points; 2) Ohio, eight firsts, 96
points; 3) Temple, four firsts, 88 points; 4) Kent State, 57 points; 5) Bowling Green, 48 points; 6)
Buffalo, 37 points; 7) Akron, 25 points; and West, 1) Toledo, eight firsts, 83 points; 2) Northern
Illinois, five firsts, 81 points; 3) Western Michigan, two firsts, 76 points; 4) Central Michigan, one
first, 55 points; 5) Ball State, 27 points; 6) Eastern Michigan, 24 points.
Toledo received five votes to win the MAC title with Northern Illinois and Miami each getting three and
Ohio and Western Michigan each receiving one. Three voters did not select a winner for the championship
game.
LOCAL GRADS: Six players from Wood County high schools are on MAC rosters this season.
Perrysburg graduate T.J. Fatinikun is a junior linebacker at Toledo. He was sixth on the team last season
with 51 tackles, including 13 tackles for 49 yards in losses with five sacks for 30 yards in losses.
Fatinikun led the team in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks. He also led the team with four
forced fumbles.
Fatinikun is up to 258 pounds, according to Beckman.
"He’s gotten bigger and he is dedicated to being the best he can be," Beckman said.
Fatinikun will be moved around and will rush the passer as well as drop into coverage.
Aaron Mershman, a Bowling Green High School graduate, is a redshirt sophomore H-back/tight end at Ball
State. Mershman made the change from quarterback last season.
Mershman had 13 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown last season. He also made two tackles on special
teams.
Mershman has made a big impression on new head coach Pete Lembo.
"He picks things up quickly … He can see the big picture," Lembo said. "He is very
passionate and intense on the field."
Mershman pulled a hamstring and missed the first week of spring practice. He then had his tonsils removed
early this summer and lost about 20 pounds.
Lembo said Mershman has regained the weight and is back up to 232 pounds.
"To his credit he battled through adversity," Lembo said.
Derek Batt, a freshman from BGHS, is a preferred walk-on at Toledo.
"Derek’s here taking summer school classes," Beckman said. "We’re going to play him at
linebacker. He has the work ethic and he has leadership capabilities."
Trey Hunter, from Eastwood High School, is a senior wide receiver at Eastern Michigan.
Hunter battled injuries most of the 2010 season, but still managed to see action in six games, three as a
starter. He caught eight passes for 100 yards, including a career-long 49 yarder against Ohio. He had
receptions in four of the six games he played.
Clay Rolf, from Eastwood High School, is a redshirt freshman tight end at Bowling Green.
Zach Akenberger, from BGHS, is a fifth-year senior at Bowling Green. Akenberger is recovering from a
broken leg.
TV: Bowling Green has two games as part of the MAC television package – Oct. 8 at Western Michigan on
SportsTime Ohio with a 2 p.m. kickoff; and Oct. 15 at home with Toledo on the ESPN Game Plan with
kickoff at noon
REALIGNMENT: Discussions are on-going as to the realignment of the MAC when Massachusetts joins the
conference as a football-only member for the 2012 season, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said
Tuesday. He said an announcement about the new division setup could be made during the upcoming football
season.
The main criteria being considered are geography, travel distances and rivalries, Steinbrecher said.