Brunner Named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week

CLEVELAND, OH - Central Michigan University senior quarterback Brian Brunner of Hartford (Wisc.) Union High School was named the Mid-American Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week.

In only his fourth career start, Brian Brunner completed 35-of-53 passes for a school-record 485 yards and four touchdowns and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run to lead Central Michigan to a 37-34 win at Indiana.

It was the Chippewas' first win over a Big Ten opponent since 1992. Brunner's 35 completions is tied for the second-highest single-game total in school history.

Each of his four touchdown passes tied the score after Indiana had taken four separate seven-point leads in the game. His yardage total is the highest in any game for any MAC quarterback in 2008 and is the highest by any quarterback against any Big Ten team this season.

Brunner was named Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts and was one of four nationwide nominees for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week award.

The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.

The senior carries a 3.89 grade point average as a journalism major.

CMU returns to action Wednesday, Nov. 12 at Northern Illinois. ESPN2 will televise the contest, set for a 7 p.m. Central Time kickoff.