CMU Leads MAC in Average Home Attendance

MOUNT PLEASANT - For the second time in three seasons, Central Michigan University has led the Mid-American Conference in average attendance at its home football games.

The Chippewas averaged 22,659 fans at their five home games in 2008, with four of the five crowds in excess of 20,000. The season was highlighted by a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record crowd of 30,302 for CMU's 38-28 win over Western Michigan on Oct. 18. It was the first sellout since the stadium's expansion in 1998.

Central Michigan was the only MAC school to average more than 20,000 fans at its home football games in 2008.

A total of 113,294 fans attended CMU's five home games in 2008. That figure was second only to Ball State, which drew 115,204 fans to its six home games.

CMU's average attendance of 22,659 was its highest since 1986. The Chippewas' total attendance of 113,294 was the highest since 1990 (121,270 for six home games) and the highest for a five-game home schedule since 1986.

CMU also led the MAC in attendance in 2006.

The Chippewas finished the 2008 regular season 8-4 overall, 6-2 in the MAC. It marks the first time since 1978-80 that CMU has won at least eight games in three consecutive seasons.