Junior tight end Tyler Conklin is comforted after the Chippewas Miami Beach Bowl game on Dec. 19 at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida.
Mixed expectations surrounded the Central Michigan football team coming into the 2016 season.
In the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, college football writers predicted the Chippewas to finish fourth the West Division. CMU fans, on the other hand, felt optimistic with the return of senior quarterback Cooper Rush and the bulk of the nation’s No. 16 defense.
After a wild season, which featured ups, downs, miracles and heartbreaks, the Chippewas finished 6-7 and fifth in the MAC West in Head Coach John Bonamego’s second season.