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Quinn makes coaching debut for Central Michigan

Dec 26, 2006 - 7:40 PM Middle Tenn (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (9-4) December 26 Motor City Bowl 7:30 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- After its first conference title in 12 years, Central Michigan will have a different coach for its bowl appearance.

Jeff Quinn will guide the Chippewas on an interim basis as they look for their 10th victory of the season when they meet Middle Tennessee at the Motor City Bowl.

Former coach Brian Kelly fulfilled a promise made three years ago to wake a sleeping giant by taking Central Michigan to the Mid-American Conference championship game, where it posted a 31-10 victory over Ohio.

Days later, Kelly left the Chippewas to become the new coach at Cincinnati. Central Michigan acted quickly by temporarily giving the job to Quinn, who was an associate coach and oversaw the offensive line the past three seasons.

Damien Linson caught seven passes for a MAC title game record 191 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown against the Bobcats. Dan LeFevour completed 22-of-30 passes for 314 yards and three TDs for Central Michigan, which won seven of its last eight contests.

The Chippewas led the conference in points (29.6) and were second in total offense (380.2) and passing (252.4).

Middle Tennessee makes its first bowl appearance as a Division I school and fifth in school history. The Blue Raiders' most recent bowl game was in the 1964 Grantland Rice bowl.

After winning four consecutive games, Sun Belt Conference champion Middle Tennessee closed the regular season with consecutive losses to South Carolina and Troy. The Blue Raiders yielded 52 points to the Gamecocks before failing to hold a 13-point lead in a 21-20 defeat to the Trojans.

Despite the late-season slump, coach Rick Stockstill guided the team to seven victories, the most for a first-year coach at Middle Tennessee since Charles Murphy went 9-1 in 1947.

Senior quarterback Clint Marks will end his career second in school history in attempts, completions and yards. He is 643-of-975 for 7,091 yards and 37 touchdowns.

This will be the first meeting between the schools.