DaytonDailyNews.com

DETROIT — The FBI investigation involving NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who allegedly gambled on games he worked, should be a somber reminder that similar problems "can happen any place and should be cautionary to us all," according to Mid-American Conference Commissioner Rick Chryst.

That's a fact he knows all too well. In March, University of Toledo running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle was arrested by FBI agents on charges involving a point-shaving scheme, and although the charges against McDougle were dropped, the FBI investigation into the scheme continues.

Chryst, speaking at Ford Field, site of the MAC Football Preview, said the NCAA gives background checks to basketball officials working NCAA tournament games and will do likewise for football officials working bowl games.

The commissioner said he is not aware of any MAC official who has been denied permission to work an NCAA tournament after a background check, a process which started in 1999.

Conference commissioners are due to meet next month, Chryst said, "and I would be shocked if (gambling and bribery issues) weren't discussed there."

A limited number of conferences — including the Big Ten and ACC — perform their own background checks for officials. The MAC does not.

Mark that date

It's almost four months away, but people are looking ahead to a nationally televised game that could, and should, have major title implications for the MAC West Division.

Two of the MAC's powerhouse teams will collide on Tuesday, Nov. 6, when Central Michigan plays at Western Michigan. The game will be carried by ESPN2. Central Michigan is the MAC's overall defending champion. Western Michigan was picked by the MAC News Media Association as this year's favorite by a two-point margin over CMU.

"The Central Michigan-Western Michigan game belongs on national TV, and has never been on national TV," Chryst said. "I think it'll be a great show, a game that warrants that kind of stage."

"It's going to be unreal," said Western Michigan senior center Robbie Krutilla. "It's going to show the world that it's not just Michigan and Michigan State that play in this state."

Purist fans will object to the game being played on a Tuesday, but not Krutilla.

"I like it," he said. "I'll probably get out of class the next day."

Chippewas fever

Butch Jones, who takes over as Central Michigan's head coach after two seasons as an assistant at West Virginia, intends to leave his own mark on the Chippewas.

That might take some doing.

The Chippewas won the MAC West title a year ago with a 7-1 record (10-4 overall) under coach Jeff Kelly, scorched the Ohio Bobcats 31-10 in the MAC Championship Game and then won the Motor City Bowl 31-14 over Middle Tennessee under the guidance of interim coach Jeff Quinn.

"I think they're going to see a very passionate, animated, intense yet confident (coach)," Jones said. "Our team will play with great intensity, fly around, and more than anything, a team that has fun.

"Your corner pieces are in place," added Jones, whose team returns 14 starters, "but you're building a mentality, a mindset, a culture.

"The great thing about our upperclassmen is that they've really bought into what we're doing ... I have confidence in what we're doing and I know it works. I think we can be better."

One task Jones faces will be to replace three players who were chosen in the NFL draft, including first-rounder Joe Staley, one of the conference's top offensive linemen of recent years.