Don Chiodo, 54, the long time voice of the Chippewas was killed in a crash along M-46.

Just days before Central plays for the MAC Championship in Detroit, their teams' play-by-play announcer was killed in a car-truck accident along M-46 just west of Alma Wednesday.

Chiodo is a graduate of CMU, and has been their play-by-play announcer for football and basketball since 2010. Prior to that he had been their sideline announcer and halftime host. He had also held other radio sports announcing jobs around the state.

According to his obituary in the Detroit News:

Chiodo was known for his loyal-to-the-core take on Central Michigan athletics, picking the Chippewas every year in the preseason media poll to win the MAC football championship. He gave Central Michigan its lone first-place vote this year, coming off a 1-11 season, and the Chippewas rewarded his faith by winning the MAC West. Central Michigan will play Miami (Ohio) at noon Saturday at Ford Field for the MAC title.

In a tribute to Chiodo on social media Wednesday night, Central Michigan fans took to adding a "1" to their profile names, a nod to his always picking the Chippewas first.

In his full-time job, Chiodo was a financial adviser and owner of Central Michigan Investment Services.

Chiodo is survived by wife Kimberley, and two daughters. Arrangements are pending.

Current CMU Football coach Jim McIlwain added this tribute on the CMU Athletics web site:

"Today we lost a true CMU Chippewa; someone who cared deeply about our program. Working with Don was a real pleasure as it was clear he had a passion for CMU and our success. We will all rally around his family through this tragedy and ensure they know how much Don meant to this program and university."

Perhaps Chiodo's most famous call was the amazing hook and lateral play that CMU ran on the final play of the Bahamas Bowl against Western Kentucky in 2014.

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