OT: EMU Football Appreciation Thread; and Why EMU is Better Than Oklahoma
Eastern Michigan came from 21 points down last night to beat Ball State, and in so doing, became bowl-eligible for the first time since 1995. They didn't go to a bowl that year, but they likely will go to a bowl this year, because they'll likely need all the 6-6 teams they can get. EMU might even pick up a couple more wins.
I root for all the MAC teams in our state, and EMU has always been my second-favorite college football team (a distant second), so this made me especially happy. I like Eastern because I have a lot of friends who went there; and because they pose absolutely no threat to us in any way.
So if you're inclined to offer a little love to our Washtenaw County neighbors on their big day, here's your chance. I'm sure they're going to be losing their coach to a bigger program in a year or two, so let's enjoy it while we can.
Also, using the Transitive Property of Football, it's clear that EMU is better than Oklahoma:
EMU beat Wyoming, 27-24
Wyoming beat Air Force, 35-26
Air Force beat Navy, 28-14
Navy beat Houston, 46-40
Houston beat Oklahoma, 33-23
November 9th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
I liked EMU until they decided to not be the EMU Emu's which pissed me off
November 9th, 2016 at 1:57 PM ^
I'm upvoting an ak47 post? What planet am I on?
November 9th, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 7:22 PM ^
this was a missed opportunity and the first thing I thought of when they went to the mascot search.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
Never thought I'd see the day when they would make a bowl game... but never thought I'd see the day when I would ever want to watch them play either.
WE WANT BAMA! ... Southern Alabama that is.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
going to take them.
EMU is one of the least attractive draws for any bowl game trying to fill their stadium and get anyone to watch it on TV.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
1. You are just a blast at parties.
2. A jealous MSU fan
November 9th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
3-6 NIU and a 5-5 CMU team, so I think they can get at least one more.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^
6 wins will get you in. They will play in a bowl game, I just hope there are enough 6 win teams to fill all the bowl games as I don't think a 5-7 team should play in a bowl game.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
I just hope there's enough 4-8 teams so a 3-9 Spartan team doesn't make it to a bowl game.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
Have them finish 2-10, then go to a bowl and lose so they go 2-11. Only thing better would be 0-13.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
Assuming this info from ESPN is correct, the MAC has four bowl tie-ins. There is no way that EMU misses all four of these, especially if WMU gets elevated to a larger bowl.
Dec. 17: Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Ala.
Sun Belt vs. MAC
Dec. 19: Miami Beach Bowl2:30 p.m., ESPN
Marlins Park, Miami, Fla.
American vs. MAC
Dec. 22: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
7 p.m., ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Mountain West vs. MAC
Dec. 23: Dollar General Bowl
8 p.m., ESPN
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
MAC vs. Sun Belt
November 9th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^
Plus, EMU is one of only four teams currently bowl eligible in the MAC. I think they are in pretty good shape.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
is where I've seen them projected to land if they get a draw.
Fingers crossed.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Idaho potato bowl would be a good place to fire up some chips
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November 9th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
you are brilliant
November 9th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
Gosh that list is just sad.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:39 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
Remember 2008. It's all relative
November 10th, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^
Is that some kind of reference to Jackie Gleason and the Honeymooners?
"Thanks Ralph, it's back to the sewers."
November 9th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
you saw a mid-December bowl game with a full stadium? It's really not a priority for those bowls to sell tickets.
November 9th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
Chris Creighton deserves to be MAC Coach of the Year at this rate, and is probably in line for a raise. Don't even care about whatever PJ Fleck accomplishes this year. It pales by comparison.
EMU is a football black hole. They are the SCLSU Mud Dogs of real life college football. They've been known only for losing, and there is not one remote semblance of a fanbase that even cares what happens to that team. And who in Ypsi really gives two shits about EMU football when you've got one of the best programs in the country playing at an elite level only a few miles down the road? In addition to crappy football, they are constantly fighting indifference in their own community.
The fact that he got this program to a bowl game is nothing short of amazing. EMU is probably one of the hardest places in America to win football games. If not the hardest. If he wins another game or two, and builds upon this performancen next year, he will be in line for some good jobs for 2018.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^
Seems like EMU and Idaho are right there at the top for hardest FBS jobs. Winning 6 or more games at EMU is a noteworthy accomplishment
November 9th, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
if you've been to ypsi and idaho, you'd pick idaho 100 times out of 100. well, possibly excepting the white castle that used to be in ypsi, (still there?), that might be a draw.
kudos to that EMU coach.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^
blows. Source? I went to high school there. Also, whoever downvoted your post was incorrect.
Idaho >>> Ypsi.
November 9th, 2016 at 4:01 PM ^
Yeah, but the talent pool in the state of Idaho consists of like three kids who all go to Boise State. Ypsi may be kind of a hole, but at least EMU can sell a few players on the idea of staying home. Plus Idaho got kicked out of their conference so hard they fell all the way to FCS.
November 9th, 2016 at 8:25 PM ^
and it's got some great hunting and fishing. ypsi? not so.
November 9th, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
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November 9th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
the last two years.
This years defense reminds me of UM in 2011 in their improvment in one year.
The last game I went to their top corner gave up three straight 50 yard bombs down the sideline for TD's. They were BAD.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
Really would be great to have EMU be a UM farm system. They take 2 or 3* guys with decent ceilings and have them transfer to UM if they pan out. Then they take all our 4 and 5* guys that don't pan out. I bet they'd consistently be the 2nd best team in the MAC.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
Send out Grad Assistants there to coach positions and move up to us once they get experience
November 9th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
I went to EMU for undergrad and am currently working on my PhD there as well. I have gone to a couple games this season and while there isn't nearly as much support as other football programs, it has been pretty exciting to see home attendance close to triple what it was last year. I recognize that still isn't saying much, but it's nice seeing them draw more than a high school team. Not to mention that the team is relatively competent which is a credit to Coach Creighton and his staff. This will be the first year that they (likely) make a bowl game in my lifetime. Gonna enjoy it while it lasts.
And yeah, we're totally better than Oklahoma.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:38 PM ^
Dang, you have 12 MGoPoints after being a member for six years! That is truly impressive.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^
if we can get him to 100 . . . .
November 9th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^
I've actually been reading the blog for closer to 10 years... I just don't engage very often and instead find myself talking to friend saying did you hear what (Brian, Ace, Heiko, TomVH, and so on) said?!
November 9th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
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November 9th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
That was one to forget
November 9th, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
Now I need to forget that I remembered forgetting
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November 9th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
Yes, EMU made it 16-14 early in the third quarter but they didn't score again until there was under a minute left in a 33-14 game. Was it closer than it should've been? Definitely yes.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
Pops played Running back at Eastern while Lloyd was the DB Coach and raised us as Michigan Fans from the day I was born. He talked about the first weekend after I was born holding me like a football and watching the game in the hospital.
One of my first college football memories was the game that EMU changed from the Hurons to the Eagles and the former player reunion and watching the game from the press box.
Dad passed away in April, can't help but think that our season so far and Eastern's resurgence have him smiling somewhere. Can't imagine what he's finding to complain about this season. Happy for that team having some success. GO BLUE!
November 9th, 2016 at 3:11 PM ^
Western, Eastern, and Central all should receive props because of how much better each team is performing. Seriously. Aside from MSU, all Michigan teams are beasting it up this year.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
FYI: Central @ Eastern is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving if you're in Ann Arbor and would like to attend a fairly major directional game without missing any important football. $10. May be for bowl eligibility for Central.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
Eastern beat Ohio 27-20
Ohio beat Kent State
Kent State beat Central
Central beat Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State beat Pitt
Pitt beat Penn State
Penn State beat Ohio State
EASTERN MICHIGAN IS BETTER THAN OHIO STATE!!!
November 9th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
If I am applying the transitive property correctly, then EMU would beat Oklahoma 65-23.
November 9th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
November 9th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
There was some talk about discontinuing the EMU football program or putting it in a lower division, and all of a sudden they're 6-4. Sure, they're in the MAC, but still an impressive accomplishment, and they can certainly end up 8-4.
November 9th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
Some folks on Twitter were jokingly throwing around the idea of Chris Creighton to Purdue, solely on the basis - and I see their point - that anyone who can get EMU to play a halfway decent football must indeed be a sorcerer on the Belichick level. Well, maybe not on THAT level, but somewhere in the neighborhood.