The Eastern Michigan football team will be playing the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas on December 23 in its first bowl appearance since the 1987 season as the team will face Old Dominion University.
The last time Eastern Michigan competed in a bowl game they were known as the Huron’s, when it defeated San Jose State in the California Bowl. The team defeated the Spartans of San Jose, 30-27 in EMUs only bowl victory.
“We’re thrilled. I’m so happy for our coaches and our student athletes,” said Vice President of Athletics Heather Lyke. “I believe that the team was very surprised.”
This will mark the third season in a row where the Eastern Michigan football team will be facing Old Dominion. In 2014, the Eagles fell on the road 17-3 and in 2015 the team fell in the home opener 38-34.
This announcement comes after the Eagles completed a season where they went 7-5, after ending the season against Central Michigan with a 26-21 come-from-behind victory.
The team was told about an important meeting early on Monday morning where they found out what bowl they would be attending.
“There was a little bit of worry throughout the guys, I had to text coach Creighton to decipher what was going on and he said that there was nothing to worry and it was good news,” said redshirt sophomore linebacker Kyle Rachwal on the text about an emergency meeting.
The presentation started with a short video from third year head coach Chris Creighton who is on a recruiting trip talking about how proud he is of them. The players then were treated to a countdown that revealed that the team would be traveling to the Bahamas for the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl.
“You kind of picture what bowls you would like to go to and have your team and your family at, especially over Christmas break,” said redshirt junior quarterback Brogan Roback.
The Eagles will face off against Old Dominion on December 23 at 1 pm, and the broadcast will be on ESPN.