The Eastern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics had another record-setting season with the Green and White finishing near the top in the battle for the Mid-American Conference all-sports championships.
The EMU women’s athletic program finished in third-place in the race for the Jacoby Trophy, while the men’s athletic program turned in its eight consecutive top-five finish in the battle for the Reese Trophy with a fourth-place finish.
The Eastern Michigan women’s soccer team’s championship was the highest finish for the women’s program, which finished in the top three for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Kent State University won the women’s team title with a 9.167 average followed by Central Michigan (8.667), Eastern Michigan (7.93), Buffalo (7.78), Miami (7.67), Akron (7.35), Toledo (7.02), Bowling Green (6.68), Ohio (6.72), Western Michigan (6.05), Northern Illinois (5.40), and Ball State (5.04), respectively.
The Eagle men finished fourth in the 2013-14 race, with Akron claiming the championship (9.93 average). Kent State had a 7.68 average for its men’s sports followed by Toledo at 7.50. Rounding out the final standing was EMU (7.44), Ball State (6.91), Western Michigan (6.80), Central Michigan (6.50), Buffalo (6.10), Ohio (5.91), Bowling Green (5.91), Northern Illinois (5.85), and Miami (5.64).
The Jacoby Trophy is awarded to the top women’s athletic program in the MAC. The trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby, who served as commissioner from 1971-1982 and is credited with incorporating women’s athletics into the conference structure.
The Reese Trophy is presented to the top men’s athletic program and is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese. Reese was the first MAC commissioner and served the league from its inception in 1946 until he retired in 1964.
For both the Reese and Jacoby trophies, points are awarded based on each school’s finish in their MAC-sponsored sports. For the first time, institutions were able to count both indoor track and outdoor track and field. Previously they were able to count one or the other. The overall total points are divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school, resulting in an average point total. The school with the highest average is awarded the trophy.
Eastern has won the Reese Trophy four times, capturing the title in 1987-88, 1990-91, 1995-96, and 2007-08. The Green and White tied for second in 2008-09 and 2011-12. They won second place in 2007-08 and were third in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
The Eagle women were runners up for the Jacoby Trophy in 1988-89 and 1990-91, however they have yet to clinch a first place finish.
