Football - The Eastern Echo

New Eastern Michigan head football coach Chris Creighton speaks at his introductory press conference Thursday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

Creighton introduced as EMU coach

By Al Willman · Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013

The bitterly cold weather did not stop nearly 100 people from attending Thursday’s news conference introducing new Eastern Michigan University football coach Chris Creighton in the atrium of the Convocation Center.

Creighton hired as EMU football coach

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University Athletic Department announced the hiring of Chris Creighton as the Eagles’ football coach, replacing interim coach Stan Parrish, who took over after Ron English was fired in November.

Johnson shines in the MAC Championship Game

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013

On a Friday night where Jordan Lynch was expected to take center stage, Bowling Green State University quarterback Matt Johnson had other thoughts as he threw for a Mid-American Conference Championship record five touchdowns, but getting the title mattered more than an individual feat.

EMU coaching search expands

By Eugene Evans · Friday, Dec. 6, 2013

According to a source, Colorado State University-Pueblo head coach John Wristen was in Ypsilanti on Thursday being interviewed by Eastern Michigan University athletic director Heather Lyke for the same position.

EMU tight end Tyreese Russell takes a moment before kickoff in Eastern Michigan's 42-10 loss to Central Michigan Friday afternoon in Mount Pleasant.

EMU Football: Year in Review

By Derrick Vergolini · Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University football team’s 18th consecutive season without a winning record kept the bad taste in the fans’ mouths.

The field was coated in a thin layer of snow before EMU's game against CMU on 29 November in Mt. Pleasant.

Five things to take away from EMU's 42-10 loss to Central Michigan

By Al Wilman · Monday, Dec. 2, 2013

Five things to take away from Eastern Michigan University’s 42-10 loss at Central Michigan University.

Michigan's two-point gamble fails as it falls to Ohio State, 42-41

By Eugene Evans · Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013

With the Ohio State University’s run game wearing down the University of Michigan’s defense, coach Brady Hoke realized he wanted to win the game on the last drive and held nothing back. “We weren’t doing a good job slowing [Ohio State] down,” Hoke said.

EMU running back Bronson Hill blows by during the fourth quarter of the Eagles' game on 29 November in Mt. Pleasant.

EMU blown out by Central Michigan, 42-10

By Eugene Evans · Friday, Nov. 29, 2013

For interim coach Stan Parrish, the long and trying season is finally in the books and admitted about English’s firing not making things any easier on the team. “The long saga is over,” Parrish said.

The Athletic Department has been invited to take part in the discussion.

Forum to discuss EMU athletics moved

By Al Willman and Eugene Evans · Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013

On Dec. 5, Eastern Echo Sports Editor Eugene Evans and Managing Editor Al Willman will host a panel discussion on the state of Eastern Michigan University football and other athletic programs.

Eagles offense absent in 58-7 loss to Bowling Green

By Derrick Vergolini · Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013

Eastern Michigan University’s 65 total yards was 495 short of Bowling Green State University’s total on Saturday. Only four of those yards came from the Eagles’ passing game in a 58-7 loss to BGSU on Senior Day at Rynearson Stadium. “We tried about everything we had,” interim coach Stan Parrish said.

Dustin Creel's first of two receptions in the game. The Industry, Pa native's second catch was a touchdown.

Football to take on BGSU at home Saturday

By Derrick Vergolini · Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013

For Eastern Michigan University, stringing wins together has been a challenge over the past two seasons. The last time the team won back-to-back games was in 2011, over Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University.

Al Willman can be heard every week on the Eastern Echo Sports Podcast with Sports Editor Eugene Evans. The podcast can be found on SoundCloud or by searching for the podcast on iTunes.

COLUMN: EMU football will rise again

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University football team just fired its head coach, the last thing the fans need are people calling for the team to drop down a division or, even worse, cut the program altogether.

COLUMN: Eastern should drop its football program

By Eugene Evans · Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

There comes a time in life where one must realize when a situation is so inoperable that you have to pull the plug on even if you do not want to.

Roback's scored on a 2-point conversion to tie the game with less than a minute left in regulation

EMU football team looks to regroup for final two games

By Derrick Vergolini · Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for EMU. The past four weeks have been a wild ride for the football team here at Eastern Michigan University.

Ron English relieved of duties as football coach

By Echo Staff · Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013

Eastern Michigan University’s Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Heather Lyke, announced Friday that coach Ron English had been relieved of his duties effective immediately.

COLUMN: English lost his team's respect, then his job.

By Al Willman · Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013

Ron English proved me right. That was going to be my lead for the column I had planned on writing, after the Eastern Michigan University football coach was fired Friday. I was going to applaud his firing, though curiously timed, because I thought it should have been done a year ago.

EMU fans and students react to English’s firing

By Robert Jones · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

During Saturday’s game between Western Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University, fans and students talked about the firing of Ron English and what the program should do going forward. “He was 11-46 and I think it’s just time for a change,” EMU freshman Connor Comps said.

Ryan Brumfield had 148 yards on 15 carries

Trick play to tie the game in the last minute leads to OT win for EMU

By Derrick Vergolini · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

Being the closest to winning a game since week one, Eastern Michigan University lined up for a two-point conversion in an effort to tie Western Michigan University with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter. “We practiced [this] two-point play since the first day we got here last spring,” EMU interim head coach Stan Parrish said. Freshman quarterback Brogan Roback took the snap and handed it to Ryan Brumfield.

English regrets using homosexual slurs

By Eugene Evans · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

On Saturday, former Eastern Michigan University head coach Ron English was interviewed by the Associated Press a day after being fired by Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke for using “inappropriate language.” In the interview, English talks about using the wrong choice of words. “As a man who has coached 21 years, obviously, on this occasion and particular meeting, I lost my poise, got upset and used language that was inappropriate, particularly as it pertains to homosexual slurs.

The recording that cost Ron English his job

By Al Willman · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

The Eastern Echo was able to obtain from The Detroit News a copy of the recording which clearly shows former Eastern Michigan University head football coach Ron English berating his players.