Sports

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.

Students vs. Alumni basketball game heads to Convo

By Al Willman · Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

For two years, Eastern Michigan University students have been on the losing side in the annual Students vs. Alumni basketball game at the REC/IM. Senior co-captain Dominique Wade said he hopes this year is different.

EMU forward Karrington Ward throws down a two handed dunk against Concordia Tuesday night. Ward led all scorers with 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds in Eastern Michigan’s 95-50 win over Concordia.

Ward shines in 95-50 victory over Concordia

By Eugene Evans · Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013

In his second game, junior forward Karrington Ward appears to be finding the right chemistry with his Eastern Michigan University teammates.

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.

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: 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.

EMU freshman guard Cha’Ron Sweeney scored 25 points in 25 minutes played in Eastern Michigan's 101-52 win over Madonna Friday afternoon.

Women's basketball team opens season with 101-45 blowout vs. Madonna

By Al Willman · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

Behind a 25 point performance from freshman Cha’Ron (Cha) Sweeney, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team easily defeated the Madonna University Crusaders, 101-52, Friday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

Eagle forward Karrington Ward made his EMU debut Friday and put up 17 points in 16 minutes played.

Men's basketball team takes care of Albion in regular season opener, 77-45

By Al Willman · Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team opened its season Friday afternoon with a 77-45 victory over the Albion College Britons at the Convocation Center.

BREAKING NEWS: English relieved of his coaching duties effective immediately

By Al Willman , Eugene Evans and Derrick Vergolini · Friday, Nov. 8, 2013

Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke announced Friday that head coach Ron English has been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Lyke issued a further statement through EMU Athletics early Saturday afternoon on the decision to relieve English from coaching duties: “I received a tape of a situation in which Coach English had addressed the team and used wholly inappropriate language. We hold our coaches and staff to high standards of professionalism and conduct and there is no place, particularly in a student environment, where this language is appropriate. The statements made by Coach English are absolutely unacceptable. My decision to make a change in leadership of our football program was the culmination of a lot of factors including the comprehensive review of our program, the competitive performance and this tape. Our primary interest is in the well being and success of our student-athletes and this will continue to be our priority in every decision we make and every action we take. My focus moving forward is on the quality of our student-athletes’ experience as well as the search process for the next leader of our football program.”

EMU soccer falls 1-0 in the MAC Semifinals

By Eugene Evans · Friday, Nov. 8, 2013

An early goal by sophomore defender Lindsey Lee turned out to be difference as the Eastern Michigan University soccer team lost to Western Michigan University 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals at Scicluna Field. Lee scored unassisted in the ninth minute on a rebound directly off of sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe after making the initial save. “Again, those early goals (hurt us again) and have been our (weakness) all season,” EMU head coach Scott Hall said. “Big games like this where people are fighting up at the end of the game and Western hung in and give them credit (for that).” Hall noticed some adjustments from the Broncos after playing them on Oct.

Eagle forward Glenn Bryant throws down a reverse dunk in Eastern Michigan's 101-38 win Monday night.

PREVIEW: Men's basketball set to open regular season vs. Albion

By Al Willman · Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013

The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team put on a strong showing in its only exhibition game of the year, with a 101-38 rout of Marygrove College on Monday. The team is setting its sights on the start of the regular season Friday afternoon against Albion College at the Convocation Center.