While students are at the halfway point of the summer semester, another Eastern Michigan University football season is right around the corner and more than ever, the pressure is on head coach Ron English and his players to produce on the field.
Outlook On The Upcoming Season:
EMU is coming off a 2-10 season in 2012. Their best chance of improving that mark will be on the arm of redshirt junior quarterback Tyler Benz and the quick feet of junior running back Bronson Hill.
Last season, the offense ranked 100th in points per game and was 115th in points against per game.
Improvement will have to be shown on both sides in order for the Eagles to get the results the team wants this season.
Former EMU football player Chris Staples also talked about EMU’s upcoming season.
“I believe they can do pretty well. Eastern’s problem has never been talent, but it has been about finishing games,” Staples said.
2013 Schedule At A Glance:
The season kicks off on Aug. 31 with a non-conference showdown against the Howard Bisons at Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be shown online on ESPN3.
Their last meeting between both teams on Sept. 22, 2007, the Eagles defeated the Bison 38-15.
The following week on Sept. 7, the Eagles travel to University Park, Pa. to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions for a noon kickoff on the Big Ten Network.
The Eagles are 0-2 all-time against the Nittany Lions. The teams’ last meeting was Sept. 24, 2011 when the Eagles fell to the Nittany Lions 34-6.
On Sept. 14, EMU travels to Piscataway, N.J., to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for a 1 p.m. kickoff that will be shown online on ESPN3.
The match-up marks the first ever meeting between the two teams.
This is also the Scarlet Knights’ final season in the American Athletic Conference before departing for the Big Ten Conference in 2014.
Mid-American Conference play kicks off on Sept. 21 as EMU takes on the Ball State Cardinals in the homecoming game.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1. This match-up marks the 55th meeting all-time with Ball State having the upper hand at 31-21-2.
The Eagles fell to the Cardinals, 37-26 on Aug. 30, 2012.
After a bye week, EMU will travel to Buffalo, N.Y., for a cross-divisional showdown with the University at Buffalo Bulls on Oct. 5.
The game will kickoff at noon and will broadcast on ESPN Regional Television and can also be seen online on ESPN3.
The Eagles have yet to lose to the Bulls, carrying a 5-0 all-time record against Buffalo.
In the teams’ last meeting on Nov. 12, 2011, the Eagles defeated the Bulls 30-17.
On Oct. 12, the Eagles travel to West Point, N.Y., to take on the Army Black Knights.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
EMU is 1-4 all-time against Army, with the team’s only win (48-38) coming on Oct. 20, 2012.
The Eagles return home on Oct. 19 for another cross-divisional showdown with the Ohio University Bobcats.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1.
EMU fell to Ohio 45-17 on Nov. 1, 2012, to fall to 11-17-1 all-time in the series.
The Eagles’ toughest test of the season will come on Oct. 26, when the team travels to DeKalb, Ill., to square off with the defending MAC Champions Northern Illinois University Huskies.
NIU is fresh off an automatic Bowl Championship Series invite last season and on Nov. 23, 2012, defeated EMU 49-7 on a snowy Friday at Rynearson Stadium.
The Eagles will be looking for revenge from last season’s loss and is 14-27-2 all-time against the Huskies.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1.
On Nov. 2, the Eagles travel to Toledo, Ohio, to take on the University of Toledo Rockets.
In a shootout for the ages on Oct. 13, 2012, the Eagles fell short to the Rockets 52-47, but served as a coming out party for then sophomore running back Bronson Hill as he rushed for 283 yards on 28 carries.
All-time, EMU is 11-29 against Toledo. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1.
On Nov. 9, the Eagles return home to face off against in-state rivals the Western Michigan Broncos.
EMU upset WMU on Nov. 17, 2012, 29-23. Following the game, Bill Cubit was fired as the Broncos’ head coach.
The Eagles are 17-29-2 all-time against the Broncos.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1.
After a bye week, the Eagles close out their home schedule as the Bowling Green State University Falcons come to town for Senior Day.
In the teams’ last meeting, the Eagles lost to the Broncos 24-3 on Oct. 27, 2012.
EMU is 11-24-1 all-time against BGSU.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard on WEMU 89.1.
The Eagles’ regular-season schedule wraps up on Nov. 29, as they travel to Mount Pleasant to take on in-state rivals the Central Michigan University Chippewas.
EMU came up a field goal short as they fell to CMU 34-31, on Nov. 10, 2012.
The Eagles are 28-56-6 all-time against the Chippewas.
Kickoff is TBA and will air on either ESPNU or ESPN3.
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Follow Eugene Evans on Twitter @EasternEchoGeno
