Football - The Eastern Echo

Report: WMU to hire EMU running backs coach Mike Hart

By Eugene Evans · Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014

Eastern Michigan University running backs coach Mike Hart has moved on from one directional school to another by taking the same position at Western Michigan University, according to school officials. Hart spent the last three seasons with the Eagles, two of which as the running backs coach. On Jan.

Creighton receives his first three verbal commitments today

By Eugene Evans · Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014

Eastern Michigan University football head coach Chris Crieghton received his first three commitments for the 2014 season today, including two offensive linemen in-state— Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice High School’s Jeremy Hickey and Dewitt High School’s Christopher Bukoski.

DeBoer and McKeefery added to Creighton's staff

By Eugene Evans · Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014

This past week, Eastern Michigan University head coach Chris Creighton announced two new additions to his coaching staff. Kalen DeBoer was named the offensive coordinator and Ron McKeefery as the Director of Strength and Conditioning on Jan.

EMU Hall of Famer Norm Parker passes away

By Eugene Evans · Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014

Norm Parker, a former Eastern Michigan University football and wrestling student-athlete and a 2011 inductee into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame, passed away on Jan.

Hart and Kirkendall added to Creighton's staff

By Eugene Evans · Friday, Jan. 10, 2014

On Jan. 10, Eastern Michigan University head coach Chris Creighton announced a pair of additions to his coaching staff.

Packers sign Gillett

By Eugene Evans · Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014

Former Eastern Michigan University starting quarterback and wide receiver Alex Gillett was one of eight players who signed with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday. Gillett, a 6-1, 214-pound wide receiver signed with the Packers as a non-drafted free agent on May 22 and was with the team until he was released on Aug.

New head football coach Chris Creighton speaks privately with the media after his press conference Thursday afternoon in the Convocation Center.

COLUMN: Creighton is the real deal

By Al Willman · Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013

I was following the Eastern Michigan University football coaching search very closely, leading up to Wednesday’s announcement of Chris Creighton’s hiring for the position. Until 8:30 Wednesday night, I was convinced the job would go to Eastern Illinois University coach Dino Babers, a man who turned his program around, going 7-5 and 12-1 in his first two seasons, when the team went 2-9 in each of the two years prior to his hiring. That said, I am really impressed by Creighton – not just on paper, but by hearing the man speak.

Heather Lyke, left, and new head football coach Chris Creighton hold up a jersey with his name on it at his introductory press conference as head football coach Thursday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

COLUMN: Will EMU football be in the same predicament five years from now?

By Eugene Evans · Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013

In five years, will Eastern Michigan University’s athletic department be in an all too familiar position of holding a press conference to introduce a new head coach?

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.