Sports - The Eastern Echo

Former EMU head coach Ron Oestrike inducted into hall of fame

By Tiauna Allen · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Ron Oestrike, who was once a longtime head coach for Eastern Michigan University’s baseball program, will be inducted into the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame this Saturday. The ceremony will take place Aug. 17 during the Lansing Lugnuts v. Dayton Dragons game at Cooley Law Stadium in Lansing.

Daniel Orton explains what makes a successful team

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The 2019-20 college basketball season will begin on Nov. 5, 2019, and Eastern Michigan’s season will start soon after. The Eagles, who were picked to win the MAC West division prior to last year, are going to deal with a different level of expectations this time around. Eastern lost three senior starters to graduation in Paul Jackson, Elijah Minnie and James Thompson IV, and the new team is preparing themselves to have a successful campaign with just one senior.

MAC announces upcoming bowl schedule from 2020-2025

By Charles Post and Zach Sturgill · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The Mid-American Conference will continue a six-season partnership with ESPN, the billion-dollar media company, into the 2025 season. The partnership has a plan of televising two set bowl games, the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. There is also a list of games that potentially could feature MAC teams. Two out of the nine are for sure to be played when decided by the bowl committee each year. This makes at least four bowl games played by the MAC annually.

Football position breakdown: Running backs

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Following the deep dive into the quarterbacks room for Eastern Michigan, it’s time to check in on the guys they’ll be handing the ball off to. The team has seven running backs listed on the roster, but Shaq Vann and Breck Turner have pulled away from the rest of the group. With that said, though, at least one other Eagles running back is going to get significant playing time in the upcoming season.

Football Position Breakdown: Quarterbacks

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Eastern Michigan opens their 2019 college football slate on August 31 against Coastal Carolina. Head coach Chris Creighton has named senior quarterback Mike Glass III the starting quarterback heading into the season, but Glass is far from the only QB on the depth chart. The Eagles have seven passers in total listed on the roster: Glass, Jairus Grissom, Preston Hutchinson, Aaron Jackson, Christopher Kaminski, Jayden Machado and Isaac Stiebling.

Football Position Breakdown: Pass Catchers

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The wide receiving group for the Eagles is one of the most talented in the MAC as EMU has 16 receivers on the depth chart. The collective is as follows: Line Latu, Isaac Holder, Hassan Beydoun, Michael Thompson, Keyan Marshall, Tanner Knue, De’Anthony Ball, Amir Spivey, Joe Nowden, Eddie Daugherty IV, Noah Cameron, Dylan Drummond, Quian Williams, Logan Giordano, Matthew Sexton and Arthur Jackson III.

EMU tennis looking to rebuild roster

By Tiauna Allen and Charles Post · Friday, Aug. 9, 2019

Eastern Michigan’s women’s tennis team has announced three new additions to the 2019-20 roster this summer. Last November, head coach Jayson Wiseman was re-hired as the women’s tennis coach after leading the Eagles to a 16-10 record and to the fifth seed in the 2018 MAC Tournament. However, EMU’s tennis program was suspended at the end of the 2017-18 academic year.

EMU swimming and diving coach retires

By Zach Sturgill · Monday, Aug. 5, 2019

Peter Linn will be relieving his coaching duties at EMU, effective August 16. Linn had the third-longest career of any athletics coach in school history, behind Bob Parks and Steve Wilce. EMU athletics announced that there will be a national search for the next, and ninth head coach of the women's swimming program.

EMU defensive back added to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

By Tiauna Allen · Monday, Aug. 5, 2019

Senior defensive back, Brody Hoying was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation, per EMU Athletics. The list mostly consists of conferences from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Hoying is one of 91 players from FBS who was named to the list.

Eagles' Odukoya named to Mackey Award watch list

By Zach Sturgill · Sunday, July 28, 2019

Thomas Odukoya's name was announced on the 2019 John Mackey Award Preseason watch list on July 19, 2019. 60 players are on the watch list for the college football's most outstanding tight end. Odukoya stands 6'6" and weighs 264 pounds. The preseason All-MAC teams by Phil Steele's College Football Preview has Odukoya on the second team. EMU had 11 players in total that made the four teams from the magazine's preseason list.

EMU running back named a Doak Walker preseason candidate

By Tiauna Allen · Sunday, July 28, 2019

The PWC SMU Athletic Forum announced that Eastern Michigan University senior running back, Breck Turner has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker award, per EMU Athletics. Turner joined the list of 71 college running backs and he is one of six running backs from the MAC to be added to the list of candidates.

Eagles attend MAC media day

By Charles Post · Sunday, July 28, 2019

Eastern Michigan opens their season in just over a month on August 31 against Coastal Carolina on the road. In the meantime, head coach Chris Creighton, quarterback Mike Glass III, and defensive back Vince Calhoun attended MAC media day in Detroit on July 23. Despite the media picking the Eagles to finish fourth in the division, Creighton and his team believe they have what it takes to reach the MAC championship game.

MAC Media Day news and notes

By Charles Post · Thursday, July 25, 2019

The annual MAC Media Day occurred on July 23 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Breaking down each MAC football program

By Charles Post · Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The college football season is about a month away as it begins on Aug. 24 when Florida and Miami face off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The majority of MAC teams will start their campaigns on Aug. 31. Eastern Michigan’s first game is against Coastal Carolina on the road.

Eagles football predicted to finish in the middle of MAC

By Zach Sturgill · Saturday, July 20, 2019

Eastern Michigan football opens up the season on August 31 at Coastal Carolina, and before that there is only speculation on what the 2019 season will bring. The team went 7-6 overall last year with a 5-3 conference record. Athlon Sports foresees a similar outcome this fall. The site predicts EMU at a 6-6 overall record and a 5-3 record in the MAC.

EMU gymnastics brings in largest class since 2002

By Tiauna Allen · Saturday, July 20, 2019

The Eastern Michigan gymnastics team recently added four incoming freshman to its 2020 roster, per EMU Athletics. The four new additions are Danielle Coyne, Hannah Hartung, Arileyah Harris and Corey Melcher. The new signees are joining three other freshmen, Hadyn Crossen, Molly Parris and Mickayla Stuckey. The seven freshmen marks the biggest incoming freshmen class for the Eagles since 2002.

Kevin McGill named on Bednarik Award watch list

By Charles Post · Friday, July 19, 2019

Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan senior defensive back, was named to the Bednarik Award watch list on Monday, July 15. The Bednarik Award is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year. The award winner will be announced on Dec. 12, following the completion of the regular season and before the bowl season takes place.

John Bowler details ups and downs of playing and coaching

By Charles Post · Tuesday, July 16, 2019

John Bowler played four years for the Eastern Michigan men’s basketball team from 2003-2006. After playing professionally in Germany for multiple years, he was promoted to head coach at Des Moines Area Community College on July 1, 2018. Bowler’s goal is to continue the recent success on and off the court at DMACC.

LRT Sports aims to lend a helping hand to student athletes

By Charles Post · Saturday, July 13, 2019

The college recruiting process can be one of the most difficult times in a student athlete’s life because of the pressure put on their shoulders from every direction. It’s a decision that will have an impact on the rest of their lives and can single-handedly alter their entire future. Because it’s such a demanding period in the athlete’s life, LRT Sports lends a helping hand.

Jennifer Bentley throws the ball in during the soccer game against Ball State at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti on Friday, September 30, 2016.

Brief: Reviewing the 2019-20 EMU women's soccer schedule

By Tiauna Allen · Saturday, July 13, 2019

The women’s soccer team had their 20-game schedule revealed last week. The Eagles will begin the season away with an exhibition game against St. Bonaventure on Aug. 11 before the second game which will be the home opener against Oakland on Aug. 22 at Scicluna Field. The Eagles will spend the next six games on the road with their eighth matchup being back at home. All six games will be against non-conference teams. EMU will face Loyola-Chicago on Sept. 22 which will conclude their non-conference matchups.