YPSILANTI — The 2011 season will be the 120th for the Eastern Michigan University football team and the Eagles will kick off its season with four interesting games.
First, EMU will contest two HBCU’s (Historically Black College and Universities), Howard University on Sept. 3 and Alabama State on Sept. 10, both at Rynearson Stadium.
Coach Ron English and his EMU football staff signed 20 recruits for the 2011 season, and have a nice collection of returning players to get the struggling program back on a winning path.
After finishing his second season with a 2-10 record, a small improvement on the woeful 0-12 first season, English is hoping that his third campaign will be the one in which the Eagles turn the corner.
Surely bringing in Howard and Alabama State to start the season should bring a shot of enthusiasm to the first two home games. Who cannot get excited about the wondrous bands that each school will bring to Ypsilanti? No one!
I covered both these HBCU’s when they played in the now defunct Detroit Football Classic at Ford Field and the games. The turnouts were great and the crowds were fervent. I’m sure EMU would like to capture some of that energy as it prepares for a hoped for rebirth in their football fortunes.
“After the Detroit Football Classic folded, we brought in Howard in 2007,” recalled Eagles Athletic Director Derrick Gragg, “and people have been interested in us bringing them back so we want to capitalize on the fact we had a very large crowd when they came before. It is a win-win situation for all involved because they get to showcase their band and young people will come up to our campus and see what Eastern has to offer, both athletically and academically.”
Added EMU Alumni Board member James Beasley: “I think bringing Howard and Alabama State to Ypsilanti will be great for our program. The game could and should bring the kind of people that might not come to an Eastern game because the HBCU’s bring a certain flavor that is a part of our past and present heritage. Plus, there are so many alumni from both universities in the Detroit metro area it should be an exciting start to the season.”
Mike “Tiger” Price, an EMU alum concurred with Gragg and Beasley and noted he is excited and looks forward to seeing both HBCU’s play at Rynearson Stadium: “This should be a great way for the Eagles to start their season. With so many alumni in the area, the great bands and quality opponents on the field, the Eagles will be able to showcase their new and improved team.”
As Price and Beasley noted, this is English’s third year at the helm and the team should show some growth and improvement. His squad opens with two Division 1AA teams and it needs to win both games because the next two games will be on the road against Michigan and then Penn State.
“We have been so heavy-handed with BCS teams,” Gragg said. “We wanted to take a step back and set ourselves up for the road games and conference play. I would not say this is a pivotal year because with the resources we put into this there is always a sense of urgency. Coach English has come out and said he expects to win. I just went to practice and I could see a change in attitude with the players and coaches.”
If the Eagles want to improve on last season it will have to start with the defense. EMU surrendered an average of 43.9 points per game, ranking the team 118 nationally.
Tickets to the games are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the EMU ticket office at (734) 487-2282 or by visiting EMUEagles.com.
Leland Stein III can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @LelandSteinIII.
About Post Author
