(01-17-2014 01:18 PM)Huron Boy Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 01:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 12:47 PM)AlwaysAHuron Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 08:05 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 07:35 AM)emu79 Wrote:  So far CC hiring of staff has been impressive but I also note outside of Hart the staff still doesn't have any FBS experience. Grubb's recruiting area is Wisconsin which is interesting can't remember the last time EMU had a player from Wisconsin on its roster.

Should be interesting to see how recruiting goes for 2015.

As indicated, we have coaches with direct recruiting ties to WI, Iowa, IL, MI (and IN - Hart), etc. as well as tangent states e.g., Mo., NE, MN, etc.

I see some recruiting battles vs. the Dakotas (e.g., NDSU, SDSU), FCS schools in IL (e.g., SIU, IL State, etc.), etc. as well as our MI rivals, such as WMU, CMU, etc.

You just summed up most of EMU's problem -- battling FCS and DivII programs for players. EMU is FBS and will never succeed without FBS caliber players. Obviously we cannot compete with the Big10 for recruits, but we should not settle for FCS recruits either.

Agree 100%

In the long run I agree - but lets' see if CC can coach up some of these FCS-level kids and turn them into genuine MAC players. It's clear English couldn't do that, and I'm convinced that's a key to success in the MAC.

Honestly I disagree with that statement, believe it or not English's last three recruiting classes were probably the highest ranked by Scout or Rivals of any in the past 25 years and as each year passed English was getting players in the program who had been offered by other Div I programs and more importantly other MAC schools. I don't think English and his staff had the ability to coach them up. We'll see how good of a coach CC is, without any true impact players in this recruiting class he'll have to play the hand English left him.

(01-17-2014 01:25 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 01:18 PM)Huron Boy Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 01:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 12:47 PM)AlwaysAHuron Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 08:05 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Should be interesting to see how recruiting goes for 2015.

As indicated, we have coaches with direct recruiting ties to WI, Iowa, IL, MI (and IN - Hart), etc. as well as tangent states e.g., Mo., NE, MN, etc.

I see some recruiting battles vs. the Dakotas (e.g., NDSU, SDSU), FCS schools in IL (e.g., SIU, IL State, etc.), etc. as well as our MI rivals, such as WMU, CMU, etc.

You just summed up most of EMU's problem -- battling FCS and DivII programs for players. EMU is FBS and will never succeed without FBS caliber players. Obviously we cannot compete with the Big10 for recruits, but we should not settle for FCS recruits either.

Agree 100%

In the long run I agree - but lets' see if CC can coach up some of these FCS-level kids and turn them into genuine MAC players. It's clear English couldn't do that, and I'm convinced that's a key to success in the MAC.

Honestly I disagree with that statement, believe it or not English's last three recruiting classes were probably the highest ranked by Scout or Rivals of any in the past 25 years and as each passed English was getting players in the program who had been offered by other Div I programs and more importantly other MAC schools. I don't think English and his staff had the ability to coach them up. We'll see how good of a coach CC is, without any true impact players in this recruiting class he'll have to play the hand English left him.

and that is why we might EXCEED expectations in 2014.

CC will have a good squad of quality recruits which RE recruited over the last 3 or 4 years -- 'the cupboard isn't bare'.

We'll have a good squad + a favorable schedule = chance to exceed expectations.

Our newcomers will have to be mostly 2013 redshirts.

(01-17-2014 01:25 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 01:18 PM)Huron Boy Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 01:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 12:47 PM)AlwaysAHuron Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 08:05 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Should be interesting to see how recruiting goes for 2015.

As indicated, we have coaches with direct recruiting ties to WI, Iowa, IL, MI (and IN - Hart), etc. as well as tangent states e.g., Mo., NE, MN, etc.

I see some recruiting battles vs. the Dakotas (e.g., NDSU, SDSU), FCS schools in IL (e.g., SIU, IL State, etc.), etc. as well as our MI rivals, such as WMU, CMU, etc.

You just summed up most of EMU's problem -- battling FCS and DivII programs for players. EMU is FBS and will never succeed without FBS caliber players. Obviously we cannot compete with the Big10 for recruits, but we should not settle for FCS recruits either.

Agree 100%

In the long run I agree - but lets' see if CC can coach up some of these FCS-level kids and turn them into genuine MAC players. It's clear English couldn't do that, and I'm convinced that's a key to success in the MAC.

Honestly I disagree with that statement, believe it or not English's last three recruiting classes were probably the highest ranked by Scout or Rivals of any in the past 25 years and as each year passed English was getting players in the program who had been offered by other Div I programs and more importantly other MAC schools. I don't think English and his staff had the ability to coach them up. We'll see how good of a coach CC is, without any true impact players in this recruiting class he'll have to play the hand English left him.

Highest ranked class in twenty-five years isn't saying much around EMU, but yes, it's always good to see improvements. However, the only commitments so far are from players rated NR -- that's my point. And the English years were not much better in that we always had the NR players, with a few exceptions.

English always had the name and reputation of a top program behind him in his previous positions, and he didn't need to work too hard to recruit quality players (nothing wrong with that). But at EMU he more than proved his weakness at improving players through coaching.

Kalen DeBoer ‏@KalenDeBoer

Headed back to Ypsi. Going to be a great weekend! Fired up to be with our team and meet some future Eagles! #EMUfamily

Not sure if posted already, or if this belongs here, but Mark Ionnatti has transferred to SIU.

Dear TimBuck2,
Yes, checking the Eastern football roster, Iannoti is gone. He probably saw the handwriting on the wall, that he wasn't going to see any action this season. Eastern just has a slew of people that are probably a bit better then him, at the quarterback position.

I hope this isn't true.... @footballscoop: Sources tell us Eastern Michigan's Mike Hart is headed to Western Michigan to join PJ Fleck's staff as RBs coach

(01-20-2014 05:03 PM)mshumaker Wrote:  I hope this isn't true.... @footballscoop: Sources tell us Eastern Michigan's Mike Hart is headed to Western Michigan to join PJ Fleck's staff as RBs coach

Losing Hart would be unfortunate, but my guess is he's getting more money and/or the new EMU offense is less focused on rushing the ball.

Was only a matter of time.

WMUs RB coach made less than Hart last year so I doubt it's much if a raise if any. This is a bit surprising that a 1-11 league opponent could steal him away.

Hart has the WMU logo on his Twitter page. Screw him, screw Fleck, and screw WMU. Here's to maintaining our dominance over them.

People are going to come on here and make fun of Hart leaving by saying that EMU is a "coaching graveyard", etc. And most times they would be right. But Hart just made a terrible career move...assuming he did so voluntarily. As we know, Fleck is the biggest clown in college football, and his position is tenuous. Not a good star to hitch your wagon to.

(01-20-2014 05:50 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Hart has the WMU logo on his Twitter page. Screw him, screw Fleck, and screw WMU. Here's to maintaining our dominance over them.

Could be sour grapes but good! One less tie to U-M. I have never really cared for him ever since his arrogant little brother comment about MSU. Good riddance, shrimpo.

(01-20-2014 05:03 PM)mshumaker Wrote:  I hope this isn't true.... @footballscoop: Sources tell us Eastern Michigan's Mike Hart is headed to Western Michigan to join PJ Fleck's staff as RBs coach

Now I know why I'm a big hoops, men and women's, fan.

At least in hoops things don't seem to be one step forward, two back or something similar.

Western runs the ball?

(01-20-2014 05:53 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-20-2014 05:50 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Hart has the WMU logo on his Twitter page. Screw him, screw Fleck, and screw WMU. Here's to maintaining our dominance over them.

Could be sour grapes but good! One less tie to U-M. I have never really cared for him ever since his arrogant little brother comment about MSU. Good riddance, shrimpo.

4-0 vs MSU, Bobbie.

(01-20-2014 05:03 PM)mshumaker Wrote:  I hope this isn't true.... @footballscoop: Sources tell us Eastern Michigan's Mike Hart is headed to Western Michigan to join PJ Fleck's staff as RBs coach

This is a big lost for us, now we have to try and keep our recruits that he helped land and we are back to square one with getting a foothold in recruiting in the state of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio..

@AllenTrieu: Brother Rice (Mich.) OL Jeremy Hickey says the coaching staff sold him on #EasternMichigan. He committed Sunday: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1367827.html

(01-20-2014 05:53 PM)holybovine Wrote:  People are going to come on here and make fun of Hart leaving by saying that EMU is a "coaching graveyard", etc. And most times they would be right. But Hart just made a terrible career move...assuming he did so voluntarily. As we know, Fleck is the biggest clown in college football, and his position is tenuous. Not a good star to hitch your wagon to.

100% agree.
Can't be $$$ - I thought he was too smart to fall for Fleck's BS. Maybe he thought his future with CC was uncertain, or he's been promised something at WMU?

Time for a 4-peat next fall, I say

Eastern Michigan added a physical linebacker who had a great senior year this weekend when Fort Wayne North Side's D'Marcus Moon committed to the Eagles on his official visit after meeting new head coach Chris Creighton.
"First and foremost, Coach Creighton is a great guy. I feel he truly has the passion and energy to turn things around at EMU," Moon said.

He added, "You always want to be around someone who is honest with you and that played a big part in my commitment. For me to be Coach Creighton's first commitment, it was an honor for me."