Fellow old-timers, remember that year? Remember winning the Mid-American Conference? Remember winning the California Bowl against a supposedly better San Jose State team?

Youngsters, it hasn't always been the way it is now.

I have to admit, I'm pretty ambivilant about my alma mater's football team right now - I suppose I have been for some time. I don't/won't cheer for any other team - I bleed grean.

If you want to have a good football team you can have one. It all depends on where your priorities lay. Of course, academics take precedence and should. But, in my opinon (and it is only *my* opinion) you probably shouldn't be dabbling in NCAA Div IA football if you aren't going to take it seriously. If our football team were to be discontinued would it even be noticed by anyone outside of this board or the few thousand who actually show up for the games? I doubt it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: if you aren't willing to do something well then you probably shouldn't be doing it at all. In other words, if seriously winning the Mid-American Conference and, by extension, going to a bowl game every single year isn't the singular goal of Eastern Michigan University then they ought to drop the football program. If the football program is nothing more than an avenue to provide scholarships to those who may not otherwise attend college it is a waste of time, energy and money.

I never thought I would say something like that about my alma mater but, quite frankly, the writing is on the wall. Unless Eastern Michigan University gets SERIOUS about NCAA Div IA football it will languish in mediocrity and be the laughing stock of the Mid-American Conference.

Dear HuronRob,
Eastern already is.... the laughing stock. Just go on the MAC website and read the comments. I've been watching Eastern football since 1960. I thought we were on the right track with Coach Boisture, then Coach Harkema, and since? I, also thought I would never say it, but Eastern is just one of those teams that is destined to be cellar dwellers, and there is no getting around it. I don't know about dropping football entirely, but maybe drop to FBC, and see if we can compete there.
Eastern rarely has beaten a favored team, and yet continues to lose to schools like Liberty, Youngstown State, Eastern Illinois, etc. Teams we are supposed to beat because they are in a lower division. I just can't believe a team like Boise State who lost to Central in a bowl game in the seventies, is now a power house. I just don't know why Eastern can't do that.

At some point you have to say, "uncle." It might just be impossible to win at EMU at the DI level. We are snakebit and I don't know why.

(09-08-2012 06:58 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  But, in my opinon (and it is only *my* opinion) you probably shouldn't be dabbling in NCAA Div IA football if you aren't going to take it seriously...

I agree with you completely. Cut the program, and invest the money in something that gives EMU notoriety and achievement.

By the way, we would all love to see mediocrity in EMU football, which suggests something average. We have not been languishing in mediocrity. We have literally been THE worst d-1 program in America for over 20 years.

(09-08-2012 07:27 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(09-08-2012 06:58 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  But, in my opinon (and it is only *my* opinion) you probably shouldn't be dabbling in NCAA Div IA football if you aren't going to take it seriously...

I agree with you completely. Cut the program, and invest the money in something that gives EMU notoriety and achievement.

By the way, we would all love to see mediocrity in EMU football, which suggests something average. We have not been languishing in mediocrity. We have literally been THE worst d-1 program in America for over 20 years.

And insult to injury, we drew fewer than 8,000 fans, so EMU doesn't deserve to be DI because there just isn't enough demand. I mean, having a stadium 1/4 full is just silly.

(09-08-2012 06:58 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  Fellow old-timers, remember that year? Remember winning the Mid-American Conference? Remember winning the California Bowl against a supposedly better San Jose State team?

Youngsters, it hasn't always been the way it is now.

I have to admit, I'm pretty ambivilant about my alma mater's football team right now - I suppose I have been for some time. I don't/won't cheer for any other team - I bleed grean.

If you want to have a good football team you can have one. It all depends on where your priorities lay. Of course, academics take precedence and should. But, in my opinon (and it is only *my* opinion) you probably shouldn't be dabbling in NCAA Div IA football if you aren't going to take it seriously. If our football team were to be discontinued would it even be noticed by anyone outside of this board or the few thousand who actually show up for the games? I doubt it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: if you aren't willing to do something well then you probably shouldn't be doing it at all. In other words, if seriously winning the Mid-American Conference and, by extension, going to a bowl game every single year isn't the singular goal of Eastern Michigan University then they ought to drop the football program. If the football program is nothing more than an avenue to provide scholarships to those who may not otherwise attend college it is a waste of time, energy and money.

I never thought I would say something like that about my alma mater but, quite frankly, the writing is on the wall. Unless Eastern Michigan University gets SERIOUS about NCAA Div IA football it will languish in mediocrity and be the laughing stock of the Mid-American Conference.

What else can the school do? They have invested millions of $$$'s into the football program... ie the bubble, new locker room, improvement in the football field. What else do you think they can do? I think they may want to go out and get a proven big name coach if English leaves. I think they need to look at the coaching staff. The defense is sick and offense in sick.. They need a new doctor..

(09-08-2012 07:37 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-08-2012 07:27 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(09-08-2012 06:58 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  But, in my opinon (and it is only *my* opinion) you probably shouldn't be dabbling in NCAA Div IA football if you aren't going to take it seriously...

I agree with you completely. Cut the program, and invest the money in something that gives EMU notoriety and achievement.

By the way, we would all love to see mediocrity in EMU football, which suggests something average. We have not been languishing in mediocrity. We have literally been THE worst d-1 program in America for over 20 years.

And insult to injury, we drew fewer than 8,000 fans, so EMU doesn't deserve to be DI because there just isn't enough demand. I mean, having a stadium 1/4 full is just silly.

I dont think we should drop down.. We need to fix the problem.. I think the start and end must start with English.. I am sorry, I dont know what else to say...

(09-09-2012 10:08 AM)NUPudge Wrote:  What else can the school do? They have invested millions of $$$'s into the football program... ie the bubble, new locker room, improvement in the football field. What else do you think they can do? I think they may want to go out and get a proven big name coach if English leaves. I think they need to look at the coaching staff. The defense is sick and offense in sick.. They need a new doctor..

Well... If I remember correctly, and I may be wrong, wasn't an appropriate salary what deterred proven big name coaches from coming to EMU in the past? Don't proven big name coaches command salaries that are either beyond the realm of EMU's financial resources or even what they are willing to pay for that kind of pedigree? In other words, you get what you pay for.

Perhaps there is an issue with the athletic department being able to appropriately evaluate coaching talent? I don't know. There is an age old saying that really is apt for the ongoing football woes at EMU, "Sh!t or get off the pot."