You guys just hired a coach who has won everywhere he's been with MINIMAL resources, is used to doing more with less.

Sounds like very good fit for Eastern.

And some of you still aren't happy.

Wanna trade?

I'm beginning to agree with Steve and liking this guy. We could have hit a Home Run with his hiring. Lets hope he puts together a staff in a hurry and hires a good recruiting coordinater and some local coaches.

Will be interesting to watch the situation the next few weeks.

Anyone going to the Press Conference?

Hope people ask some key questions on his offensive and defensive philosophy, the hiring of asst coaches and recruiti ng.

First recruit he should call is Erikson from Clarkston, the kid is a stud.

Best of Luck to EMU Football, we certainly could use some excitement around here.

(12-12-2013 12:04 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  You guys just hired a coach who has won everywhere he's been with MINIMAL resources, is used to doing more with less.

Sounds like very good fit for Eastern.

And some of you still aren't happy.

Wanna trade?

Can't please everyone I guess. I've actually got some great info from the thread on your board about it. So fascinating, seeing how different the tones are between both fan bases.

Dear Dennis D. Rachwal,
I especially agree with statements three and four. Will he have already met with the team before the conference? Or will he meet them after? In any case I think it important that Creighton does that as soon as possible. Why? So the players can size up the new coach, and maybe get some ideas of what he is planning to do. Not that players will jump ship (some may), but first impressions are important and lead to a good beginning. At least that's what I think.

(12-12-2013 12:04 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  You guys just hired a coach who has won everywhere he's been with MINIMAL resources, is used to doing more with less.

Sounds like very good fit for Eastern.

And some of you still aren't happy.

Wanna trade?

No we didn't make the same mistake we've always made by not hiring a coach without head coaching experience. One point for us. We hired a coach in a short time frame. One point for us. We hired what appears to be a guy with solid character who will treat the players fairly and actually coach them. One point for us.

We chose a guy without FBS experience of any kind ie recruiting FBS players, building a FBS staff or any FBS coaching experience. Fleck has some of these especially recruiting.

I'm not trying to flame the guy, but these are some legitimate concerns going forward. I love my school and the football program so I'll live with the decision and hope for the best, and I've being do that for over 24 years and am still waiting.

(12-12-2013 12:19 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Dennis D. Rachwal,
I especially agree with statements three and four. Will he have already met with the team before the conference? Or will he meet them after? In any case I think it important that Creighton does that as soon as possible. Why? So the players can size up the new coach, and maybe get some ideas of what he is planning to do. Not that players will jump ship (some may), but first impressions are important and lead to a good beginning. At least that's what I think.

Wonder how the no cursing will work out?

(12-12-2013 12:22 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 12:19 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Dennis D. Rachwal,
I especially agree with statements three and four. Will he have already met with the team before the conference? Or will he meet them after? In any case I think it important that Creighton does that as soon as possible. Why? So the players can size up the new coach, and maybe get some ideas of what he is planning to do. Not that players will jump ship (some may), but first impressions are important and lead to a good beginning. At least that's what I think.

Wonder how the no cursing will work out?

NO CURSING - HE'LL MAKE CHRISTIANS OUT OF ALL OF THEM - LETS HOPE THEY CAN PLAY SOME HARD NOSE FOOTBALL

I tell our players the Good Lord allows each team only so much swearing and I will use up our entire allotment.

So if they have a "potty mouth," they get some PIE (Personal Improvement Exercises) after practice.

(12-12-2013 12:31 PM)Dennis D. Rachwal Wrote:  NO CURSING - HE'LL MAKE CHRISTIANS OUT OF ALL OF THEM - LETS HOPE THEY CAN PLAY SOME HARD NOSE FOOTBALL

A point Concordia Illinois with connections with Creighton was known as Concordia River Forest and is a sister college to Concordia Ann Arbor where Great Ibe played before coming to Eastern. Both are or were Lutheran colleges where teachers and pastors are being prepard.

I'm definitely one of the last ones to the party to comment on this. However, the more that I've read and after hearing his press conference, I'm definitely on board with this hire. Sure, he wasn't the flashiest name. Sure, he wasn't really on anyone's radar around this board. However, everywhere Creighton has gone, he's been successful. He has a positive energy about him and I love his enthusiasm.

There has been one thing that I've been harping on for years is that the key to be successful at EMU is to develop players. We have to accept the fact that until the program starts to win consistently, we're not going to be bringing in the top level of talent. The fact that he has taken non-scholarship players and has developed them into success tells me a lot. Plus when I read that he is willing to adapt his own playing style based on the talent and the players he has around him is a big plus. English when he was a defensive coordinator at Michigan took top level of talent and ultimately maintained it. At Eastern, English didn't develop that talent at all. Creighton has done that and he wants to develop a program that we at EMU can actually be proud of. He sounds high character and he sounds like a winner. He's exactly what this program needs.

The other thing that gives me a lot of promise and hope is that he sounds like a very no non-sense guy. I've honestly felt that EMU for the last couple of years played like one of the "dumbest" football teams in the country. I'm not referring to the players as student athletes, but I'm referring to the penalties, the lack of fundamentals and just the lack of playing smart football.

You all can keep enjoying your glasses half empty. I'll drink a half full glass of your beverage of choice. I like what I'm hearing.

If you are concerned with the overall image of your program and your athletes, you are going to love Chris Creighton. And you will be winning in Year 3.
And at the end of that year you will be fretting about needing to sign him to a longer contract.
Congratulations to your administration, a daring hire.,..but a smart, no-brainer hire as you will soon see.
Oh, his record this past season...6-5. this was after back to back Pioneer League Crowns. New QB, major rebuilding...and 6 and 5.
Somebody in your administration gets it.
Kudos !

Dear Friends,
Reading so many good comments about Coach Creighton makes me believe that Athletic Director Lyke made the right call. I only saw part of his press conference, but he seems to be fired up about making football fun. To me, that is the way it should be, and hopefully with winning seasons, even more fun.

(12-12-2013 09:47 AM)emu steve Wrote:  This hire might be more like an example, although not a perfect parallel, is that of Ben Braun.

Ben was on the EMU staff but before that he coached at Siena Heights, a school who we know from our own eyes, is light years from MAC caliber.

Yet, Ben, had the abilities and became a very good D-I coach. He won with the able assistance of Gary Waters, but he also won before Gary Waters arrived in Ypsilanti (from Ferris State, a D-II school in the GLIAC).

The right hire can be a coach from virtually any background. The right man for the job is the right man, not a candidate who can be pigeon holed into some preconceived template of what is the 'optimal' background for a MAC HC.

Great point. Thanks for the reminder on Ben.

I'd just like to share, imeadiately after the Presser Creighton headed to an event in Dearborn with high school coaches from across the state in attendance. He wasn't kidding when he said he was "going to hit the ground running TONIGHT." On the recruiting trail on day one.

(12-12-2013 09:47 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 09:47 AM)emu steve Wrote:  This hire might be more like an example, although not a perfect parallel, is that of Ben Braun.

Ben was on the EMU staff but before that he coached at Siena Heights, a school who we know from our own eyes, is light years from MAC caliber.

Yet, Ben, had the abilities and became a very good D-I coach. He won with the able assistance of Gary Waters, but he also won before Gary Waters arrived in Ypsilanti (from Ferris State, a D-II school in the GLIAC).

The right hire can be a coach from virtually any background. The right man for the job is the right man, not a candidate who can be pigeon holed into some preconceived template of what is the 'optimal' background for a MAC HC.

Great point. Thanks for the reminder on Ben.

Maybe we have the football version of Ben Braun.

This guy seem to be all class, runs a very clean program, expects a lot of decorum from himself and his players.

The more I think of Ben Braun is that we 'stumbled' into him. Hired him as a top assistant and then he stepped up and won.

No way would we have hired him if the job was open and he was at Siena Heights.

Gary Waters was much the same. Got the reputation by being Braun's top assistant and moved up to Kent and Rutgers.

I would venture that if Braun would have left early Waters could have repeated Braun rise at EMU.

Amazing but no one considers Siena Heights and Ferris State breeding grounds for good MAC coaches.

And, of course, compare that with our next hire, a coach from Minnesota who presumably was thought to be a coach who could recruit big and win... and ended up starting our downward spiral.

Guys,

I had to wait a day to emotionally get over this coach announcement and to do my own research about Creighton..

Here are my thoughts on Creighton as the new EMU coach.. He's our new football coach and we need to really welcome him with open arms and total support him.. I had wanted a couple other guys but it didn't happen for whatever the reasons.. So I am going to give Creighton a fair chances.. The things that stood out to me is Creighton hadn't had a losing season as a college HC and he believes in his heart that he was meant for the EMU job.. Creighton seems to have good people skills which is something our previous coach didn't have from seeing his press conferences and listening to his monday radio shows. It would be very smart if Creighton started calling and reaching out to the previous players and alumi and fans as a PR move.. Maybe he will even have a real open talk show where fans can call in.. He seems opened to building around the talents that he has..

He must get himself great assistance coaches along with very a good DC and OC for recruiting.. I read that he circled a 3-4 hour recuriting map of High schools that he wanted to work hard to land kids.. I like this approach.. He seems to be speaking from his heart.. He understands that he will need the players help to turn this around.. I wondering how the players feel about him? As others had say before, I still think we have talent on the team but it had not been nourished by the previous staff..

He will have to get the returning players (Russell, Brogan, Benz, Hill,Brumfield,Creel etc..) to buy into his plan for us to have a chance next year..

I say lets give him a chance to see what happens..

To all the other coaches who didn't want to come to EMU because you felt you was too good for us or could do better then EMU..

%#@$-you and BITE-ME!!!!!

Chris Creighton seems to be just what the doctor ordered. He is a guy with lots of of head coaching experience and a very solid record. Even though some of you guys are concerned about his ability to recruit since he is coming from the PFL, he is a charismatic guy with lots of energy. Kids will respond to that well, just look at what PJ Fleck is doing (in recruiting, not coaching).

Does anyone know, is he bringing his staff from Drake with him or is he going to put together a new crew? On Drake's football website it looks like they names the Special Teams/O-line Coach as the HC. I don't see an O-coordinator, maybe Creighton was calling the plays.

Anyways, hopefully this guy can get EMU football back on the right track. Congrats.

(12-13-2013 04:10 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 09:47 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 09:47 AM)emu steve Wrote:  This hire might be more like an example, although not a perfect parallel, is that of Ben Braun.

Ben was on the EMU staff but before that he coached at Siena Heights, a school who we know from our own eyes, is light years from MAC caliber.

Yet, Ben, had the abilities and became a very good D-I coach. He won with the able assistance of Gary Waters, but he also won before Gary Waters arrived in Ypsilanti (from Ferris State, a D-II school in the GLIAC).

The right hire can be a coach from virtually any background. The right man for the job is the right man, not a candidate who can be pigeon holed into some preconceived template of what is the 'optimal' background for a MAC HC.

Great point. Thanks for the reminder on Ben.

Maybe we have the football version of Ben Braun.

This guy seem to be all class, runs a very clean program, expects a lot of decorum from himself and his players.

The more I think of Ben Braun is that we 'stumbled' into him. Hired him as a top assistant and then he stepped up and won.

No way would we have hired him if the job was open and he was at Siena Heights.

Gary Waters was much the same. Got the reputation by being Braun's top assistant and moved up to Kent and Rutgers.

I would venture that if Braun would have left early Waters could have repeated Braun rise at EMU.

Amazing but no one considers Siena Heights and Ferris State breeding grounds for good MAC coaches.

And, of course, compare that with our next hire, a coach from Minnesota who presumably was thought to be a coach who could recruit big and win... and ended up starting our downward spiral.

Not an apt comparison. Ben Braun was the top assistant on Jim Boyce's staff when Boyce got fired midseason.

Guys,


I am not sure if anyone else has noticed but we have recently added some new EMU followers (this is good) and many others has been posting and reading what's happening on our board.. Great way to build a stronger fanbase for the up coming season..

Welcome to the newbies.. Please feel free to add to the comments on our board.. All thoughts and input is welcome..