(09-04-2022 05:54 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: (09-03-2022 08:58 AM)emu79 Wrote: (09-03-2022 08:37 AM)emu steve Wrote: (09-03-2022 07:33 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote: I have to say I understand, and agree, with most of the negative takes about the game. It is why I hate these games against a FCS team, anything we do well is always with the caveat that it was against a FCS team. Anything that goes wrong it comes with "well if we can't do X,Y, and Z against an FCS team how are they going to..." I understand the point that EKU is a good FCS team, but frankly I don't care. If we want to start taking the next step and being thought of as a top level G5 team we shouldn't struggle in these games (last year against St. Francis was similar).
That being said, a win is a win and as an EMU fan I'll always take a win. I think with the games coming this month (LA, ASU, BUF, UMass) we will have a much feel for what this team is by the end of September. After last night though I'm not nearly as hopeful as I was.
What I want to know (and have been too lazy to find out) is about the 12 or 13 FBS transfers EKU has.
What I mean if they are stocking up with P5 transfers then why shouldn't they be a very competitive team? I don't know how much improved they are vs. 2021.
BTW, the Sagarins ranking had EKU ranked higher last season than BG and Akron.
https://sagarin.usatoday.com/2021-2/coll...s-2021-22/
Matthew Napier (OL) Kentucky Eastern Kentucky
K’Rojhn Calbert (OL) Tennessee Eastern Kentucky
Marquae Kirkendoll (DB) New Mexico Eastern Kentucky
Chase Lasater (LB) FAU Eastern Kentucky
David Reynolds (DL) FIU Eastern Kentucky
Mike Smith Jr. (DB) App State Eastern Kentucky
Cornelius McCoy (WR) Georgia State Eastern Kentucky
Willie Taylor III (DL) Washington State Eastern Kentucky
Jett Hendrix (DB) Tulsa Eastern Kentucky
Joeseph Sewell (RB) Middle TN State Eastern Kentucky
Jordan Marshall (DB) Ball State Eastern Kentucky
Cornelius Evans (LB) Georgia Tech Eastern Kentucky
Jett Hendrix: what an absolutely great name for a DB. Bet he's fast.
Thanks ahead of time for taking the time to read a longtime EKU fan's take on all of this. I understand EMU's frustration in not winning this game by double digits, of course you have high hopes for you team, as we all do. In reality any FBS team should be a lot better than those from FCS. You all have already made this point as well as that EKU has an infusion of transfers (but would remiss in not mentioning our QB and star linebacker, as well as others, are all EKU recruits.
However, what you may not know is that EKU has a long, successful history in FCS football, and much to our fan's dismay, a proud history that went south in recent years. In the past ten years, EKU has made a consorted effort to change this. A lot of campus upgrades, getting rid of coaches and an AD who were not producing, infusing $$ into the athletic department, including Roy Kidd Stadium and a 31 million renovation of 6000 seat Alumni Coliseum coming after this season. New baseball stadium and a in- door practice facility, as well as other facility improvements. It is no secret of EKU's desire to move to FBS, and that we have been working toward that for sometime. Do not believe what you read from WKU fans, who deny their hate for EKU yet will degrade our university in chance they get. Many have not been on our campus for years, if ever. Our frustration is the lack of interest and forward thinking of past presidents to not act on this as we see our past peers benefit for such a move is discouraging to say the least (Marshall, App State, WKU, MTSU, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Akron, and now Jax State, to name a few).
EKU would have been in the Sun Belt the year that Coastal Carolina was chosen, and CC was late to that game, even though their facilities at the time were inferior to ours, they were chosen. I could see that coming during the weeks we hoped it would be us they added. Who would not choose a trip to the beach along side a football game?
There is much more to this, but won't bore you with it. What I am saying is that EKU is not Tennessee Tech, Eastern Illinois, SEMO, or some others of our former OVC conference mates or others who are happy were they are in FCS. We hope we are improving our brand and our athletic programs, and just maybe what you saw on Saturday is a better product than it has been in years? We hope it is!