I came across this article from 2010. Eno really dogs on the football program, EMU, and Ypsilanti. His attitude toward his alma mater and the Eagles' Football Program is much different now (rightfully so), but man was the bile strong here:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/5282...hese-years

Dear cidbearit,
Although Eastern was terrible through the years we all know about, Eno should have been more critical of the coaches that were hired during that period, or the administrators that hired them.
Any school that has a losing record for a time, is because of bad coaching, or bad recruiting, or both. If, that happens for a long time, then it becomes a problem of perception by players.

MAC has come a long ways!!

https://twitter.com/MACSports/status/162...17251?s=20

(02-16-2023 10:48 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  I came across this article from 2010. Eno really dogs on the football program, EMU, and Ypsilanti. His attitude toward his alma mater and the Eagles' Football Program is much different now (rightfully so), but man was the bile strong here:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/5282...hese-years

GREAT share, thanks!

It brought back memories for sure. We had bumper stickers "Stock is Rising, EMU Football". Mike Stock then inherited Ed Chlebek's team that went 8-3 and went 6-38-1 thereafter.

Lynn Anderson lip-synched her halftime show to Rynearson's crappy sound system and was thoroughly booed by the crowd. Total comedy.

The best thing to happen in that era was the Detroit Wheels who played their home games at Rynearson and installed the lights.

We have come a VERY long way, to be sure.

Cid, I agree with the rest, great share Thankyou. BUT, what a horrific artcle. How on earth did you dig that up??

How about this article. So much more palatable.
https://mobile.twitter.com/AndrewEdGraha...0165877760

Coach Creighton really has been so phenomenal for EMU. How lucky we have been to have him as a coach for going on 10 years now.

(02-16-2023 07:03 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-16-2023 10:48 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  I came across this article from 2010. Eno really dogs on the football program, EMU, and Ypsilanti. His attitude toward his alma mater and the Eagles' Football Program is much different now (rightfully so), but man was the bile strong here:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/5282...hese-years

GREAT share, thanks!

It brought back memories for sure. We had bumper stickers "Stock is Rising, EMU Football". Mike Stock then inherited Ed Chlebek's team that went 8-3 and went 6-38-1 thereafter.

Lynn Anderson lip-synched her halftime show to Rynearson's crappy sound system and was thoroughly booed by the crowd. Total comedy.

The best thing to happen in that era was the Detroit Wheels who played their home games at Rynearson and installed the lights.

We have come a VERY long way, to be sure.

I was around for the Mike Stock era. Local high schools could have beat EMUs football team back then. I more or less reconnected with EMU football around the Rasnick era and stuck with it. Yes thank goodness for CC and an entire 360 culture change in the program not just on the field but off it as well. Hopefully this will happen to men's basketball program.

(02-16-2023 09:02 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Cid, I agree with the rest, great share Thankyou. BUT, what a horrific artcle. How on earth did you dig that up??

Ramy...I occasionally Google EMU Football to see if any interesting tidbits come up that have flown below our collective radar. Yesterday that piece popped up and I was shocked at the extremely bitter tone of the article, not just in regard to EMU Football but also in the Ypsi comments.

CID,

Thanks for the reminder! I can remember sitting in the cold wet stand’s watching our hapless Hurons/Eagles chalk up non-competitive losses.

I told Heather Lyke we would erect a statue of her if we get rid of the track around the football stadium. I would imagine if she were here there would be a plan in place for a new football stadium.

I credit Heather Lyke for having a great vision for EMU athletics and a lot of accolades should go to her for hiring Chris Creighton and putting the SAPC in motion.

Chris Chreighton has moved the football program to a place where it’s respected and competitive at every game. I believe if we had an intimate stadium, Creighton would lead the MAC in attendance. I do believe Creighton has also pushed the program to a level where 7-10 wins is possible over the next few years. This success will continue to raise the profile of EMU and be a positive impact to EMU and the surrounding area.

I believe that Creighton can get us to the top of the MAC mountain within the next couple of years.

I probably won’t see the new stadium in my lifetime but when they do it some day, for the love of God, I hope they don’t screw up again!!

Dear Luckeyone,
One has to remember that when Rynearson was built (over fifty years ago) the track was part because Eastern has always been a track school. I'm not as upset about the track like many of the contributors on this site, and have always insisted that if Eastern has winning football programs, the stadium will be filled, as it was for the stadium dedication in October, 1969 against the University of Tampa.

(02-17-2023 01:52 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Luckeyone,
One has to remember that when Rynearson was built (over fifty years ago) the track was part because Eastern has always been a track school. I'm not as upset about the track like many of the contributors on this site, and have always insisted that if Eastern has winning football programs, the stadium will be filled, as it was for the stadium dedication in October, 1969 against the University of Tampa.

And a really large crowd in 1995 (or '96?) for UNLV.

Ken, you are right about Rynearson. Rynearson wasn't designed by a famous stadium construction company like say Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, etc. were.

In 1969 EMU was hardly a football school. Then came the Detroit Wheels and lights. Then came the NCAA and their mandate for 30,000 seats (hence the east stands) in what 1992? (dedication game vs. Akron). Then came the GG GA Center and later SAPC.

Everything is predicated on what was previously built.

Needless to say, if the track was not there, the SAPC would back up to the north end zone But the track IS THERE.

And if some lottery winner donates 100M to EMU for a new stadium we still have the GG GA Center and SAPC where they are. They aren't moving anywhere.

(02-17-2023 01:52 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Luckeyone,
One has to remember that when Rynearson was built (over fifty years ago) the track was part because Eastern has always been a track school. I'm not as upset about the track like many of the contributors on this site, and have always insisted that if Eastern has winning football programs, the stadium will be filled, as it was for the stadium dedication in October, 1969 against the University of Tampa.

Yes, Ken. Track is an awesome sport. Football is an awesome sport. However, when EMU invested millions of dollars back in the mid 90s then for the love of God, the track and stadium should have been divorced from each other. They just are not happy together. There’s just no wedded bliss between the two :-)

Dear Luckeyone,
How do you know that the track inside Rynearson is not happy? Or vice versa?

(02-17-2023 08:06 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Luckeyone,
How do you know that the track inside Rynearson is not happy? Or vice versa?

Because the majority of football stadiums (my eye test) would speculate that 95% of FBS football fields do not have a track around them. Why do you think that is?

Dear Luckeyone,
It could be many things that determine trackless stadiums. Some schools may not have track teams, some that do, may feel there would never be much interest spectator wise, to include a track.
Some may believe the field will look better without the track. Some may not include the track when the stadium was built to lessen expenses. For some, it may not have ever crossed their minds to include a track with original construction. For some, a track may take too much additional space for allotted construction area. Those are some of the possible reasons for not including tracks at football stadiums.
The belief, held by many, that not having a track would improve spectator viewing, would only be for a few thousand fans at best. Those behind those few rows made closer to the field, will still be as far away as the original seats were, or close to it.

(02-18-2023 01:19 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Luckeyone,
It could be many things that determine trackless stadiums. Some schools may not have track teams, some that do, may feel there would never be much interest spectator wise, to include a track.
Some may believe the field will look better without the track. Some may not include the track when the stadium was built to lessen expenses. For some, it may not have ever crossed their minds to include a track with original construction. For some, a track may take too much additional space for allotted construction area. Those are some of the possible reasons for not including tracks at football stadiums.
The belief, held by many, that not having a track would improve spectator viewing, would only be for a few thousand fans at best. Those behind those few rows made closer to the field, will still be as far away as the original seats were, or close to it.

Agree, Ken, that the spectator viewing is almost an optical illusion.

If one wants to be 'closer to the action' simply move down say 8 - 12 rows toward the field.

The track puts the stands about 20 feet further from the field. Sitting up near the press box (e.g., near the pod seats) puts spectators a lot further than that from the field compared to most seats in Rynearson.
What I think Ken was getting at is there are no seats in Rynearson where one is literally 10 feet from the players' benches.

And, of course, adding seats where the track is obviously does not effect the 30k existing seats. It may change the visual illusion but that's all. and provide a few seats really close to the field.

As I have been saying, I'd like to see the track green regardless if it is a track or the remnants of a track. If the track is removed, maybe put something up against the east and west side stands for visual illusion.

(02-16-2023 11:20 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear cidbearit,
Although Eastern was terrible through the years we all know about, Eno should have been more critical of the coaches that were hired during that period, or the administrators that hired them.
Any school that has a losing record for a time, is because of bad coaching, or bad recruiting, or both. If, that happens for a long time, then it becomes a problem of perception by players.

I would agree. The Shelton/Diles team was an abject disaster for EMU football.