I know we've had a few people say so at this forum, looks like this guy agrees.

It'll be interesting to see who they end up signing to coach there.

They said the same thing about NIU pre-Novak, Kansas State pre-Snyder and any number of other places. It can be done but it will take a charismatic recruiter to do it. Also it's not like the cupboard is totally bare there like it was here in 1996. They have a lot of good players on that team, they just need to add a few difference makers.

I agree this is a tough job, but this guy's arguments don't hold a lot of water. Similar arguments could have been made for NIU in the early Novak years and JoeNo pulled us out of the pit. This is a situation that can be remedied by an outstanding head coach, several of whom have resided at various MAC schools.

1. EMU is competing with two other Michigan directional schools in its’ own conference. So why are WMA and CMU successful?

2. In the MAC West division, there really is no perceived weak program outside Eastern Michigan. This changes on a year-to-year basis. Where was BSU a few years ago or NIU last year? And look at how Toledo fell from prominence this year.

3.EMU has had attendance issues recently, and a simple stroll through campus will find more “University of Michigan” jackets than EMU wear. This simply reflects the poor performance of the team the last few years. The same could be true at any MAC school that has consecutive losing seasons.

The only argument that has some validity is this, as the fan base must be extremely difficult to build: With its proximity to Ann Arbor, I find it very hard to believe that Eastern Michigan can ever truly be turned around as a program. But the guy contradicts himself. Can EMU ever turn into a winner? Sure.

the closeness to Ann Arbor is a tough sell. And, as I said before, when the EMU ticket taker is wearing a Michigan jacket you have to wonder. It appears they are looking at the Wayne St coach as numerous candidates have said no

EMU is a brutal job NIU was no where near that level. Everyone was always aware of NIUs potential. Football Scoop is reporting SEVERAL coaches have turned EMU down so far.
http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24

NIU05 Wrote:EMU is a brutal job NIU was no where near that level. Everyone was always aware of NIUs potential. Football Scoop is reporting SEVERAL coaches have turned EMU down so far.
http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24

That's kind of misleading and poor journalism.

They don't report any names, give any information, other than a broad statement that 'several' coaches have turned the job down. Several isn't a number...

That's just terrible, in fact I'd venture to say they could have made that up and no one would be able to question it anyway.

If they ever get that IPF built that's been proposed, that job gets much easier. At least it's near a major market with multiple entertainement options. Plus UM is sucking wind now, if a new coach can get them winning they might be able to grab some interest. Iowa St has better facilities but is just as bad a job as EMU. Not alot of interest and try recruit players when your program is in a small state with little talent and your up against an Iowa program with much more $ to spend. Ames is a small town in north central Iowa, not exactly a recruiting magnet. THeir conference schedule is brutal. Any coach that wins 7 in a year there deserves national coach of the year.

It's true that EMU is a tough gig for Bowl Division football. On the other hand, EMU has a strong tendency to be complacent and unimaginative.

One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to EMU is how Eastern complains about U-M. The practice has been elevated to near religious levels. Instead of using U-Ms vast connections, resources, and ideas, EMU just whines. If NIU can utilize Chicago, EMU can easily use Ann Arbor and Detroit. Instead, EMU is content with blasting Michigan. For shame.

Another thing that holds EMU back is the Big Grey that is Rynearson stadium. Our alma mater song says "verdant green with white of snow." No grey mentioned, ever! You would think that EMU would make the place stand out from the typical grey skies of October and November, but no. Also, needs a new scoreboard, upgraded sound system, proficient concession stands, and that IPF as well. The stadium is a testament to EMU's lack of creativity.

It's impossible to build something at EMU. The fact that they are 9 miles down the road from the Big House in Ann Arbor is something they can't overcome, even among their own students and alumnus.

EMU is an example of where the NCAA needs to get tougher on criteria for Division I status in college football. I am a big proponent of minimum seating capacity and attendance criteria. If you can't meet either standard (whatever they should be set at) then you should move down to Division IAA status. It's not a punishment but rather an alignment with the reality of big time college football. Besides, there are plenty of Division IAA programs who have carved out a quality and impressive niche for themselves. Southern Illinois is shining example.

Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote:EMU is an example of where the NCAA needs to get tougher on criteria for Division I status in college football. I am a big proponent of minimum seating capacity and attendance criteria. If you can't meet either standard (whatever they should be set at) then you should move down to Division IAA status. It's not a punishment but rather an alignment with the reality of big time college football. Besides, there are plenty of Division IAA programs who have carved out a quality and impressive niche for themselves. Southern Illinois is shining example.

Name one other college sport that has any of the BS things you would require? If a school can afford being FBS, let them be. It is ridiculous to require any of this and just adds to the BS part of big time college athletics where the only thing that matters is $$$. That is just wrong. Another thing is that any of these regulations would not be enforceable and if the NCAA tried to kick out a FBS team to FCS, they would have a big lawsuit on their hands. Imagine the NCAA trying to explain in court that the reason why a team is kicked out of a division is because of their attendance.

I fundamentally disagree with you. There are several tiers of college football status within the NCAA. Being a Division I team should carry with it expectations of financial commitment, stadium size and minimum attendance.

There is nothing wrong with being a Divsion IAA, Division III or NAIA football program. Nothing wrong whatsover. Why should the NCAA and the MAC subsidize the existence of the Eastern Michigan football program at Division I status? Answer is they shouldn't.

Nigel Incubator-Jones Wrote:I fundamentally disagree with you. There are several tiers of college football status within the NCAA. Being a Division I team should carry with it expectations of financial commitment, stadium size and minimum attendance.

There is nothing wrong with being a Divsion IAA, Division III or NAIA football program. Nothing wrong whatsover. Why should the NCAA and the MAC subsidize the existence of the Eastern Michigan football program at Division I status? Answer is they shouldn't.

Okay, what's the minimum stadium size and attendance requirements in your mind-set?

There are a handful of teams in Division I who shouldn't be. I'll make the argument that Eastern Michigan qualifies. So long as mid-major conferences have a handful of doormat programs as part of their mix then they as a whole are going to be in danger.

Eastern Michigan is not a fixable problem at the Division I level. Simply put, they are victim of their geography and historic disinterest in their football program by their very own students and alumni. If you conducted poll of relevant sample size of EMU students and grads then I bet the ranch the huge majority would profess little to no interest in EMU football. Among those who do care about college football the breakdown would be very significantly in favor of Michigan or Michigan State. So what's the fix? Well, the fix is to move Eastern Michigan to Division IAA status where they stand a fighting chance of building a football program of quality nature and that has the possibility of drawing a better overall following.

There are other mid-major programs across the nation in the same boat. The NCAA needs to get tougher with these programs. In fact, our viability as the MAC and as individual members will depend on it.

Shoving EMU to D1AA would be a huge loss to the MAC in all-sports except current football.

Their non-revenue sports are the class of the MAC, and EMU places many athletes at the NCAA's and even into the Olympics. They have more MAC championships in some individual sports than NIU has in all sports combined.....

This probably isn't important to many of you, but I assure you that this is important to the MAC offices......

Losing EMU to another conference further denegrates the MAC into a sports laughing stock.