Maize's Eagles | A New Direction in Ypsilanti

[Maize08]

Quote: Originally Posted by dubvcrazy

Looking good man, I'm following! Always loved Mangino so I really like the coach choice. Good luck man!

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Mangino and I think he got a bad wrap at Kansas. That wasn't a school that was ready to accept what it takes to win at football. I think he was misunderstood and I think money became an issue as well. But I'm sure KU would love to have him back.

Two updates:
- EMU reportedly hired Chris Creighton as the team's next Head Coach. He was the Head Coach at Drake where he compiled a 44-22 record. He owns the best win % in school history. He has worked his way up the coaching ladder and has been credited for doing things "the right way." I think EMU had to hire a guy like that for PR reasons, but I do think they could have done better.
- I will post recruiting today. I also have to edit recruits to real life players, I'm doing that for about 50-75 recruits. A few for EMU and many that are ranked in Top 100 on sites like ESPN and Rivals.

[Maize08]

2014 National Signing Day

Mangino's First Class: 16 Players, 9th Best in MAC
Mark Mangino only had a month between being hired and National Signing Day. In that time, he hired a coaching staff, brought in two transfers and kept the verbal commitments of five players.

"It was hectic, but I am proud of the class we put together. Didn't have a lot of time to put together a board, we really just hit the ground. It was old school recruiting." said Head Coach Mark Mangino, excited about the players brought in. "We didn't have a big class graduating, so we weren't working with a lot of scholarships."

The best player brought in was Elyria Catholic offensive lineman Dakota Tallman. A four-year letterman, he committed to EMU before the team's 2013 home opener. By the end of his Senior season, bigger schools had gained interest and ESPN gave him a fourth-star. Tallman never waivered; he is a big and versatile lineman that could play tackle or guard. He should work well in Magino's offense.

The other four players that had committed prior were all from the state of Michigan. Mitch Stanizek, a defensive end for State Champion Grand Rapids West Catholic was looking forward to playing under Ron English. He had taken a visit to Western Michigan, but kept his commitment after meeting with Joe Tresey. Described to have quick feet (4.6 40 Time), he could be a pass-rusher right away from EMU.

Following the pattern of committed players from State Champions, the Eagles also added Clarkston running back Ian Eriksen. Eriksen led the Wolves to their first state title with 1,000 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns in the team's five playoff games. A physical runner that runs bigger than his size (5'10" 190), Eriksen could be a hidden gem for Eastern.

Gary Hosey was a two-way player for Cass Tech, a perennial power in Michigan High School football. Hosey caught the attention of Linebackers Coach Josh Reardon who said "(Hosey) has an instinct you cannot teach. He always seems to be around the ball."

Dwayne Montaque is a lineman from River Rouge High School, a three year starter on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff expects him to play on the defensive side, as a three-technique tackle. His footwork and motor earned him a scholarship offer from the previous coaching staff. The new staff agreed, but views him as a project with a high ceiling.

Besides the early committed players, there are others that could make an early impact. Mangino and Running Backs Coach Kijuan Ware took a recruiting trip through Illinois. They offered four players and three signed. Linebacker Sam Dahl has a chance to play immediately, at least on special teams. Dahl went to high school at Alton, a school on border of Missouri. EMU was his only FBS offer. Same with defensive end John Brown, the other end from Illinois that signed was another story. Donnie Sabo was planning on committing to Indiana, before a last second home visit with Mangino and Ware.

All-in-all, the coaching staff is happy with the talent brought in and future for EMU. For the second straight year, the team signed a four-star player (last year was Brogan Roback). Besides Tallman, Eastern brought in five three-star players, eight two-stars, and two one-stars.

The recruiting class featured from seven states: Michigan (7), Ohio (3), Illinois (3), Indiana (1), Virginia (1) and Arkansas (1). The player from Arkansas was a running back considering Rice. Offensive Coordinator John Reagan had been recruiting Kasey Love and stayed in touch, once he got to EMU. The staff agreed to offer Love, but expect him to play safety in Ypsilanti.

"This is a good first step for us," said Mangino. "We are moving forward, now we have to get everyone in and on the same page. Start to introduce the scheme and the program." The Athletic Department is prepping for a 'Green v. White Spring Fight' - something they plan to make an annual event. It was also unveil changes to Rynearson Stadium and new ticket packages.

Eastern Michigan Recruiting - 2014
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Dakota Tallman	OG	HS	Elyria, OH	6'4"	304
Ryan White	FS	HS	Celina, OH	6'1"	193
Mitch Stanitzek	DE	HS	St. Johns, MI	6'4"	220
Sam Dahl	OLB	HS	Alton, IL	6'2"	180
Darrell Stewart	TE	HS	Pontiac, MI	6'6"	247
Donnie Sabo	DE	HS	East Moline, IL	6'3"	230
Gary Hosey	OLB	HS	Detroit, MI	6'0"	220
Raymond Craft	SS	HS	Mantua, VA	6'0"	191
Ian Eriksen	RB	HS	Battle Creek, MI	5'10"	190
Kasey Love	SS	HS	Ozark, AR	6'0"	191
Dwayne Montaque	DT	HS	River Rouge, MI	6'4"	288
John Brown	DE	HS	East Chicago, IL	6'3"	230
Steve Muse	OT	HS	Schereville, IN	6'5"	266
Kelvin Wallace	RB	HS	Northridge, OH	6'1"	185
Jerome Hunter	OT	HS	Detroit MI	6'2"	327
David Hodges	WR	HS	Wyoming, MI	6'1"	188

[Maize08]

2014 National Signing Day

Top Recruiting Classes - 2014
RK	TEAM	5	4	3	2	1	TOTAL
1	Alabama Crimson Tide	3	6	12	1	0	22
2	Ohio State Buckeyes	2	7	11	0	0	20
3	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	4	4	10	2	0	20
4	Georgia Bulldogs	1	9	6	1	2	19
5	Michigan Wolverines	1	7	13	0	0	21
6	USC Trojans	1	8	7	0	0	16
7	LSU Tigers	1	8	7	2	0	18
8	Texas Longhorns	1	4	17	0	0	22
9	Florida State Seminoles	1	5	11	4	0	21
10	Tennessee Volunteers	0	6	11	3	5	25
30	Ohio Bobcats	0	5	8	5	1	19
51	Buffalo Bulls	0	0	17	4	1	22
60	Northern Illinois Huskies	0	2	7	5	6	20
71	Bowling Green Falcons	0	1	10	4	4	19
88	Toledo Rockets	0	0	9	8	4	21
91	Ball State Cardinals	0	1	8	4	4	17
93	Western Michigan Broncos	0	0	8	10	2	20
95	Akron Zips	0	0	11	3	3	17
98	Eastern Michigan Eagles	0	1	5	8	2	16
102	Central Michigan Chippewas	0	0	9	3	9	21
105	Miami Univ. Redhawks	0	1	5	6	4	16
112	Kent State Golden Flashes	0	0	7	5	5	17

[Maize08]

Eastern Football Schedule Set Thru 2018
The Athletic Department announced that the Eastern Michigan non-conference football schedule is complete for the next five seasons. The team finalized deals with multiple schools that will have the Eagles playing host to schools from the Big Ten and Big XII.

Going year-by-year, this upcoming season will start with a game against FCS-opponent Morgan State. The Mangino era will also include road games to "The Swamp" to play Florida. Additionally in 2014, the team will travel to Old Dominion and Michigan State.

In 2015, Old Dominion comes to Ypsilanti completing a home-and-home contract. The team travels to another SEC powerhouse, LSU, and one of the toughest places to play, Death Valley. 2015 will have the team logging the most miles as they also travel to West Point (Army) and Laramie (Wyoming).

In 2016 through 2018, the team will play two home games, unlike the previous two seasons. In 2016, they host Wyoming and Army. They will open the season either traveling to Charlotte or over to East Lansing to play Michigan State.

2017 features a home game with Charlotte, another trip to Army (as per the four-year agreement), and a game against Temple. The other game will feature the team's first home game against a major conference opponent since Maryland in 2003. Kansas State has agreed to a home-and-home with EMU for 2017 and 2018. EMU will host the first game and travel the following season.

2018 might feature the biggest home game in the program's history. Not since playing Michigan's B Team in 1932 has EMU hosted a Big Ten opponent. That will change when Michigan State visits, as part of their contract. It was supposed to be either 2018 or 2020, but EMU Administration pushed for the earlier date and it worked. Also in 2018 the team will host Army and travel to two Big XII teams (Kansas State and West Virginia).

The University seems ready to announce something with the future of Rynearson Stadium. Renovations may be underway, but the school is keeping things quiet. It all could be prep for big home games in the near future. The new "Green V. White Spring Fight" is scheduled for Saturday, April 19 and is free and open to the public. The event will featured a full scrimmage and it will give fans a chance to buy new season ticket packages. Also, the University will be announcing changes to the gameday experience in the next few weeks. Those changes will be rolled out for the Spring Game.

Eastern Michigan Future Schedule
2014 - vs. Morgan State, @ Florida, @ Old Dominion, @ MSU
2015 - vs. Old Dominion, @ Wyoming, @ LSU, @ Army
2016 - @ Charlotte, @ Michigan State, vs. Wyoming, vs. Army
2017 - vs. Charlotte, @ Army, vs. Kansas State, @ Temple
2018 - vs. Army, vs. Michigan State, @ Kansas State, @ West Virginia

[Maize08]

Spring game and roster notes tomorrow. Just played my first game with this team; a really fun roster that definitely needs more talent. Oh, Bronson Hill is a beast.

[Maize08]

Changes In Store at Rynearson Stadium
Athletic Director Heather Lyke announced a partnership with General Motors to improve the gameday experience with Rynearson Stadium. Besides the corporate and collegiate partnerships, there are some physical changes coming to Rynearson.

Home attendance has been under 4,000 the last two seasons. It is the lowest in the country by far, lower than many FCS and Division II programs. With a stadium capacity of 30,200, the low attendance seems even weaker in a large stadium. So the Athletic Department is going to close off Sections 111-118 indefinitely. Those sections are the southern-most and have been considered the worst seats due to the sight lines caued by the track.

"Those sections will be tarped off with a large green tarp, customized with the EMU logo and our title sponsors." said a spokesman for the Athletic Department, describing the change to the stadium. This will take the stadium's capacity down to 24,700 (5,500 less than previous).

Students, fans and season ticket holders will receive a "Eagles Nation Rewards" card that can be used to receive discounts on concessions and apparel on gameday. Also, it will track attendance and perfect attendance comes with big benefits. For those who attend all five games, they will be entered into a drawing for an all new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. General Motors will also sponsor giveaways and half-time events throughout the football season.

There also is some re-shuffling to the seating for students and the team's band. "The Pride of the Peninsula" will now be seated at the bottom of Section 105 and 106. Students will be seated in sections 101 through 105, overlapping with the band. Band alumni will be seated above the band in Section 106, just below the press box. Visitors will have access to seats 125 through 131.

The other big news is for students, who can swipe their student ID and Eagles Nation card for free attendance to all home games. Students will have access free of charge, as will all patrons 10 years or younger. The stadium will try for a more family friendly environment. More than that, it will become a more intimate experience. In Lykes' press release, she stated "We are building a quality product on the field and we want to entice fans to be part of that experience."

[Maize08]

EMU Football: Bowl-less For a Quarter Century
The EMU Eagles are entering the Mark Mangino era, hoping for better results. Not just an improvement, but a complete change in the program's history. Mangino has made it important that players and coaches understand the program's history. It's so important he puts numbers and dates all over the locker room. 1987 - The team's last bowl appearance; 42-10 - The final score of last year's Central Michigan game; 1995 - the team's last winning season (6-5).

The emphasis on history has put the bowl drought, poor attendance and dismal record into perspective. The bowl drought of 26 seasons is the second longest in the country. Only behind Mew Mexico State's drought that dates back to 1960. The last time EMU played in a post-season bowl game was also the last year they won the Mid-American Conference: 1987.

The Eagles have reached six wins only twice since 1990, the most recent being in 2011. Yet in that season, two of the team's wins were against FCS opponents. Thus, no post-season was in-store for EMU.

The poor attendance has caught the NCAA's attention, just as EMU is attempting to fill seats at Rynearson Stadium. The NCAA maintains that a FBS program must average above 15,000 per home game. If a program falls below for two years, then it could lead to the program being downgraded to the FCS.

In 2012 and 2013, the average attendance has been below 4,000. The NCAA wants a two-year review on the school's performance, before making a decision about the future of the program. That means after the 2015 season, the NCAA will rule.

Based on the 2012 NCAA report, not only is the attendance the worst in the FBS, EMU would be in the bottom 10% in FCS attendance. 32 Division II programs have higher attendance, same with a dozen Division III programs.

Improving the product on the field is of the utmost important to Head Coach Mark Mangino. "The players want to win, us coaches want to win and we know how much it would mean to win here.

In one week, fans will get to see the team in action for the "Green v. White Spring Fight," an intra-squad scrimmage. Multiple position battles, including at the Quarterback position, are some of the leading story lines. Including the first look at a new offense. All the changes in a hope to move the Eagles in the right direction.

[Maize08]

2014 Spring Game News and Notes
First year Head Coach Mark Mangino arrived in Ypsilanti promising to deliver some exciting football. The spring game definitely proved that the product on the field might already be improved.

The game started with a solemn moment, remembering Demarius Reed. Reed was murdered on October 18th, two men robbed Reed and in the process of robbing him shot him multiple times. The school honored Reed by retiring his number (#2) and presenting his family with his last game-worn jersey.

The Athletic Department had been touting the "Green v. White Spring Fight" for months and fans responded with the largest Spring Game attendance ever for Eastern Michigan. A reported 11,000 enjoyed the festivities. The game started with the Green Team on offense; Bronson Hill took a hand-off in the shotgun from Tyler Benz and scored on an 80 yard touchdown run.

In the end, the Green Team held on to win in a high scoring scrimmage, 31-28. The only difference from a real game, special teams played both ways and Quarterbacks could not be tackled. Big performances from many players on the offensive side have fans excited for the offense under Mangino. Brogan Roback threw two touchdowns (both to Quincy Jones) and an interception (to Darius Jackson) for the White team. Bronson Hill was named the game's MVP with 115 yards on 7 carries and the game-opening touchdown.

Team Captains Announced
For the 2014 season, EMU will have three captains for the entire season. Unlike previous seasons where captains were picked weekly, Mangino decided things would be different. "Players voted on team captains, three players. I don't care if they are Freshman or Seniors, I want the players to pick the men they see as leaders."

The three players chosen by players are all seniors. Running back Bronson Hill was the only unanimous choice, named by every player as a captain. Safety Pudge Cotton and guard Campbell Allison will also act as team captains throughout the season. They will be the players out for coin toss for every game.

Players Changing Positions
Two players for EMU have changed positions under the direction of the new coaching staff. The big change was junior Darius Jackson switching sides of the ball. Jackson was learning that he was falling behind on the depth chart at running back, and Coach KiJuan Ware told Jackson to Secondary Coach Ernest Jones about getting some reps in the secondary.

Jackson, a center fielder for the baseball team, also played safety in high school at Sparta High School. When he arrived at EMU he played running back, but never saw much playing time other than on special teams. He carried the ball 35 times for 165 yards and a touchdown last season, but he is now slotted as the team's starting Free Safety. Ernest Jones said of the move: "He is a smart guy, understands the position and has the athleticism to be a playmaker on this side of the ball."

Also switching from offense to defense, Duwhan Alford is now listed at linebacker. A true freshman last season, he was redshirted and planned on being a tight end for the Eagles. A running back and linebacker in high school, Alford could see playing time right away. Especially on passing downs.

Roster Finalized
The Spring Game roster included named that have since transferred or have been cut. In total, six players are no longer on the roster and the roster is now set at 70 players. The six players released from the roster include: Receiver Austin Stone, guard Garrett Parker, defensive tackle Kevin Thomas, linebacker Derric Williams, cornerback Kris Strange, and David Pulliam.