There's nothing wrong with not wanting to spend money on football and just using it for education, BUT if you are of that mindset, you don't belong in D1 football. It's like a city being awarded a MLB franchise and then deciding to not spend money (Montreal Expos) well the other franchises aren't going to let you hang around and share the revenue.

And Ken I disagree. CMU has way better football facilities. Also, you may want to Google Akron's new football stadium to see what a modern MAC stadium should look like.

We've got to be willing to keep up with the Jones's or get out of the way.

(09-08-2014 10:23 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:56 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  My theory is if we had an attractive stadium on campus or closer to campus, we would than draw larger crowds

West campus should not be disconnected from the rest of campus. If money were not an issue this is what I would suggest to bring more life to West Campus.

1. Knock down the crappy outdated Freshman center dorms (Phelps, Sellers, Walton, Putnam) and build new ones on West campus across from the bubble.

2. Within this new dorm complex put the best dining eatery on campus so that freshmen are eager to live in this complex.

3. Next to this new dorm complex build a classroom building large enough to offer a variety of introductory level classes that Freshmen often are required to take anyway.

4. Build a light rail shuttle system that connects Main campus and West campus.

This major campus improvement project would benefit athletics with accessibility of students to games that live next door without a dime allocated directly to athletics. The vacated land of the current Freshman center could be used as a green space, parking, or lay in wait for the next big project.

Some good ideas here I never thought of.

Bob, there is a good and proper oder to things. In my mind, a great football team will make/necessitate a great stadium but a great stadium will not make our football team any better.

I do agree with your crap or get off the pot sentiment. I've said it many times before - EMU needs to get serious about football if it wants to have a program or get out of football all together.


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Rob, we agree for the most part. Chew on this for a second, it will blow your mind! This year's crop of freshman weren't even ALIVE the last time EMU went even 6-5! Yet, no radical changes need to be made. Things will magically improve under Creighton. Newsflash: we're winning 1 game this year. Our genius coach STILL defiantly is sticking with Bell at QB. Creighton is making Ron English look like Bill Walsh right about now.

Bob, can't argue with that.


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Couple of posters here keep on making the argument that winning solves things... but really what makes you believe that it will in EMU's case.

And is one winning season enough ? Or 2 or 3 ? Because I think that MAYBE if we constantly won over 5 over years we would start seeing an attendance increase solely based on winning. AND the argument I have been trying to make for quite long time is that UNDER CURRENT SITUATION WE WILL NEVER PUT TOGETHER MORE THAN 3 YEARS IN THE ROW WITH A WINNING RECORD.

(09-09-2014 02:51 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  Couple of posters here keep on making the argument that winning solves things... but really what makes you believe that it will in EMU's case.

And is one winning season enough ? Or 2 or 3 ? Because I think that MAYBE if we constantly won over 5 over years we would start seeing an attendance increase solely based on winning. AND the argument I have been trying to make for quite long time is that UNDER CURRENT SITUATION WE WILL NEVER PUT TOGETHER MORE THAN 3 YEARS IN THE ROW WITH A WINNING RECORD.

Bingo! I agree. Those posters can make the winning cures all argument because they know it will NEVER get tested.

(09-09-2014 02:01 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 10:23 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:56 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  My theory is if we had an attractive stadium on campus or closer to campus, we would than draw larger crowds

West campus should not be disconnected from the rest of campus. If money were not an issue this is what I would suggest to bring more life to West Campus.

1. Knock down the crappy outdated Freshman center dorms (Phelps, Sellers, Walton, Putnam) and build new ones on West campus across from the bubble.

2. Within this new dorm complex put the best dining eatery on campus so that freshmen are eager to live in this complex.

3. Next to this new dorm complex build a classroom building large enough to offer a variety of introductory level classes that Freshmen often are required to take anyway.

4. Build a light rail shuttle system that connects Main campus and West campus.

This major campus improvement project would benefit athletics with accessibility of students to games that live next door without a dime allocated directly to athletics. The vacated land of the current Freshman center could be used as a green space, parking, or lay in wait for the next big project.

Some good ideas here I never thought of.

That sounds splendid--except for the fact that it would requires tens of millions of dollars EMU does not have.

(09-09-2014 03:50 PM)wolverineeagle Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 02:01 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 10:23 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:56 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  My theory is if we had an attractive stadium on campus or closer to campus, we would than draw larger crowds

West campus should not be disconnected from the rest of campus. If money were not an issue this is what I would suggest to bring more life to West Campus.

1. Knock down the crappy outdated Freshman center dorms (Phelps, Sellers, Walton, Putnam) and build new ones on West campus across from the bubble.

2. Within this new dorm complex put the best dining eatery on campus so that freshmen are eager to live in this complex.

3. Next to this new dorm complex build a classroom building large enough to offer a variety of introductory level classes that Freshmen often are required to take anyway.

4. Build a light rail shuttle system that connects Main campus and West campus.

This major campus improvement project would benefit athletics with accessibility of students to games that live next door without a dime allocated directly to athletics. The vacated land of the current Freshman center could be used as a green space, parking, or lay in wait for the next big project.

Some good ideas here I never thought of.

That sounds splendid--except for the fact that it would requires tens of millions of dollars EMU does not have.

I agree with that too, but I think alumni would rather donate towards some of the things on that list that facilities for country's worst football program.

(09-09-2014 02:51 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  Couple of posters here keep on making the argument that winning solves things... but really what makes you believe that it will in EMU's case.

And is one winning season enough ? Or 2 or 3 ? Because I think that MAYBE if we constantly won over 5 over years we would start seeing an attendance increase solely based on winning. AND the argument I have been trying to make for quite long time is that UNDER CURRENT SITUATION WE WILL NEVER PUT TOGETHER MORE THAN 3 YEARS IN THE ROW WITH A WINNING RECORD.

Agreed. If EMU doesn't build a consistently competitive program 2 or 3 winning season will always be considered a fluke, a flash in the pan.

(09-09-2014 03:14 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 02:51 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  Couple of posters here keep on making the argument that winning solves things... but really what makes you believe that it will in EMU's case.

And is one winning season enough ? Or 2 or 3 ? Because I think that MAYBE if we constantly won over 5 over years we would start seeing an attendance increase solely based on winning. AND the argument I have been trying to make for quite long time is that UNDER CURRENT SITUATION WE WILL NEVER PUT TOGETHER MORE THAN 3 YEARS IN THE ROW WITH A WINNING RECORD.

Bingo! I agree. Those posters can make the winning cures all argument because they know it will NEVER get tested.

Building a new stadium or renovating Rynearson is like getting a $3,000 paint job on that old piece of sh*t Gremlin sitting in the driveway. Sure it'll look better but it's still an old piece of sh*t Gremlin.

Dear Friends,
I guess I don't understand what some of you want. I think some of you really don't think Eastern will ever improve, so what do you want? Some of you are already critical of Coach Creighton because he isn't playing your boy at quarterback.
Remember that most of us, if not all, have never been college football coaches, so how do you know what will work and what will not? Yes this is a sounding board, and people can give their point of view, but what I am reading lately is Eastern will never win, or Eastern will never be able to win more then three years in a row, or that winning by itself will not bring the fans back. That last point flies in the face of history.
I will be the first to agree that making a winning program is not going to be easy, but what I am reading lately from many, I consider just a bunch of crap. I think many of you want Eastern to continue to lose so you can say, " I told you so". What a bunch of defeatists.

(09-09-2014 08:24 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
I guess I don't understand what some of you want. I think some of you really don't think Eastern will ever improve, so what do you want? Some of you are already critical of Coach Creighton because he isn't playing your boy at quarterback.
Remember that most of us, if not all, have never been college football coaches, so how do you know what will work and what will not? Yes this is a sounding board, and people can give their point of view, but what I am reading lately is Eastern will never win, or Eastern will never be able to win more then three years in a row, or that winning by itself will not bring the fans back. That last point flies in the face of history.
I will be the first to agree that making a winning program is not going to be easy, but what I am reading lately from many, I consider just a bunch of crap. I think many of you want Eastern to continue to lose so you can say, " I told you so". What a bunch of defeatists.

Ken, it has been 19 years since they were mediocre (6-5). This year if they win 2 games I'd be shocked. Can you think of another team at any level who has had this kind of futility? Why would any sane person believe that things could/would change?

Ken,

I can only speak for myself. I yearn for success for our football program. I would love for our football team to be "that" team that beats the U of M or MSU. I would love to be able to brag about the success of our team. I want that for the university, the coaching staff, the players, the alumni, current students, and the community at large. I just don't think a new or renovated stadium is going to get us their. Rather, I think a new or renovated stadium should be the reward for success. Like I responded to Bob, do things in the proper order.

Rob


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(09-09-2014 08:52 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  Ken,

I can only speak for myself. I yearn for success for our football program. I would love for our football team to be "that" team that beats the U of M or MSU. I would love to be able to brag about the success of our team. I want that for the university, the coaching staff, the players, the alumni, current students, and the community at large. I just don't think a new or renovated stadium is going to get us their. Rather, I think a new or renovated stadium should be the reward for success. Like I responded to Bob, do things in the proper order.

Rob


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The old chicken or the egg argument! You say the chicken, I say the egg.

Bob,

You seriously think EMU should build a new stadium, that it can't afford, for a program that is consistently at the bottom of the MAC? Really? So, you're the guy who puts a new roof on his house despite the fact that the walls of the house are caving in and the foundation is crumbling.

Rob


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(09-09-2014 08:49 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 08:24 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
I guess I don't understand what some of you want. I think some of you really don't think Eastern will ever improve, so what do you want? Some of you are already critical of Coach Creighton because he isn't playing your boy at quarterback.
Remember that most of us, if not all, have never been college football coaches, so how do you know what will work and what will not? Yes this is a sounding board, and people can give their point of view, but what I am reading lately is Eastern will never win, or Eastern will never be able to win more then three years in a row, or that winning by itself will not bring the fans back. That last point flies in the face of history.
I will be the first to agree that making a winning program is not going to be easy, but what I am reading lately from many, I consider just a bunch of crap. I think many of you want Eastern to continue to lose so you can say, " I told you so". What a bunch of defeatists.

Ken, it has been 19 years since they were mediocre (6-5). This year if they win 2 games I'd be shocked. Can you think of another team at any level who has had this kind of futility? Why would any sane person believe that things could/would change?

Things have changed in 19 years. Today Eastern has a president with a positive attitude toward athletics, an athletic director with a positive attitude toward athletics and coaches that have a positive attitude toward athletics. In case you haven't noticed, steps have been taken to improve the situation, but, as they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day." In spite of what you may think, we are virtually starting from scratch. I been around EMU for 57 years. So I think I can speak from experience. Be patient. This is the first time in many years That all the right people are on the right page.

(09-09-2014 09:04 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  Bob,

You seriously think EMU should build a new stadium, that it can't afford, for a program that is consistently at the bottom of the MAC? Really? So, you're the guy who puts a new roof on his house despite the fact that the walls of the house are caving in and the foundation is crumbling.

Rob


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Remember when the Cleveland Indians sucked forever playing in the "mistake by the lake" Municipal Stadium? They decided that having 12,000 fans show up for games in a 70,000 seat stadium to watch a horrible team was not working. No fans, no free agents, no hope. They built Jacobs Field and were in the World Series a few years later and were a perennially great team for several years.

I don't think EMU can compete with Toledo, CMU, or WMU for quality players in the area, due in large part to the fact that we play in a horrific, 90% empty stadium away from campus. I know realistically, there is nothing we can do--we just installed the gray turf (lipstick on a pig) so we are stuck with good old Rynearson for the forseable future, so really the point is moot. But if EMU was to turn this thing around, certainly it would have happened by now. I just don't think any sustained success is possible--or it would have taken place already. You cannot tell me every single coach that was hired since 1995 was a complete imbecile.

News flash - the Tribe are still underachievers and still suck. Nice stadium but lousy team. Pretty sure the people of Ohio or a corporate sponsor built that stadium for them. Do you think the people of Michigan or a corporate sponsor will build us a new stadium? Show me a corporation who will want to attach their name to the "success" of our football program and I'll stop buying their product because they are obviously too foolish to know how to spend money wisely.


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(09-09-2014 09:29 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  News flash - the Tribe are still underachievers and still suck. Nice stadium but lousy team. Pretty sure the people of Ohio or a corporate sponsor built that stadium for them. Do you think the people of Michigan or a corporate sponsor will build us a new stadium? Show me a corporation who will want to attach their name to the "success" of our football program and I'll stop buying their product because they are obviously too foolish to know how to spend money wisely.


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I think Steve mentioned Quicken Loans before. I think that is a good one. Here's the thing. Playing DI football is like having a seat at the poker table. If you don't have the resources to compete, then maybe you don't belong at the big boy table, and there is no shame in that. What kind of time frame are you willing to give? It's been 19 years--this will be a losing season, so 20 years...how many years are you giving Eastern to produce a winning team? What do you think is reasonable?