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Realistic Expectations Review
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emdypo Offline
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Post: #1
Realistic Expectations Review
Okay,

Everyone take a deep breath and remember what team we are discussing. The Eastern Michigan University Eagles! A team that hasn't had a winning season in 18 years, hasn't been to a bowl game in almost 30 years. A team that last year had a player murdered and a coach fired in disgrace. A team that returned a group that went 2-10. A team that wasn't competitive in most of their games last year, giving up 50 plus points 6 times and 40 plus points 3 times. A team who historically has fielded one of the worst defenses in FBS.

I read the threads and comments on this forum and I completely understand the frustration. I'm an alumni, I've been attending games for 15 years. I attend most home games at Rynearson every year (when work and life doesn't get in the way). And I hope every year that EMU puts together a winning season that starts an era of prosperity for EMU football; and up until now I've been disappointed like others. And I realize that others here have been watching for a lot longer than me; and have been frustrated for a lot longer than me. That being said, what the heck did you guys think was going to happen this year. I said from the beginning this was a 2-4 win team. I'm not claiming to be an expert but I played football growing up and I know the game a little. Our team is made up of English recruits; that doesn't transition well into a 3-4 defense or a Read-Option offense.

Seriously, everyone needs to take a step back and realize that this team isn't built to win yet. Early on I questioned Creighton's quarterback decision. And while I still have heard rumors that Creighton does not like Roback for off-field reasons I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he believes Bell gave them the best chance to win. On the offensive side of the ball we had two wide receivers get booted off the team; Bronson Hill has had a reputation of laziness and attitude problems going back to his freshman year and it finally caught up with him.

What exactly did any of you look at going into this season that gave you the idea this year would be anything more than a train wreck. These coaches are trying to inject a culture of discipline, personal accountability, work ethic; and we are worried about wins and losses. Shame on us.

Coach Creighton is in a performance based business, if his teams don't win down the road; well then he will be fired. End of story. He however should not be held responsible for the sins of his predecessors. I've seen glimpses this year (NIU, Buffalo) that allow me to believe we have the right coach for the job. This team is bad, but ultimately these young men are going to be better men for having been coached by Creighton. I look forward to the day EMU's football team is competitive game in and game out. When our team plays for a bowl game and when Rynearson isn't embarrassingly empty every game. BUT WHAT IN THE WORLD GAVE ANY OF YOU THE IDEA THAT THIS TEAM WITH ITS LACK OF TALENT, CHANGE IN OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE STYLES, ONE YEAR REMOVED FROM A PLAYER DEATH AND FIRED COACH, CULTURE OF LOSING, CULTURE OF GIVING UP, WOULD WIN OR EVEN COMPETE MOST WEEKS. Get a grip.
11-04-2014 08:06 PM
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EMUAARON Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
good post. i agree with everything you said.
11-04-2014 09:56 PM
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Huron 61 Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Wow. Where have you been? You really hit it. Off and on for almost sixty years I have followed the exploits of these teams and I couldn't have expressed my feelings any better.
11-04-2014 10:49 PM
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holybovine Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
(11-04-2014 09:56 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  good post. i agree with everything you said.

Indeed. Nice work.
11-04-2014 11:48 PM
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masttg Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Thanks for this post.
11-05-2014 09:04 AM
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EagleSam Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
I agree with a lot of what you said. However, the last paragraph where you bluntly questioned why any of us would think EMU would even compete is a bit unfair. Emu79 said it best when he mentioned inconsistency. When you have a really good showing against a team like NIU, where our guys played their hearts out, and then follow it up with a seemingly effortless loss to CMU, you should expect people to be upset. I don't blame anyone for their reactions after that game...our coach even said as much. It was disgusting to watch. I don't expect wins every week, but I expect better showings than that.
(This post was last modified: 11-05-2014 09:42 AM by EagleSam.)
11-05-2014 09:41 AM
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TheCrumbIsHere Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Definitely right there with you with the opening post and I'm also in complete agreement with EagleSam as well. It's one of the problems that we do have as fans is that we sometimes get too high over good performances and get too low over bad performances. Admittedly once Bell was knocked out of the game on Saturday, that should have signaled the end for that performance. He's the one player on Eastern's offense that you actually have to respect. However, I still expected Eastern to at least put up more of a fight than they did against CMU especially considering that their performance in the two games I attended live(Morgan State and Buffalo) and then seeing how they did against NIU really got me excited to come back to see how they'd perform against an in-state opponent. I was hoping they'd win, but at the very least expected a good game.

Bottom line, I still do think that Creighton is the right man for the job and that brighter days are ahead for the program. I really do like what he's doing overall, he's working on changing the culture and the identity. However, that game against CMU was going to bring out all of the "here we go again threads" as it felt like several steps back from a season that was showing several positives to build on.
11-05-2014 07:49 PM
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scaggie Offline
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Post: #8
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Somethings that make you say hmmmmm !!!
1. Game planning and play calling !!!
2. Off.(Below average) from last year !!
3. Def. (Ave.) from last year year
4. R.Bolden
Int-4
Fum-4
5. R.Bell
Int-2
Fum-6
6. B.Roback
Int-0
Fum-1
11-06-2014 03:27 AM
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emu79 Offline
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Post: #9
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
I thought my expectations of a 3-9 or 4-8 record were reasonable. I didn't think Creighton was going to turn this ship around in a single year. Its apparent to me that when you see former starters like Collins, Derric Williams and Pulliam playing a single down this year even in blowouts or Lisner barely playing not every one is around the Creighton fire happy singing the EMU fight song. It doesn't appear everyone is on the same page. The cause of this is a mystery to me. And for all Creighton's transparency he hasn't been forthcoming about the details around this. He didn't seem the type of coach to run off players but now I wonder. I think the spring roster will show many departures of guys with eligibility remaining in the program. I'm not being critical here just curious.
11-06-2014 11:00 AM
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Ken Barna Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Dear emu79,
When talking to Coach Creighton at the coaches luncheons, I have found him straight forward and believable. I've told people on this blog about why Bronson Hill was not starting. I'm sure, if asked, Coach Creighton would give reasonable explanations for Pulliam, Linser, or whomever. My point here is that you have to ask Creighton about these players. He isn't going to hold a press conference to talk about players that are not playing. I'm not trying to be obtuse here, just trying to give a point of view.
11-06-2014 12:52 PM
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emu79 Offline
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Post: #11
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Ken, no problem this isn't the S. Redemption. Actually it took a while for them to comment on D Scott, J Hill and Q Jones situation. CC may not comment for example if the players are suspended he may decide that team discipline is not a matter to be discussed outside of the actual team and individuals themselves. Even if he disclosed that they were suspended he may not be open to discuss the actual reasons why they were suspended.
11-07-2014 07:54 AM
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Bob Wickersham Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
(11-06-2014 12:52 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79,
When talking to Coach Creighton at the coaches luncheons, I have found him straight forward and believable. I've told people on this blog about why Bronson Hill was not starting. I'm sure, if asked, Coach Creighton would give reasonable explanations for Pulliam, Linser, or whomever. My point here is that you have to ask Creighton about these players. He isn't going to hold a press conference to talk about players that are not playing. I'm not trying to be obtuse here, just trying to give a point of view.
No offense Ken, but based on your weekly picks, you pretty much expect EMU to win each week, so I think you could be easily fooled by whatever Creighton tells you.
11-08-2014 10:01 AM
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Ken Barna Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Realistic Expectations Review
Dear Bob,
Firstly, I don't care what Eastern did last week, or the week before. I do care about the game to be played. Do I think Eastern can win? Why play the game if you don't have high expectations? I just want them to play with a fire in the belly, like we saw against Buffalo and Northern Illinois. I do believe they have a chance to win with every game left to play.
Lastly, to equate what someone is telling you, to how someone performs, as far as I am concerned have no equality. Coach Creighton has never said this team will win all of it's games, but he has said they have the ability to win some of them. If you want to be a downer, or maybe in your terms a realist, that's fine, but don't say things that are not true. Coach Creighton is not trying to fool anyone.
(This post was last modified: 11-08-2014 12:06 PM by Ken Barna.)
11-08-2014 12:04 PM
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EAGLE KING Offline
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Post: #14
Realistic Expectations Review
(11-08-2014 12:04 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
Firstly, I don't care what Eastern did last week, or the week before. I do care about the game to be played. Do I think Eastern can win? Why play the game if you don't have high expectations? I just want them to play with a fire in the belly, like we saw against Buffalo and Northern Illinois. I do believe they have a chance to win with every game left to play.
Lastly, to equate what someone is telling you, to how someone performs, as far as I am concerned have no equality. Coach Creighton has never said this team will win all of it's games, but he has said they have the ability to win some of them. If you want to be a downer, or maybe in your terms a realist, that's fine, but don't say things that are not true. Coach Creighton is not trying to fool anyone.

Thumbs Up!!
11-08-2014 12:11 PM
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