(10-19-2017 01:31 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-18-2017 01:30 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear FrankAnderson and Friends,
Yes, I was able to attend the luncheon, and it was well attended with about sixty people in attendance. Yes, Kyle Rachwal was the guest player, and he as well as the other players that have attended, are gentlemen, well spoken, and a credit to the football program. Kyle said that the team is still confident and ready to play Western. Army, in his words was a tough opponent, and it was difficult to adjust to the triple option, that they ran. Coach Creighton added that because of their offense, Eastern had to basically change the normal defensive scheme that Coach Neathery likes to run, and that makes it difficult because you will only be doing it for one game.
In regard to the two point try at the end of the fourth quarter, Creighton said they were trying to isolate the player that made the tackle for Army. Eastern lined up with three receivers to the right, and Army had to put three or four players over to that side. Army then had five players lined up on the line of scrimmage, and the person they wanted to isolate was lined up as a linebacker. So, that meant that Army had committed 10 players to the middle and right side of the field.
That meant only one defensive player on the left guarding our receiver, and our receiver should be able to tie-up the defensive back on that side.
Once the play was run, the Army player Eastern was isolating, immediately ran to the right side of the field, and there was no one to block him. Had he stayed in the linebacker position, Eriksen would have scored.
Question was asked about quarterback Stiebeling. Coach Creighton said they have wanted to get him some action. but the way the games have been so close score wise, they felt he could not be put into the games. Creighton added that he can throw a nice ball, so his ability is not in question. He added that there will be two more quarterbacks available for spring ball that are also capable of being the starter.
Question asked about recruiting; Creighton said it is going well and they will probably end with a class of nineteen. He also said that he would expect that they will all sign in the early period
Creighton is not high on playing Army. If, he is still Eastern's coach in the next few years, the series will die in 2020 with the last Army game scheduled, or maybe dropped. (My speculation on 2020) He said he likes playing one major team and scheduling three FBS teams for Eastern's out of conference games.
Any questions?

We have 11 verbals so far, appears we may others that are unknown at this time in order to get to 19 for the early signing period.

Looks like there will be a few recruits visiting this weekend also. Should be a good weekend for it.

Dear Friends,
Today was the final Coaches Luncheon for the season. There was quite a drop off in attendance, with about thirty people who were there. The guest player was Dakota Tallman from the Cleveland area. He told everyone that the team still has a positive attitude, and is still going to try to win the next four games. He reiterated what others have said about his time at Eastern, and that is, that Coach Creighton has created a family atmosphere. Everyone is familiar with all the other players, not just their area of play.
Coach Creighton said that Ball State has been hard hit with injuries, and has given up explosive plays, that seem to steam roll them into bad losses. He also said that Eastern is relatively free of injuries, with just a few, but not mentioning names. He said that teams like Northern Illinois that have running quarterbacks are going to suffer injuries to those people. Even if one is to have rotating quarterbacks that run with the ball, injuries are bound to happen.
That made me think does Creighton want dual-threat quarterbacks, like some of us have been saying.
I spoke with one of the fund raisers at Eastern, and asked him about the new facility to be built at the Northern end of Rynearson. He said private fund raising is continuing, and are closing in on ten million being raised. The brick campaign is also moving along and he hopes it will continue to show interest. Ground breaking will probably begin in the spring, and because much of the construction is going to be pre-fabricated, the football facilities could be ready by next fall. Work finalizing the entire facility will probably continue until the following fall.
Athletic Director Wetherbee said the new lights at Rynearson did not cost the university a dime. They were part of a State and Federal grant for improving the campus. Adding to that, he said that tomorrows game would have light shows, using the stadium lights, and there will be fireworks as well. All part of trying to get more spectators to the game.
Any questions?

(11-01-2017 01:39 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
Today was the final Coaches Luncheon for the season. There was quite a drop off in attendance, with about thirty people who were there. The guest player was Dakota Tallman from the Cleveland area. He told everyone that the team still has a positive attitude, and is still going to try to win the next four games. He reiterated what others have said about his time at Eastern, and that is, that Coach Creighton has created a family atmosphere. Everyone is familiar with all the other players, not just their area of play.
Coach Creighton said that Ball State has been hard hit with injuries, and has given up explosive plays, that seem to steam roll them into bad losses. He also said that Eastern is relatively free of injuries, with just a few, but not mentioning names. He said that teams like Northern Illinois that have running quarterbacks are going to suffer injuries to those people. Even if one is to have rotating quarterbacks that run with the ball, injuries are bound to happen.
That made me think does Creighton want dual-threat quarterbacks, like some of us have been saying.
I spoke with one of the fund raisers at Eastern, and asked him about the new facility to be built at the Northern end of Rynearson. He said private fund raising is continuing, and are closing in on ten million being raised. The brick campaign is also moving along and he hopes it will continue to show interest. Ground breaking will probably begin in the spring, and because much of the construction is going to be pre-fabricated, the football facilities could be ready by next fall. Work finalizing the entire facility will probably continue until the following fall.
Athletic Director Wetherbee said the new lights at Rynearson did not cost the university a dime. They were part of a State and Federal grant for improving the campus. Adding to that, he said that tomorrows game would have light shows, using the stadium lights, and there will be fireworks as well. All part of trying to get more spectators to the game.
Any questions?

Thanks Ken

Thanks Ken. It sounds like Ball State 2017 is the same as EMU 2015. Injuries affecting the team's ability to compete.

(11-01-2017 01:39 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
Today was the final Coaches Luncheon for the season. There was quite a drop off in attendance, with about thirty people who were there. The guest player was Dakota Tallman from the Cleveland area. He told everyone that the team still has a positive attitude, and is still going to try to win the next four games. He reiterated what others have said about his time at Eastern, and that is, that Coach Creighton has created a family atmosphere. Everyone is familiar with all the other players, not just their area of play.
Coach Creighton said that Ball State has been hard hit with injuries, and has given up explosive plays, that seem to steam roll them into bad losses. He also said that Eastern is relatively free of injuries, with just a few, but not mentioning names. He said that teams like Northern Illinois that have running quarterbacks are going to suffer injuries to those people. Even if one is to have rotating quarterbacks that run with the ball, injuries are bound to happen.
That made me think does Creighton want dual-threat quarterbacks, like some of us have been saying.
I spoke with one of the fund raisers at Eastern, and asked him about the new facility to be built at the Northern end of Rynearson. He said private fund raising is continuing, and are closing in on ten million being raised. The brick campaign is also moving along and he hopes it will continue to show interest. Ground breaking will probably begin in the spring, and because much of the construction is going to be pre-fabricated, the football facilities could be ready by next fall. Work finalizing the entire facility will probably continue until the following fall.
Athletic Director Wetherbee said the new lights at Rynearson did not cost the university a dime. They were part of a State and Federal grant for improving the campus. Adding to that, he said that tomorrows game would have light shows, using the stadium lights, and there will be fireworks as well. All part of trying to get more spectators to the game.
Any questions?

Excellent, Ken. A lot more than the usual stuff from coaches presentations.

I can understand the fall off in attendance: Early on folks look for answers as to many topics. By now, we pretty well know the answers to those questions.

We would expect so see the same spike/fall off in MBB. Early on a lot of questions and then the season plays itself out.

I wouldn't want to quote odds or anything, but we could be favored in say 3 of our last 4 games.

We are not beaten up like other teams (I follow the NFL too, and I believe I watched a game [Lions'??? Redskins???] where one team played two 3rd string offensive tackles - no way to win a football game).

We need to face a team playing on the road, which is beaten up, probably dispirited, etc. Sounds like BSU tomorrow...