Given all of the bad mojo floating around here today, I thought this place could use somewhat of a more positive discussion.
There has to be something about the team that makes you root for them other than being an alumni/student (because we all know how many of those sheeps root for another school or the team du jour).
In other words: What makes you so proud of your football program that you log on to an internet message board and argue with other fans about it?
I'll start off with the obvious one for Akron, but it's certainly not the only reason or even the most important one.
Note: I know the headline isn't very well written. I had to scramble to type this out in between helping people who come in here at work.
I am most proud of the resolve and gritty determination that EMU has exhibited on the gridiron. Its not easy playing under the big blue shadow, but our program persists and puts forth a herculean effort every season. Our players are often overlooked by bigger schools, and many of our peers in the MAC yet we continuously produce some of the best players in this conference. Charlie Batch, Walt Church, LJ Shelton, Kevin Walters, Jason Jones, etc… Blue collar kids who persevered through tough seasons to become excellent pros.
Oh and I am also proud of our recent domination of the Chippewas ( 3 out of the last 4), and winning the Michigan MAC trophy 2 of the last 4 years.
good topic.
Here's what i like about Eastern's football team:
The players have a ton of pride in playing for a school that is an afterthought at best in the Detroit sports market. They don't care that we have small crowds and no media coverage, they are out there busting their butts every day. I love that about our team.
- Academics and good character, which Cubit swiftly restored to the program after things got shaky during Darnell's last year.
- After a disappointing and demoralizing first half of the 2007 season, the way the team finished its final few games last season (including ruining a Big Ten team's chance at a bowl game) without throwing in the towel.
Ohio- High academics and playing for Ohio's first and finest university. Also, We Got Frank until 2013.
Sweet. We have him locked up for so long we are going back in time... :beammeup:
bobcatgrad Wrote:Sweet. We have him locked up for so long we are going back in time... :beammeup:
When discussing Solich, do you really think it is wise to use the phrase "locked up"?
OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:Ohio- High academics and playing for Ohio's first and finest university. Also, We Got Frank until 1213.
Got Frank since the Middle Ages.
I see.
IULurker Wrote:bobcatgrad Wrote:Sweet. We have him locked up for so long we are going back in time... :beammeup:
When discussing Solich, do you really think it is wise to use the phrase "locked up"?
9 Years and counting of 1000 yard rushers for running back U. When the students actually stay through the whole game and the game is a sellout, NIU has arguably the loudest and most intimidating stadium in the conference. Also Novak has been committed to putting academics first. He had a list of goals for the football players that went something like
1. Graduate with an NIU degree
2. Represent the university in a positive manner
3. Win football games
I find it impressive that winning was the 3rd most important thing to the program which is a rare thing in many BCS conferences. I hope Kill continues both the trend of putting academics first and using an effective running game.
The fact that over the years (the last two seasons notwithstanding), Toledo has garnered a solid enough reputation to be able to schedule home games against the likes of Purdue, Minnesota, Pitt, Fresno, Boise, Arizona, Mizzou, and the "pseudo" home match-up against Ohio State. Not bad, for one of the smallest stadiums in the country.
As far as Ohio football is concerned, I am most proud of how the players respond to our coaching staff and Frank Solich and never give up on the field. We had a lot of problems last year with injuries on the offensive line, losing a lot of close games, and a defense that could not pull it together, but I feel like the team always kept fighting and then ended the season on a high note. I think that is a testament to how well the coaches and players work together and it makes me look forward to the future.
NIUGAHuskie Wrote:9 Years and counting of 1000 yard rushers for running back U. When the students actually stay through the whole game and the game is a sellout, NIU has arguably the loudest and most intimidating stadium in the conference. Also Novak has been committed to putting academics first. He had a list of goals for the football players that went something like
1. Graduate with an NIU degree
2. Represent the university in a positive manner
3. Win football games
I find it impressive that winning was the 3rd most important thing to the program which is a rare thing in many BCS conferences. I hope Kill continues both the trend of putting academics first and using an effective running game.
Proud of the fact that Toledo has out rushed RB U in the last 9 years.
Toledo has ranked in the top 20 nationally for running the football 6 of the last 9 years(RB U has achiveved this 3 times).The Rockets have
been in the MAC's top 2 running teams 4 times during that period(RB U
has been there twice).UT has led the MAC in rushing 2 of the last 3 seasons(RB U has been #2 twice).The '08 Rockets RB's will be no exception with DaJuane Collins,Morgan Williams,Gordon Warner, Adonis Thomas and others..
Rushing Rankings NCAA/MAC:
'99 UT 10/2 RBU 44/4
'00 UT 9/2 RBU 12/3
'01 UT 17/3 RBU 67/9
'02 UT 16/4 RBU 27/6
'03 UT 28/4 RBU 52/8
'04 UT 53/5 RBU 11/1
'05 UT 13/1 RBU 16/2
'06 UT 40/4 RBU 32/2
'07 UT 15/1 RBU 80/7
So whose the real RB U?
Toledo Rockets 35-0 win streak 1969-1971
Nationally Ranked:
1970 #12 AP #17 UPI
1971 #14 AP #13 UPI
1995 #24 AP #24 USA Today
2001 #23 AP #22 USA Today
As an NIU fan, i'm proud of the integrity of the program Novak ran. He didn't tolerate bad apples and showed that you don't have to sacrifice winning when running a clean program. I also like the fact that he had a plan and he was sticking to it. He took NIU to a national media darling and a consistent winner.
I'm also proud that because we have such a strong program and fanbase that we could take a head coach (Jerry Kill) from a rival school (SIU).
Miami University-lots to be proud of with the football program. Cradle of Coachs Tradition. Most MAC championships. Top 20 team alltime in Division one wins and winning percentage. Top MAC team in APR. Miami traditionally "does it the right way", with strict discipline and academics and a winning tradition. Big Ben and Touuchdown Travis (alltime leader in NCAA in TD's). Woody and Bo and Ara and Johnny Pont and Bill Mallory and Weeb and Paul Brown and Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner.
DICK Wrote:Miami University-lots to be proud of with the football program. Cradle of Coachs Tradition. Most MAC championships. Top 20 team alltime in Division one wins and winning percentage. Top MAC team in APR. Miami traditionally "does it the right way", with strict discipline and academics and a winning tradition. Big Ben and Touuchdown Travis (alltime leader in NCAA in TD's). Woody and Bo and Ara and Johnny Pont and Bill Mallory and Weeb and Paul Brown and Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner.
Woody Hayes (1913-1987)
Ara Parseghian (1923-)
Sid Gillman (1911-2003)
Bo Schmbechler (1929-2006)
Randy Walker (1954-2006)
Terry Hoppener (1957-2007)
Cradle of Coaches RIP. Its a great tradition I know but I wouldn't want to be basing my program on coaches no longer around. Do you have a stadium or an ancient history museum with the Cradle of Coaches Plaza?
As for the future, Shane Montgomery will likely be canned after a few more losses to Solich. The coaching tree will have no more branches left on it.
Then at Ohio, Jim Grobe has gone on to become national coach of the year at Wake Forest and his D coordinator at Ohio Tim DeRuyter is Head Coach of Air Force. There are a couple other Grobe era coaches at the coordinator level at BCS schools.
Of cource Nebraska legend Frank Solich is coach now at Ohio. His staff too looks very promising. Every heard of North Dakota State? I'm sure Central Michigan has. Ohio's O and D coordinators came from the successful NDSU program.
The Ohio DB coach was formerly DC at Cal Poly
The Ohio OL coach was formerly OC at WKU
The Ohio QB coach was formerly OC at NMSU
The Ohio LB coach was formerly DC at NMSU
The Ohio WR coach was formerly assistant HC at Florida
The Ohio TE coach was formerly HC at Case Western
Every coach on the Ohio staff has been at least a coordinator or above at the D1 level, with the exception of the TE coach who was Head Coach at Case Western.
Airport KC Wrote:DICK Wrote:Miami University-lots to be proud of with the football program. Cradle of Coachs Tradition. Most MAC championships. Top 20 team alltime in Division one wins and winning percentage. Top MAC team in APR. Miami traditionally "does it the right way", with strict discipline and academics and a winning tradition. Big Ben and Touuchdown Travis (alltime leader in NCAA in TD's). Woody and Bo and Ara and Johnny Pont and Bill Mallory and Weeb and Paul Brown and Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner.
Woody Hayes (1913-1987)
Ara Parseghian (1923-)
Sid Gillman (1911-2003)
Bo Schmbechler (1929-2006)
Randy Walker (1954-2006)
Terry Hoppener (1957-2007)
Cradle of Coaches RIP. Its a great tradition I know but I wouldn't want to be basing my program on coaches no longer around. Do you have a stadium or an ancient history museum with the Cradle of Coaches Plaza?
As for the future, Shane Montgomery will likely be canned after a few more losses to Solich. The coaching tree will have no more branches left on it.
Then at Ohio, Jim Grobe has gone on to become national coach of the year at Wake Forest and his D coordinator at Ohio Tim DeRuyter is Head Coach of Air Force. There are a couple other Grobe era coaches at the coordinator level at BCS schools.
Of cource Nebraska legend Frank Solich is coach now at Ohio. His staff too looks very promising. Every heard of North Dakota State? I'm sure Central Michigan has. Ohio's O and D coordinators came from the successful NDSU program.
The Ohio DB coach was formerly DC at Cal Poly
The Ohio OL coach was formerly OC at WKU
The Ohio QB coach was formerly OC at NMSU
The Ohio LB coach was formerly DC at NMSU
The Ohio WR coach was formerly assistant HC at Florida
The Ohio TE coach was formerly HC at Case Western
Every coach on the Ohio staff has been at least a coordinator or above at the D1 level, with the exception of the TE coach who was Head Coach at Case Western.
So Jim Grobe > Paul Brown? I don't understand posting the history of Ohio assistants as some sort of counter to what Miami's coaches have done AFTER they left.
BG has the second-best football history in the MAC. It's not to Ohio.
I am proudest of Doyt Perry and our college division national championship in 59, Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba, Nate Thurmond, our colors being used by the Browns, and our underrated academics.
MillenniumFALCON Wrote:Airport KC Wrote:DICK Wrote:Miami University-lots to be proud of with the football program. Cradle of Coachs Tradition. Most MAC championships. Top 20 team alltime in Division one wins and winning percentage. Top MAC team in APR. Miami traditionally "does it the right way", with strict discipline and academics and a winning tradition. Big Ben and Touuchdown Travis (alltime leader in NCAA in TD's). Woody and Bo and Ara and Johnny Pont and Bill Mallory and Weeb and Paul Brown and Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner.
Woody Hayes (1913-1987)
Ara Parseghian (1923-)
Sid Gillman (1911-2003)
Bo Schmbechler (1929-2006)
Randy Walker (1954-2006)
Terry Hoppener (1957-2007)
Cradle of Coaches RIP. Its a great tradition I know but I wouldn't want to be basing my program on coaches no longer around. Do you have a stadium or an ancient history museum with the Cradle of Coaches Plaza?
As for the future, Shane Montgomery will likely be canned after a few more losses to Solich. The coaching tree will have no more branches left on it.
Then at Ohio, Jim Grobe has gone on to become national coach of the year at Wake Forest and his D coordinator at Ohio Tim DeRuyter is Head Coach of Air Force. There are a couple other Grobe era coaches at the coordinator level at BCS schools.
Of course Nebraska legend Frank Solich is coach now at Ohio. His staff too looks very promising. Every heard of North Dakota State? I'm sure Central Michigan has. Ohio's O and D coordinators came from the successful NDSU program.
The Ohio DB coach was formerly DC at Cal Poly
The Ohio OL coach was formerly OC at WKU
The Ohio QB coach was formerly OC at NMSU
The Ohio LB coach was formerly DC at NMSU
The Ohio WR coach was formerly assistant HC at Florida
The Ohio TE coach was formerly HC at Case Western
Every coach on the Ohio staff has been at least a coordinator or above at the D1 level, with the exception of the TE coach who was Head Coach at Case Western.
So Jim Grobe > Paul Brown? I don't understand posting the history of Ohio assistants as some sort of counter to what Miami's coaches have done AFTER they left.
BG has the second-best football history in the MAC. It's not to Ohio.
I'm saying Ohio has a bright future in MAC football with the caliber of people coaching at the school these days.
Ohio was at the bottom in performance in the MAC from 1985-1995. Correspondingly, Ohio was at the time also at the bottom in football resources. Those were the dark days of Ohio football.
Today we are at the top of the conference in football budget.
Its like calling out Rutgers for its bad football history and saying the success they have now is a flash in the pan. Rutgers couldn't get anyone to go to the games 5 years ago and was taking beatings from VT and Miami. Today they have a season ticket waiting list of 20,000 and is currently expanding to 56,000 seats. So what the hell does 5 years ago matter to whats happening today? Obviously the program has turned the corner.
Feeling confident about your program is one thing, comparing yourself to Rutgers and its success before you've actually won anything is another.
*If* you start to have great success, how long do you think it'll take for a richer program to swoop in and take some of your valuable asst. coaches? We found that out the hard way when we lost Rob Spence to Clemson. (I think they tripled his salary)
We MAC schools can't financially commit to keeping coaching talent. The real skill is consistently finding the next big assistant every few years.
-Dan
