10-24-2011, 01:44 PM
First, I want to say how proud I am of what EMU has done the past couple of weeks. Coming back from that wipeout at Toledo to down CMU and WMU has made this old Huron very happy, and I tip my hat to Coach English and especially the players.
Sitting at 5-3 is not something I expected. Talking bowl game was also not something I anticipated this season. It feels good to be in the conversation, doesn't it? But after three decades of having the roof cave in, I want to be a bit cautious yet.
Yes, our schedule sets up nicely with a bye and then games against seemingly winnable foes like Ball State, Buffalo, Kent State before ending the season against NIU. But these are not pushovers or gimmes. Buffalo almost knocked off NIU and Ball State has defeated Indiana and Army. It will still take a tremendous effort to win these games. But they are winnable.
Also, a word about the Michigan MAC trophy. I see we have several new posters (great!) who may not know the history behind it. This was actually the brainchild of EMU head coach Jeff Genyk who was the first to ever utter the words "Michigan MAC championship" during a time when EMU had little to play for and needed something tangible to aim for during the season. He wanted a trophy, so Jim Starks of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame commissioned one and now it has become a nice traditional trophy. Glad to see it back in Ypsi where it belongs!
I have been trying to figure an angle to get my employer to send me to cover EMU in a bowl game, but here in Oklahoma that's a tough sell. But, either way, I will be there ... and I can't even imagine how cool it would be to be a fan cheering for EMU in a bowl game. It's been 24 years since I covered EMU against San Jose State in the Cal Bowl and wouldn't mind having to attend a bowl game as a fan!
Go HURONS!
Sitting at 5-3 is not something I expected. Talking bowl game was also not something I anticipated this season. It feels good to be in the conversation, doesn't it? But after three decades of having the roof cave in, I want to be a bit cautious yet.
Yes, our schedule sets up nicely with a bye and then games against seemingly winnable foes like Ball State, Buffalo, Kent State before ending the season against NIU. But these are not pushovers or gimmes. Buffalo almost knocked off NIU and Ball State has defeated Indiana and Army. It will still take a tremendous effort to win these games. But they are winnable.
Also, a word about the Michigan MAC trophy. I see we have several new posters (great!) who may not know the history behind it. This was actually the brainchild of EMU head coach Jeff Genyk who was the first to ever utter the words "Michigan MAC championship" during a time when EMU had little to play for and needed something tangible to aim for during the season. He wanted a trophy, so Jim Starks of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame commissioned one and now it has become a nice traditional trophy. Glad to see it back in Ypsi where it belongs!
I have been trying to figure an angle to get my employer to send me to cover EMU in a bowl game, but here in Oklahoma that's a tough sell. But, either way, I will be there ... and I can't even imagine how cool it would be to be a fan cheering for EMU in a bowl game. It's been 24 years since I covered EMU against San Jose State in the Cal Bowl and wouldn't mind having to attend a bowl game as a fan!
Go HURONS!