Interesting column.
http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...cart_river
WMU had a turnaround season in 2014 and seeks to join NIU and Toledo as dominant powers in the MAC West (actually all of the MAC).
The downside for EMU is that the West already has MAC powers NIU and Toledo (and sometimes CMU and BSU).
No easy games in the MAC West for us.
One of my biggest fears in us turning our program around is the strength of the MAC West. In recent years we could steal a win from WMU. No more.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sag...onference/
Dear steve,
First of all, if I remember correctly, Western only had two victories against schools with winning records, and those schools were 7-5. Up until this last season, we had beaten them three years in a row. They have a very good chance of having three loses in their out of conference games, and really could not handle Air Force in their last bowl game.
Hell, we have higher expectations also. If Eastern has any kind of a turn around next year, we could claim the same. Who is to say that Northern Illinois, or Toledo are always going to be the contenders for the MAC West? Things do not necessarily stay the same. I could go on, but I'll let others and you respond.
Western will continue to improve.
Which means it's only going to be harder for EMU to do the same. There is a tough road ahead for Creighton and it's not because he's not a good coach, it's because the rest of the MAC is getting better too.
(12-27-2014 09:38 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear steve,
First of all, if I remember correctly, Western only had two victories against schools with winning records, and those schools were 7-5. Up until this last season, we had beaten them three years in a row. They have a very good chance of having three loses in their out of conference games, and really could not handle Air Force in their last bowl game.
Hell, we have higher expectations also. If Eastern has any kind of a turn around next year, we could claim the same. Who is to say that Northern Illinois, or Toledo are always going to be the contenders for the MAC West? Things do not necessarily stay the same. I could go on, but I'll let others and you respond.
Comic genius. Your satire is so raw, so vital.
Dear Bob,
I know you do not take what I said seriously, and that's okay, but it wasn't satire. You and others may think Western is going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I don't. Just like I don't believe that Toledo or Northern Illinois are going to be contenders year after year. Like I have said on other posts, would I take Western's record, of course, but again, one good season doesn't mean it will last.
Dear Bob,
There were times last year that Eastern's defense played well, not often, but there were times. Why am I to assume that there will be no improvement? Just as I assume that the offense may be better in their play as well.
There very well may be a talent gap that Eastern also has to close, and I think Coach Creighton and his staff are definitely addressing that. Everyone knew this was not going to happen overnight, and there is work to be done, so let's wait until next year before throwing in the towel.
(12-28-2014 10:25 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Bob,
There were times last year that Eastern's defense played well, not often, but there were times. Why am I to assume that there will be no improvement? Just as I assume that the offense may be better in their play as well.
There very well may be a talent gap that Eastern also has to close, and I think Coach Creighton and his staff are definitely addressing that. Everyone knew this was not going to happen overnight, and there is work to be done, so let's wait until next year before throwing in the towel.
Ken, I admire your optimism. Nothing would be better than Eastern turning the football program around.
Yes Ball State and EMU have a rough road to move up the MAC West ladder.
Good! Better competition makes you have to improve to compete. No one said winning at EMU was going to be easy and I think/hope Coach Creighton knew that. It's time they (EMU Football) put their big boy pants on and play smash mouth football if they want to be relevant.
(12-28-2014 04:01 PM)HuronRob Wrote: [ -> ]Good! Better competition makes you have to improve to compete. No one said winning at EMU was going to be easy and I think/hope Coach Creighton knew that. It's time they (EMU Football) put their big boy pants on and play smash mouth football if they want to be relevant.
I agree. No one wins if the MAC becomes the Mediocre Athletic Conference.
Can't hope to be the best of the worst.
WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
(12-29-2014 02:25 AM)holybovine Wrote: [ -> ]WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
That is certainly true, but I think it misses the main points of the article.
WMU's success isn't just about recruiting. They are all in in terms of keeping Fleck, facilities improvement, scheduling, etc.
Opening night at Waldo will be WMU vs. MSU. One of those games where the live gate could be anywhere from say 1.25 - 1.5M bucks. Say 28K tixs at $50 + rest student tickets.
Later in September they play in Columbus and should get another 1M bucks.
WMU could pull in over 2M for home game ticket receipts. 1.5M - 2M on the road. 1.5M from ESPN and college fb playoffs.
WMU FB could bring in over 5M bucks in 2015.
With that kind of money, PLUS the support of big boosters, they seem the MAC fat cats ($). Compare that to EMU and BSU in the MAC West. Or some other MAC teams such as Kent, Akron, Miami, etc. or even BG which wins but isn't hardly a fat cat...
(12-29-2014 05:13 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ] (12-29-2014 02:25 AM)holybovine Wrote: [ -> ]WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
That is certainly true, but I think it misses the main points of the article.
WMU's success isn't just about recruiting. They are all in in terms of keeping Fleck, facilities improvement, scheduling, etc.
Opening night at Waldo will be WMU vs. MSU. One of those games where the live gate could be anywhere from say 1.25 - 1.5M bucks. Say 28K tixs at $50 + rest student tickets.
Later in September they play in Columbus and should get another 1M bucks.
WMU could pull in over 2M for home game ticket receipts. 1.5M - 2M on the road. 1.5M from ESPN and college fb playoffs.
WMU FB could bring in over 5M bucks in 2015.
With that kind of money, PLUS the support of big boosters, they seem the MAC fat cats ($). Compare that to EMU and BSU in the MAC West. Or some other MAC teams such as Kent, Akron, Miami, etc. or even BG which wins but isn't hardly a fat cat...
Steve,
This exactly what I've been saying for at least two years. If EMU want to field a competitive football program then they're going to have to actually commit to having a competitive football program - from top to bottom. I have stated that they need to be serious or get out of FBS football. It does no one any good to have a poor football program. Oh sure, it may bring in much needed money but it is an embarrassment and, in the end, makes the university look bad.
Looks like this has proven my statements correct.
Rob
Dear Friends,
.....But what happens if Western falls flat next year with a losing record? If they finish 5-7 or worse, what then? Some here, are sounding like the people from Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh is the miracle man that will turn U-M into a national champion. Maybe.
One good season by a team like Western does not mean anything yet. Let's see how this all plays out.
(12-29-2014 09:00 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Friends,
.....But what happens if Western falls flat next year with a losing record? If they finish 5-7 or worse, what then? Some here, are sounding like the people from Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh is the miracle man that will turn U-M into a national champion. Maybe.
One good season by a team like Western does not mean anything yet. Let's see how this all plays out.
I understand your points, Ken, but what some schools are doing is trying to build self-sustaining programs with infrastructure, continuity of coaching, etc. etc.
There are programs in Michigan, e.g., UofM and MSU, which have invested heavily in building their football and basketball programs so that they are not 'hit or miss.'
MAC teams, historically, were 'hit and miss' but that is changing as some schools are investing very heavily in infrastructure so that even if a successful HC leaves that the program is well positioned to hire another desirable HC.
Also, remember, if a MAC football program has a top reputation and they go on the road to play a top school, I'll bet they can get say 250K+ extra because their name is Toledo and not Eastern Michigan.
They draw better at home, get better road game guarantees, more booster bucks, etc. etc.
Using some MADE UP numbers: Say Toledo plays LSU. Maybe they get 250K more than we will; maybe their home games yield 750K more in ticket and parking than ours; maybe their boosters donate 500K more than ours.
All of a sudden one school (A) might be 1.5M ahead of the other school (B).
(12-29-2014 02:25 AM)holybovine Wrote: [ -> ]WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
True in part, one is recruiting the talent and second is actually developing the talent ( U of M appears to be a prime example of recruiting talent but not successfully developing it). I think CC's second class will be an improvement over his first and be about mid of the pack for the MAC, unfortunately for him Fleck and Toledo are out recruiting him. I think CMU may slightly outrank us for 2015. Getting players who fit into your system is a plus. Our class will be sprinkled with JUCOs which may help us close the gap.
(12-29-2014 09:34 AM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-29-2014 02:25 AM)holybovine Wrote: [ -> ]WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
True in part, one is recruiting the talent and second is actually developing the talent ( U of M appears to be a prime example of recruiting talent but not successfully developing it). I think CC's second class will be an improvement over his first and be about mid of the pack for the MAC, unfortunately for him Fleck and Toledo are out recruiting him. I think CMU may slightly outrank us for 2015. Getting players who fit into your system is a plus. Our class will be sprinkled with JUCOs which may help us close the gap.
It's not a surprise that other schools are out-recruiting us right now. A 2-10 season doesn't exactly attract the upper echelon of high school football players. About the only thing Coach Creighton can somewhat promise potential recruits is that they have an opportunity to play right away. Given time, more wins, and better facilities, I have no doubt that the recruiting will improve.
(12-29-2014 09:00 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Friends,
.....But what happens if Western falls flat next year with a losing record? If they finish 5-7 or worse, what then? Some here, are sounding like the people from Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh is the miracle man that will turn U-M into a national champion. Maybe.
One good season by a team like Western does not mean anything yet. Let's see how this all plays out.
Michigan will have a great chance to win a national championship with Harbaugh within 2 to 3 years. EMU missed a golden opportunity to lure fans with U-M being down for the last several years. With Harbaugh in town, the Wal-Mart Wolverines will be out in full force and they will completely dominate all football interest in the area once again. Just a real missed opportunity. If EMU doesn't get to a bowl in the next 2 seasons, I say shut it down.
(12-29-2014 05:47 PM)HuronRob Wrote: [ -> ] (12-29-2014 09:34 AM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-29-2014 02:25 AM)holybovine Wrote: [ -> ]WMU had a successful turnaround thanks in part to quality recruiting by Fleck. We will go nowhere unless the quality of our recruiting improves. And it needs to improve significantly.
True in part, one is recruiting the talent and second is actually developing the talent ( U of M appears to be a prime example of recruiting talent but not successfully developing it). I think CC's second class will be an improvement over his first and be about mid of the pack for the MAC, unfortunately for him Fleck and Toledo are out recruiting him. I think CMU may slightly outrank us for 2015. Getting players who fit into your system is a plus. Our class will be sprinkled with JUCOs which may help us close the gap.
It's not a surprise that other schools are out-recruiting us right now. A 2-10 season doesn't exactly attract the upper echelon of high school football players. About the only thing Coach Creighton can somewhat promise potential recruits is that they have an opportunity to play right away. Given time, more wins, and better facilities, I have no doubt that the recruiting will improve.
I don't agree with the losing record angle. What was Fleck's record last year? Good recruiters can recruit under any conditions.
We have been at the bottom of MAC recruiting for decades. I wonder what the product would look like if we hired someone who could recruit above the MAC median? If Creighton doesn't work out, I'd like to hire a snake-oil salesman just for kicks.
Ah, but after a slow start his first two year English did recruit EMU off the dead bottom according to the recruiting rankings and began getting players recruited by other MAC schools. Last year's CC class wasn't a dead MAC bottom recruiting class and I expect this class to be ranked higher. Yes we are chasing a rising tide with Fleck at WMU and Toledo and CMU and NIU doing very well in the recruiting wars. I don't look to this class to immediately turn us around but I think it can get us to 4-8 next year. The class does have a fair share of defensive players especially DBs, WRs, a very solid RB, we have two solid prospects at QB, like to see some more immediate offensive line help.