From a guy who has seen a lot of bizarre and bad football at EMU over the past three decades.
I have seen a lot of people questioning why the EMU game against CCSU was even close. Should EMU have been a 33-point favorite? Clearly not. CCSU is a damned good FCS program.
But, consider too the weirdness of yesterday. It was the home-opener for EMU (I believe the last FBS team to have its home-opener). Lots of pomp with new facilities on display and what happens? Power goes out across campus, delaying the start of the game.
CCSU gets off to a fast start, but EMU settles down to take a halftime lead. EMU built up a two-touchdown lead with 11 minutes left in the game when ... lightning delay ... power also briefly went out at the stadium again.
Now, EMU was clearly wearing down CCSU's defense and had completely shut down its offense. But the 40 minute delay seemed to re-energize CCSU and it was a different game after the lightning delay.
But, the finish was awesome after a rather weird game. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat is something still rather new around EMU. Kinda like it, but wouldn't mind a game where I don't have to keep a supply of Tums handy.
EMUs building looks NICE on camera. What was the attendance? I only watched the first qtr.
Take the win, for sure. I was surprised to read that a team from that conference has never beaten an FBS school, so that would’ve been a disaster.
CCSU didn't even have any votes for the top 25 for FCS teams. Glad EMU won at least.
Good teams find ways to win games they shouldn't. Eastern's tough this year.
(09-22-2019 12:07 PM)HuronDave Wrote: [ -> ]Now, EMU was clearly wearing down CCSU's defense and had completely shut down its offense. But the 40 minute delay seemed to re-energize CCSU and it was a different game after the lightning delay.
A 40 minute delay is normally going to be a gift to the team that is at a talent / athletic ability disadvantage in the second and third strings, whether an FCS school playing an Go5 school or a Go5 school playing a non-basement P5 school. The "bigger school" rotating in their second string or deeper in the depth chart to keep their best players fresher is an advantage that takes a while to kick in, which is where we so often see a start where the "smaller school" is holding their own for a while but then the bigger school starts to pull ahead as they wear out the starting defense and oline of their opponent.
But get a "40 minute time-out" ... your first stringers on both sides get much more recovery than with halftime alone, your first stringers on the oline and your QB get to see game pics how they were beat by different defensive sets, your first string receivers and backs get to see snaps where the openings where that they missed.
EMU being able to "adjust to their adjustments" and pull it out at the end ... that's sounds like both good coaching and a team that believes in itself and in its coaching, which would be an encouraging sign for EMU supporters.
I'm sorry but this post is riddled with back handed compliments and excuses. It was a lot like the Lions beating the Chargers 2 weeks ago. A game they should have lost, but they pulled it out.
EMU was favored by a ton for a reason. They were lucky to win. Move on and probably never mention this game again. CMU had a few of those FCS scares. Survive and advance,
It's legitimate -- not some mere excuse -- that the big delays in the game favors the less deep team.
Combine that with Central Conn already being 3-0 and possibly being only a 2L team within FCS -- and more hungry VS EMU riding off an Illinois win (which Does tend to negatively effects teams' performance in next game)....
... it's not surprising it was relatively close. But it was closER than I think one should want/expect. But that happens.
(09-22-2019 08:48 PM)toddjnsn Wrote: [ -> ]Combine that with Central Conn already being 3-0 and possibly being only a 2L team within FCS -- and more hungry VS EMU riding off an Illinois win (which Does tend to negatively effects teams' performance in next game)....
... it's not surprising it was relatively close. But it was closER than I think one should want/expect. But that happens.
Yeah, no. EMU was a 33 point favorite. The teams CCSU have beaten are a combined 3-8 in FCS, with 2 of those wins coming over Division II teams.
Once again, this does not mean EMU is a bad team. But this is classic Walmart Wolverine fan logic after beating Army. "ArmMY wIlL wIn 10 GAmeS". Ok.....and you were favored by 20+ points. Stop window dressing this nonsense. There is no need to make excuses. Take the W and move on.
(09-22-2019 08:48 PM)toddjnsn Wrote: [ -> ]It's legitimate -- not some mere excuse -- that the big delays in the game favors the less deep team.
Combine that with Central Conn already being 3-0 and possibly being only a 2L team within FCS -- and more hungry VS EMU riding off an Illinois win (which Does tend to negatively effects teams' performance in next game)....
... it's not surprising it was relatively close. But it was closER than I think one should want/expect. But that happens.
Exactly. If everything always went according to expectations, there would be no point in playing the games.