Needless to say, I didn't exactly enjoy making a 6 hour drive back up to Ypsilanti from Louisville for that game(especially considering the horrendous storms that I had to drive through). Plus, it was a long 6 hour drive back yesterday. I stand by the one comment that I made after that game, "This is the most embarrassed I have ever been to be an EMU Alum." It's sort of sad as well because the high school I'm teaching at is 4-0, have won three state championships and won a tough game on the road Friday Night that was a lot more entertaining than the game was saw Saturday. However, I digress..
I was right along with a lot of the thoughts that I read on this board sitting there at Rynearson with my dad and my uncle:
-> We won't win a game this year.
-> Pfft, maybe we should move down to FCS
-> Or even better, let's fill Rynearson Stadium with dirt and truly turn it into a demolition derby track.
-> This team was badly out coached.
-> I raved about the student section being filled and boldly declared, "Homecoming, you'll see three rows of students."
Considering all of the bad football that many of the alums have seen over the years(and what I've seen in the past 11), you almost just get this natural vibe of negativity. What we saw on Saturday was probably the biggest kick in the gut that this fan base has had in a while, especially considering all of the momentum from last year. That's where this whole thing stung. You had a good crowd of 8000 for EMU standards, you had a bit of a buzz in the air with the team, the marching band's uniforms, etc.. There was a sense of true excitement. Then the team goes out there and plays an awful first half and still finds a way to be ahead.. Then the team comes out as listless as I've ever seen in the second half and how the offense really showed a lack of care or effort. That's why this game left this fan base speechless. I thought the defense played as good as they possibly could have ultimately in the situations that they were thrown in. When your defense is on the field for 37 minutes and you see your offense do nothing... I'm surprised honestly they didn't give up more than they did. The defense did its job.
I'm in the same boat as a lot of this fan base now. This team now needs to prove to this fan base that they are willing to go out there and play the way we know that they are capable of playing. I don't blame anyone at all for their attitude. For all of the times as well that this fan base gets belittled by the rest of the MAC for its attendance, its performance, etc.. I'd argue that this base has some of the most loyal fans period and I don't think that's ultimately changed. Perhaps it isn't a large number but those on this board and those who have been showing up to the games at Rynearson, at the Convo, wherever.. deserve a hell of a lot of credit for being as loyal as they are to their university.
However, amen to this thread and the thoughts. I'm still going to rave about EMU to my students down here(probably conveniently neglecting this game) and ultimately in the long run, I'm still damn proud to be an EMU alum. We've hit rock bottom. I expect it to go up from here. It's still a long season fellows..
Lastly, let's temper the expectations for basketball as well.
Seems like when we all get overly excited, things don't work too well. Aim low and reap the benefits of higher success.
End of rant.