It's so much easier to believe the things that CC says compared to some of our previous coaches.

(07-29-2015 04:19 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 03:16 PM)vannzee Wrote:  I really liked Fleck's presence. He's not long for WMU

The next great MAC coach.

I don’t quite understand the hype around Fleck.His first year was awful and the second was very good. At this point we have no idea how good of a coach Fleck will be.

I think year three will start to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the early schedule is absolutely murderous. MSU and OSU within weeks of each other. Much of their seasons depends on whether WMU can escape those games relatively healthy. They have no shot in either game.

(07-29-2015 04:55 PM)wolverineeagle Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 04:19 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 03:16 PM)vannzee Wrote:  I really liked Fleck's presence. He's not long for WMU

The next great MAC coach.

I don’t quite understand the hype around Fleck.His first year was awful and the second was very good. At this point we have no idea how good of a coach Fleck will be.

I think year three will start to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the early schedule is absolutely murderous. MSU and OSU within weeks of each other. Much of their seasons depends on whether WMU can escape those games relatively healthy. They have no shot in either game.

With last year's success and his recruiting ability unquestioned, I think we can safely say he is trending upward. As for playing MSU, I'd say he did pretty well in his very first game at Western, narrowly losing to the Spartans 26-13...(not exactly 74-13 like another first year MAC coach whose name I won't mention). We don't have to like it but we have to respect it.

(07-29-2015 05:17 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 04:55 PM)wolverineeagle Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 04:19 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 03:16 PM)vannzee Wrote:  I really liked Fleck's presence. He's not long for WMU

The next great MAC coach.

I don’t quite understand the hype around Fleck.His first year was awful and the second was very good. At this point we have no idea how good of a coach Fleck will be.

I think year three will start to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the early schedule is absolutely murderous. MSU and OSU within weeks of each other. Much of their seasons depends on whether WMU can escape those games relatively healthy. They have no shot in either game.

With last year's success and his recruiting ability unquestioned, I think we can safely say he is trending upward. As for playing MSU, I'd say he did pretty well in his very first game at Western, narrowly losing to the Spartans 26-13...(not exactly 74-13 like another first year MAC coach whose name I won't mention). We don't have to like it but we have to respect it.

MSU’s QB situation was far less settled then. That was a significant reason why that game was close. MSU is going to take WMU to poundtown. I shudder to think what OSU will go.

Do recall that Ron English has EMU LEADING MSU deep into the third quarter just a few years ago. Be careful about placing too much importance on one game.

Dear wolverineeagle,
I agree with you, about Western. They have a murderous non-league schedule, where they will probably end 1-3, and probably lose two or more league games. They could finish 6-6. Not exactly the season they expect in Kalamazoo.

fleck media day on huge show wonder if cc ever gets invited on state sports radio shows cc not as flashy as fleck but more roll up the sleeves very focused

That Ron English coached team vs MSU was one of my prouder recent EMU moments. If Donald Scott doesn't drop that TD pass, who knows what happens. I think OSU is going to take pretty much everyone to Poundtown, MSU too. Finally, kudos to the WMU athletic department for having the decency to reward the WMU fans and alumni with a HOME game vs MSU! Win, lose, or draw, they get it! What a wonderful gift to their Bronco family.

Westerns only hope against MSU is that it's at home week one after MSU graduated a lot of offensive play makers (Langford, Mumphrey, Lippett) and some defensive stars (Wayne's, Rush, Allen) and lose Narduzzi to Pitt. Might be a better game than expected.

Yes, Fleck is more flash but so far he is also more results then CC both in recruiting and on field.

Also, both WMU and CMU (Toledo too) are destroying EMU by getting worthwhile opponents at home.

Dear vannzee,
I hope you realize that Coach Fleck has one year up on Coach Creighton. So, to say that Fleck shows more results than Creighton is a bit unfair. Recruiting is always a crap shoot. Counting stars can be an evaluator of talent, but it doesn't always pan out. Let's see what happens in the next two years in evaluating the talent.
As far as being destroyed with home opponents, is it better to schedule so called worthwhile opponents, and get destroyed on your home field, or schedule opponents that one may have a chance at beating?

(07-29-2015 08:46 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear vannzee,
I hope you realize that Coach Fleck has one year up on Coach Creighton. So, to say that Fleck shows more results than Creighton is a bit unfair. Recruiting is always a crap shoot. Counting stars can be an evaluator of talent, but it doesn't always pan out. Let's see what happens in the next two years in evaluating the talent.
As far as being destroyed with home opponents, is it better to schedule so called worthwhile opponents, and get destroyed on your home field, or schedule opponents that one may have a chance at beating?

Great logic! So...get destroyed on the road instead but still lose at home in front of 3,000 fans! Oh, in case you forgot, Fleck's WMU team beat Creighton last season 51-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Bob,
When do you ever respond to what has been written? You go off on your own tangent which has nothing to do with what I have written. Does Coach Fleck have one more season than Coach Creighton in building a record? What about recruiting? What's in the past is over. Crow all you want about Eastern getting beaten by Western last year. What happened the three years before that? I guess it is better to lose to a big time opponent with 30,000 fans in the stands than 3,000. Where's that logic???????

(07-29-2015 09:09 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
When do you ever respond to what has been written? You go off on your own tangent which has nothing to do with what I have written. Does Coach Fleck have one more season than Coach Creighton in building a record? What about recruiting? What's in the past is over. Crow all you want about Eastern getting beaten by Western last year. What happened the three years before that? I guess it is better to lose to a big time opponent with 30,000 fans in the stands than 3,000. Where's that logic???????

You never know what this team would be capable of if they had a full house of 30,000 screaming fans behind them! You fill up Rynearson and Eastern Michigan would be so high, they could absolutely stun a bigtime opponent. But alas, thanks to Lyke, we will NEVER know.

Dear 2Intense.
The 2015 Football Media Guide is out. Hunter Matt is not shown as one of the players, so he must be off the team.

Here is a quick list of MAC schools who are playing, have played or are scheduled to play a power five school (or a marquee group of five school) at home:



2015- Pitt @ Akron
2015- MSU @ WMU
2015- Oklahoma State @ CMU (Hosted Syracuse last year)
2015- Marshall @ Kent (not power 5 but still better than any non conference EMU home game)
2015- Iowa State @ Toledo (in the past have hosted Missouri, Arizona and Boise State)
2016- UConn @ UMass
2016- Mississippi State @ UMass
2016- Fresno State @ Toledo
2017- Iowa State @ Akron
2017- Kansas @ Ohio
2017- USF @ NIU
2017- Boston College @ NIU
2018- Kansas @ CMU
2018- Utah @ NIU
2018- Maryland @ BGSU (Who hosted IU last year)
2018- The U @ Toledo
2019- Indiana @ Ball State
2019- BYU @ Toledo
2020- Cincinnati @ Ohio
2020- BYU @ NIU
2021- Maryland @ NIU
2022- Vanderbilt @ NIU
Miami of Ohio has a rivalry yearly with Cincinnati
Buffalo hosted Baylor last year

Eastern’s scheduled non-conference home games: Old Dominion, Army, Wyoming, Charlotte

Are you telling me that every MAC school other than EMU is doing scheduling wrong, whereas Eastern is getting it right?

(07-29-2015 10:06 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear 2Intense.
The 2015 Football Media Guide is out. Hunter Matt is not shown as one of the players, so he must be off the team.

Michael Reghi mentioned him today and CC did not correct him, for whatever that may be worth

(07-29-2015 10:22 PM)vannzee Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 10:06 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear 2Intense.
The 2015 Football Media Guide is out. Hunter Matt is not shown as one of the players, so he must be off the team.

Michael Reghi mentioned him today and CC did not correct him, for whatever that may be worth

I'm still confused about this. He's been working out with the team throughout the summer.

A person not part of the team probably wouldn't be allowed to participate and use facilities during team workouts, correct?

(07-29-2015 09:09 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
When do you ever respond to what has been written? You go off on your own tangent which has nothing to do with what I have written. Does Coach Fleck have one more season than Coach Creighton in building a record? What about recruiting? What's in the past is over. Crow all you want about Eastern getting beaten by Western last year. What happened the three years before that? I guess it is better to lose to a big time opponent with 30,000 fans in the stands than 3,000. Where's that logic???????

I dont understand this logic. Yes, I am aware the Creighton has less time on the job then Fleck does and yes I understand that recruiting rankings do not mean victories. I do feel that the ratings can be used as a barometer of a program. When a school like Western or any MAC school gets a top 50 ranking then that says something.

Scheduling a major opponent at home could result in a loss but has so many other advantages. One, it boosts tickets sales which is the life blood of any program. Having a marque opponent at home gives fans more reason to buy tickets, both season or single game. It also draws in the casual fan, which grows a program. I know that I am not going to be going out trying to get Old Dominion or Army tickets, if I go I will get tickets the day of the game. You would certainly see more students at the game, as it stands now if you are on campus on a fall Saturday you may not even notice that there is a game. It can also attract more tourism dollars to the surrounding communities.

Central and Western will have their games against Oklahoma State and MSU on national TV which is great for exposure and can be used in recruiting. People across the country will be seeing the Bronco and Chippewa' brands. I think recruits would rather see a MAC school host and lose to a power five team then they would rather see a victory over a FCS school.

Great, we have "the factory" which can be part of our identity but what is the use of it if we don't bring buzz worthy teams into it?

I may get blasted for this but in terms of football, Eastern is by far the most irreverent directional school in the state.

I feel like sometimes as fans, much like in politics, we get blinded by our fandom to accept that others may be better in any fashion.

Dear vannzee,
After Central and Western play their wonderful games against Oklahoma State and Michigan State, they have no one of importance for years after that. Your original point was about Central and Western just beating the crap out of Eastern in scheduling. Now you have switched to the entire MAC for scheduling. Which is it?
How's that school in Ann Arbor doing for scheduling powerhouse non-league games? Not so hot.
I don't care whether you show up for any of Eastern's home games, because you will most likely be in Ann Arbor anyway. We on this board can accept criticism and the truth, but the season has not even started and all of a sudden you blast Eastern with your Bob Wickersham logic. Maybe you should wait to see how this season unfolds. Then we can see what there is to talk about.

(07-29-2015 11:33 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear vannzee,
After Central and Western play their wonderful games against Oklahoma State and Michigan State, they have no one of importance for years after that. Your original point was about Central and Western just beating the crap out of Eastern in scheduling. Now you have switched to the entire MAC for scheduling. Which is it?
How's that school in Ann Arbor doing for scheduling powerhouse non-league games? Not so hot.
I don't care whether you show up for any of Eastern's home games, because you will most likely be in Ann Arbor anyway. We on this board can accept criticism and the truth, but the season has not even started and all of a sudden you blast Eastern with your Bob Wickersham logic. Maybe you should wait to see how this season unfolds. Then we can see what there is to talk about.

Michigan is a different standard. If Michigan scheduled the likes of Army, Old Dominion and Wyoming the locals would revolt, there's a huge difference between Michigan's scheduling needs and that of a MAC school.

Yes I mentioned the entire MAC as an example in my post, because last I checked the schools in question (EMU, WMU and CMU) all play in the Mid American Conference.

You can say that Central and Western have no one of importance coming in to their house for the time frame mentioned but neither does Eastern. By virtue of this year alone (and CMU's past home game vs Syracuse and pending home game vs Kansas), the quality of a non conference home game in Kalamazoo and Mount Pleasant is higher than that of the games being scheduled in Ypsilanti, I don't see how this is even being debated.

Are you telling me you rather go out to Rynearson to see EMU play Morgan State than a Oklahoma State? In one case they might win in front of 3 thousand fans but even if they lose in front of 20 thousand fans, at least you had 20 thousand fans there.

EMU's scheduling hurt the team in 2011 when they went 6-6. They beat two FCS schools (Howard and Alabama State in weeks 1 and 2). The NCAA only recognizes one win against FCS schools as counting towards bowl eligibility. Had they played one more FBS program, they may have finished bowl eligible.

Also, if we are only allowed to discuss football in season on this board, then that would lead to a boring December-July. Boards are for sharing opinion, which we have both done and for debating, which we are engaging in. Also, was not my intent to hijack this into a scheduling conversation.

Cheers!

Just a point on scheduling here EMU traded the MSU game for two huge paydays from Missouri. The AD has to balance an athletic budget to support ALL EMU sports.

Again yes we have alot of work to do in football but lets not take the focus on the fact that we do have success in other sports.

CC needs to stay on track and needs our support. He has enough hills to climb. I think he's up to the heavy lifting it will take to move the program forward.