Finally joined the group, I have enjoying the EMU banter for a couple of years and finally decided to join in.

I started undergrad in 1977 and did my bachelor and Master degrees at our beloved institution. Here are some of my top sports memories;

1. Beating Penn State to get into Sweet 16. (Watched at The Spaghetti Bender)
2. California Bowl Win (Watched on T.V. with a couple of EMU brothers
3. Beating Duke in NCAA tournament
4. The Quick Lube Bowl at Ford Field. I have never seen a EMU football game as loud or rocking as that! Winning it would have been better but we had a great time!

Honorable mentions, not in any order: Any game Earl played in at Bowen, almost beating #1 Depaul at Bowen, Seeing Larry Bird playing at Bowen. Any time we beat Central in football, Beating Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois in consecutive years in football, beating Michigan in basketball when I was in undergrad, plus the other two times we beat them, and lastly, any tailgate with my buddies at Rynearson.

Anyone else want to rank their top choices?

This is a little one but it was a delight. Roback to Bailey for the go ahead TD over CMU. Miserable conditions but was drinking on the terrace and the catch was kinda below me. That win clinched bowl eligibility.

great offseason topic. i came to EMU as a gawky teenager in 2000 so i missed a lot of classics.

basketball
- Top moment is the last game i went to with my friend and stalwart EMU fan Jason Boston. it was a 61-57 win over Toledo on Feb 1, 2020. he was sick and passed away a month later.
- beating UM at Crisler
- Beating Cal in Coach Ramsey's first season. i thought we were destined for greatness.
- Beating Purdue
- Watching Tim Bond do anything

football
- the game at Ford Field with 300 overtimes back in 2004 or 2005 or whenever that was
- going to the Bahamas Bowl against Old Dominion.
- any game during the Genyk era. those offenses were fun

(06-23-2021 01:24 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  Finally joined the group, I have enjoying the EMU banter for a couple of years and finally decided to join in.

I started undergrad in 1977 and did my bachelor and Master degrees at our beloved institution. Here are some of my top sports memories;

1. Beating Penn State to get into Sweet 16. (Watched at The Spaghetti Bender)
2. California Bowl Win (Watched on T.V. with a couple of EMU brothers
3. Beating Duke in NCAA tournament
4. The Quick Lube Bowl at Ford Field. I have never seen a EMU football game as loud or rocking as that! Winning it would have been better but we had a great time!

Honorable mentions, not in any order: Any game Earl played in at Bowen, almost beating #1 Depaul at Bowen, Seeing Larry Bird playing at Bowen. Any time we beat Central in football, Beating Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois in consecutive years in football, beating Michigan in basketball when I was in undergrad, plus the other two times we beat them, and lastly, any tailgate with my buddies at Rynearson.

Anyone else want to rank their top choices?

Nice list! Just to add my few:

1) We beat UNLV in our 1995 home opener 51-6. We had 25K in Rynearson that day, and it was our attendance record for many years. I was a freshman, and it was the first time I had seen EMU in Ypsilanti. I was mesmerized by Batch and Rasnick — I thought we were beginning a football renaissance! I’ll never forget how great I felt after that game. Rick Rasnick will always hold a special place in my heart.

2) Watching EMU beat Wyoming in 2016. Very, very exciting game, and I was thrilled that I decided to fly up from Texas to see it. Before the game, I really didn’t think we would win; I was aware of how good Josh Allen and Brian Hill were. Todd Porter was given far too much slack, throwing 4 INTs as Creighton tried to figure out new ways to keep Roback on the bench. Nonetheless, Roback eventually led them back to victory. At 3-1 after the win, I knew that was the year we would be bowling again.

(06-24-2021 12:25 AM)holybovine Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 01:24 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  Finally joined the group, I have enjoying the EMU banter for a couple of years and finally decided to join in.

I started undergrad in 1977 and did my bachelor and Master degrees at our beloved institution. Here are some of my top sports memories;

1. Beating Penn State to get into Sweet 16. (Watched at The Spaghetti Bender)
2. California Bowl Win (Watched on T.V. with a couple of EMU brothers
3. Beating Duke in NCAA tournament
4. The Quick Lube Bowl at Ford Field. I have never seen a EMU football game as loud or rocking as that! Winning it would have been better but we had a great time!

Honorable mentions, not in any order: Any game Earl played in at Bowen, almost beating #1 Depaul at Bowen, Seeing Larry Bird playing at Bowen. Any time we beat Central in football, Beating Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois in consecutive years in football, beating Michigan in basketball when I was in undergrad, plus the other two times we beat them, and lastly, any tailgate with my buddies at Rynearson.

Anyone else want to rank their top choices?

Nice list! Just to add my few:

1) We beat UNLV in our 1995 home opener 51-6. We had 25K in Rynearson that day, and it was our attendance record for many years. I was a freshman, and it was the first time I had seen EMU in Ypsilanti. I was mesmerized by Batch and Rasnick — I thought we were beginning a football renaissance! I’ll never forget how great I felt after that game. Rick Rasnick will always hold a special place in my heart.

2) Watching EMU beat Wyoming in 2016. Very, very exciting game, and I was thrilled that I decided to fly up from Texas to see it. Before the game, I really didn’t think we would win; I was aware of how good Josh Allen and Brian Hill were. Todd Porter was given far too much slack, throwing 4 INTs as Creighton tried to figure out new ways to keep Roback on the bench. Nonetheless, Roback eventually led them back to victory. At 3-1 after the win, I knew that was the year we would be bowling again.

I was at that UNLV game. Very big crowd. Great game.

My profile pic says it all.
Sitting behind the bench as EMU knocked off UM at Crisler.
The pic is me as Jodan Price’s last shot was in the air.

Not any specific moment or game, but the whole experience of being in Toledo for the MAC tournament during the Boykins era.

Also, not any specific experience, but whenever the crowd at Bowen field house would start chanting “Tol—Bert, Tol—Bert, Tol—Bert”. Brian Tolbert might have been the most fun basketball player to watch, and the Bowen environment was amazing.

Dear Friends,
The Boisture era with Frosty Ferzacca as Athletic Director in reviving the whole of Eastern Athletics. Many of us that were Eastern followers never heard of some of the schools Ferzacca lined up, but many were small college national champions or consistent winning programs.
One of the football players that stood out in my mind was Larry Ratcliff. He was a running back out of Ohio, and in many games he would break away for 50, 75, or 85 yard touchdowns. Larry passed away a few years ago, and changed the spelling of his surname to Radcliff.
The fact that Eastern's present stadium was named for my fraternity brother, Eastern's winningest football coach, is icing on the cake.

One of the more momentous times was the MAC tourney in Toledo (think I was there) and James Head was a highly touted frosh who wasn't playing as much as some hoped. Not sure if Braun didn't think his D was ready....

Anyway, in the second half the male EMU students behind the basket started chanting: "We want Head."

(06-24-2021 05:56 AM)KPJ Wrote:  My profile pic says it all.
Sitting behind the bench as EMU knocked off UM at Crisler.
The pic is me as Jodan Price’s last shot was in the air.

This is my number one as well. I still talk sh*t to my Michigan friends about this game nearly 7 years later.

Football-wise, it has to be the CMU win in 2016, which wrapped up the bowl bid. Dieuly Aristilde had a huge 4th down grab in the waning seconds of the 4th, and then Sergio Bailey effectively ended the game on one of his patented, highlight reel catches in the corner of the endzone. What a wild night that was.

Knock down pass in end zone to beat Toledo at home in football with 20 seconds left.
Beating Purdue at home in men's hoops.
Yes watching Tim Bond.
Beating 3 B10 teams in football.
Most infamous Ball St overtime game.

(06-24-2021 10:08 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 05:56 AM)KPJ Wrote:  My profile pic says it all.
Sitting behind the bench as EMU knocked off UM at Crisler.
The pic is me as Jodan Price’s last shot was in the air.

This is my number one as well. I still talk sh*t to my Michigan friends about this game nearly 7 years later.

Football-wise, it has to be the CMU win in 2016, which wrapped up the bowl bid. Dieuly Aristilde had a huge 4th down grab in the waning seconds of the 4th, and then Sergio Bailey effectively ended the game on one of his patented, highlight reel catches in the corner of the endzone. What a wild night that was.

Yes, a good one. I was there. Believe it was a Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. Went to the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game as well. Still have the Lions' towel they gave away. Was that the game with the longest rendition of the National Anthem in history? It was slooooooooooooooooow.

(06-23-2021 07:01 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  great offseason topic. i came to EMU as a gawky teenager in 2000 so i missed a lot of classics.

basketball
- Top moment is the last game i went to with my friend and stalwart EMU fan Jason Boston. it was a 61-57 win over Toledo on Feb 1, 2020. he was sick and passed away a month later.
- beating UM at Crisler
- Beating Cal in Coach Ramsey's first season. i thought we were destined for greatness.
- Beating Purdue
- Watching Tim Bond do anything

football
- the game at Ford Field with 300 overtimes back in 2004 or 2005 or whenever that was
- going to the Bahamas Bowl against Old Dominion.
- any game during the Genyk era. those offenses were fun

(06-24-2021 07:41 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Also, not any specific experience, but whenever the crowd at Bowen field house would start chanting “Tol—Bert, Tol—Bert, Tol—Bert”. Brian Tolbert might have been the most fun basketball player to watch, and the Bowen environment was amazing.

Ramy - thanks for reminding me of that great memory. It was so loud with the Toooolllll - Bertttt ….how many colleges chant their superstar players names during a game….Not many!!

Great memory yes indeed!!!!

(06-23-2021 07:01 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  great offseason topic. i came to EMU as a gawky teenager in 2000 so i missed a lot of classics.

basketball
- Top moment is the last game i went to with my friend and stalwart EMU fan Jason Boston. it was a 61-57 win over Toledo on Feb 1, 2020. he was sick and passed away a month later.
- beating UM at Crisler
- Beating Cal in Coach Ramsey's first season. i thought we were destined for greatness.
- Beating Purdue
- Watching Tim Bond do anything

football
- the game at Ford Field with 300 overtimes back in 2004 or 2005 or whenever that was
- going to the Bahamas Bowl against Old Dominion.
- any game during the Genyk era. those offenses were fun

Sorry about losing your friend. I was at the Cal/EMU game too, got a "Teacher vs Student" bobblehead! Was also at the Purdue game, what a defensive battle.

(06-24-2021 12:25 AM)holybovine Wrote:  

(06-23-2021 01:24 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  Finally joined the group, I have enjoying the EMU banter for a couple of years and finally decided to join in.

I started undergrad in 1977 and did my bachelor and Master degrees at our beloved institution. Here are some of my top sports memories;

1. Beating Penn State to get into Sweet 16. (Watched at The Spaghetti Bender)
2. California Bowl Win (Watched on T.V. with a couple of EMU brothers
3. Beating Duke in NCAA tournament
4. The Quick Lube Bowl at Ford Field. I have never seen a EMU football game as loud or rocking as that! Winning it would have been better but we had a great time!

Honorable mentions, not in any order: Any game Earl played in at Bowen, almost beating #1 Depaul at Bowen, Seeing Larry Bird playing at Bowen. Any time we beat Central in football, Beating Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois in consecutive years in football, beating Michigan in basketball when I was in undergrad, plus the other two times we beat them, and lastly, any tailgate with my buddies at Rynearson.

Anyone else want to rank their top choices?

Nice list! Just to add my few:

1) We beat UNLV in our 1995 home opener 51-6. We had 25K in Rynearson that day, and it was our attendance record for many years. I was a freshman, and it was the first time I had seen EMU in Ypsilanti. I was mesmerized by Batch and Rasnick — I thought we were beginning a football renaissance! I’ll never forget how great I felt after that game. Rick Rasnick will always hold a special place in my heart.

2) Watching EMU beat Wyoming in 2016. Very, very exciting game, and I was thrilled that I decided to fly up from Texas to see it. Before the game, I really didn’t think we would win; I was aware of how good Josh Allen and Brian Hill were. Todd Porter was given far too much slack, throwing 4 INTs as Creighton tried to figure out new ways to keep Roback on the bench. Nonetheless, Roback eventually led them back to victory. At 3-1 after the win, I knew that was the year we would be bowling again.

Beating Wyoming TWICE! That is one of my bragging points that we beat Josh Allen both times that EMU played him.

Our softball team win over #2 rank at home against Florida. One of only 2 wins that year.

1. EMU v North Carolina Sweet 16 game. Watched at Spaghetti Bender, Friday night. Place was packed, party atmosphere. Lots of drinking, cheering, high fiving. Great first half, stood toe to toe with Mighty UNC. Trading blows ala Hagler-Hearns. Could it really happen? Brother from Michigan State and some of his friends came to Ypsi to revel in the fun. Think of that. MSU students travelling from the biggest party campus in the state to be part of the biggest party anywhere! A Lorenzo Neely to Carl Thomas alley oop towards the end of the first half nearly brought the Bender down! A cable outtage prevented us from seeing some of the second half...just game audio as they rushed to fix the problem. Alas, UNC's size and depth wore Eastern down in the second half but OMG what a great effort. I was so proud of EMU basketball and Ypsilanti. Afterwards, while disappointed, a great time was had by all. We were in the iconic Spaghetti Bender after all. Great music, great coeds, cold beer. Perfect night.

2. Eastern defeating Bowling Green at Rynearson to win the most unlikely of MAC titles and go to the California Bowl. No one thought EMU winning the MAC was possible. The place was PACKED, had to sit on the visitors side to get a seat. Eastern dominated and when it was over, the goal posts came down.

3. Sweet 16 year. Eastern Michigan defeating Mississippi State in round one. Was working at EMU Children's Institute on campus for work study. Game was on the radio. And I remember running home to catch the end of game. At that time I lived in the old white house right on Cross Street adjacent to Ned's Bookstore and just a few feet from Theo's--very convenient. The win was no fluke. Eastern controlled the game. They were the better team. Of course, Eastern went on to defeat Penn State in round two, setting up their Sweet 16 matchup with North Carolina.

4. Every basketball game played in Bowen including the last one?? the one when Earl Boykins hit the shot to beat Toledo. It was the Boykins and Dial Show at Bowen Fieldhouse. A great sendoff.

5. The California Bowl on ESPN. Eastern Michigan, huge underdogs beat San Jose State to cap just an incredible football season! Watched it just off campus in Ypsi with a bunch of EMU friends. Incredibly proud moment.

(06-29-2021 07:24 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  1. EMU v North Carolina Sweet 16 game. Watched at Spaghetti Bender, Friday night. Place was packed, party atmosphere. Lots of drinking, cheering, high fiving. Great first half, stood toe to toe with Mighty UNC. Trading blows ala Hagler-Hearns. Could it really happen? Brother from Michigan State and some of his friends came to Ypsi to revel in the fun. Think of that. MSU students travelling from the biggest party campus in the state to be part of the biggest party anywhere! A Lorenzo Neely to Carl Thomas alley oop towards the end of the first half nearly brought the Bender down! A cable outtage prevented us from seeing some of the second half...just game audio as they rushed to fix the problem. Alas, UNC's size and depth wore Eastern down in the second half but OMG what a great effort. I was so proud of EMU basketball and Ypsilanti. Afterwards, while disappointed, a great time was had by all. We were in the iconic Spaghetti Bender after all. Great music, great coeds, cold beer. Perfect night.

2. Eastern defeating Bowling Green at Rynearson to win the most unlikely of MAC titles and go to the California Bowl. No one thought EMU winning the MAC was possible. The place was PACKED, had to sit on the visitors side to get a seat. Eastern dominated and when it was over, the goal posts came down.

3. Sweet 16 year. Eastern Michigan defeating Mississippi State in round one. Was working at EMU Children's Institute on campus for work study. Game was on the radio. And I remember running home to catch the end of game. At that time I lived in the old white house right on Cross Street adjacent to Ned's Bookstore and just a few feet from Theo's--very convenient. The win was no fluke. Eastern controlled the game. They were the better team. Of course, Eastern went on to defeat Penn State in round two, setting up their Sweet 16 matchup with North Carolina.

4. Every basketball game played in Bowen including the last one?? the one when Earl Boykins hit the shot to beat Toledo. It was the Boykins and Dial Show at Bowen Fieldhouse. A great sendoff.

5. The California Bowl on ESPN. Eastern Michigan, huge underdogs beat San Jose State to cap just an incredible football season! Watched it just off campus in Ypsi with a bunch of EMU friends. Incredibly proud moment.

You nailed it........the glory days of E Michigan sports! I'm really hoping this football season can bring that same feeling again! 9-3 overall, and 6-2 MAC record! Heath is recruiting very well........Those memories Bob made me feel young again! The bars, restaurants, Rynearson stadium, and Bowen field house were packed for every game! Bowen was literally standing room only........