Eastern Michigan football picked to finish last in MAC West by media
Eastern Michigan finished last in the MAC West Division in 2012 and was picked to do so again in 2013 by media members.
Joseph Tobianksi | AnnArbor.com file photo
The Eagles were picked to finish last in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the preseason media poll, which was released at the annual MAC Football Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit on Tuesday.
Eastern received 29 points in the poll, less than half that of Western Michigan, which was picked to finish fifth in the six-team MAC West Division.
"We don't pay attention to that stuff. I don't look at that," said Eastern head coach Ron English. "I think we’ve been picked low every single year I’ve been here….you can’t get caught up in that. It is what it is."
Defending MAC champion Northern Illinois -- fresh off the conference's first ever BCS bowl appearance -- was picked to win the West Division with 138 points in the poll and 16 of 25 first place votes. The Huskies were also picked to win the MAC Championship Game. Toledo was picked to finish second with 122 points and five first place votes.
Ohio was picked to win the seven-team MAC East Division with 164 points and 15 first place votes. Bowling Green was second in the poll with 154 points and eight first place votes.
Eastern finished last in the MAC West in 2012 with a 1-7 conference record (2-10 overall) with the Eagles’ only conference win coming against Western Michigan. Eastern had the third worst conference and overall record in the conference ahead of MAC East teams Akron (0-8, 1-11) and UMass (1-7, 1-11).
Seven MAC teams reached bowl games in 2012-13 and Eastern is one of only three in the conference to have not reached a bowl game in the past four years. Eastern’s last bowl appearance came in 1987.
Eastern Michigan opens its season on Saturday, August 31 at home against Howard.
MAC West Division
Team (First place votes) Points
- Northern Illinois (16) 138
- Toledo (5) 122
- Ball State (3) 108
- Central Michigan (1) 67
- Western Michigan 61
- Eastern Michigan 29
MAC East Division
Team (First place votes) Points
- Ohio (15) 164
- Bowling Green (8) 154
- Kent State (1) 119
- Buffalo (1) 101
- Miami 78
- Akron 53
- UMass 29
2013 MAC Championship Game winner: Northern Illinois 14; Toledo 3; Ohio 3, Bowling Green 2; Ball State 2; Central Michigan 1.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
genetracy
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.
Picked to finish last in the MAC means you are the worst team in Division 1 football.
ippolito12
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 11:23 p.m.
Its too bad the old saying "if u cant say anything nice don't say anything at all" doesn't apply to these comments...win or lose if u r a fan u support your team! Go EMU...lets remember there's a bunch of young men busting their behinds for this program and some positive support wouldn't hurt!
salineguy
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 11:52 a.m.
First order of business for the new A.D. should be to find a way to dump the MAC and join the Horizon League. As a non-football NCAA Division 1 conference, the only 'loss' is the expensive of carrying a football program that has been lousy since I attended over 30 years ago. While losing current rivalries with Central and Western, you gain two new ones in Oakland and UDM in hoops. All other sports could survive, although a couple - Gymnastics, Rowing and Men's Wrestling - would have to find competition outside the Horizon. The Horizon also carries Men's tennis and Soccer, which might have to be added. I don't see how a basketball centric Horizon league can be anything but positive for EMU. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the MAC (including one of the in state schools) voted to kick out Eastern due to such poor support for Football. Still absolutely no support and will never have any with Big Blue down the road taking up all media coverage and fan base. I hope the new A.D. reads this post and gives it a passing thought.
garrisondyer
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 10:49 p.m.
I hope Ron English takes them to an impressive season nonetheless. As always, Go Blue!
Hawaiian Neal
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
I remember walking in to (Where's) Waldo Field in Kalamazoo in the fall of '75 as a Huron in our last game of the season. The Bronco's were 0-10. We were 4-5 looking forward to finishing a (what has become "an historically GREAT") .500 season. One of our people was heard in the pregame warm-up trash talking the Bronco players running by with, "O and 10, do it again!" We ended the day being the only win for the Bronco program that year. Oh, the memories! 15years later, in that true EMU futility fashion, we knuckled under to the NCAA and changed our name, even though we had the support (and still do!) of the Wyandot (Huron) nation.
Hawaiian Neal
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
:) "Go Green" Go Green, roll up the score Go Green, let's get some more. Raise a cheer for old Green and White Let's show them we came here to fight. Go Green, vict'ry we'll claim Go Green, let's win this game. We'll always fight for old EMU Come on and let's Go Green! "Huron Fight Song" Hurons, Hurons, Hats off to you! Fight, Fight, Fight for old EMU. Shout to the sky the Hurons' war cry The bravest we'll defy! Hold that line for old Green and White Loyal sons come show your might Fight! Fight! for old EMU and victory!
Huron74
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
The University of Chicago quit the Big Ten conference in 1946 (despite being a founding member school) because it wanted to concentrate on academics and not spend the money on sports. A fine institution like UC made its choice EMU should do the same. Wayne state, ditto. There is no good reason that public colleges and universities should pay out these sums just for the dubious honor of being de facto farm systems for the NFL, Charley Batch et. al. notwithstanding.
djacks24
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
So nothings changed?
pk
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 5:34 p.m.
EMU needs an athletic dept garage sale for all clothing. It would make more money than any one home football game for the school
15crown00
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
Last time i went to a EMU game i think there may have been 200-300 people in the stands.it was seniors day for players,cheerleaders,and band members.they were playing Buffalo and they had probably 150 fans. THAT TELLS YOU ALL U NEED TO KNOW.
Huron74
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.
If it was lacrosse or synchronized swimming or whatever minor sport, i wouldn't care. However football is so expensive to play at the MAC level and the jockstrap media coverage of losing streaks etc. is so vast, and bad for the school, that the regents ought to take a serious look at bailing on MAC and NCAA football altogether.
Jeff Frank
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
They should definitely consider dropping back to FCS level, where they might have a chance of being competitive.
Cash
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.
I meant to add Oakland U has stayed out of football and OU is thriving (in spite of their women's basketball fiasco.)
Cash
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:31 p.m.
74, Agreed. Just get out of it. The entire Marketing Dept at EMU cannot counteract the bad publicity given by media due to football. One sport to diss and everything good is ignored. This might actually be a time it could happen with the current EMU BOR.
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
Would you want the school to get rid of football altogether or just go down to FCS or a lower division?