Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
The Factory Crowned the Runner-up for the Best Field in Nation
10/18/2014 5:20:00 PM | Football
EMU’s gray field finished in second place behind Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium
Photo Gallery of the EMU Gray Turf.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The nation has voted and the results are in. Eastern Michigan University with its gray turf at Rynearson Stadium has been voted the second-best field in college football, according to a fan poll.
EMU finished in second-place in USA TODAY Sports' College Football Fan Index, which ranks fan bases based on social media metrics and the weekly surveys. Tennessee's Neyland Stadium claimed the top spot in the quest to rank the best college football fields.
The blue turf of Boise State's Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium finished in third with East Carolina's Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Fickley Stadium and Air Force's Falcon Stadium rounding out the top five. Other universities whose fields were nominated include: Clemson, LSU, Missouri, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Wyoming.
"To have the field at The Factory recognized as one of the best fields in the United States in a major honor, for our University," said EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "We greatly appreciate all the fans who voted, as well as the tremendous leadership of President Martin and the Board of Regents for making the 'EMU Gray' a reality. We cannot wait for our next home game as we continue to showcase the field and the hard work displayed by our student-athletes."
"I just want to thank everyone who voted, and we think they got it almost right," Head Football Coach Chris Creighton remarked. "It is a beautiful field and I thank Heather Lyke, President Martin and the Board of Regents for stepping out and going for the idea. It's not just the aesthetics, it's the meaning behind it and hopefully fans got that as well. We are proud of it and are going to keep protecting it."
Eastern Michigan made a dramatic leap up the overall Fan Fax Index, climbing 60 spots to No. 55 from No. 115 the week prior. In mid-December, one school's fan base will be named best in the country after the final cumulative poll is released.
With the 37-27 victory over the University at Buffalo, Oct. 11, the Eagles remain undefeated at "The Factory." Since installing the new "EMU Gray" turf inside Rynearson Stadium prior to the 2014 campaign, the Green and White holds an unblemished 2-0 record at home. Between the wins over Morgan State, Aug. 30, and the Bulls, Eastern is averaging 34 points and 437.5 total yards of offense at home.
Best Fields in the Nation According to USA TODAY Sports' College Football Fan Index
1. Tennessee
2. Eastern Michigan
3. Boise State
4. East Carolina
5. Air Force
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The nation has voted and the results are in. Eastern Michigan University with its gray turf at Rynearson Stadium has been voted the second-best field in college football, according to a fan poll.
EMU finished in second-place in USA TODAY Sports' College Football Fan Index, which ranks fan bases based on social media metrics and the weekly surveys. Tennessee's Neyland Stadium claimed the top spot in the quest to rank the best college football fields.
The blue turf of Boise State's Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium finished in third with East Carolina's Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Fickley Stadium and Air Force's Falcon Stadium rounding out the top five. Other universities whose fields were nominated include: Clemson, LSU, Missouri, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Wyoming.
"To have the field at The Factory recognized as one of the best fields in the United States in a major honor, for our University," said EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "We greatly appreciate all the fans who voted, as well as the tremendous leadership of President Martin and the Board of Regents for making the 'EMU Gray' a reality. We cannot wait for our next home game as we continue to showcase the field and the hard work displayed by our student-athletes."
"I just want to thank everyone who voted, and we think they got it almost right," Head Football Coach Chris Creighton remarked. "It is a beautiful field and I thank Heather Lyke, President Martin and the Board of Regents for stepping out and going for the idea. It's not just the aesthetics, it's the meaning behind it and hopefully fans got that as well. We are proud of it and are going to keep protecting it."
Eastern Michigan made a dramatic leap up the overall Fan Fax Index, climbing 60 spots to No. 55 from No. 115 the week prior. In mid-December, one school's fan base will be named best in the country after the final cumulative poll is released.
With the 37-27 victory over the University at Buffalo, Oct. 11, the Eagles remain undefeated at "The Factory." Since installing the new "EMU Gray" turf inside Rynearson Stadium prior to the 2014 campaign, the Green and White holds an unblemished 2-0 record at home. Between the wins over Morgan State, Aug. 30, and the Bulls, Eastern is averaging 34 points and 437.5 total yards of offense at home.
Best Fields in the Nation According to USA TODAY Sports' College Football Fan Index
1. Tennessee
2. Eastern Michigan
3. Boise State
4. East Carolina
5. Air Force
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