Football Opens 2006 at Ball State

Complete Game Notes (PDF).

Listen to the Game via WEMU.

1. 2006 SEASON KICKS OFF: The Eastern Michigan University football team kicks off its 115th season in 2006. The first year of intercollegiate football in Ypsilanti was 1891 when the team posted an 0-2 record. EMU has fielded a team every year since 1891 with one exception, when the 1944 season was cancelled because of World War II.

2. 31st MAC SEASON: The 2006 season is the 31st year of Mid-American Conference action for the Eastern Michigan University football team. Eastern was admitted into the MAC in 1971, but a complete MAC football schedule could not be cleared until 1976.

3. COLLEGIATE CLASH: For the third year in a row the EMU football team will be taking one of its home games on the road, hosting the U.S. Naval Academy in the third annual Collegiate Clash at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, in Detroit. EMU will be the host team for the non-conference battle with game time set for 1 p.m. Tickets for the game are $20 each. The Eagles hosted Central Michigan in the inaugural Collegiate Clash, Nov. 6, 2004, and Eastern won a thriller, 61-58, in four overtimes. Last year, EMU hosted Western Michigan, Nov. 5, 2005, and lost a 44-36 shootout.

OFFENSIVE LEADER: Since the start of camp the battle for starting quarterback has been one of the most hotly contested positions on the team. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) and redshirt freshman Andy Schmitt (St. John’s, Mich.-St. John’s) have both been outstanding in the preseason camp and either one could earn the start when the Eagles open the season Thursday, Aug. 31, at Ball State.

115th SEASON OPENER: The EMU game at Ball State Thursday, Aug. 31, will be the 115th season-opening game for the Eagles and they hold a 52-54-8 record in lid-lifters. EMU and Ball State have met a total of six times in season openers and the two teams have split those decisions. The EMU-BSU openers are listed below.

Season Date Opponent Result
1975 Sept. 6 at Ball State L, 14-24
1973 Sept. 8 BALL STATE W, 17-14
1963 Sept. 21 at Ball State L, 6-22
1962 Sept. 21 BALL STATE L, 0-14
1937 Sept. 25 at Ball State W, 13-6
1936 Sept. 26 BALL STATE W, 6-0

AUGUST SPECIAL: The EMU opener at Ball State Thursday, Aug. 31, will be the fifth August game in school history. The last time the Eagles played in August was the 2003 season when they recorded a 28-21 win over a visiting East Tennessee State team, Aug. 28. Last season Eastern also opened the year on a Thursday, Sept. 1, and were edged at Cincinnati, 28-26. The August dates are listed below.

Season Date Opponent Result
2003 Aug. 28 EAST TENNESSEE ST. W, 28-21
2002 Aug. 31 at Michigan State L, 7-56
1996 Aug. 31 TEMPLE L, 24-28
1991 Aug. 31 at Bowling Green* L, 6-17

MAC DOZEN: When EMU travels to Muncie, Ind. Thursday, Aug. 31, to square off against the Ball State Cardinals it will be the 12th Mid-American Conference season opening game in school history. The last MAC game to start the season was 2004 when EMU handed a visiting Buffalo team a 37-34 setback , Sept. 2, in Rynearson Stadium. The MAC opponents in season openers are listed below.

Season Date Opponent Result
2004 Sept. 2 BUFFALO W, 37-34
1995 Sept. 2 at Akron W, 49-29
1992 Sept. 5 AKRON L, 9-27
1991 Aug. 31 at Bowling Green L, 6-17
1989 Sept. 2 KENT STATE W, 30-7
1988 Sept. 3 MIAMI W, 24-17
1986 Sept. 6 WESTERN MICHIGAN W, 21-14
1981 Sept. 12 AKRON L, 7-14
1980 Sept. 6 at Western Michigan L, 0-37
1977 Sept. 3 at Northern Illinois W, 25-2
1976 Sept. 4 OHIO L, 7-23

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos