Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Pittsburgh
Football Travels to Pittsburgh for 2007 Opener
8/24/2007 4:58:00 PM | Football
Game time set for 6 p.m. at Heinz Field
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2007 SEASON KICKS OFF: The Eastern Michigan University football team kicks off its 116th season in 2007. 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.
SECOND MEETING, FIRST AT HEINZ: Saturday's (Sept. 1) Eastern Michigan at Pitt game will be the second in the series between the two schools. The Eagles and Panthers previously met Saturday, Sept. 9, 1995, at 7 p.m. in Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. Pitt, under head coach John Majors, recorded a 66-30 decision. EMU head coach Rick Rasnick's high-powered EMU offense opened the 1995 season with a 49-29 win over Mid-American Conference foe Akron, Sept. 2, and then scored 30 in the loss at Pitt. EMU kick returner Stevie Clay was named the AT&T National Long Distance Kick Return Player of the Week after returning five kickoffs for 188 yards, including a 93 yarder for a touchdown on the game's opening kickoff. The Eagles held a 10-7 lead after one quarter but the Panthers exploded for 31 second-quarter points for a 38-17 halftime lead. Pitt came right back with 21 points in the third and seven in the fourth for the 66-30 win. EMU was led by quarterback Charlie Batch with 264 passing yards on 21-of-38 passing.
116th SEASON OPENER: The EMU at Pitt football game, Saturday, Sept. 1, will be the 116th season-opening game for the Eagles and they hold a 52-55-8 record in lid-lifters. EMU and Pitt have met once, with the Panthers notching a 66-30 win, Sept. 9, 1995.
EMU-PITT SERIES
Season Date Opponent Result
1995 Sept. 9 at Pitt L, 30-66
CAPTAINS NAMED: EMU will have five captains for the 2007 season. The captains, as voted by the players, are: Ken Bohnet (Grand Ledge, Mich.-Grand Ledge), Jason Jones (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup), Darran Matthews (Redford, Mich.-Thurston), Andy Schmitt (St. John's. Mich.-St. John's), and Pierre Walker (Detroit, Mich.-Central).
SMALL SENIOR CLASS: The senior class is the smallest group on the 2007 Eagles' roster. A total of 11 seniors will be suiting up for the last time for the Green and White this fall.
THE LAST TIME: The last, and only time, EMU and Pitt have met on the gridiron was the 1995 season when the Eagles traveled to Pittsburgh for a Saturday night, Sept. 9, game at Pitt Stadium. The game was a wild offensive shoot-out with Pitt recording a 66-30 victory. The home team rolled up 648 yards in total offense on 78 plays while the Eagles notched 451 total offensive yards on 73 plays. Eastern's speedy Stevie Clay (Cincinnati, Ohio-Aiken) ran the opening kickoff back 93 yards for a touchdown and went on to total 188 yards on five kickoff returns during the game to earn the AT&T National Long Distance Kick Return Player of the Week award. EMU quarterback Charlie Batch (Homestead, Pa.-Steel Valley) returned to his home state to lead the Eagles' offense, completing 21-of-38 passes for 264 yards. Tailback Savon Edwards (Columbus, Ohio-Eastmoor) paced the rushing attack with 56 yards on 13 rushes. Pitt was led by Demetrius Harris, who gained 149 yards on 11 rushes. John Ryan started at quarterback for Pitt and completed 13-of-21 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, two to Dietrich Jells.
NEXT UP: After the non-conference season-opener at Pitt, Sept. 1, the Eagles will open their 2007 home season with a Saturday, Sept. 8 date with Mid-American Conference West Division rival Ball State. Game time for that contest is noon in Rynearson Stadium.
WELCOME BACK: When the Eagles open the home schedule, Sept. 8, the 1987 Mid-American Conference and California Bowl champion football team and coaching staff will be honored on the 20th anniversary of the 1987 season. There will be a two-night celebration of the anniversary with a party on Friday followed by the game and a postgame reception Saturday.
