Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Arkansas
Eagles Make First-Ever Football Trip to Fayetteville, Ark.
10/26/2009 1:20:27 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Game to be televised by ESPNU at 7 p.m. EST
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EMU VS. ARKANSAS: Eastern Michigan will take on the University of Arkansas Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in a non-conference game. Game time is 6:05 p.m. (CST) and is the Homecoming game for the Razorbacks. The trip to the state of Arkansas is the first for an EMU football team since the then-Hurons played at Arkansas State, Oct. 5, 1974.
FIVE EAGLES EARN MID-SEASON AWARDS: Five Eastern Michigan University football players have earned mid-season awards for the Mid-American Conference in Phil Steele's College Football Preview magazine. Senior punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) was named to the first team while senior defensive lineman Brandon Downs (Springfield, Ohio-Kenton Ridge) was a second-team selection. Garnering third-team honors were senior defensive back Johnny Sears (Fresno, Calif.-Edison), senior offensive lineman Andy Fretz (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Central), and senior tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hackett Catholic Central).
BACK TO FAYETTEVILLE: Eastern Michigan University Director of Athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg will be making a return trip to Fayetteville, Ark. this weekend when the Eagles take on the Razorbacks. Gregg became EMU's athletics director Feb. 21, 2006, after spending the previous six years on the athletics staff at Arkansas. Gragg was an associate athletics director for compliance from 2000-03 and a senior associate A.D. from 2003-06.
EAGLES BACK ON TOP IN PASS DEFENSE: The EMU defense has moved back on top in pass defense in the latest national rankings. The Eagles, who were first in the ranking through the early stages of the season, had dropped to sixth last week, but after allowing Ball State just one yard in passing Saturday, Oct. 24, Eastern is back on top at 124.43 passing yards per game.
HALLOWEEN HAS BEEN A MIXED BAG FOR EMU: Playing on Halloween has certainly had its share tricks and treats for the Eagles, as they prep for the Saturday night, Oct. 31, against the University of Arkansas. Eastern Michigan has played on Halloween 14 previous times, posting a 7-7 record all-time. EMU's first Oct. 31 contest was in 1903, a 10-6 victory over Detroit Business University, and the most recently the Green and White played on Halloween in 1992, a 57-17 setback at Army.
FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW LOCATIONS: When the Eagles and Razorbacks hook up Saturday evening, Oct. 31, some familiar faces will be sporting some new colors. EMU head coach Ron English will be across the field will watch one of his former players in Arkansas starting quarterback Ryan Mallett. English at Mallett were together at the University of Michigan in 2007.
Coincidently, Mallett saw limited action that season versus Eastern Michigan, Oct. 6, 2007, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. In the Wolverines' 33-22 victory, Mallet was 1-of-2 passing for a total of nine yards.
MAY DAY: EMU senior safety Chris May (Jupiter, Fla.-Dwyer) came up with his team-leading fourth interception of the 2009 season with a pick last weekend, Oct. 24, against a visiting Ball State squad. For May it was the second week in a row that he recorded an interception. He also had one against Kent, Oct. 17. May has four interceptions for 75 yards in returns. He currently ranks tied for eighth nationally and 2nd in the Mid-American Conference. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound May has played in 39 career games for the Eagles with 18 starts and he has six career picks for 81 yards in returns.
MARTAVIUS CARDWELL EARNS NATIONAL AWARD: Sophomore defensive back Martavius Cardwell (Flint, Mich. Carman-Ainsworth) was named an Honorable Mention Defensive Back of the Week by the website collegefootballperformance.com for his outstanding effort in the Eagles' loss versus Ball State, Oct. 24. Cardwell had a team-best 13 tackles, including a forced fumble and two tackles for loss.
FOURTH FOR TWO: EMU junior place-kicker Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula) turned in the fourth two field-goal effort of his 19-game career when he booted field goals of 20 and 26 yards last weekend, Oct. 24, against Ball State. He also booted two field goals against Kent State, Oct. 17, with boots of 25 and 30 yards. Carithers' initial two three-point effort came on the road Oct. 11, 2008 at Army, when he connected on 38 and 43-yard attempts. He also had two field goals earlier this season, Oct. 3, at home against Temple when he connected on 38 and 43-yarders.
HATCHETT RATCHETTS IT UP: EMU senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) turned in the eighth double-digit tackle game of his career with 11 stops last weekend, Oct. 24, against Ball State. He also turned in double-figure tackles the previous week, Oct. 17, against Kent State when he had 12 stops. Hatchett had a career-best 15 stops against Navy, Nov. 11, 2006, has had two 12-tackle games this year, last weekend against Kent and Nov. 12 at Northwestern. He also had 13 stops at Northern Illinois, Sept. 15, 2007, 11 at Central Michigan, Nov. 16, 2007, and 10 each at Northwestern, Oct. 19, 2007, and 10 against Temple this year, Oct. 3.
THREE ON DOUBLES: Three EMU players turned in double-digit tackle totals in last weekend's, Oct. 24, Ball State game. Sophomore safety Martavius Cardwell (Flint, Mich.-Carman Ainsworth) had a game-high 13 tackles while senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) recorded 11 and junior linebacker Tim Fort (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield) notched 10. All three defenders also had tackles-for-loss with Cardwell turning in 2.5 for 11, with Hatchett and Fort recording 1.5 for 7 yards in losses.
