Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Scott Olmstead
Football Turns In a Resurgent 2011 Campaign
11/28/2011 4:38:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
6-6 Overall; 4-4 Mid-American Conference
Complete Release (PDF).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — What a year it was for the 2011 Eastern Michigan University football team, as the Eagles resurgent play made them a factor in both the Mid-American Conference divisional race and national bowl picture until the very final snap against rival Northern Illinois University, Nov. 25, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill.
The Eagles, who finished the season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapped a 15-year streak of losing seasons. Head Coach Ron English's team finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in five categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings.
For their season-long efforts, five players were selected for College Football Weekly Performance Awards, four Eagles earned MAC West Division Player of the Week accolades and three student-athletes captured MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honors.
WIN MORE MINUTES ... PAY THE PRICE: The Eagles have made dramatic progress every season under Head Coach Ron English. The 2011 season was the perfect example of that as the Green and White posted a 6-6 record, surpassing the team's entire win total during the first two seasons of English's tenure as head coach.
RUN, RUN, RUN: Eastern Michigan rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the 1987 Mid-American Conference title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards.
The Eagles have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in school history. Last season, EMU finished with 2,080 yards for a two-year combined total of 4,700 yards. The 1986 club ran for 2,042 yards and it was followed up by the record-setting total in 1987.
2011'S BIGGEST FBS TURNAROUNDS: Head Coach Ron English's crew boasted one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation, as EMU is just two years removed from a winless season in 2009.
WIN DIFFERENTIAL - 2010 to 2011
1. Houston 7
t-2. Louisiana 5
t-2. Arkansas State 5
t-2. Western Kentucky 5
t-5. Eastern Michigan 4
t-5. Cincinnati 4
t-5. Vanderbilt 4
NCAA GAMES IMPROVED
Team Improved From To Coach
Houston 7 5-7 12-0 Kevin Sumlin
Louisiana 5 3-9 8-4 Mark Hudspeth
Arkansas State 5 ½ 4-8 9-2 Hugh Freeze
Western Kentucky 5 2-10 7-5 Willie Taggart
Rutgers 4 ½ 4-8 8-3 Greg Schiano
Cincinnati 4 ½ 4-8 8-3 Butch Jones
Eastern Michigan 4 2-10 6-6 Ron English
Virginia 4 4-8 8-4 Mike London
Vanderbilt 4 2-10 6-6 James Franklin
To determine games improved, add the difference in victories between the two seasons to the difference in losses, then divide by two.
EMBRACE THE PROCESS: The six wins by the Green and White in 2011 are the most victories in a season by an EMU squad since 1995, when the then-Rick Rasnick led Eagles finished with a 6-5 record. It is also the first time EMU has finished with a .500-or-better record in MAC play since 2004 when the Eagles notched a 4-4 league mark.
BEST DEFENSIVE EFFORT SINCE 1994: In 12 games this season, the Eagles' defense has allowed just 292 points for a total of 24.3 points per game. The last EMU squad to accomplish the feat was the 1994 team which gave up 275 points through its 11 contests. EMU currently ranks 52nd nationally and fifth in the MAC in scoring defense.
DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND FOR THE AGES: The EMU defense came around in a major way during the 2011 campaign, ranking 35th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest.
In 2010, the Green and White gave up 43.9 points and 454.1 yards per game.
ROCK SOLID AT HOME: Eastern Michigan was 5-1 inside the confines of Rynearson Stadium during the 2011 campaign, including opening the season by posting four straight home wins. The last time the Green and White boasted four consecutive home victories during the same regular season was 1987, when the Eagles knocked off Youngstown State (35-20), Northern Illinois (32-31), Ball State (35-28) and Ohio (34-16).
EASTERN EXPRESS: It was not exactly a reincarnation of the famed SMU “Pony Express” from the mid-1980's, but Eastern Michigan boasted an extremely potent running attack that turned heads. The Eagles had three players that averaged more than 50 yards per game on the ground. Dominique Sherrer led the way at 95.3 yards per game, followed by Alex Gillett (61.3) and Javonti Greene (55.6).
EMU was one of just two school in the MAC to boast this feat, with Temple also having three players averaging more than 50 yards per game via the run.
MICHIGAN MAC CHAMPIONS!: For the first time since the 2008 campaign and the third time in the award's brief history, the Michigan Mid-American Conference trophy resides in Ypsilanti. Eastern Michigan first defeated in-state rival Central Michigan, 35-28, on the road, Oct. 15. The Green and White then followed it up with a hard-fought 14-10 home victory over Western Michigan, Oct. 22, to take possession of the hardware that goes to the Michigan MAC university that defeats the other two rival schools in the same regular season.
NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND: Thanks in large part to Justin Cudworth and Brad Ohrman, the Eagles racked up 69 tackles for loss. The Eagles averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game. The total is their highest total since 2001 when they had 82. In addition, EMU's 23 sacks surpassed its total of 10 from last season. The Eagles are tied for fifth in the MAC in sacks.
Jay Karutz Named Ray Guy Award Candidate: Junior punter Jay Karutz was named a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, bestowed upon the nation's best punter. The Augusta Sports Council has announced the nominees for the 2011 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation's top collegiate punter.
POWER OF SEVEN: A total of 13 of EMU's 36 games under Head Coach Ron English have been decided by seven points-or-less. The Eagles are 5-8 in those contests.
Michigan Born and Bread: The Eagles' roster featured 34 players from the state of Michigan. This total ranks second among Michigan MAC schools, trailing Central Michigan (59) and in front of Western Michigan (32).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — What a year it was for the 2011 Eastern Michigan University football team, as the Eagles resurgent play made them a factor in both the Mid-American Conference divisional race and national bowl picture until the very final snap against rival Northern Illinois University, Nov. 25, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill.
The Eagles, who finished the season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapped a 15-year streak of losing seasons. Head Coach Ron English's team finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in five categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings.
For their season-long efforts, five players were selected for College Football Weekly Performance Awards, four Eagles earned MAC West Division Player of the Week accolades and three student-athletes captured MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honors.
WIN MORE MINUTES ... PAY THE PRICE: The Eagles have made dramatic progress every season under Head Coach Ron English. The 2011 season was the perfect example of that as the Green and White posted a 6-6 record, surpassing the team's entire win total during the first two seasons of English's tenure as head coach.
RUN, RUN, RUN: Eastern Michigan rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the 1987 Mid-American Conference title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards.
The Eagles have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in school history. Last season, EMU finished with 2,080 yards for a two-year combined total of 4,700 yards. The 1986 club ran for 2,042 yards and it was followed up by the record-setting total in 1987.
2011'S BIGGEST FBS TURNAROUNDS: Head Coach Ron English's crew boasted one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation, as EMU is just two years removed from a winless season in 2009.
WIN DIFFERENTIAL - 2010 to 2011
1. Houston 7
t-2. Louisiana 5
t-2. Arkansas State 5
t-2. Western Kentucky 5
t-5. Eastern Michigan 4
t-5. Cincinnati 4
t-5. Vanderbilt 4
NCAA GAMES IMPROVED
Team Improved From To Coach
Houston 7 5-7 12-0 Kevin Sumlin
Louisiana 5 3-9 8-4 Mark Hudspeth
Arkansas State 5 ½ 4-8 9-2 Hugh Freeze
Western Kentucky 5 2-10 7-5 Willie Taggart
Rutgers 4 ½ 4-8 8-3 Greg Schiano
Cincinnati 4 ½ 4-8 8-3 Butch Jones
Eastern Michigan 4 2-10 6-6 Ron English
Virginia 4 4-8 8-4 Mike London
Vanderbilt 4 2-10 6-6 James Franklin
To determine games improved, add the difference in victories between the two seasons to the difference in losses, then divide by two.
EMBRACE THE PROCESS: The six wins by the Green and White in 2011 are the most victories in a season by an EMU squad since 1995, when the then-Rick Rasnick led Eagles finished with a 6-5 record. It is also the first time EMU has finished with a .500-or-better record in MAC play since 2004 when the Eagles notched a 4-4 league mark.
BEST DEFENSIVE EFFORT SINCE 1994: In 12 games this season, the Eagles' defense has allowed just 292 points for a total of 24.3 points per game. The last EMU squad to accomplish the feat was the 1994 team which gave up 275 points through its 11 contests. EMU currently ranks 52nd nationally and fifth in the MAC in scoring defense.
DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND FOR THE AGES: The EMU defense came around in a major way during the 2011 campaign, ranking 35th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest.
In 2010, the Green and White gave up 43.9 points and 454.1 yards per game.
ROCK SOLID AT HOME: Eastern Michigan was 5-1 inside the confines of Rynearson Stadium during the 2011 campaign, including opening the season by posting four straight home wins. The last time the Green and White boasted four consecutive home victories during the same regular season was 1987, when the Eagles knocked off Youngstown State (35-20), Northern Illinois (32-31), Ball State (35-28) and Ohio (34-16).
EASTERN EXPRESS: It was not exactly a reincarnation of the famed SMU “Pony Express” from the mid-1980's, but Eastern Michigan boasted an extremely potent running attack that turned heads. The Eagles had three players that averaged more than 50 yards per game on the ground. Dominique Sherrer led the way at 95.3 yards per game, followed by Alex Gillett (61.3) and Javonti Greene (55.6).
EMU was one of just two school in the MAC to boast this feat, with Temple also having three players averaging more than 50 yards per game via the run.
MICHIGAN MAC CHAMPIONS!: For the first time since the 2008 campaign and the third time in the award's brief history, the Michigan Mid-American Conference trophy resides in Ypsilanti. Eastern Michigan first defeated in-state rival Central Michigan, 35-28, on the road, Oct. 15. The Green and White then followed it up with a hard-fought 14-10 home victory over Western Michigan, Oct. 22, to take possession of the hardware that goes to the Michigan MAC university that defeats the other two rival schools in the same regular season.
NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND: Thanks in large part to Justin Cudworth and Brad Ohrman, the Eagles racked up 69 tackles for loss. The Eagles averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game. The total is their highest total since 2001 when they had 82. In addition, EMU's 23 sacks surpassed its total of 10 from last season. The Eagles are tied for fifth in the MAC in sacks.
Jay Karutz Named Ray Guy Award Candidate: Junior punter Jay Karutz was named a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, bestowed upon the nation's best punter. The Augusta Sports Council has announced the nominees for the 2011 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation's top collegiate punter.
POWER OF SEVEN: A total of 13 of EMU's 36 games under Head Coach Ron English have been decided by seven points-or-less. The Eagles are 5-8 in those contests.
Michigan Born and Bread: The Eagles' roster featured 34 players from the state of Michigan. This total ranks second among Michigan MAC schools, trailing Central Michigan (59) and in front of Western Michigan (32).
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