Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Football Continues the Legacy of No. 2
11/2/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Eastern will also rotate the No. 0 to the player that best embodies the team’s "Hard Hat Defense" mentality
No. 2 Video Announcement.
No. 0 Video Announcement.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- One of the most important decisions a college football player makes comes long before they ever step onto the field for a game; That choice is what number they will choose to wear. After all, the jersey a player chooses means much more than just the number itself. Athletes develop a special bond with the number they choose to wear. It becomes part of their identity, especially in a sport like football where the players' heads are covered by their helmets. This decision is personal and special to each player. It is a choice that usually is theirs to make, excluding position restrictions and players wanting the same number.
For the Eastern Michigan University football team, the number two jersey, known as 'The Deuce', must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. Put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates, his number once again graces the field at Rynearson Stadium on the back of the squad's best senior pass catcher.
This season, senior Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst-Garden City C.C.) has earned the honor to don the No. 2 jersey as part of the tradition Head Coach Chris Creighton announced Sunday, Nov. 1, following the team's practice at Rynearson Stadium.
Players do not get the opportunity to choose No. 2 by picking it out in the equipment room. They earn it through their actions both on and off the field. This player possesses the integrity, character, and selflessness all of EMU's football players and representatives strive to build within themselves.
Odukoya received Academic All-MAC honors in 2019 after appearing in all 13 games that EMU played. The Netherlands-born playmaker earned seven starts for the Eagles. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5). Most recently, Odukoya was named a Fourth Team All-MAC Preseason All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, July 13.
In July, he was selected to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List for the second consecutive season. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. He was also one of seven Mid-American Conference student-athletes named to the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy watchlist. The honor is known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service." Odukoya also earned preseason All-MAC honors on Athlon Sports' release from July.
"Thomas Odukoya reflects so many of the positive qualities that we have learned about Demarius Reed," said Creighton. "He is our voice on offense, he is a great player, and a person that the entire program respects and admires. He will do an awesome job representing all that 'The Deuce' means in our program."
Affectionately known as 'D. Reed' by his teammates, Reed was a natural-born leader that made friends easily. He excelled both athletically and academically throughout his life, and quickly became a leader both on and off the field at EMU. Known as the "locker room joker", Reed impacted everyone he met.
"When former teammates and Demarius' father both thought that this new tradition was a great way to honor his memory, we knew we got it right," added Creighton. "I truly believe that wearing 'The Deuce' will forever be a special honor in this program."
EMU has continued to recognize Reed's influence on the football program since his passing. His jersey is buried at midfield under the Block E logo inside Rynearson Stadium, while a plaque now memorializes his accomplishments inside the lockerroom at the Student-Athlete Performance Center.
In 2017, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Sergio Bailey II wore the 'The Deuce' before former walk-on Blake Banham earned the honor in 2018. Last season, it was Clinton, Mich. native Mathew Sexton that donned the jersey.
In addition to the No. 2 jersey, Creighton and company also awarded one more special number on Sunday. New this season in NCAA football is the fact that the No. 0 jersey can now be worn. This was not the case in previous seasons. While it is not a requirement that the jersey be awarded in any special fashion, the EMU football team plans to award the number to a different defensive player during each week of the 2020 campaign.
According to team officials, No. 0 will be worn by the defensive player each week that best embodies the team's "Hard Hat Defense" mentality. The three characteristics that a player must achieve to be part of EMU's "Hard Hat D,' are: selfless, hardworking, and tough. The player that wears No. 0 will change every week and will be awarded based on the individual's previous week performance.
The first player to earn the chance to wear No. 0 will be sophomore defensive lineman Mikey Haney (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee). Haney earned Academic All-MAC honors after appearing in all 13 games, making 11 starts for the Eagles in 2019. He finished the season with 43 tackles (16 solo, 27 assisted), tallied 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
"We are really excited about this new tradition," added Creighton. "Mikey Haney is certainly selfless, hardworking, and tough. Being the first is a big deal. We all look forward to seeing who earns this honor each week."
Odukoya and Haney will don their new jerseys for the first time as Eastern football opens its 129th season Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Kent State University. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. with the game available on ESPN+ and WEMU (89.1 FM).
No. 0 Video Announcement.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- One of the most important decisions a college football player makes comes long before they ever step onto the field for a game; That choice is what number they will choose to wear. After all, the jersey a player chooses means much more than just the number itself. Athletes develop a special bond with the number they choose to wear. It becomes part of their identity, especially in a sport like football where the players' heads are covered by their helmets. This decision is personal and special to each player. It is a choice that usually is theirs to make, excluding position restrictions and players wanting the same number.
For the Eastern Michigan University football team, the number two jersey, known as 'The Deuce', must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. Put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates, his number once again graces the field at Rynearson Stadium on the back of the squad's best senior pass catcher.
This season, senior Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst-Garden City C.C.) has earned the honor to don the No. 2 jersey as part of the tradition Head Coach Chris Creighton announced Sunday, Nov. 1, following the team's practice at Rynearson Stadium.
Players do not get the opportunity to choose No. 2 by picking it out in the equipment room. They earn it through their actions both on and off the field. This player possesses the integrity, character, and selflessness all of EMU's football players and representatives strive to build within themselves.
Odukoya received Academic All-MAC honors in 2019 after appearing in all 13 games that EMU played. The Netherlands-born playmaker earned seven starts for the Eagles. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5). Most recently, Odukoya was named a Fourth Team All-MAC Preseason All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, July 13.
In July, he was selected to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List for the second consecutive season. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. He was also one of seven Mid-American Conference student-athletes named to the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy watchlist. The honor is known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service." Odukoya also earned preseason All-MAC honors on Athlon Sports' release from July.
"Thomas Odukoya reflects so many of the positive qualities that we have learned about Demarius Reed," said Creighton. "He is our voice on offense, he is a great player, and a person that the entire program respects and admires. He will do an awesome job representing all that 'The Deuce' means in our program."
Affectionately known as 'D. Reed' by his teammates, Reed was a natural-born leader that made friends easily. He excelled both athletically and academically throughout his life, and quickly became a leader both on and off the field at EMU. Known as the "locker room joker", Reed impacted everyone he met.
"When former teammates and Demarius' father both thought that this new tradition was a great way to honor his memory, we knew we got it right," added Creighton. "I truly believe that wearing 'The Deuce' will forever be a special honor in this program."
EMU has continued to recognize Reed's influence on the football program since his passing. His jersey is buried at midfield under the Block E logo inside Rynearson Stadium, while a plaque now memorializes his accomplishments inside the lockerroom at the Student-Athlete Performance Center.
In 2017, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Sergio Bailey II wore the 'The Deuce' before former walk-on Blake Banham earned the honor in 2018. Last season, it was Clinton, Mich. native Mathew Sexton that donned the jersey.
In addition to the No. 2 jersey, Creighton and company also awarded one more special number on Sunday. New this season in NCAA football is the fact that the No. 0 jersey can now be worn. This was not the case in previous seasons. While it is not a requirement that the jersey be awarded in any special fashion, the EMU football team plans to award the number to a different defensive player during each week of the 2020 campaign.
According to team officials, No. 0 will be worn by the defensive player each week that best embodies the team's "Hard Hat Defense" mentality. The three characteristics that a player must achieve to be part of EMU's "Hard Hat D,' are: selfless, hardworking, and tough. The player that wears No. 0 will change every week and will be awarded based on the individual's previous week performance.
The first player to earn the chance to wear No. 0 will be sophomore defensive lineman Mikey Haney (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee). Haney earned Academic All-MAC honors after appearing in all 13 games, making 11 starts for the Eagles in 2019. He finished the season with 43 tackles (16 solo, 27 assisted), tallied 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
"We are really excited about this new tradition," added Creighton. "Mikey Haney is certainly selfless, hardworking, and tough. Being the first is a big deal. We all look forward to seeing who earns this honor each week."
Odukoya and Haney will don their new jerseys for the first time as Eastern football opens its 129th season Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Kent State University. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. with the game available on ESPN+ and WEMU (89.1 FM).
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