Eastern Michigan Athletics
A Trip Down Memory Lane: EMU's "Road Warriors" Turn in Record-Wrecking Season
12/13/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
written by Jim Streeter, EMU Emeritus Media Relations Director
The Eastern Michigan University football team will take on San Jose State University in the 26th Annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Kickoff for the game will be at 3:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. MT) on ESPN. The Eagles will face off against San Jose State for the second time in the postseason, as the matchup is a rematch of the 1987 California Bowl. The then-Hurons were a 17-point underdog, but EMU prevailed with a 30-27 win over the Spartans in Fresno, Calif., Dec. 12, 1987.
In the lead up to the game, EMU Athletics looks back at that 1987 season and the Cal Bowl triumph in a three-part series authored by EMU Emeritus Media Relations Director Jim Streeter.
In the lead up to the game, EMU Athletics looks back at that 1987 season and the Cal Bowl triumph in a three-part series authored by EMU Emeritus Media Relations Director Jim Streeter.
Part 1 - EMU's "Road Warriors" Turn in Record-Wrecking Season
About the only people that thought the 1987 Eastern Michigan University football team would turn in a magic season were the football team, its coaches, and the most die-hard fans of the Green and White.
The Mid-American Conference News Media Association prognosticated that the then-Hurons would finish third in the final standings, behind Toledo at No. 1 and Kent State at No. 2. That view was shared by many college football publications and football fans in general. The 1986 Hurons were a solid squad, posting a 6-5 record and finishing tied for fifth in the final MAC standings, hardly foreshadowing a championship run in '87.
And to make success even more elusive was the fact that EMU was the only MAC team to have five league road games as well as six contests away from the friendly confines of Rynearson Stadium.
That difficult road task would lead the Eastern football program to dub the 1987 Hurons as the "Road Warriors" and the slogan would be the mantra that the players and coaching staff would repeat throughout the task of winning its first-ever MAC regular-season football championship and being the league representative in the California Bowl to be played Dec. 12, in Fresno, California.
Head Coach Jim Harkema's Hurons would open the '87 season with a 35-20 win over non-league foe Youngstown State, Sept. 5, under the lights in Rynearson Stadium.
The first of three consecutive road games would follow and the Hurons would make it 2-0 with a 33-17 win at Miami. Eastern would then head to Akron, Ohio to square off in another non-MAC tilt and EMU would be stunned by the Zips in a 17-16 setback. While Akron was not yet a league member, the loss would still weigh heavily on Eastern as its usually potent offense could muster just 16 points.
The ship was righted in the third straight road game as Eastern would edge Kent State, the team picked to finish second in the pre-season polls, by a 23-21 score to go to 3-1 on the year. It was back to the MAC the next weekend as Harkema's crew would post a convincing 32-21 win over Northern Illinois back home in Rynearson.
Game six would find Eastern on the road in Mount Pleasant against the Central Michigan University Chippewas and the EMU offense could muster just six points in a 16-6 setback. Despite the loss at CMU, the Green and White would still be 3-1 in the league and in top contention for the No. 1 spot heading into a key home battle against Ball State. What followed would be one of the most exciting, nail-biting games in Rynearson Stadium history as BSU and EMU went toe-to-toe in a wild offensive battle, Oct. 17, in a night game in Ypsilanti.
The late-game situation looked bleak for the Hurons in this Homecoming game as EMU, chasing its first-ever Mid-American Conference title and a berth in the post-season California Bowl, trailed, 28-27, with just over four minutes remaining.
Faced with 72 yards to go for a score, Eastern had a first-and-10 at its own 22-yard line when the Eagles came up with what has become legendary, simply called "The Run."
The following excerpt comes from the outstanding game story written by Don VanderVeen of The Ypsilanti Press.
In an ironic twist of fate, the Eastern Michigan University football team turned the smallest of margins into the biggest of runs on a play that probably never should have transpired at Rynearson Stadium Saturday night.
Regardless, the Hurons charged from behind and turned a possible loss into a heart-pounding 35-28 win over Ball State University to stay in the thick of the Mid-American Conference championship race.
On a play which looked like it was designed more for a sandlot game, EMU senior tailback Gary Patton — enjoying his finest day ever — turned a possible big loss into an amazing 72-yard touchdown run with just 3:22 remaining to give the Hurons the come-from-behind victory.
With the Hurons trailing 28-27 and just over four minutes remaining, Patton attempted to run the ball off left tackle from the EMU 28-yard line. But when he found no running room, Patton turned around and reversed his direction.
Just when it appeared like he was going to be thrown for a 12-yard loss, EMU quarterback Ron Adams threw a body block into a Ball State defender, allowing Patton just enough room to run outside on the right side of the field.
Another key block by senior guard Brian Clouse — who was starting his 40th consecutive game for the Hurons — sent Patton off to the races and the EMU tailback sprinted 72 yards for the game-winning touchdown. A two-point conversion run by sophomore Bob Foster gave EMU its final margin of victory.
Those late-game heroics against Ball State would give the Hurons a boost and the team would follow it up with a 23-17 win at Western Michigan followed by a 34-18 home victory over Ohio. Now sporting a 7-2 overall record and a 6-1 MAC mark heading into a nationally televised Thursday night league tilt at pre-season favorite Toledo.
Eastern's offense would respond with a huge offensive effort to go with a stout defensive stand to hand the home Rockets a 38-9 setback under the lights in The Glass Bowl in a game broadcast to the entire football world on ESPN.
Harkema's Hurons had just one obstacle in the way of a league title and a bowl bid–a Nov. 14 home date with Bowling Green. A crowd of 20,205 would be on hand for the BGSU tilt and the offense would roll in a 38-18 win to secure both the regular-season MAC Championship as well as a date with Pacific Coast Conference heavyweight San Jose State, in the California Bowl, Dec. 12, at Fresno State University's Bulldog Stadium.
The "Road Warriors" has defied all odds to record one of the most memorable seasons in 95 years of Eastern Michigan University football and a crowd of more than 700 people attended the annual football banquet, Nov. 12, in Bowen Field House to salute their champions.
And now only one more road battle awaited the Hurons–the California Bowl.
About the only people that thought the 1987 Eastern Michigan University football team would turn in a magic season were the football team, its coaches, and the most die-hard fans of the Green and White.
The Mid-American Conference News Media Association prognosticated that the then-Hurons would finish third in the final standings, behind Toledo at No. 1 and Kent State at No. 2. That view was shared by many college football publications and football fans in general. The 1986 Hurons were a solid squad, posting a 6-5 record and finishing tied for fifth in the final MAC standings, hardly foreshadowing a championship run in '87.
And to make success even more elusive was the fact that EMU was the only MAC team to have five league road games as well as six contests away from the friendly confines of Rynearson Stadium.
That difficult road task would lead the Eastern football program to dub the 1987 Hurons as the "Road Warriors" and the slogan would be the mantra that the players and coaching staff would repeat throughout the task of winning its first-ever MAC regular-season football championship and being the league representative in the California Bowl to be played Dec. 12, in Fresno, California.
Head Coach Jim Harkema's Hurons would open the '87 season with a 35-20 win over non-league foe Youngstown State, Sept. 5, under the lights in Rynearson Stadium.
The first of three consecutive road games would follow and the Hurons would make it 2-0 with a 33-17 win at Miami. Eastern would then head to Akron, Ohio to square off in another non-MAC tilt and EMU would be stunned by the Zips in a 17-16 setback. While Akron was not yet a league member, the loss would still weigh heavily on Eastern as its usually potent offense could muster just 16 points.
The ship was righted in the third straight road game as Eastern would edge Kent State, the team picked to finish second in the pre-season polls, by a 23-21 score to go to 3-1 on the year. It was back to the MAC the next weekend as Harkema's crew would post a convincing 32-21 win over Northern Illinois back home in Rynearson.
Game six would find Eastern on the road in Mount Pleasant against the Central Michigan University Chippewas and the EMU offense could muster just six points in a 16-6 setback. Despite the loss at CMU, the Green and White would still be 3-1 in the league and in top contention for the No. 1 spot heading into a key home battle against Ball State. What followed would be one of the most exciting, nail-biting games in Rynearson Stadium history as BSU and EMU went toe-to-toe in a wild offensive battle, Oct. 17, in a night game in Ypsilanti.
The late-game situation looked bleak for the Hurons in this Homecoming game as EMU, chasing its first-ever Mid-American Conference title and a berth in the post-season California Bowl, trailed, 28-27, with just over four minutes remaining.
Faced with 72 yards to go for a score, Eastern had a first-and-10 at its own 22-yard line when the Eagles came up with what has become legendary, simply called "The Run."
The following excerpt comes from the outstanding game story written by Don VanderVeen of The Ypsilanti Press.
In an ironic twist of fate, the Eastern Michigan University football team turned the smallest of margins into the biggest of runs on a play that probably never should have transpired at Rynearson Stadium Saturday night.
Regardless, the Hurons charged from behind and turned a possible loss into a heart-pounding 35-28 win over Ball State University to stay in the thick of the Mid-American Conference championship race.
On a play which looked like it was designed more for a sandlot game, EMU senior tailback Gary Patton — enjoying his finest day ever — turned a possible big loss into an amazing 72-yard touchdown run with just 3:22 remaining to give the Hurons the come-from-behind victory.
With the Hurons trailing 28-27 and just over four minutes remaining, Patton attempted to run the ball off left tackle from the EMU 28-yard line. But when he found no running room, Patton turned around and reversed his direction.
Just when it appeared like he was going to be thrown for a 12-yard loss, EMU quarterback Ron Adams threw a body block into a Ball State defender, allowing Patton just enough room to run outside on the right side of the field.
Another key block by senior guard Brian Clouse — who was starting his 40th consecutive game for the Hurons — sent Patton off to the races and the EMU tailback sprinted 72 yards for the game-winning touchdown. A two-point conversion run by sophomore Bob Foster gave EMU its final margin of victory.
Those late-game heroics against Ball State would give the Hurons a boost and the team would follow it up with a 23-17 win at Western Michigan followed by a 34-18 home victory over Ohio. Now sporting a 7-2 overall record and a 6-1 MAC mark heading into a nationally televised Thursday night league tilt at pre-season favorite Toledo.
Eastern's offense would respond with a huge offensive effort to go with a stout defensive stand to hand the home Rockets a 38-9 setback under the lights in The Glass Bowl in a game broadcast to the entire football world on ESPN.
Harkema's Hurons had just one obstacle in the way of a league title and a bowl bid–a Nov. 14 home date with Bowling Green. A crowd of 20,205 would be on hand for the BGSU tilt and the offense would roll in a 38-18 win to secure both the regular-season MAC Championship as well as a date with Pacific Coast Conference heavyweight San Jose State, in the California Bowl, Dec. 12, at Fresno State University's Bulldog Stadium.
The "Road Warriors" has defied all odds to record one of the most memorable seasons in 95 years of Eastern Michigan University football and a crowd of more than 700 people attended the annual football banquet, Nov. 12, in Bowen Field House to salute their champions.
And now only one more road battle awaited the Hurons–the California Bowl.
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