Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Insider Podcast - Season 7 - Episode 10
10/28/2024 9:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Football, General
Halloween Happenings and Hoops Hopes
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- In Episode 10 of the Eastern Insider, Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner kicked off the show with a Halloween-themed conversation, discussing costumes and the upcoming holiday. Tom revealed that he would be going as Batman this year, while Greg reminisced about Tom's previous "Dadbod" costume at a basketball game.
The conversation shifted towards Halloween traditions, candy preferences, and EMU's football and soccer seasons. Tom expressed a fondness for Twix and Snickers, oversized candy bars and sugary cereals from his childhood.
Additionally, they teased an upcoming Halloween family night at the football offices, complete with carving contests and decorations, giving a glimpse into the team's festivities despite their busy schedule leading up to a big Thursday night game.
Segment 1 - Sahar Nusseibeh
First-year Eastern Michigan women's basketball head coach Sahar Nusseibeh opened up to Tom Helmer about the team's transition, chemistry, and goals for the upcoming season. Nusseibeh, who brought five players with her from Canisius, likened the process of blending new and returning athletes to "a little bit of the Brady Bunch." While acknowledging the challenge of teaching new basketball concepts, she praised the returning players for embracing their new teammates and fostering strong relationships. "It could have easily been an 'us versus them' situation, but instead, they welcomed the newcomers with open arms," she said.
The emphasis on teamwork and unity will be critical, Nusseibeh explained, as her squad works to rebuild a program that has faced challenges in recent years. "We talk about building a sisterhood—successful teams do that. It's not just about being best friends, but respecting each other and staying together through thick and thin," she noted.
Addressing how she plans to steer the program in a new direction, Nusseibeh emphasized the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement. "Our focus is to be better every day. We reflect, we adjust, and by March, we want to be playing our best basketball," she explained. Rather than setting specific win-loss goals, Nusseibeh defined success as staying united and maintaining steady progress throughout the season.
With the season opener on Nov. 4, Nusseibeh admitted the starting lineup is still in flux. "We're evaluating scrimmages and practices to see what lineups work best. It'll likely be a mix of returners with MAC experience and newcomers who know our system," she shared.
Nusseibeh concluded with a core team mantra: Protect the Fist. Inspired by Coach K's philosophy, she explained, "Five players on the court have to be a united fist—not five fingers. If we can buy into that mindset, this year will be a success."
Segment 2 - Chris Creighton
As the Eastern Michigan Eagles prepare for their rivalry matchup against Toledo, head coach Chris Creighton sat down with Greg Steiner to reflect on last week's loss to Akron and preview the upcoming contest. Creighton praised his team's resilience in the second half against Akron, though he emphasized the need for a faster start. "We've had good starts earlier in the year, but the first half against Akron just wasn't what it could have been," Creighton noted. Despite strong performances late in the game, including quarterback Cole Snyder's career-best 354 passing yards, the Eagles fell short, unable to overcome an early deficit.
Creighton acknowledged that the Eagles struggled to stop Akron's unexpected success in the run game and couldn't establish their own ground attack. "We have to be better at running the ball and stopping the run if we want to win games," Creighton stated. Despite the loss, he highlighted the team's ability to convert key third and fourth downs and sustain drives.
Looking ahead to the Nov. 2 matchup with Toledo, Creighton expressed respect for the Rockets, who sit at an identical 5-3 record. "Toledo knows who they are and executes well," he said, emphasizing their consistency despite offseason changes. He also praised Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason's quick release and noted the importance of containing their talented offense.
Creighton stressed the significance of ball security, predicting that turnovers will play a decisive role in the outcome. On a lighter note, he shared that the coaching staff is celebrating Halloween with families, balancing football with family life. "We work a lot, but it's important to carve out time to be good husbands and fathers," he said.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- In Episode 10 of the Eastern Insider, Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner kicked off the show with a Halloween-themed conversation, discussing costumes and the upcoming holiday. Tom revealed that he would be going as Batman this year, while Greg reminisced about Tom's previous "Dadbod" costume at a basketball game.
The conversation shifted towards Halloween traditions, candy preferences, and EMU's football and soccer seasons. Tom expressed a fondness for Twix and Snickers, oversized candy bars and sugary cereals from his childhood.
Additionally, they teased an upcoming Halloween family night at the football offices, complete with carving contests and decorations, giving a glimpse into the team's festivities despite their busy schedule leading up to a big Thursday night game.
Segment 1 - Sahar Nusseibeh
First-year Eastern Michigan women's basketball head coach Sahar Nusseibeh opened up to Tom Helmer about the team's transition, chemistry, and goals for the upcoming season. Nusseibeh, who brought five players with her from Canisius, likened the process of blending new and returning athletes to "a little bit of the Brady Bunch." While acknowledging the challenge of teaching new basketball concepts, she praised the returning players for embracing their new teammates and fostering strong relationships. "It could have easily been an 'us versus them' situation, but instead, they welcomed the newcomers with open arms," she said.
The emphasis on teamwork and unity will be critical, Nusseibeh explained, as her squad works to rebuild a program that has faced challenges in recent years. "We talk about building a sisterhood—successful teams do that. It's not just about being best friends, but respecting each other and staying together through thick and thin," she noted.
Addressing how she plans to steer the program in a new direction, Nusseibeh emphasized the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement. "Our focus is to be better every day. We reflect, we adjust, and by March, we want to be playing our best basketball," she explained. Rather than setting specific win-loss goals, Nusseibeh defined success as staying united and maintaining steady progress throughout the season.
With the season opener on Nov. 4, Nusseibeh admitted the starting lineup is still in flux. "We're evaluating scrimmages and practices to see what lineups work best. It'll likely be a mix of returners with MAC experience and newcomers who know our system," she shared.
Nusseibeh concluded with a core team mantra: Protect the Fist. Inspired by Coach K's philosophy, she explained, "Five players on the court have to be a united fist—not five fingers. If we can buy into that mindset, this year will be a success."
Segment 2 - Chris Creighton
As the Eastern Michigan Eagles prepare for their rivalry matchup against Toledo, head coach Chris Creighton sat down with Greg Steiner to reflect on last week's loss to Akron and preview the upcoming contest. Creighton praised his team's resilience in the second half against Akron, though he emphasized the need for a faster start. "We've had good starts earlier in the year, but the first half against Akron just wasn't what it could have been," Creighton noted. Despite strong performances late in the game, including quarterback Cole Snyder's career-best 354 passing yards, the Eagles fell short, unable to overcome an early deficit.
Creighton acknowledged that the Eagles struggled to stop Akron's unexpected success in the run game and couldn't establish their own ground attack. "We have to be better at running the ball and stopping the run if we want to win games," Creighton stated. Despite the loss, he highlighted the team's ability to convert key third and fourth downs and sustain drives.
Looking ahead to the Nov. 2 matchup with Toledo, Creighton expressed respect for the Rockets, who sit at an identical 5-3 record. "Toledo knows who they are and executes well," he said, emphasizing their consistency despite offseason changes. He also praised Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason's quick release and noted the importance of containing their talented offense.
Creighton stressed the significance of ball security, predicting that turnovers will play a decisive role in the outcome. On a lighter note, he shared that the coaching staff is celebrating Halloween with families, balancing football with family life. "We work a lot, but it's important to carve out time to be good husbands and fathers," he said.
Players Mentioned
QB
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