Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Insider Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 8
10/13/2025 4:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, General
Defensive Strength vs. NIU and Hall of Fame Excellence
Click Here to Listen Now!
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE opened its eighth episode of the season with laughs, apple cider debates, and plenty of Eastern Michigan pride. The show marked a milestone moment as Greg Steiner officially welcomed Elena Davis as the new co-host.
"Ah, yes, it's finally official," Steiner said as the episode opened. "Her name is now on the show. Finally, Elena, welcome as the official co-host of the Eastern Insider, presented by DTE."
"I feel so honored," Davis replied. "I love it here. I love being crazy. I love being myself."
The pair kicked off Episode 8 with their trademark mix of humor and energy, keeping fans connected through fall break. "Everybody's taking off the week," Steiner said, "but we continue to power through. That's what you've got to do here in athletics."
The hosts recapped a strong weekend across EMU athletics. Volleyball swept Kent State at home, football earned a gritty win over Northern Illinois, and soccer battled to a scoreless draw at Amherst. "We are deep in the thick of athletics right now," Steiner said. "Just a couple of weeks away from basketball season as well."
Between game recaps, the two slipped into a spirited debate about fall favorites. Cider and donuts dominated the conversation. "I'm not a hot cider person," Davis admitted. "I like cold cider. Make it a little slushy."
Steiner responded with mock shock at her donut intake. "How many donuts do you have? Be honest," he asked. When Davis confessed to five, he laughed. "Wow. Two for me."
The lighthearted tone shifted back to football as the hosts discussed EMU's recent win and the upcoming road trip to Miami (Ohio). Davis noted the steady improvement from the Eagles' defense, crediting defensive lineman Andrew Marshall for highlighting team growth. "He said, 'We've gotten more confident in the way we're playing,'" she said. "You can see every game is starting to grow more and more defensively."
Steiner added that the Eagles will "head to Oxford this weekend, noon start in Southwest Ohio," before joking that the defense might have lessons for Detroit's pro teams. "Maybe the Eagles defense can teach something to the Lions," he said with a grin.
The episode also spotlighted the recent E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony. Davis and Steiner previewed interviews with inductees Nikki Knapp and John Bowler, both former EMU basketball standouts who returned to Ypsilanti for the event. "You'll hear his story," Steiner said of Bowler. "Now he's a head coach at the junior college level and doing very well."
Davis teased a fun on-air moment. "Do you think his kids feel pressured to go to Eastern because both parents went there?" she asked. Steiner laughed, "I would say no. They don't live anywhere close."
The show wrapped with a familiar rhythm. "Our featured conversation this week is with head football coach Chris Creighton," Steiner said. "He'll tell you all about the week that was and get you set for Miami."
Davis smiled as Steiner gave her a friendly nod. "Much like Elena does every week, 1-0," he said. "That's the nicest thing he's ever said, guys," Davis replied, laughing.
Segment 1 - Chris Creighton
After a gritty 16-10 win over Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton smiled when asked how it felt to come out on top of a defensive slugfest.
"Feels great," Creighton said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "It's fun to win. It's hard to win. That was a big one for us."
The victory marked the final meeting in the long-running series with Northern Illinois, and it came in a fashion Creighton relishes: tough, disciplined, old-school football.
"Our defense really played well," he said. "We knew they'd try to run the football. They got two explosive runs, but if you take those away, their yards per carry were really low. Our defense set the tone on the first play of the game with a tackle for loss. They took the ball away twice, too, so it was a great effort."
That defensive improvement, Creighton said, comes from the work of coordinator Ben Needham and his staff, who retooled the scheme early in the season.
"It was really birthed out of putting our players in positions to be successful," Creighton said. "Ben's got a brilliant mind, and he and the staff have done a great job making decisions that allow our guys to play to their strengths. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're getting better every week."
The progress is clear in the numbers, but Creighton is focused on timing.
"The goal has always been to play our best football in November and December," he said. "That's what we're building toward."
The Eagles also continue to develop depth, with four players making their first career starts against NIU, including Joey Mattord, Juan Salas, Bryce Eluke, and Hector Gonzalez.
"Even if you just look at this year, we're barely past the halfway point, and a lot of guys are getting their first real experience," Creighton said. "It's going to serve us well as we get deeper into the season."
One of the week's biggest moments came before kickoff, when honorary coach Nick Myers joined the team. Myers, a young man who participates in EMU's annual Victory Day event for individuals with special needs, had written Creighton a letter about his dream to coach football.
"He handed me an envelope at Victory Day, a letter and a resume," Creighton said. "I told him I'd hold onto it. So this week, we brought him in as an honorary coach. He got to meet the team, and some of our guys remembered him. It was awesome. And he's undefeated—1-0."
Now, the Eagles turn their attention to Miami (Ohio), led by veteran coach Chuck Martin. Creighton called Martin's teams "really well coached" and praised their consistency.
"He's not reinventing everything every year," Creighton said. "He gets his guys to know their systems and to get really good at them. It's been super successful."
EMU will need another strong defensive showing to slow down quarterback Dequan Finn, who averages more than 260 yards of offense per game.
"He's dynamic," Creighton said. "He can hurt you with his arm and his legs. You have to account for him on every play."
As the Eagles head to Oxford, Creighton's message stays steady: keep improving, keep believing, and keep fighting for the next one.
"We're getting better," he said. "And that's exactly where we want to be this time of year."
Segment 2 - John Bowler
When John Bowler picked up the phone to hear that he would be joining the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame, emotion took over.
"It was pretty emotional, a pretty happy day," Bowler said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "It's always been in the back of my mind. I take a lot of pride in the university, so being recognized for the achievements we had here was pretty fun."
Bowler, a four-year standout for Eastern Michigan men's basketball from 2002 to 2006, remains the last player in program history to average a double-double. The 6-foot-10 forward led the Mid-American Conference in scoring and rebounding as a senior, leaving behind a mark built on consistency, toughness, and loyalty.
He returns to campus nearly two decades later, now a coach himself, reflecting on a career that went beyond wins and losses.
"I think it's the people," Bowler said. "You see it every day here, the lifers that invest themselves. We went through coaching transitions and never quite got over the hump, but the lifelong relationships we have, that's what made this place special."
Those relationships run deep. His wife, Biz, played volleyball for the Eagles, and on this visit, their children finally saw the place their parents once called home.
"They'd heard the stories and seen the photos," Bowler said. "But when they got to campus, it kind of clicked. They looked at us and said, 'You guys played here?' It was one of those proud moments as a dad and mom where it's like, yeah, we were cool at one point."
Bowler's journey reflects an era before the transfer portal reshaped college basketball. He stayed all four years, fighting through coaching changes, injuries, and growing pains. For him, that loyalty still matters.
"I hope somebody can look at my journey and realize, hey, maybe I don't have to jump," Bowler said. "Maybe staying somewhere for four years is what's best. At the end of the day, the loyalty, the friendships, the people around you matter far more in life."
After a professional playing career in Europe, Bowler turned to coaching, first at the Division I level and now at the junior college level, where he finds meaning in helping young athletes grow.
"I love the level I'm coaching at," he said. "I wanted to get back to being a head coach and impacting those freshmen and sophomores. I don't think my competitiveness ever turns off, but I know God puts me where I need to be."
Even now, Bowler's intensity remains. He watched his current team's games on the drive to Ypsilanti, texting assistants between plays.
"I always want to win," he said. "That's just who I am."
From double-doubles to developing players, Bowler's connection to Eastern Michigan endures through pride, persistence, and people.
"This is the only place I've ever been," he said. "It means a lot to me."
Segment 3 - Nikki Knapp
When the phone rang with news that she had been selected for the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame, Nikki Knapp's first thought was disbelief.
"Did you call the right person?" she laughed. "My first reaction was excitement. I was excited to be part of the club."
For Knapp, who left Blue Springs, Missouri, more than two decades ago to play for a program she had never heard of, the call was a full-circle moment.
"I can't say I had ever heard of Eastern Michigan before they started recruiting me," Knapp said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "I thought I'd come here, do my time, and then go back to Missouri. But it was a risk that paid off, and I'm really glad I took it."
That risk became one of the best decisions of her life. Knapp finished her career as the all-time leading rebounder in EMU women's basketball history and helped the Eagles capture a Mid-American Conference championship. Her style was simple, her impact undeniable.
"Rebounding was kind of my thing," she said. "It's easy. Just go get the ball. That's all you got to do."
But her journey to Ypsilanti was anything but easy. Knapp had originally committed to another MAC school before Eastern Michigan entered the picture late in her senior year.
"I don't know if it was my AAU coach or who reached out to who, but here comes Eastern Michigan to save the day," she said. "I just really loved Shane Clipfell and Suzy Merchant and what they were about. I just knew I wanted to play for them."
Knapp's arrival helped lay the foundation for what became one of the program's best stretches. Alongside teammates like Ryan Coleman, Abby Wiseman, Sarah VanMetre, and Amy Friedenberger, she helped turn a young, unproven team into a championship contender.
"Winning the MAC championship, that's obviously the best memory," Knapp said. "But honestly, the nights just hanging out with my teammates, those were the best times."
Now years removed from her playing days, Knapp remains connected to the program. She's become close with current head coach Sahar Nusseibeh and continues to support the team's growth.
"You just have to trust the process," Knapp said. "I have a lot of faith in Sahar and what her and her staff are doing. They're putting the pieces together, and I can't wait to see what they do."
Her induction brings a flood of emotions and reflection on how far she and the program have come.
"It's been a while since I played," Knapp said. "Looking back, it brings a lot of good memories. To be part of something that still matters here, it's special."
From a small-town recruit who took a chance on a little-known program to one of the most decorated players in school history, Nikki Knapp's legacy is built on hard work, loyalty, and quiet excellence.
"It's wild to think how it all turned out," she said with a smile. "I came here not knowing what to expect, and now this place feels like home."
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE opened its eighth episode of the season with laughs, apple cider debates, and plenty of Eastern Michigan pride. The show marked a milestone moment as Greg Steiner officially welcomed Elena Davis as the new co-host.
"Ah, yes, it's finally official," Steiner said as the episode opened. "Her name is now on the show. Finally, Elena, welcome as the official co-host of the Eastern Insider, presented by DTE."
"I feel so honored," Davis replied. "I love it here. I love being crazy. I love being myself."
The pair kicked off Episode 8 with their trademark mix of humor and energy, keeping fans connected through fall break. "Everybody's taking off the week," Steiner said, "but we continue to power through. That's what you've got to do here in athletics."
The hosts recapped a strong weekend across EMU athletics. Volleyball swept Kent State at home, football earned a gritty win over Northern Illinois, and soccer battled to a scoreless draw at Amherst. "We are deep in the thick of athletics right now," Steiner said. "Just a couple of weeks away from basketball season as well."
Between game recaps, the two slipped into a spirited debate about fall favorites. Cider and donuts dominated the conversation. "I'm not a hot cider person," Davis admitted. "I like cold cider. Make it a little slushy."
Steiner responded with mock shock at her donut intake. "How many donuts do you have? Be honest," he asked. When Davis confessed to five, he laughed. "Wow. Two for me."
The lighthearted tone shifted back to football as the hosts discussed EMU's recent win and the upcoming road trip to Miami (Ohio). Davis noted the steady improvement from the Eagles' defense, crediting defensive lineman Andrew Marshall for highlighting team growth. "He said, 'We've gotten more confident in the way we're playing,'" she said. "You can see every game is starting to grow more and more defensively."
Steiner added that the Eagles will "head to Oxford this weekend, noon start in Southwest Ohio," before joking that the defense might have lessons for Detroit's pro teams. "Maybe the Eagles defense can teach something to the Lions," he said with a grin.
The episode also spotlighted the recent E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony. Davis and Steiner previewed interviews with inductees Nikki Knapp and John Bowler, both former EMU basketball standouts who returned to Ypsilanti for the event. "You'll hear his story," Steiner said of Bowler. "Now he's a head coach at the junior college level and doing very well."
Davis teased a fun on-air moment. "Do you think his kids feel pressured to go to Eastern because both parents went there?" she asked. Steiner laughed, "I would say no. They don't live anywhere close."
The show wrapped with a familiar rhythm. "Our featured conversation this week is with head football coach Chris Creighton," Steiner said. "He'll tell you all about the week that was and get you set for Miami."
Davis smiled as Steiner gave her a friendly nod. "Much like Elena does every week, 1-0," he said. "That's the nicest thing he's ever said, guys," Davis replied, laughing.
Segment 1 - Chris Creighton
After a gritty 16-10 win over Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton smiled when asked how it felt to come out on top of a defensive slugfest.
"Feels great," Creighton said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "It's fun to win. It's hard to win. That was a big one for us."
The victory marked the final meeting in the long-running series with Northern Illinois, and it came in a fashion Creighton relishes: tough, disciplined, old-school football.
"Our defense really played well," he said. "We knew they'd try to run the football. They got two explosive runs, but if you take those away, their yards per carry were really low. Our defense set the tone on the first play of the game with a tackle for loss. They took the ball away twice, too, so it was a great effort."
That defensive improvement, Creighton said, comes from the work of coordinator Ben Needham and his staff, who retooled the scheme early in the season.
"It was really birthed out of putting our players in positions to be successful," Creighton said. "Ben's got a brilliant mind, and he and the staff have done a great job making decisions that allow our guys to play to their strengths. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're getting better every week."
The progress is clear in the numbers, but Creighton is focused on timing.
"The goal has always been to play our best football in November and December," he said. "That's what we're building toward."
The Eagles also continue to develop depth, with four players making their first career starts against NIU, including Joey Mattord, Juan Salas, Bryce Eluke, and Hector Gonzalez.
"Even if you just look at this year, we're barely past the halfway point, and a lot of guys are getting their first real experience," Creighton said. "It's going to serve us well as we get deeper into the season."
One of the week's biggest moments came before kickoff, when honorary coach Nick Myers joined the team. Myers, a young man who participates in EMU's annual Victory Day event for individuals with special needs, had written Creighton a letter about his dream to coach football.
"He handed me an envelope at Victory Day, a letter and a resume," Creighton said. "I told him I'd hold onto it. So this week, we brought him in as an honorary coach. He got to meet the team, and some of our guys remembered him. It was awesome. And he's undefeated—1-0."
Now, the Eagles turn their attention to Miami (Ohio), led by veteran coach Chuck Martin. Creighton called Martin's teams "really well coached" and praised their consistency.
"He's not reinventing everything every year," Creighton said. "He gets his guys to know their systems and to get really good at them. It's been super successful."
EMU will need another strong defensive showing to slow down quarterback Dequan Finn, who averages more than 260 yards of offense per game.
"He's dynamic," Creighton said. "He can hurt you with his arm and his legs. You have to account for him on every play."
As the Eagles head to Oxford, Creighton's message stays steady: keep improving, keep believing, and keep fighting for the next one.
"We're getting better," he said. "And that's exactly where we want to be this time of year."
Segment 2 - John Bowler
When John Bowler picked up the phone to hear that he would be joining the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame, emotion took over.
"It was pretty emotional, a pretty happy day," Bowler said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "It's always been in the back of my mind. I take a lot of pride in the university, so being recognized for the achievements we had here was pretty fun."
Bowler, a four-year standout for Eastern Michigan men's basketball from 2002 to 2006, remains the last player in program history to average a double-double. The 6-foot-10 forward led the Mid-American Conference in scoring and rebounding as a senior, leaving behind a mark built on consistency, toughness, and loyalty.
He returns to campus nearly two decades later, now a coach himself, reflecting on a career that went beyond wins and losses.
"I think it's the people," Bowler said. "You see it every day here, the lifers that invest themselves. We went through coaching transitions and never quite got over the hump, but the lifelong relationships we have, that's what made this place special."
Those relationships run deep. His wife, Biz, played volleyball for the Eagles, and on this visit, their children finally saw the place their parents once called home.
"They'd heard the stories and seen the photos," Bowler said. "But when they got to campus, it kind of clicked. They looked at us and said, 'You guys played here?' It was one of those proud moments as a dad and mom where it's like, yeah, we were cool at one point."
Bowler's journey reflects an era before the transfer portal reshaped college basketball. He stayed all four years, fighting through coaching changes, injuries, and growing pains. For him, that loyalty still matters.
"I hope somebody can look at my journey and realize, hey, maybe I don't have to jump," Bowler said. "Maybe staying somewhere for four years is what's best. At the end of the day, the loyalty, the friendships, the people around you matter far more in life."
After a professional playing career in Europe, Bowler turned to coaching, first at the Division I level and now at the junior college level, where he finds meaning in helping young athletes grow.
"I love the level I'm coaching at," he said. "I wanted to get back to being a head coach and impacting those freshmen and sophomores. I don't think my competitiveness ever turns off, but I know God puts me where I need to be."
Even now, Bowler's intensity remains. He watched his current team's games on the drive to Ypsilanti, texting assistants between plays.
"I always want to win," he said. "That's just who I am."
From double-doubles to developing players, Bowler's connection to Eastern Michigan endures through pride, persistence, and people.
"This is the only place I've ever been," he said. "It means a lot to me."
Segment 3 - Nikki Knapp
When the phone rang with news that she had been selected for the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame, Nikki Knapp's first thought was disbelief.
"Did you call the right person?" she laughed. "My first reaction was excitement. I was excited to be part of the club."
For Knapp, who left Blue Springs, Missouri, more than two decades ago to play for a program she had never heard of, the call was a full-circle moment.
"I can't say I had ever heard of Eastern Michigan before they started recruiting me," Knapp said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "I thought I'd come here, do my time, and then go back to Missouri. But it was a risk that paid off, and I'm really glad I took it."
That risk became one of the best decisions of her life. Knapp finished her career as the all-time leading rebounder in EMU women's basketball history and helped the Eagles capture a Mid-American Conference championship. Her style was simple, her impact undeniable.
"Rebounding was kind of my thing," she said. "It's easy. Just go get the ball. That's all you got to do."
But her journey to Ypsilanti was anything but easy. Knapp had originally committed to another MAC school before Eastern Michigan entered the picture late in her senior year.
"I don't know if it was my AAU coach or who reached out to who, but here comes Eastern Michigan to save the day," she said. "I just really loved Shane Clipfell and Suzy Merchant and what they were about. I just knew I wanted to play for them."
Knapp's arrival helped lay the foundation for what became one of the program's best stretches. Alongside teammates like Ryan Coleman, Abby Wiseman, Sarah VanMetre, and Amy Friedenberger, she helped turn a young, unproven team into a championship contender.
"Winning the MAC championship, that's obviously the best memory," Knapp said. "But honestly, the nights just hanging out with my teammates, those were the best times."
Now years removed from her playing days, Knapp remains connected to the program. She's become close with current head coach Sahar Nusseibeh and continues to support the team's growth.
"You just have to trust the process," Knapp said. "I have a lot of faith in Sahar and what her and her staff are doing. They're putting the pieces together, and I can't wait to see what they do."
Her induction brings a flood of emotions and reflection on how far she and the program have come.
"It's been a while since I played," Knapp said. "Looking back, it brings a lot of good memories. To be part of something that still matters here, it's special."
From a small-town recruit who took a chance on a little-known program to one of the most decorated players in school history, Nikki Knapp's legacy is built on hard work, loyalty, and quiet excellence.
"It's wild to think how it all turned out," she said with a smile. "I came here not knowing what to expect, and now this place feels like home."
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football🎥 Eastern in 60 Seconds: Part 8
Tuesday, October 14
Season 8 - Episode 8: Defensive Strength vs. NIU and Hall of Fame Excellence
Monday, October 13
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 8 at Miami
Monday, October 13
Elite bench squad😤
Monday, October 13