Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Insider Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 12
11/10/2025 5:00:00 PM | Football, Swimming & Diving, General
Creighton’s Insight and Kudo’s Inspiration Drive Conversation
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Insider Podcast returned this week with a full lineup of Eagle success stories, highlighted by Eastern Michigan football's hard-fought 27-21 win over Bowling Green, the start of men's and women's basketball seasons, and an in-depth conversation with swimming captain Ali Kudo.
Hosts Greg Steiner and Elena Davis opened Episode 12 of Season 8 by reliving the final moments of Saturday's football thriller, punctuated by Ronn Hardin's game-clinching sack. "That's how it sounded on the Eastern Michigan Sports Network from Learfield," Steiner said, as play-by-play audio rolled of Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the finish.
The win came after a bye week, and Steiner noted it "felt good for the boys to get back out there and get on the right foot." Davis agreed, saying the team's resilience stood out after a slow first half. "Noah Kim wasn't having a lot of completion success rate in that first half," she said. "He comes out of halftime just a totally different team."
Davis added that Coach Chris Creighton had challenged his players to "find their why individually and as a group," a message that helped the Eagles rally down the stretch. "I asked him, how proud are you of these guys? And he said this was a very special moment, winning in November, being that team to go out there at home when it's starting to get a little bit colder," she said.
From their studio overlooking Rynearson Stadium, the hosts painted a familiar Michigan picture. "When we started the morning, the factory floor was completely still covered with snow," Steiner said. "Now the sun has drenched it, and it's back to its normal gray color." Davis laughed at the early snowfall, adding, "I love the snow, I love the cold, I love sweaters. You, for some reason, live here and don't like it!"
The duo praised linebacker Zach Mowchan, who led the team with 10 tackles after returning from injury. "He said, this is the best I've ever felt," Davis shared. "An incredible story, getting hurt, missing time, then coming back and leading the team."
Looking ahead, the Eagles turn their focus to Ball State, a team Creighton has beaten twice in a row. "They'll go to Muncie trying to win three straight over the Cardinals," Steiner said, noting that EMU's offensive line, ranked among the top 10 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, will face a major test. "Nathan Voorhis, one of the best in the country, has 11 sacks," he said.
Basketball also took center stage, with both programs in early-season action. "Tonight we'll feature EMU men's basketball taking on the ACC's Pitt Panthers," Steiner said. Davis highlighted freshman forward Mo Habhab's breakout performance. "He had 15 points and 16 rebounds," she said. "Coach Stan Heath told me after the game, 'I saw those 16 rebounds.' He's really shown up for us."
Davis emphasized that Heath's challenging schedule reflects his confidence in the roster. "He told us, 'I could have easily scheduled D2 or D3 teams, but I don't want my guys to do that. I want them to feel what the MAC level demands.'" The Eagles aim for their first 2-0 start since 2019-20.
The women's basketball team also earned attention after a strong defensive showing at Canisius. "They limited them to just two points in the first quarter," Davis said in disbelief. "I don't think I've ever seen that in my 22 years of living." The Eagles will visit St. Thomas next, seeking to avenge last year's home loss.
Volleyball wraps up its regular season with a two-match series at Miami, while swimming's Ali Kudo joined the show for an engaging segment about leadership and endurance. "She was a spark," Davis said. "As a senior captain, she talked about how she leads this team, what makes a good meet, and what swimming means to her. I told her, I don't think I could make it a mile, let alone the 14 they do weekly."
Segment 1 - Chris Creighton
Eastern Michigan head football coach Chris Creighton credited a renewed physical edge and improved fundamentals for the Eagles' 27-21 victory over Bowling Green, a win that came after a much-needed bye week and showcased a stronger, more balanced team on both sides of the ball.
"We talked about how our inefficient runs in the first nine games were largely physical issues, not mental or schematic," Creighton said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "We did a deep dive during the bye week and really challenged the guys with the physical aspect of our run game. There was one drive in the fourth quarter where it just felt like we weren't going to be stopped. That was as good of a series as we've had."
The Eagles leaned heavily on running back Dontae McMillan, who powered through the Falcons' defense for more than 80 yards in the second half. Creighton said the extra rest seemed to spark McMillan's performance. "Dontae ran the ball with some explosive movements," he said. "Tavi ran well too, and obviously the offensive line had a lot to do with that."
Eastern's offense finished the day converting 8-of-17 on third downs, a key point Creighton had emphasized in the team's game plan. "One of our plans to win offensively was conversions on stop downs because [Bowling Green] was really good in those situations," he said. "Our guys did an awesome job."
Quarterback Noah Kimn connected with tight end Nick Devereaux on a critical completion during that decisive fourth-quarter drive, helping sustain momentum before McMillan's final touchdown push. "It was a huge third down," Creighton said. "You could feel the trust between those guys."
On defense, the Eagles held Bowling Green to just 259 total yards, their best effort of the season. Creighton attributed that improvement to a sharper tackling focus. "We found out that 68 percent of our missed tackles came from a lack of squeezing," he said. "We made that an emphasis, and this was our fewest missed tackles of the year."
Linebacker Barry Manning came up with a game-changing interception late in the first half, his first career pick. "It was a huge play," Creighton said. "The way he twisted his upper body to go back and catch that ball took the air out of [Bowling Green's] sails."
The defense sealed the win with a sack from defensive end Ron Harden on the final play of the game, a moment that carried extra meaning for the redshirt sophomore. "It was perfect," Creighton said. "He hadn't played on defense up to that point, but he stayed ready. The guys were celebrating him as much as they were celebrating the victory."
Looking ahead to this weekend's road trip to Ball State, Creighton expects a battle against a disciplined defense and mobile quarterback Kiael Kelly. "He's a really good player with his feet and arm," Creighton said. "They use a lot of designed quarterback runs that make it tough to defend."
The matchup will also pit EMU's top-10 national offensive line in fewest sacks allowed against Ball State defensive end Nathan Voorhees, who leads the nation with 11 sacks. "Our line is playing well," Creighton said. "It'll be a huge challenge, but I really like how it's coming together."
The Eagles travel to Muncie seeking their first road win since last season's opener. "They're 4-0 at home, and we let our guys know that," Creighton said. "We love challenges. When we challenge our team, they rise up and meet it head-on."
Segment 2 - Ali Kudo
For Eastern Michigan senior swimmer Ali Kudo, every race begins long before she dives into the pool.
"We normally arrive two hours early and start getting warmed up," Kudo said on The Eastern Insider Podcast. "I like to listen to music, get in the vibes of the day, just get hyped."
That pre-meet playlist sets the tone for a student-athlete balancing one of the most demanding majors on campus with the leadership role of team captain. A neuroscience major on the pre-med track, Kudo said she originally chose her field for one simple reason: "Honestly, I just picked it because it sounded cool." What started as curiosity quickly became passion.
"It's interdisciplinary, so I'm doing a lot of chemistry, bio, psych," she said. "I get a nice holistic view of the education system in general and get to tie things in from different disciplines."
That balance between focus and flexibility carries over to her athletic life. Kudo redshirted last season after an injury forced her to the sideline, giving her a new perspective on the sport she has known since childhood.
"I had to take a step back and look at swimming again," she said. "I found joy in just being at practice and being around the girls who are working so hard all the time. Even if I'm working hard in different ways sometimes, it's inspiring to be around them."
Swimming has been central to Kudo's life since her parents first enrolled her in lessons as a child in Canada. "They didn't want me to drown," she said, laughing. "Once I joined the competitive stream, it was all in for me. I've really never done any other sports."
That lifelong commitment fuels her resilience through injury and leadership challenges alike. As captain this season, Kudo said she's proud to help guide a team that has grown tighter and more communicative.
"One of our big goals was making sure we're communicating a lot," she said. "The coaches talk about how communication is key. Everyone's really well connected. We mesh really well, and I think we're all enjoying this."
Her leadership style, she explained, complements her co-captains' voices. "I do a lot of the logistics. I make announcements and handle planning. A lot of the other captains are more vocal, but that's what makes us a great team," she said.
Kudo keeps morale high in long training cycles by reading her teammates' moods. "If people don't seem like they're locked in, I take them aside and talk," she said. "Everyone has things going on. It's important they feel heard."
When asked whether swimming is more physical or mental, Kudo paused. "Definitely a combination," she said. "Distance is a lot of mental stuff, being able to push through insane distances. Sprint is fast-paced and really hard effort."
The psychology of racing remains one of her favorite parts of the sport. "In the middle of a race, I feel super high on adrenaline," she said. "My heart's beating fast, but I feel strong. I know all the training I've done is going into this race."
Originally from Ontario, Kudo's journey to Ypsilanti began with a recruiting call from head coach Derek Perkins during the pandemic. "It was over COVID, everyone was wearing masks," she said. "It was a weird vibe, but I loved it as soon as I came on campus. I knew I wanted to come here."
Kudo said she doesn't go home to Canada as often as she'd like, but Ypsilanti now feels like a second home. "The team is connected, and everyone supports each other," she said. "That's what makes this place special."
For Kudo, that sense of belonging, mixed with purpose and perseverance, defines her final season in green and white. "Swimming has revolved around my life for so long," she said. "It's something that brings me joy, and I'm not ready to step away from that."
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Insider Podcast returned this week with a full lineup of Eagle success stories, highlighted by Eastern Michigan football's hard-fought 27-21 win over Bowling Green, the start of men's and women's basketball seasons, and an in-depth conversation with swimming captain Ali Kudo.
Hosts Greg Steiner and Elena Davis opened Episode 12 of Season 8 by reliving the final moments of Saturday's football thriller, punctuated by Ronn Hardin's game-clinching sack. "That's how it sounded on the Eastern Michigan Sports Network from Learfield," Steiner said, as play-by-play audio rolled of Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the finish.
The win came after a bye week, and Steiner noted it "felt good for the boys to get back out there and get on the right foot." Davis agreed, saying the team's resilience stood out after a slow first half. "Noah Kim wasn't having a lot of completion success rate in that first half," she said. "He comes out of halftime just a totally different team."
Davis added that Coach Chris Creighton had challenged his players to "find their why individually and as a group," a message that helped the Eagles rally down the stretch. "I asked him, how proud are you of these guys? And he said this was a very special moment, winning in November, being that team to go out there at home when it's starting to get a little bit colder," she said.
From their studio overlooking Rynearson Stadium, the hosts painted a familiar Michigan picture. "When we started the morning, the factory floor was completely still covered with snow," Steiner said. "Now the sun has drenched it, and it's back to its normal gray color." Davis laughed at the early snowfall, adding, "I love the snow, I love the cold, I love sweaters. You, for some reason, live here and don't like it!"
The duo praised linebacker Zach Mowchan, who led the team with 10 tackles after returning from injury. "He said, this is the best I've ever felt," Davis shared. "An incredible story, getting hurt, missing time, then coming back and leading the team."
Looking ahead, the Eagles turn their focus to Ball State, a team Creighton has beaten twice in a row. "They'll go to Muncie trying to win three straight over the Cardinals," Steiner said, noting that EMU's offensive line, ranked among the top 10 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, will face a major test. "Nathan Voorhis, one of the best in the country, has 11 sacks," he said.
Basketball also took center stage, with both programs in early-season action. "Tonight we'll feature EMU men's basketball taking on the ACC's Pitt Panthers," Steiner said. Davis highlighted freshman forward Mo Habhab's breakout performance. "He had 15 points and 16 rebounds," she said. "Coach Stan Heath told me after the game, 'I saw those 16 rebounds.' He's really shown up for us."
Davis emphasized that Heath's challenging schedule reflects his confidence in the roster. "He told us, 'I could have easily scheduled D2 or D3 teams, but I don't want my guys to do that. I want them to feel what the MAC level demands.'" The Eagles aim for their first 2-0 start since 2019-20.
The women's basketball team also earned attention after a strong defensive showing at Canisius. "They limited them to just two points in the first quarter," Davis said in disbelief. "I don't think I've ever seen that in my 22 years of living." The Eagles will visit St. Thomas next, seeking to avenge last year's home loss.
Volleyball wraps up its regular season with a two-match series at Miami, while swimming's Ali Kudo joined the show for an engaging segment about leadership and endurance. "She was a spark," Davis said. "As a senior captain, she talked about how she leads this team, what makes a good meet, and what swimming means to her. I told her, I don't think I could make it a mile, let alone the 14 they do weekly."
Segment 1 - Chris Creighton
Eastern Michigan head football coach Chris Creighton credited a renewed physical edge and improved fundamentals for the Eagles' 27-21 victory over Bowling Green, a win that came after a much-needed bye week and showcased a stronger, more balanced team on both sides of the ball.
"We talked about how our inefficient runs in the first nine games were largely physical issues, not mental or schematic," Creighton said on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE. "We did a deep dive during the bye week and really challenged the guys with the physical aspect of our run game. There was one drive in the fourth quarter where it just felt like we weren't going to be stopped. That was as good of a series as we've had."
The Eagles leaned heavily on running back Dontae McMillan, who powered through the Falcons' defense for more than 80 yards in the second half. Creighton said the extra rest seemed to spark McMillan's performance. "Dontae ran the ball with some explosive movements," he said. "Tavi ran well too, and obviously the offensive line had a lot to do with that."
Eastern's offense finished the day converting 8-of-17 on third downs, a key point Creighton had emphasized in the team's game plan. "One of our plans to win offensively was conversions on stop downs because [Bowling Green] was really good in those situations," he said. "Our guys did an awesome job."
Quarterback Noah Kimn connected with tight end Nick Devereaux on a critical completion during that decisive fourth-quarter drive, helping sustain momentum before McMillan's final touchdown push. "It was a huge third down," Creighton said. "You could feel the trust between those guys."
On defense, the Eagles held Bowling Green to just 259 total yards, their best effort of the season. Creighton attributed that improvement to a sharper tackling focus. "We found out that 68 percent of our missed tackles came from a lack of squeezing," he said. "We made that an emphasis, and this was our fewest missed tackles of the year."
Linebacker Barry Manning came up with a game-changing interception late in the first half, his first career pick. "It was a huge play," Creighton said. "The way he twisted his upper body to go back and catch that ball took the air out of [Bowling Green's] sails."
The defense sealed the win with a sack from defensive end Ron Harden on the final play of the game, a moment that carried extra meaning for the redshirt sophomore. "It was perfect," Creighton said. "He hadn't played on defense up to that point, but he stayed ready. The guys were celebrating him as much as they were celebrating the victory."
Looking ahead to this weekend's road trip to Ball State, Creighton expects a battle against a disciplined defense and mobile quarterback Kiael Kelly. "He's a really good player with his feet and arm," Creighton said. "They use a lot of designed quarterback runs that make it tough to defend."
The matchup will also pit EMU's top-10 national offensive line in fewest sacks allowed against Ball State defensive end Nathan Voorhees, who leads the nation with 11 sacks. "Our line is playing well," Creighton said. "It'll be a huge challenge, but I really like how it's coming together."
The Eagles travel to Muncie seeking their first road win since last season's opener. "They're 4-0 at home, and we let our guys know that," Creighton said. "We love challenges. When we challenge our team, they rise up and meet it head-on."
Segment 2 - Ali Kudo
For Eastern Michigan senior swimmer Ali Kudo, every race begins long before she dives into the pool.
"We normally arrive two hours early and start getting warmed up," Kudo said on The Eastern Insider Podcast. "I like to listen to music, get in the vibes of the day, just get hyped."
That pre-meet playlist sets the tone for a student-athlete balancing one of the most demanding majors on campus with the leadership role of team captain. A neuroscience major on the pre-med track, Kudo said she originally chose her field for one simple reason: "Honestly, I just picked it because it sounded cool." What started as curiosity quickly became passion.
"It's interdisciplinary, so I'm doing a lot of chemistry, bio, psych," she said. "I get a nice holistic view of the education system in general and get to tie things in from different disciplines."
That balance between focus and flexibility carries over to her athletic life. Kudo redshirted last season after an injury forced her to the sideline, giving her a new perspective on the sport she has known since childhood.
"I had to take a step back and look at swimming again," she said. "I found joy in just being at practice and being around the girls who are working so hard all the time. Even if I'm working hard in different ways sometimes, it's inspiring to be around them."
Swimming has been central to Kudo's life since her parents first enrolled her in lessons as a child in Canada. "They didn't want me to drown," she said, laughing. "Once I joined the competitive stream, it was all in for me. I've really never done any other sports."
That lifelong commitment fuels her resilience through injury and leadership challenges alike. As captain this season, Kudo said she's proud to help guide a team that has grown tighter and more communicative.
"One of our big goals was making sure we're communicating a lot," she said. "The coaches talk about how communication is key. Everyone's really well connected. We mesh really well, and I think we're all enjoying this."
Her leadership style, she explained, complements her co-captains' voices. "I do a lot of the logistics. I make announcements and handle planning. A lot of the other captains are more vocal, but that's what makes us a great team," she said.
Kudo keeps morale high in long training cycles by reading her teammates' moods. "If people don't seem like they're locked in, I take them aside and talk," she said. "Everyone has things going on. It's important they feel heard."
When asked whether swimming is more physical or mental, Kudo paused. "Definitely a combination," she said. "Distance is a lot of mental stuff, being able to push through insane distances. Sprint is fast-paced and really hard effort."
The psychology of racing remains one of her favorite parts of the sport. "In the middle of a race, I feel super high on adrenaline," she said. "My heart's beating fast, but I feel strong. I know all the training I've done is going into this race."
Originally from Ontario, Kudo's journey to Ypsilanti began with a recruiting call from head coach Derek Perkins during the pandemic. "It was over COVID, everyone was wearing masks," she said. "It was a weird vibe, but I loved it as soon as I came on campus. I knew I wanted to come here."
Kudo said she doesn't go home to Canada as often as she'd like, but Ypsilanti now feels like a second home. "The team is connected, and everyone supports each other," she said. "That's what makes this place special."
For Kudo, that sense of belonging, mixed with purpose and perseverance, defines her final season in green and white. "Swimming has revolved around my life for so long," she said. "It's something that brings me joy, and I'm not ready to step away from that."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
/ Swimming & Diving
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballEastern in 60 Seconds: Part 10 is here! ⚡️
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