Eastern Michigan Athletics
Podcasts
Season 7 - Episode 26: April Fools, Transfer Portal Chaos, and Defense on the Girdiron
Published on 3/31/2025
Published on 3/31/2025
This episode of Eastern Insider puts a spotlight on Eastern Michigan Women's Basketball and the challenges of the ever-changing transfer portal, as head coach Sahar Nusseibeh shares her approach to rebuilding a roster with just three returning players. She details the importance of recruiting the right character, not just talent, while navigating a system that's been dubbed the "Wild West." On the football side, defensive coordinator Ben Needham provides a spring ball update, emphasizing player development, competition, and a focus on increasing takeaways. With new faces stepping into key roles, the Eagles are laying the foundation for a strong 2025 season.
Listen Now
View All Podcasts
Eastern Michigan heads to Wisconsin looking to build on a hard-fought game at Michigan State. After a mistake-filled first quarter, the Eagles settled in, ran the football well, protected Noah Kim better, and played strong defense before halftime. MSU's second-half rushing attack limited EMU's opportunities, but Coach Chris Creighton sees progress. Kim's touchdown in his return to MSU added an emotional moment, and now the Eagles face another challenge at Camp Randall against a Wisconsin team led by a powerful running game and dual-threat quarterback.
Published on 9/17/2026
Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton reflected on the Eagles' physical loss to San Jose State, pointing to offensive inconsistency, missed opportunities and penalties as key factors in the defeat. Despite strong defensive stretches and improvement on special teams, Eastern Michigan struggled to sustain drives and convert third downs, while San Jose State capitalized on mistakes late in the game. Creighton praised running back Amareon Blue for his vision, explosiveness and 50-yard touchdown run, and said the Eagles feel well prepared after playing two games before most teams opened their seasons. Eastern Michigan now turns its attention to Michigan State in East Lansing, with Creighton emphasizing confidence, composure and the team's competitive identity as the Eagles prepare for another major test.
Published on 9/10/2026
The 'Friday Night Lights' will shine bright over 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium this week as the Eastern Michigan University football team will play host to the Spartans of San Jose State University Friday, Sept. 4, in Ypsilanti. The Eagles (1-0, 1-0 MAC) and Spartans (0-1) are set to meet in the regular season for the first time in the series after Eastern won the previous two meetings with both coming in bowl games (1987 California and 2022 Potato).
Published on 9/3/2026
Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton told Greg Steiner his team enters Saturday's 2026 season opener in a strong position after 21 preseason practices, with the Eagles benefiting from a full week to focus on Sacramento State before classes begin. Creighton said opening the season at home with a MAC game, along with welcoming more than 1,600 freshmen, makes Saturday a special opportunity at the Factory. He also reflected on former Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak, a mentor during Eastern Michigan's rebuilding process, as the Eagles prepare for a season defined by toughness, togetherness and determination.
Published on 8/27/2026