http://old.easternecho.com Columnist Ryan Remstad says it’d be nice to see more fans at Eastern Michigan games. en-us Gryphon 2.2.1-dsw (woodward)/Foundry5 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:28:26 -0500 webmaster@easternecho.com http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/267 In the early 80’s EMU football faced a similar challenges of low attendance, a new coach and losses. Back then there was also talk about getting rid of the football program. They kept the program and success followed. With support from the University, student organizations, Greek fraternities and sororities attendance went up. Attendance went from an average of only 8,361 in 1983 to an average of 18,924 in 1984. Then in 1987 EMU won the MAC title and went on to win at the California Bowl. EMU has a rich football history going back to 1891. The program has also produced numerous All-Americans and pro players most recently Jason Jones and TJ Lang. With time I am sure that Coach English will have the same success. As a former EMU football player I know these guys deserve our support. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:11:50 -0500 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/267 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/269 I am an Alumni and EMU season ticket holder but live in San Diego CA. I donate my tickets to youth organizations in hopes the kids have an opportunity to see a major college football game. When I attended EMU, I went to almost all the games. Now I have to rely on games being televised by ESPN and look forward to watching EMU Football. I make special trips back to MI every couple of years to see a live game and enjoy it whether we win or lose. I believe Ron E and his coaches will put EMU on the map very soon. I can see it in his face on TV he is determined to make EMU Football a top 25 team. Go Eagles! Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:42:00 -0500 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/269 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/270 It is called winning. As an alum of Eastern, I was a season ticket holder from 1968 to 1998. In that time span Eastern maybe had a dozen winning seasons and one MAC championship. In that time period I only missed a handful of games, and felt as an alum I should be there to support my team. However, the mostly losing season after season wore me out. I would look around me and see the few scattered fans and think, why am I here? Most of my friends would go to the U -M games because they usually won their games. I just wish Eastern would be competitive. By that, I mean be in the ball game score wise. It isn’t fun, and it is not competitive when you get blown-out by 50 -0 kind of scores. If we lose 24 -17 and played tough, then that is competitive. In fairness to the players, Eastern has had some terrible coaches and they added to the mix of losing all the time. As for me, when Eastern has a winning season I shall return to Rynearson. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:58:35 -0500 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/270 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/274 I agree with both Mr. Barna and Kent. As another long distance alumni (Washington state), I’d like to see a competetive program, but I realise that Ron English is a first year coach and it takes anywhere from 3 to 5 years for a new coach to create a winning program (for further amplification, look at the problems Paul Wulff is haveing at Washington State). Aside from the almuni newsletters, my primary connection with The Hurons…..oops…The Eagles is via ESPN, and a winning athletic department would bring TV time, which would in turn bring pride to the alumni base. To misquote Michigan State University president John Hannah before he hired “Biggie” Munn, “If it takes a winning football program for us to becaume a well respected university, by God, we’re going to have a winning football program.” I hope that attitude is present in the EMU athletic department. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:28:26 -0500 http://old.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/274