Ron English : All posts

Eastern Michigan football hopes to duplicate last week's offensive output against Army

Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill breaks through the Toledo line during the Eagles' 52-47 loss last week.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

That’s not the case for the Eastern Michigan football team which lost in a shootout to the Toledo Rockets last week 52-47, and fell to 0-6 (0-3 Mid-American Conference) on the season.

Eastern Michigan, still searching for first win, hosts Toledo on Saturday

Eastern Michigan's Bronson Hill runs the ball for a touchdown against Kent State last Saturday afternoon. Hill and the Eagles will host Toledo Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.

Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com

After last week’s 41-14 loss to Kent State, EMU head coach Ron English admitted he was perplexed by the inability to move the football as they gained a mere 200 yards of offense.

with video: Kent State's Dri Archer, nation's all-purpose yardage leader, to face EMU on Saturday

Kent State's Dri Archer (1) scores a touchdown against Buffalo's Jake Stockman during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Amherst, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.

Bill Wippert | Associated Press

English only hopes his team will minimize Archer’s effectiveness.

Good Luck.

Eastern Michigan looking for first win in homecoming date with Kent State as MAC play resumes

After starting the season 0-4, last week’s bye could not have come at a better time for coach Ron English and the Eastern Michigan University football team. But the bye week didn't mean much time off as English and the team spent plenty of time trying to right the ship

The Eagles are hoping the time off will help lead them to their first victory of the season as they host the Mid-American Conference rival Kent State Golden Flashes Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium. The game is also EMU’s homecoming game.

Sports Illustrated: Eastern Michigan football at forefront of concussion prevention through neck strengthening

The Eastern Michigan football program is at the forefront of a new effort to decrease concussions by strengthening players’ necks.

Facing No. 21 Michigan State will test already struggling Eastern Michigan football team

Darius Scott and the Eastern Michigan University Eagles soar into East Lansing Saturday for a matchup against Michigan State University.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

But English said he saw some of the improvement he has been looking for since the start of the season in the lopsided loss.

EMU drops to 0-3 after disastrous second quarter against Purdue

Purdue running back Akeem Hunt picks up 42 yards after getting past Eastern Michigan defensive back Darius Scott (1) and defensive lineman Matt Price during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. Purdue defeated Eastern Michigan 54-16

Photo courtesy of AP | Michael Conroy

By halftime, the Eagles trailed 33-9 and were well on their way to their third consecutive loss to open the season, falling 54-16 to Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

"They have a group of extremely talented guys," Eastern Michigan coach Ron English said. "I have coached against them before, and that is the most talented Purdue team I have coached against."

Boxscore

EMU looks to get back to the basics in matchup against Purdue

Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English says the Eagles must work on the little things when they travel to Purdue on Saturday.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

As if a road trip to West Lafayette, Ind. for a road game against Purdue this Saturday wasn’t a big enough challenge, English must also find a way to get his team back on the same page.

Eastern Michigan falls to FCS (formerly Division I-AA) opponent Illinois State 31-14 in home opener

Eastern Michigan's Bronson Hill bobbles the ball before catching it during a football game at Eastern Michigan University on Saturday afternoon. Illinois State defeated Eastern Michigan 31-14.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

“What we have right now is a team that I think thought they were better than they were. We played two really good football teams,” said head coach Ron English. “This team reminds me of the ’07 Michigan team. We’re fighting each other and fighting the coaches. Right now we’re not a good football team.”

EMU looking for first win of the season in home opener against Illinois State

EMU senior quarterback Alex Gillett will lead the Eagles into their home opener against Illinois State on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

After a disappointing loss to Ball State last Thursday to open the season, the Eagles are preparing for their home opener Saturday when they host the Illinois State at Rynearson Stadium (1 p.m., Radio: FM 89.1 WEMU)

Veteran Eastern Michigan football team opens season Thursday at Ball State

Quarterback Alex Gillett will be one of 14 seniors in the starting lineup for the Eastern Michigan football team when it plays at Ball State on Thursday night.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Almost everything about the Eastern Michigan football team’s season opener is atypical: A night game. On a Thursday. Against a Mid-American Conference rival.

Of all the things EMU coach Ron English spends his time worrying about at the start of his fourth season, putting his veteran squad in unusual situations is low on the list.

According to the depth chart released by the school earlier this week, the Eagles will start 14 seniors when they travel to Ball State for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday.

'Eastern Michigan All-Access' to debut on Fox Sports Detroit Monday night

Fox Sports Detroit will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the Eastern Michigan football program on its new show, "Eastern Michigan All-Access."

Dan Brenner | AnnArbor.com

That's just not how the Michigan football program operates.

Down the road at Eastern Michigan University, however, fans will be given a behind-the-scenes look at how Ron English's football and Rob Murphy's basketball programs operate on a new Fox Sports Detroit television program, "Eastern Michigan All-Access" which debuts Monday night at 7 p.m. (Comcast, channel 32)

Quarterback Alex Gillett shines at Eastern Michigan spring game

Quarterback Alex Gillett, right, is pursued by defensive lineman Andy Mulumba on his way to a rushing touchdown in the Eastern Michigan spring game. Gillett also completed 13 of 16 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

When spring practice opened up for the Eastern Michigan football team last month, head coach Ron English made a point to open up the competition for the starting quarterback job.

Questions arose about whether three-year starter Alex Gillett would be unseated by Tyler Benz. With his performance in Sunday’s spring game, Gillett answered his doubters.

Gillett was 13-of-16 for 207 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while adding a rushing touchdown in the scrimmage held at Rynearson Stadium.

“You need to stay motivated, it’s a competition every year, but it definitely lights a fire under you," Gillett said. "You never want to give up your job obviously. It was a good competition and we’ll see what happens.

“It was a practice, but it was a game for us. So if I only throw three incompletions now, hopefully I only throw three in a game.”

Top 10 Eastern Michigan University officials collect combined $2.4 million in 2011

Three coaches, six administrators and one administrator-turned-professor — that's the composition of the top-10 earners at Eastern Michigan University in 2011.

Together they made nearly $2.39 million, up slightly from $2.37 million in 2010.

Eastern Michigan football coach Ron English named MAC Coach of the Year

Eastern Michigan football coach Ron English.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Eastern went 2-22 in English's first two seasons as he revamped the team. Eastern went 4-4 in the MAC and finished with the No. 3 defense in the league and the No. 4 rushing offense.

The award was voted on by the MAC News Media Association.

Other Eastern players who earned honors:

• Second Team Defense: Brad Ohrman, senior lineman
• Third Team Offense: Garrett Hoskins, junior tight end
• Third Team Defense: Justin Cudworth, junior linebacker
• Third Team Defense: Latarrius Thomas, senior defensive back
• Third Team Defense: Marlon Pollard, sophomore defensive back

Eastern Michigan coach Ron English has history of slowing down Penn State's offense

Did Ron English call Penn State unimaginative? Predictable? Boring?

That would certainly make for some provocative bulletin board material when the Eastern Michigan football team travels to Happy Valley on Saturday (noon, ESPN2).

The quick answer is: No, he didn’t. But that didn’t stop a reporter from trying to get Joe Paterno’s reaction to such a statement. JoePa didn’t bite.

Here’s the background:

Ron English sees value in his Eastern Michigan football team playing at Michigan, Penn State

It wasn’t long ago that Eastern Michigan football coach Ron English wondered how his team benefitted from being overmatched at a massive Big Ten stadium.

Other than taking home a fat paycheck, of course.

On Monday, English said he sees the benefit for this year’s Eagles team. Trips to Michigan Stadium last week and Penn State’s Beaver Stadium on Saturday (noon, ESPN2) now enhance the foundation he’s building in Ypsilanti.

Add Eastern Michigan coach Ron English to the growing Denard Robinson fan group

Eastern Michigan coach Ron English on Denard Robinson, above: "I think he's in the class of the great players that have played college football and I don't think you're going to stop Denard Robinson over the course of an entire game."

File photo

Eastern Michigan football coach Ron English isn't one of those followers -- yet -- but that doesn't mean he's excluded from the ever-growing group of people that appreciate and admire Robinson's unique talents on the football field.

"I've always been a fan, from the first time I saw him," English said earlier this week. "I think he's in the class of the great players that have played college football and I don't think you're going to stop Denard Robinson over the course of an entire game."

Ron English says 2-0 Eastern Michigan is learning how to win, remains on the right track

Ron English isn’t sure how confident his football team is just yet.

What he does know, though, is that Eastern Michigan is 2-0 for the first time since 1989. And that, by itself, is two large steps in the right direction.

“I’ve had good friends of mine that have taken over programs like this and a part of it is getting kids accustomed to winning,” English said Monday. “You can talk about winning all you want, but they have to go out and do it.”

Latarrius Thomas back for 6th season and more notes from the Eastern Michigan football team's media day

Latarrius Thomas is grateful for the opportunity, but life would have been much simpler if it wasn’t necessary.

The 23-year-old Eastern Michigan defensive back is entering his sixth season of college football and hoping to avoid the third season-ending injury of his career.

“I never thought I’d be here, but I’m here. So I’m going to make the best of it,” Thomas said Saturday at the Eagles’ media day. “It’s another chance. Another chance to play this game. I’m going to take it for what it’s worth and play until I can’t play anymore.”