2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team
Introduction The '''2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team''' represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division and played their home games in Rynearson Stadium.Following the firing of Jeff Genyk during the 2008 season, Eastern Michigan hired Ron English, who had formerly been the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan and the University of Louisville, as the team's head coach. The coaching change initially brought excitement to the program, as English hired a new staff, including former University of Michigan, New York Giants, and Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley, and replaced Genyk's spread offense with a pro-style offense.However, the change in offense proved difficult for senior quarterback Andy Schmitt, and he was largely ineffective in the first several games of the season. In the second game of the year, the Eagles traveled to Northwestern, and after trailing 21–0 in the second quarter, they tied the game at 24 with 2 minutes left, before Northwestern kicked a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. The following week, they had another trip just across the county to play Michigan. Similar to their 2006 game at Michigan State, they played a very competitive first half, only trailing by one score. But like many times before, they couldn't put two good halves together. In the second half, the Eagles were outscored 21–0 and Andy Schmitt suffered a season-ending knee injury.The rest of the season they used former starting quarterback Kyle McMahon, and freshman Alex Gillet. Eastern scored no more than 12 points in any of the next three games, including a 56–8 loss at Central Michigan. The week after that, they nearly beat Ball State who was also winless at the time. The difference was a safety in the fourth quarter. Next, they had one more non-conference game as they traveled to Arkansas. This game was the opposite of the Michigan game — bad first half, good second half. They were down 42–0 before eventually losing 63–27.For the rest of the year, they were only close in the finale at Akron, losing by 7.In previous years, Eastern was able to get at least a few wins because of a high scoring offense. Schmitt's injury ended that, and their defense was among the worst in the nation. Eastern gave up 3,321 rushing yards (276.8 per game), more than any other team in the nation, which was their downfall. They statistically appeared to have one of the best passing defenses, allowing 150.5 passing yards per game, second only to Air Force, but this was mostly an illusion. Everyone knew they couldn't stop the run, so opponents just didn't call many pass plays.Eastern finished the season without a win, their first winless season since 1981.The Eagles were one of two winless FBS teams (Western Kentucky was the other).
Recruiting
Schedule
Roster As of 2009-07-15 '''Wide receivers'''*1 Kinsman Thomas – ''freshman''*2 Dontayo Gage – ''senior''*9 Tyrone Burke – ''junior''*15 Jacory Stone – ''senior''*18 DeAnthony White – ''senior''*24 Corey Manns – ''Redshirt freshman''*27 Marvon Sanders – ''sophomore''*28 Brandon Boyle – ''freshman''*80 Nick Olds – ''freshman''*82 Terrance Gourdine – ''freshman''*84 Trey Hunter – ''sophomore''*86 L’Shane Bynum – ''Redshirt freshman'''''Offensive line'''*55 Stephen Johnson – ''senior''*60 Andy Fretz – ''senior''*61 Derek Gotham – ''sophomore''*63 Mark VanDenburgh – ''Redshirt freshman''*65 Dan DeMaster – ''junior''*68 Korey Neal – ''Redshirt freshman''*70 Cory Watman – ''Redshirt freshman''*71 Brian Moore – ''junior''*72 Andrew Sorgatz – ''freshman''*75 Scott MacLeod – ''freshman''*76 Bridger Buche – ''junior''*78 Eric Davis – ''junior'''''Tight ends'''*81 Ben Thayer – ''junior''*83 John Bonner – ''senior''*85 Garrett Hoskins – ''freshman''*86 Artie Tanguma – ''freshman''*87 Drew Serruto – ''sophomore''*88 Sonny Paluch – ''junior''*89 Josh LeDuc – ''junior'' '''Quarterbacks'''*7 Andy Schmitt – ''senior''*11 Kyle McMahon – ''junior''*12 Jason Williams – ''sophomore''*13 Alex Gillett – ''freshman''*14 Devontae Payne – ''freshman'''''Running backs'''*3 Terrence Blevins – ''senior''*22 Dwayne Priest – ''junior''*26 Corey Welch – ''sophomore''*32 Dominique Sherrer – ''sophomore''*35 Joe Fleming – ''freshman'''''Defensive line'''*17 Brandon Downs – ''senior''*56 Ryan Leonard – ''junior''*59 Matt Price – ''freshman''*64 Khaled Mheisen – ''freshman''*69 Shawn Sinawe – ''freshman''*90 Javon Reese – ''sophomore''*91 Dan Cordick – ''junior''*92 Ryan Kuhlman – ''sophomore''*93 Brad Ohrman – ''sophomore''*94 Devon Davis – ''freshman''*95 Orlando McCord – ''freshman''*96 Brandon Slater – ''sophomore''*97 Kalven Seilis – ''Redshirt freshman''*98 Bronly Kashama – ''freshman''*99 Tyler Palsrok – ''junior'' '''Linebackers'''*11 Nate Paopao – ''junior''*20 Andre’ Hatchett – ''senior''*25 Jermaine Jenkins – ''senior''*29 Lorenzo Seaberry – ''senior''*40 Neal Howey – ''junior''*42 Marcus English – ''sophomore''*44 Kyle DeMaster – ''freshman''*45 Matt Boyd – ''freshman''*47 Chris Bittner – ''sophomore''*48 James Ervin – ''Redshirt freshman''*49 Andy Mulumba – ''freshman''*50 Blake Browe – ''freshman''*51 Herb Waits – ''sophomore''*52 Steve Brown – ''sophomore''*57 Tim Fort – ''junior''*67 Marty Newman – ''Redshirt freshman'''''Defensive backs'''*4 Kevin Long – ''junior''*5 Willie Hickman – ''freshman''*6 Marty Cardwell – ''sophomore''*8 Johnny Sears – ''senior''*10 Ryan Downard – ''junior''*14 Brandon Pratt – ''junior''*16 Jonte Lewis – ''junior''*19 Arrington Hicks – ''junior''*21 Garrett Gronowski – ''freshman''*23 Chris May – ''senior''*24 Kelip Goodwin – ''freshman''*24 Tyler Thomas – ''Redshirt freshman''*28 Nate Wilson – ''sophomore''*31 Marcell Rose – ''sophomore''*34 Jaron Gillespie – ''freshman''*36 Jon Pryor – ''Redshirt freshman''*37 Mark Mitchell – ''junior''*41 Latarrius Thomas – ''junior''*43 Alex Bellfy – ''Redshirt freshman''*46 Sterling Vaughn – ''freshman'''''Punters'''*39 Patrick Treppa – ''junior'''''Kickers'''*33 Zach Johnson – ''senior''*38 Joe Carithers – ''junior'''''Long snapper'''*46 Alexander Gudejko – ''sophomore''*53 Mike Zupancic – ''Redshirt freshman''*58 Matt Bowman – ''Redshirt freshman''*59 Tyler Cochran – ''sophomore'' † Starter at position     * Injured; will not play in 2009.
Coaching staff  Name Position Year at school Ron English Head coach 1st Ken Karcher Offensive coordinatorQuarterbacks coach 1st Eric Lewis Defensive coordinatorDefensive backs coach 1st Kurt Anderson Offensive line coach 2nd Tom Burpee Tight ends coachSpecial teams coach 1st Antonio Carter Wide receivers coach 1st Tim Carter Defensive backs coachRecruiting coordinator 1st Casey Creehan Defensive line coach 1st Steve Szabo Associate head coachLinebackers coach 1st Tyrone Wheatley Running backs coach 1st
Game summaries ===Army==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 06:12 ARMY – Mealy 6-yard run (Campbell kick failed) 6–0 ARMY''2nd Quarter''* 05:56 ARMY – Carter 12-yard run (Campbell kick) 13–0 ARMY''3rd Quarter''''4th Quarter''* 13:58 EMU – Hunter 20-yard pass from Schmitt (Carithers kick) 13–7 ARMY* 10:22 ARMY – Ehie 10-yard run (Smith rush) 21–7 ARMY* 06:53 ARMY – Ehie 5-yard run (Campbell kick failed) 27–7 ARMY* 03:31 EMU – Priest 1-yard run (Carithers kick) 27–14 ARMY===Northwestern==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 06:38 NU Simmons 1-yard run (Demos kick) 0–7 NU''2nd Quarter''* 12:33 NU Simmons 14-yard run (Demos kick) 0–14 NU* 09:08 NU Johnson 70-yard interception return (Demos kick) 0–21 NU* 03:32 EMU Carithers 33-yard field goal 3–21 NU''3rd Quarter''* 04:33 EMU Priest 1-yard run (Carithers kick) 10–21 NU''4th Quarter''* 12:57 NU Demos 20-yard field goal 10–24 NU* 09:55 EMU Stone 25-yard pass from Schmitt (Carithers kick) 17–24 NU* 02:40 EMU Blevins 3-yard run (Carithers kick) 24–24* 00:06 NU Demos 49-yard field goal 24–27 NU===Michigan==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 10:46 MICH Olesnavage 37-yard field goal 0–3 MICH* 05:32 EMU Carithers 43-yard field goal 3–3* 02:30 MICH Brown 9-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 3–10 MICH''2nd Quarter''* 11:16 EMU Schmitt 11-yard run (Carithers kick) 10–10* 09:20 MICH Shaw 5-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 10–17 MICH* 07:15 MICH Brown 90-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 10–24 MICH* 02:05 EMU Priest 5-yard run (Carithers kick) 17–24 MICH''3rd Quarter''* 04:47 MICH Odoms 13-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–31 MICH* 03:06 MICH Robinson 13-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–38 MICH''4th Quarter''* 07:14 MICH Robinson 36-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–45 MICH===Temple======Central Michigan==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 08:51 CMU Brown 70-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–7 CMU* 03:58 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–14 CMU''2nd Quarter''* 12:33 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–21 CMU* 02:51 CMU Brown 75-yard punt return (Aguila kick) 0–28 CMU* 00:18 CMU Schroeder 11-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–35 CMU''3rd Quarter''* 12:50 CMU Poblah 25-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–42 CMU* 01:57 CMU LeFevour 5-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–49 CMU''4th Quarter''* 11:25 EMU Welch 1-yard run (Gillett rush) 8–49 CMU* 07:36 CMU Volny 3-yard run (Aguila kick) 8–56 CMU===Kent State======Ball State==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 9:08 EMU Thayer 3-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 0–7 EMU* 4:52 BSU Sykes 51-yard run (Schott kick blocked) 6–7 EMU''2nd Quarter''* 10:59 EMU Carithers 20-yard field goal 6–10 EMU* 9:23 EMU Welch 12-yard run (Carithers kick) 6–17 EMU* 6:37 EMU Carithers 26-yard field goal 6–20 EMU* 4:06 BSU Lewis 48-yard run (Schott kick) 13–20 EMU''3rd Quarter''* 10:44 EMU White 10-yard run (Carithers kick) 13–27 EMU* 6:37 BSU Sykes 6-yard run (Schott kick) 20–27 EMU* 5:33 BSU Team Safety 22–27 EMU* 1:47 BSU Sykes 37-yard run (Schott kick) 29–27 BSU===Arkansas==='''Scoring Summary'''''1st Quarter''* 10:42 AR Davis 36-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–7 AR* 6:42 AR Green 3-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–14 AR* 4:02 AR Burton 50-yard interception return (Tejada kick) 0–21 AR''2nd Quarter''* 12:21 AR Adams 10-yard pass from Mallett (Tejada kick) 0–28 AR* 4:10 AR Green 99-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–35 AR* 1:38 AR Adams 78-yard pass from Mallet (Tejada kick) 0–42 AR''3rd Quarter''* 12:38 AR Armbrust 1-yard blocked punt return (Tejada kick) 0–49 AR* 9:30 EMU Thayer 8-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick failed) 6–49 AR* 5:58 EMU Thomas 77-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 13–49 AR* 4:30 AR Davis 4-yard run (Tejada kick) 13–56 AR* 2:50 EMU Bonner 32-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 20–56 AR* 0:18 AR Miller 16-yard pass from Mallet (Tejada kick) 20–63 AR''4th Quarter''* 2:14 EMU Priest 10-yard run (Carithers kick) 27–63 AR===Northern Illinois======Western Michigan======Toledo======Akron===
Awards/MAC Leaders Team Statistics* 150.5 ypg Pass Defense (1st)* 33.7 Net yards per punt (1st)Zach Johnson* All-MAC Second Team Defense* 40.4 Punting Yards Per Punt (2nd)Andre Hatchett* All-MAC Third Team Defense* 113 Total Tackles (5th)Johnny Sears* 33 Kickoff Returns (5th)* 7 Passes Defended (Tied 3rd)Martavius Cardwell* 60 Solo Tackles (5th)Brandon Downs* 7.5 Sacks (4th)Chris May* 6 Interceptions (Tied 2nd)* 126 Interception Return Yards (1st)
References