EMU football has big names, but needs big wins

Eastern Michigan has two of the best names in the Mid-American Conference: Great Ibe, a senior linebacker from Philadelphia, and Lion King, a redshirt freshman from Southfield High School.

What they need is some victories to go along with the gray turf the administration has put in Rynearson Stadium.

Under second year coach Chris Creighton, the Eagles were picked to finish last in the MAC West after going 2-10 last season.

In a heartfelt message to the mothers of potential recruits, Creighton expressed the joy and unity that comes with playing football, but the bottom line is that the fun comes with winning.

There was the 37-27 loss to Buffalo where the Eagles thought they had a chance, and the 28-17 loss to Northern Illinois. But along with those came the 65-0 loss at Florida and the 51-7 setback at Western Michigan.

"There were a few games that left a bitter taste in our mouths," Creighton said. "I think the one that we talk about, just because Northern Illinois has won the league so many times recently and what not, I doubt that they came out of that game saying we played our best football. But for us, going into the fourth quarter, we're leading in that game. I think we showed a glimpse of what we're capable of.

"That's a game I think we would've liked to have finished better."

MAC media poll results

Eastern returns five starters on offense and six on defense.

Redshirt sophomore Reginald Bell won the starting quarterback job and was one of seven QBs nationally to lead his team in both rushing and passing. The dual-threat quarterback from Dorsey High School in Los Angeles passed for 1,297 yards and ran for another 562, including 202 yards on the ground against Buffalo.

"Playing quarterback in college, there's so much more than doing it in high school," said Bell. "If we're going to be successful this year we have to cut down our turnover margin. We've got to eliminate the mistakes."

Since Bell's the quarterback, that all starts with him.

"I thought we did a better job in spring practice of cutting down our mistakes," said Bell. "It's a process."

Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.