Eastern Michigan fires Jeff Genyk as head coach

Friday vs Central Michigan will be Genyk's last game as coach said EMU athletic Director Dr. Derrick Gragg. According to the Detroit Free Press Gragg put out a press release saying:

"Earlier this morning, after consulting President Susan Martin, I informed coach Jeff Genyk of my decision to move our football program in another direction, at the conclusion of the season"

YCD can't say as we're surprised, this year was supposed to be different, a much better team was expected. The EMU football program never really progressed under Genyk, it kinda stayed mired in that same crappy place it was in when he got here. One thing we WILL say in Mr. Genyk's favor, he cleaned out the nere-do-wells from the EMU football program. Football players at EMU now attend classes and aren't the drunken brawlers of yore. For that he deserves credit, making citizenship while at EMU important.

The Free Press also reports former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will advise EMU in their search for a new head football coach. This should be OK as long as Eastern never schedules Ohio State.

Genyk had a 15-42 record at Eastern in five years with the Central tilt yet to come....

Abysmal

We never try to get too down on college athletes. Without sounding condescending, we realize that 99 out of 100 EMU football players aren't going pro and are giving their all at the highest level they'll play at. We'd actually hold someone like Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern's outstanding linebacker to a higher standard, we're using him as an example, this is NOT His fault, we're not making THAT point.

We also told you we'd always tell the truth and the fact is, this is not a program on the rise, it's not growing even in small increments. It's stuck back near the bottom of the heap. Northern Illinois is an OK team but no great shakes. They shouldn't be 37-0 better than Eastern at Eastern on Eastern's Homecoming. Toledo shouldn't have been 41-17 better. Eastern Michigan is simply not competing at the same level as mediocre (and no insult intended to Toledo or NIU fans, you kicked the crap out of Eastern) MAC teams. Head Coach Jeff Genyk has had time, Eastern's Athletic Department has been patient with him, even sticking by him after a 1-11 season in 2006. They're simply not on the same level as these other teams. Throw out the stats, toss out the turnovers, that's not the story, that's burying the lead. The Buffalo Bulls were as bad as EMU when they came into the MAC, and they are now the top dog in the MAC Eastern Conference (they lead CMU right now in the third quarter but by barely). Ball State was in the same boat as Eastern a couple three years ago as well. Now they compete for the conference crown. It obviously can be done.

If simply being able to have success against Central and Western Michigan is the goal, program fulfilled. If it's been almost 20 years since your last conference title and that drought shows no end in sight, it's time for the good Doctors, EMU President Dr. Susan Martin and Athletic Director Dr. Derrick Gragg to either offer an extension to Genyk to show support and show players yes he IS the man here or prepare to get a search team together NOW, on the QT. Martin and Gragg are both impressive people, that being said, they have a decision to make.

EMU hires new top man for baseball

Eastern Michigan has hired Jay Alexander to run the resurgent EMU men's baseball program as former head man Jake Boss left for Michigan State after only a year. Mr. Alexander comes to Ypsilanti from Wayne State where he compiled a 161-148 record. He also took Wayne State to the NCAA Division II regional championship game, and a 34-19 record overall this past year.

Alexander was a standout player for Wayne State in the mid-90's. We wish him nothing but the best. EMU as you'll recall are riding a two year consecutive MAC tournament and MAC West regular season title win streak.

EMU Head baseball coach Jake Boss is now the former EMU baseball coach

Jake is off to bigger (not better) things as he has been named top man at Michigan State. This is not surprising, Jake Boss is one helluva good baseball coach. It should validate his hiring by EMU Athletic Director Dr. Derrick Gragg. He was indeed the right man to take over for the disgraced Roger Coryell.

Boss ended his single season at Eastern Michigan with an overall record of 25-34, 15-8 in the MAC West. Boss led EMU to both the regular season and tournament titles.

We wish him well and it's too bad his stay in Ypsilanti couldn't have been longer. Boss will be announced at MSU head man in a presser this morning in East Lansing.

Chris Hoiles, you're up.....

Eastern Michigan men's athletics wins coveted Reese Trophy

Not to be confused with say the Reese Witherspoon Trophy Wife Award, this was awarded to EMU men's athletics by the Mid American Conference for having the TOP MENS ATHLETIC PROGRAM in the MAC. Athletic Director Dr. Derrick Gragg had this to say about the award:

"Eastern Michigan University has one of the most comprehensive athletic programs in the Mid-American Conference, therefore, it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and hard work to accomplish such a feat as winning the Reese Trophy. I commend our coaches and student-athletes for this outstanding achievement."

The win is the fourth for Eastern Michigan. They also won last year.

"Green and white is the new pink"

Is a storm swirling around EMU's head baseball coach Roger Coryell?

According to reports, Eastern Michigan University head baseball coach Roger Coryell, has violated his contract by using his university computer to send "a series of inappropriate messages" to a players mother.

Yikes, this does not end well at all YCD thinks.

EMU Athletic Director Derrick Gragg sent Coryell a disciplinary letter which outlined the transgressions and was obtained by the Ann Arbor News via a Freedom of Information Act request.

In Gragg's letter, he claims Coryell violated his contract by "violating the rights of a student-athlete" while also engaging in an act of misconduct". Both are fireable offenses. Coryell remains on unpaid leave from the University.

YCD, and big supporter of EMU baseball, will keep you updated.