Eastern Michigan

Ron English has faith at Eastern

David Goricki / The Detroit News

Ypsilanti --Ron English's first year as head coach at Eastern Michigan hasn't gone as planned.

Brought in to revitalize Eastern's program, English's team is 0-9 heading into Saturday's home finale against Western Michigan, in danger of its first winless season in 28 years. It has allowed an average of 38.8 points per game, and a nation-worst 292.8 yards rushing per game. But each setback has increased the resolve of English, a former defensive coordinator at Michigan, to make Eastern a winner.

"I will not fail!" English said emphatically earlier this week.

English has lived through the rebuilding process as a player at California and an assistant coach at Arizona State. He believes the new $3.9 million indoor facility, set to be completed in March, will be a tool to greatly enhance his program's recruiting.

"I've never been 0-9 at any level," English said. "I'm not accustomed to losing. We're giving up way too many big plays.

"But, this is not the worst program in the country. We're not in disarray. We have a system in place. We have a program. I took this job because I knew I had the support of the administration. They want to win here. They have increased the program's budget. We are building an indoor facility that will be completed March 1 and that will be a big advantage for recruiting. The players have a true Players Meeting room where they have chairs, desks and an overhead projector and that had never happened before.

"I mean, we've just gotten here. If at the end of Year No. 3 there are not noticeable changes, then there are problems."

English inherited a program that had endured years of losing. He just wants the Eagles to be competitive the final three games, something they haven't been lately.

Eastern trailed Arkansas, 42-0, at halftime in a 63-27 loss Oct. 31 and fell to Northern Illinois, 50-6, on Nov. 5.

"There are a lot of factors to why we're where we're at," English said. "Look and see who is playing and not playing. We've had a lot of injuries. We've lost double digit starters (including senior quarterback Andy Schmitt), a reason we have nine true freshmen playing regularly.

"People who know football know what's going on. It's taken years for the program to get to where it's at (now 14 straight losing seasons). I knew it wasn't going to turn around overnight. We're building a foundation. I'm a patient man. You have to continue to persevere and get through the tough times.

"It all starts with recruiting and the first step of recruiting is evaluation. Let's face it, we have to get bigger and stronger at every position. We're going to recruit the state hard, but we're not going to just settle. If we're not getting the top kids from the state championship caliber players, we'll get them from other places. I know one or two players, guys like No. 27 (Antonio Brown) of Central Michigan, make the difference in this league."

Schmitt was one of those difference makers. He set a pair of national records last season in former head coach Jeff Genyk's spread offense. The Eagles had nine starters back on offense from the 3-9 team.

Despite the on-field struggles, English has the full support of Eastern athletic director Derrick Gragg, the man who hired him.

"I have never wavered in my support of Ron English," Gragg said. "He's as enthusiastic and intense now as the day he stepped on campus. We've changed the offensive and defensive schemes this year and it's been a steep learning curve for the players. You have to give the coaches time to bring in their style of student-athlete into the program.

"I feel for the first time the university as a whole has made a commitment to football. I have to credit the president (Susan Martin) and the board for supporting the vision we've had for it. The $3.9 million indoor facility should be up by early March. We have improved the operation budget for coaches' salaries and recruiting. The Team Meeting room now rivals any in the MAC. The lifeblood of any program is recruiting and we've given him the resources he needs."

david.goricki@detnews.com

The losses

Sept. 5: Army, 27-14

Sept. 12: at Northwestern, 27-24

Sept. 19: at Michigan, 45-17

Oct. 3: Temple, 24-12

Oct. 10: at Central Michigan, 56-8

Oct. 17: Kent State, 28-6

Oct. 24: Ball State, 29-27

Oct. 31: at Arkansas, 63-27

Nov. 5: at Northern Illinois, 50-6

Games left

Saturday: Western Michigan, at Ypsilanti, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20: at Toledo, 7

Nov. 27: at Akron, 2

EMU's worst seasons

1960: 0-8-1

1961: 0-8-1

1980: 1-9

1981: 0-11

1982: 1-9-1

1983: 1-10

1992: 1-10

2006: 1-11

2009: 0-9