The Eastern Michigan University overall men's athletic
program is at the top of the Mid-American Conference once
again.
The MAC announced May 28 that EMU had captured the Reese
Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top overall men's
athletic program in the league. The Reese Trophy is named
for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese, the first-ever
MAC Commissioner who served the league from its inception
in 1946 until retiring in 1964.
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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The Eastern Michigan
University overall men's athletic program recently
captured the Reese Trophy. It was the fourth time
EMU has won the trophy and the first time since
1995-96. |
The Eastern Michigan women's program turned in a fifth-place
finish in the battle for the Jacoby Trophy, named for former
MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby who served the league from
1971-82. Jacoby is credited with incorporating women's
athletics into the league's structure. Miami won the 2007-08
Jacoby title with a 9.667 average while the Eagles were
fifth at 7.700. The showing was an improvement over last
year's seventh-place finish.
Eastern, which had won the Reese Trophy three previous
times (1987-88, 1990-91, 1995-96), added its fourth overall
men's all-sports title this season. EMU also followed up
last year's record-breaking eight overall men's and women's
MAC championships with four league regular-season titles
and one MAC Tournament crown in 2007-08.
"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," said Derrick Gragg, EMU's director
of athletics. "I commend our coaches and student-athletes
for this outstanding achievement."
"Our student-athletes excel in the classroom and
in their chosen sport," said Don Loppnow, provost
and executive vice president. "Winning the Reese Trophy
is a wonderful endorsement of what they accomplish in both
the academic and athletic arenas. I want to congratulate
all of the student-athletes, coaches and support staff
who brought this honor to EMU."
"News of this achievement only solidifies the continuing
resurgence of our institution," EMU Regent James F.
Stapleton said. "Our student-athletes are an important
part of Eastern Michigan University and the success of
our entire program clearly speaks for itself."
"On behalf of the Board of Regents, I would like
to extend congratulations and appreciation for a job well
done," EMU Regent Roy E. Wilbanks said of the men's
program capturing the Reese Trophy for the fourth time. "The
Eastern Michigan University athletics department, coaches,
staff and student-athletes have certainly made the entire
University community very proud."
When compiling Reese Trophy points, all MAC-sponsored
sports receive points. An institution may count either
indoor track or outdoor track and field, but not both.
The sum of those total points is then divided by the number
of sports sponsored by that school, resulting in an average
point total. The school with the highest average is awarded
the trophy. The Eagles won this year's Reese Trophy by
averaging 9.625 points.
