Winning a single Mid-American Conference championship
would be cause enough for celebration.
Two championships in the same season, well that is remarkable.
Three...four...five...six...well, that's record setting.
But what about eight in one season? Only one word comes
to mind...history!
 |
AGILE ATHLETE: Jolene Worley, a junior
on EMU's women's gymnastics team, led
the team
to its first-ever MAC title by
winning the individual
all-around title. The
team title was one of eight
Eagle athletic
titles collected during 2006-2007.
The
number is a MAC record. |
"We have known for some time that our student-athletes,
coaches and our athletics program are special," said EMU
President John Fallon. "The entire University is proud
of what they do in the classroom and in their respective
sports."
"By any measure for any of our institutions, the competitive
success is impressive," said Rick Chryst, commissioner
of the Mid-American Conference. "It is not only indicative
of the competitive depth of the conference, but is reflective
of the real energy I see at Eastern."
"Two weeks ago, we were excited when we discovered that
we had tied the all-time school record by winning five
championships," said Derrick Gragg, EMU's athletic director. "We
were hoping to capture at least one more championship,
but, since that time, we have added an additional three
MAC crowns to our total. This is truly an outstanding accomplishment!"
This year, EMU has won (in order): men's cross country,
women's swimming, men's indoor track, men's swimming, women's
gymnastics, men's golf, men's outdoor track and softball.
For more, go to this week's By the Numbers column at bythenumbers.html
According to research by EMU's Sports Information Department,
the University's previous best was five titles in one year,
which it has done three times (1997-98, 1990-91 and 1987-88).
During 1997-98, EMU claimed the trophy in: men's basketball,
men's indoor track, men's swimming, women's tennis and
men's outdoor track. During 1990-91, EMU won men's cross
country, men's swimming, men's basketball, men's outdoor
track and women's outdoor track. Finally, during 1987-88,
EMU won football, men's basketball, men's swimming, men's
outdoor track and women's outdoor track.
The previous league record for most conference titles
in one year was six, set by Central Michigan in 2003-04
and Western Michigan in 1984-85.
EMU's history-making season almost included a ninth title.
The Eagles' baseball team won the MAC West Division title
May 19 and was the top seed in the MAC baseball
tournament, which it hosted. However, the Eagles fell 3-2
to Kent State in the title game.
"Our vision within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
is to become the premiere program in the Mid-American Conference,
both athletically and academically. We are committed
to excellence both on and off the fields, and courts of
play. I want to publicly thank the student-athletes and
coaches, as well as President Fallon and the Board of Regents
for their continued support of the varsity athletic program," Gragg
said. "This has been a very rewarding first-year campaign
for me personally as the director of athletics and I am
looking forward to the future."
EMU men place third in 2006-07 Reese Trophy competition
This season's athletic success led EMU to a third-place
finish in the 2006-07 Reese Trophy competition for men
and a seventh-place finish for the EMU women in the Jacoby
Trophy race.
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 these point totals 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.
While the Eagles scored the most points, 73, by virtue
of fielding nine men's teams — the most in the MAC — its
average score of 9.13 trailed Reese Trophy winner Central
Michigan, which had a 10.25 average, and Kent State, with
a 9.64 average.
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 he retired
in 1964.
Eastern Michigan's 11 women's teams compiled an average
of 7.55, good for seventh in the Jacoby Trophy race. Ohio
University took the trophy with a 9.94 average in 10 sports.
The Jacoby Trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner
Fred Jacoby, who served the conference from 1971-82. He
is credited with incorporating women's athletics into
the league's structure. — Ron Podell contributed
to this report.
