Just seven short months ago, there were questions about whether or not Eastern Michigan should even continue to have a football program. Now, they're bowl eligible for the first time 29 years.
After Eastern Michigan finished last year 1-11, the players decided to put up some motivation in the halls of Rynearson Stadium.
Listed are all of the bowls that have MAC tie-ins, a tangible goal that served as a constant reminder that this program is moving in a positive direction, and after last weeks win over Ball State, the 29 year bowl drought has officially ended.
"I don't want to sound like I'm downplaying it, we feel truly blessed that we are bowl eligible but we're not done," EMU quarterback Brogan Roback said. "We want to go after this thing with everything we got."
"Part of the vision is to make playing football at Eastern Michigan one of the most incredible experiences of our guys lives, the bowl game is absolutely allowed us to take a step forward in that way," Eagles head coach Chris Creighton said.
The Eagles certainly have reason to fly high, especially after overcoming the outside chatter.
HBO 'Real Sports' ran a piece suggesting that keeping the program wasn't fiscally responsible.
Head Coach Chris Creighton accredits the athletic department and university of coming together to put him in a position to succeed.
"I think we all knew getting into this that there were people who doubted, and we're not there yet, we don't want to be a one-hit-wonder, if this is a hit either. It's not that we've done it, we're doing it, it hasn't happened, it's happening, it hasn't changed, it's changing," Creighton stated.
Eastern looks for its 7th win this season on Wednesday night, as they host Northern Illinois.
