Almost 60 years ago, Miss Toni Fisher lamented “When will it end?” on her smash hit, “The Big Hurt”
Eastern Michigan has to be wondering the same thing after their 30-27 overtime loss to Northern Illinois Thursday night. For the Eagles, the setback was their third in overtime this year. Too bad an award does not exist for the best 2-6 team in football. As EMU’s 6 defeats have come by a total of 23 points, the Eagles would win hands down.
The Odyssey believes last night’s defeat was the most painful of the six. Eastern held a 24-10 lead in the 4th quarter over a Northern team that had limited success on offense. One of the 4th quarter elements of disaster for EMU was a rugby-style punt that was blocked. EMU had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but Paul Fricano’s 42 yarder drifted left…barely, Eastern’s third failed field goal attempt in the game. EMU’s kicking woes doomed them for a 2nd straight game as Fricano’s missed 20-yarder allowed Western Michigan to escape Ypsilanti last Saturday with a 20-17 victory, yep, in overtime.
In overtime, Eastern coach Chris Creighton faced an interesting decision. With 4th and 2 from the NIU 17, he elected to send out his untrusty field goal unit. The Odyssey would have gone for it, not only because of EMU’s previous kicking failures. In overtime, defenses can be tired as offenses often score touchdowns with relative ease. To Fricano’s credit, he made the field goal. However, NIU quickly scored a TD to extend Eastern agony.
EMU is a good team that has gone toe-to-toe with the 3 heavyweights in the MAC West (NIU, Toledo and WMU) as well as Kentucky. In fact, the Eagles can brag about a road win over a Big 10 team, Rutgers. OK, it is Rutgers, but have you checked that Rutgers has won its last two games in the Big 10?
If there is one team that America can unequivocally root for in the balance of 2017, that team is Eastern Michigan. So close to 8-0 but so, so far away.