The 2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division and played their home games in Rynearson Stadium.
Following the firing of Jeff Genyk during the 2008 season, Eastern Michigan hired Ron English, who had formerly been the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan and the University of Louisville, as the team's head coach. The coaching change initially brought excitement to the program, as English hired a new staff, including former University of Michigan, New York Giants, and Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley, and replaced Genyk's spread offense with a pro-style offense.
However, the change in offense proved difficult for senior quarterback Andy Schmitt, and he was largely ineffective in the first several games of the season. In the second game of the year, the Eagles traveled to Northwestern, and after trailing 21–0 in the second quarter, they tied the game at 24 with 2 minutes left, before Northwestern kicked a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. The following week, they had another trip just across the county to play Michigan. Similar to their 2006 game at Michigan State, they played a very competitive first half, only trailing by one score. But like many times before, they couldn't put two good halves together. In the second half, the Eagles were outscored 21–0 and Andy Schmitt suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The rest of the season they used former starting quarterback Kyle McMahon, and freshman Alex Gillet. Eastern scored no more than 12 points in any of the next three games, including a 56–8 loss at Central Michigan. The week after that, they nearly beat Ball State who was also winless at the time. The difference was a safety in the fourth quarter. Next, they had one more non-conference game as they traveled to Arkansas. This game was the opposite of the Michigan game — bad first half, good second half. They were down 42–0 before eventually losing 63–27. For the rest of the year, they were only close in the finale at Akron, losing by 7. In previous years, Eastern was able to get at least a few wins because of a high scoring offense. Schmitt's injury ended that, and their defense was among the worst in the nation. Eastern gave up 3,321 rushing yards (276.8 per game), more than any other team in the nation, which was their downfall. They statistically appeared to have one of the best passing defenses, allowing 150.5 passing yards per game, second only to Air Force, but this was mostly an illusion. Everyone knew they couldn't stop the run, so opponents just didn't call many pass plays.
Eastern finished the season without a win, their first winless season since 1981. The Eagles were one of two winless FBS teams (Western Kentucky was the other).
Recruiting
Schedule
Roster
As of 2009-07-15 Wide receivers 1 Kinsman Thomas – freshman 2 Dontayo Gage – senior 9 Tyrone Burke – junior 15 Jacory Stone – senior 18 DeAnthony White – senior 24 Corey Manns – freshman 27 Marvon Sanders – sophomore 28 Brandon Boyle – freshman 80 Nick Olds – freshman 82 Terrance Gourdine – freshman 84 Trey Hunter – sophomore 86 L’Shane Bynum – freshman
Offensive line 55 Stephen Johnson – senior 60 Andy Fretz – senior 61 Derek Gotham – sophomore 63 Mark VanDenburgh – freshman 65 Dan DeMaster – junior 68 Korey Neal – freshman 70 Cory Watman – freshman 71 Brian Moore – junior 72 Andrew Sorgatz – freshman 75 Scott MacLeod – freshman 76 Bridger Buche – junior 78 Eric Davis – junior
Tight ends 81 Ben Thayer – junior 83 John Bonner – senior 85 Garrett Hoskins – freshman 86 Artie Tanguma – freshman 87 Drew Serruto – sophomore 88 Sonny Paluch – junior 89 Josh LeDuc – junior Quarterbacks 7 Andy Schmitt – senior 11 Kyle McMahon – junior 12 Jason Williams – sophomore 13 Alex Gillett – freshman 14 Devontae Payne – freshman
Running backs 3 Terrence Blevins – senior 22 Dwayne Priest – junior 26 Corey Welch – sophomore 32 Dominique Sherrer – sophomore 35 Joe Fleming – freshman
Defensive line 17 Brandon Downs – senior 56 Ryan Leonard – junior 59 Matt Price – freshman 64 Khaled Mheisen – freshman 69 Shawn Sinawe – freshman 90 Javon Reese – sophomore 91 Dan Cordick – junior 92 Ryan Kuhlman – sophomore 93 Brad Ohrman – sophomore 94 Devon Davis – freshman 95 Orlando McCord – freshman 96 Brandon Slater – sophomore 97 Kalven Seilis – freshman 98 Bronly Kashama – freshman 99 Tyler Palsrok – junior Linebackers 11 Nate Paopao – junior 20 Andre’ Hatchett – senior 25 Jermaine Jenkins – senior 29 Lorenzo Seaberry – senior 40 Neal Howey – junior 42 Marcus English – sophomore 44 Kyle DeMaster – freshman 45 Matt Boyd – freshman 47 Chris Bittner – sophomore 48 James Ervin – freshman 49 Andy Mulumba – freshman 50 Blake Browe – freshman 51 Herb Waits – sophomore 52 Steve Brown – sophomore 57 Tim Fort – junior 67 Marty Newman – freshman
Defensive backs 4 Kevin Long – junior 5 Willie Hickman – freshman 6 Marty Cardwell – sophomore 8 Johnny Sears – senior 10 Ryan Downard – junior 14 Brandon Pratt – junior 16 Jonte Lewis – junior 19 Arrington Hicks – junior 21 Garrett Gronowski – freshman 23 Chris May – senior 24 Kelip Goodwin – freshman 24 Tyler Thomas – freshman 28 Nate Wilson – sophomore 31 Marcell Rose – sophomore 34 Jaron Gillespie – freshman 36 Jon Pryor – freshman 37 Mark Mitchell – junior 41 Latarrius Thomas – junior 43 Alex Bellfy – freshman 46 Sterling Vaughn – freshman
Punters 39 Patrick Treppa – junior
Kickers 33 Zach Johnson – senior 38 Joe Carithers – junior
Long snapper 46 Alexander Gudejko – sophomore 53 Mike Zupancic – freshman 58 Matt Bowman – freshman 59 Tyler Cochran – sophomore † Starter at position * Injured; will not play in 2009.
Coaching staff Name Position Year at school Ron English Head coach 1st Ken Karcher Offensive coordinatorQuarterbacks coach 1st Eric Lewis Defensive coordinatorDefensive backs coach 1st Kurt Anderson Offensive line coach 2nd Tom Burpee Tight ends coachSpecial teams coach 1st Antonio Carter Wide receivers coach 1st Tim Carter Defensive backs coachRecruiting coordinator 1st Casey Creehan Defensive line coach 1st Steve Szabo Associate head coachLinebackers coach 1st Tyrone Wheatley Running backs coach 1st
Game summaries
Army
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 06:12 ARMY – Mealy 6-yard run (Campbell kick failed) 6–0 ARMY
2nd Quarter 05:56 ARMY – Carter 12-yard run (Campbell kick) 13–0 ARMY
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter 13:58 EMU – Hunter 20-yard pass from Schmitt (Carithers kick) 13–7 ARMY 10:22 ARMY – Ehie 10-yard run (Smith rush) 21–7 ARMY 06:53 ARMY – Ehie 5-yard run (Campbell kick failed) 27–7 ARMY 03:31 EMU – Priest 1-yard run (Carithers kick) 27–14 ARMY
Northwestern
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 06:38 NU Simmons 1-yard run (Demos kick) 0–7 NU
2nd Quarter 12:33 NU Simmons 14-yard run (Demos kick) 0–14 NU 09:08 NU Johnson 70-yard interception return (Demos kick) 0–21 NU 03:32 EMU Carithers 33-yard field goal 3–21 NU
3rd Quarter 04:33 EMU Priest 1-yard run (Carithers kick) 10–21 NU
4th Quarter 12:57 NU Demos 20-yard field goal 10–24 NU 09:55 EMU Stone 25-yard pass from Schmitt (Carithers kick) 17–24 NU 02:40 EMU Blevins 3-yard run (Carithers kick) 24–24 00:06 NU Demos 49-yard field goal 24–27 NU
Michigan
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 10:46 MICH Olesnavage 37-yard field goal 0–3 MICH 05:32 EMU Carithers 43-yard field goal 3–3 02:30 MICH Brown 9-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 3–10 MICH
2nd Quarter 11:16 EMU Schmitt 11-yard run (Carithers kick) 10–10 09:20 MICH Shaw 5-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 10–17 MICH 07:15 MICH Brown 90-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 10–24 MICH 02:05 EMU Priest 5-yard run (Carithers kick) 17–24 MICH
3rd Quarter 04:47 MICH Odoms 13-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–31 MICH 03:06 MICH Robinson 13-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–38 MICH
4th Quarter 07:14 MICH Robinson 36-yard run (Olesnavage kick) 17–45 MICH
Temple
Central Michigan
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 08:51 CMU Brown 70-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–7 CMU 03:58 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–14 CMU
2nd Quarter 12:33 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–21 CMU 02:51 CMU Brown 75-yard punt return (Aguila kick) 0–28 CMU 00:18 CMU Schroeder 11-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–35 CMU
3rd Quarter 12:50 CMU Poblah 25-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0–42 CMU 01:57 CMU LeFevour 5-yard run (Aguila kick) 0–49 CMU
4th Quarter 11:25 EMU Welch 1-yard run (Gillett rush) 8–49 CMU 07:36 CMU Volny 3-yard run (Aguila kick) 8–56 CMU
Kent State
Ball State
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 9:08 EMU Thayer 3-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 0–7 EMU 4:52 BSU Sykes 51-yard run (Schott kick blocked) 6–7 EMU
2nd Quarter 10:59 EMU Carithers 20-yard field goal 6–10 EMU 9:23 EMU Welch 12-yard run (Carithers kick) 6–17 EMU 6:37 EMU Carithers 26-yard field goal 6–20 EMU 4:06 BSU Lewis 48-yard run (Schott kick) 13–20 EMU
3rd Quarter 10:44 EMU White 10-yard run (Carithers kick) 13–27 EMU 6:37 BSU Sykes 6-yard run (Schott kick) 20–27 EMU 5:33 BSU Team Safety 22–27 EMU 1:47 BSU Sykes 37-yard run (Schott kick) 29–27 BSU
Arkansas
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter 10:42 AR Davis 36-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–7 AR 6:42 AR Green 3-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–14 AR 4:02 AR Burton 50-yard interception return (Tejada kick) 0–21 AR
2nd Quarter 12:21 AR Adams 10-yard pass from Mallett (Tejada kick) 0–28 AR 4:10 AR Green 99-yard run (Tejada kick) 0–35 AR 1:38 AR Adams 78-yard pass from Mallet (Tejada kick) 0–42 AR
3rd Quarter 12:38 AR Armbrust 1-yard blocked punt return (Tejada kick) 0–49 AR 9:30 EMU Thayer 8-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick failed) 6–49 AR 5:58 EMU Thomas 77-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 13–49 AR 4:30 AR Davis 4-yard run (Tejada kick) 13–56 AR 2:50 EMU Bonner 32-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 20–56 AR 0:18 AR Miller 16-yard pass from Mallet (Tejada kick) 20–63 AR
4th Quarter 2:14 EMU Priest 10-yard run (Carithers kick) 27–63 AR
Northern Illinois
Western Michigan
Toledo
Akron
Awards/MAC Leaders Team Statistics 150.5 ypg Pass Defense (1st) 33.7 Net yards per punt (1st) Zach Johnson All-MAC Second Team Defense 40.4 Punting Yards Per Punt (2nd) Andre Hatchett All-MAC Third Team Defense 113 Total Tackles (5th) Johnny Sears 33 Kickoff Returns (5th) 7 Passes Defended (Tied 3rd) Martavius Cardwell 60 Solo Tackles (5th) Brandon Downs 7.5 Sacks (4th) Chris May 6 Interceptions (Tied 2nd) 126 Interception Return Yards (1st)
References