1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team

Last updated

1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football
MAC champion
California Bowl champion
Conference Mid-American Conference
Record10–2 (7–1 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadium Rynearson Stadium
Seasons
  1986
1988  
1987 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Eastern Michigan $ 7 1 010 2 0
Kent State 5 3 07 4 0
Miami (OH) 5 3 05 6 0
Bowling Green 5 3 05 6 0
Western Michigan 4 4 05 6 0
Central Michigan 3 4 15 5 1
Toledo 3 4 13 7 1
Ball State 3 5 04 7 0
Ohio 0 8 01 10 0
  • $ Conference champion

The 1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), was coached by Jim Harkema, and played their homes game at Rynearson Stadium. They finished the season 10–2 overall and 7–1 in MAC play while winning the MAC championship. It was their first conference team since joining the MAC and first overall since winning the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1957. The Hurons went to the 1987 California Bowl (their first bowl appearance since joining Division I and first since the 1971 Pioneer Bowl) and upset 171/2 point favorite San Jose State for their first bowl win in EMU history. It is the first and so far only time Eastern Michigan has had a ten win season along with their last bowl appearance until 2016.

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 5 Youngstown State *W 35–2017,252 [1]
September 12at Miami (OH) W 33–1717,788 [2]
September 19at Akron *L 16–1710,032 [3]
September 26at Kent State W 23–2117,400 [4]
October 3 Northern Illinois *
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 32–3113,306 [5]
October 10at Central Michigan L 6–1625,906 [6]
October 17 Ball State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 35–2817,201 [7]
October 24at Western Michigan W 23–179,472 [8]
October 31 Ohio
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 34–1611,763 [9]
November 5at Toledo ESPN W 38–917,041 [10]
November 14 Bowling Green
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 38–1820,205 [11]
December 12vs. San Jose State *ESPNW 30–2724,000 [12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming

[13]

Coaching staff

NamePositionYear at school
Jim Harkema Head coach5th

After the season

The following Huron was selected in the 1988 NFL draft after the season. [14]

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL club
7172Gary Patton Running back New York Jets

References

  1. "The times are a-changin': EMU wins opener, 35–20". Detroit Free Press. September 6, 1987. Retrieved March 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Finally, Eastern beats Miami". Detroit Free Press. September 13, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Zips hang on for slim 17–16 victory over Hurons". The Muskegon Chronicle. September 20, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Goal post, Hurons get best of Kent". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 27, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Late touchdown lifts Eastern Michigan over Northern". The Daily Chronicle. October 4, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Chippewas score decisive victory". The Bay City Times. October 11, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Hurons hurdles Ball St". The Ann Arbor News. October 18, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Hurons trip Broncos, 23–17". Lansing State Journal. October 25, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Eastern Michigan keeps hold on MAC lead". The Flint Journal. November 1, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Hurons clinch share of Mid-American crown". The Ann Arbor News. November 6, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Hurons celebrate first trip to California Bowl". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 15, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Hurons upset Spartans in Cal Bowl". The Fresno Bee. December 13, 1987. Retrieved May 15, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Eastern Michigan Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse . Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  14. "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.