2003 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2003 Eastern Michigan Eagles football Eastern Michigan Eagles logo.svg 120 Mid-American Conference West Division MAC 3–9 2–6 Jeff Woodruff 4th first 9 games Al Lavan interim, final 3 games Tim Salem 1st Tim Rose 1st Rynearson Stadium The 2003 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division. The team was coached by Jeff Woodruff in his final season at EMU. Following the 38–10 loss to Central Michigan, Woodruff, who had compiled a 9–34 record in 3 seasons, was fired on November 3.http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BC&p_theme=bc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FEF726EE764F90B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Eastern Michigan football coach fired in 4th year November 4, 2003 November 1, 2010 The Beacon News Running backs coach Al Lavan was named the interim coach while the school conducted a national search for the new permanent coach,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9tFDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oq8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614,2127799&dq=jeff+woodruff+football+coach&hl=en Eastern Michigan fires football coach Jeff Woodruff November 4, 2003 November 1, 2010 The Daily Sentinel B6 and under his leadership the team won two of their final three games. After the end of the season, Northwestern running backs coach Jeff Genyk was hired as the new EMU head coach.https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=1675157 Genyk takes over floundering program December 1, 2003 November 1, 2010 ESPN Schedule Eastern August 28 Thursday 7:00 pm w y East Tennessee State Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 28–21https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232402199 East Tenn. St. Buccaneers vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score August 28, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 11,725 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-emus-confidence-gets/176535379/ The Ann Arbor News EMU's confidence gets boost in victory August 29, 2003 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 4 Thursday 7:00 pm l y Western Illinois Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 12–34https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232472199 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score September 4, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 11,123 September 13 6:00 pm l y Akron Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 17–24https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232562006 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Akron Zips – Box Score September 13, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 10,262 September 20 1:30 pm l y y Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD 7–39https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232632426 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Navy Midshipmen – Box Score September 20, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 27,627 September 27 6:00 pm l y Maryland Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 13–37http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232702199 https://web.archive.org/web/20090319071707/http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232702199 dead March 19, 2009 Maryland Terrapins vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Recap September 27, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 19,628 October 4 2:00 pm l Western Michigan Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 3–31https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232772199 Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score October 4, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 19,963 October 11 7:00 pm l y Toledo Glass Bowl Toledo, OH 14–49https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232842649 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Toledo Rockets – Box Score October 11, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 22,807 October 18 6:00 pm l Bowling Green Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 20–33https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232912199 Bowling Green Falcons vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score October 18, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 6,154 November 1 1:00 pm l y Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI rivalry 10–38https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=233052117 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Central Michigan Chippewas – Box Score November 1, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 8,391 November 8 12:00 pm w UCF Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 19–13https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=233122199 UCF Knights vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score November 8, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 5,150 November 15 1:00 pm w Ball State Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 38–14https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=233192199 Ball State Cardinals vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles – Box Score November 15, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 5,075 November 22 2:05 pm l y Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 24–38https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=233262459 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Northern Illinois Huskies – Box Score November 22, 2003 November 3, 2010 ESPN 16,589 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2569&year=2003 Eastern Michigan University Coaching Records Game by Game 2003 College Football Data Warehouse November 3, 2010 October 20, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121020022214/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2569&year=2003 dead EMU was briefly scheduled to host the South Florida Bulls in 2003. The Rynearson Stadium game had originally been scheduled for 2002, but the Bulls paid EMU a $50,000 postponement fee to delay the game to 2003, allowing USF a 2002 game at Arkansas. However, EMU dropped USF from the 2003 schedule with no advance notice.https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampatribune/access/289547781.html?dids=289547781:289547781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+14%2C+2003&author=BRETT+McMURPHY&pub=Tampa+Tribune&desc=USF+Scrambling+Even+More+After+Losing+Another+Game&pqatl=google USF Scrambling Even More After Losing Another Game November 3, 2010 February 14, 2003 Tampa Tribune McMurphy Brett 1 The Wildcats are seeking a home game Sept. 20. USF was scheduled to host Baylor on Sept. 20, but the Bears canceled last month. USF also has openings Sept. 6 and 13. USF officials were not aware Eastern Michigan had dropped USF from its 2003 schedule until Wednesday when the Eagles' schedule was released – minus USF. USF was supposed to visit Eastern Michigan in 2002, but pushed the game to 2003 so the Bulls could instead play at Arkansas. USF paid a $50,000 postponement fee to EMU for moving the game.July 2024 medicmedic Game summaries East Tennessee State Buccaneers 0 14 7 0 Eagles 7 7 7 7 EMU opened the season with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, a Division I-AA team in the Southern Conference. East Tennessee State had a 4–8 record in 2002,http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FD3EB538F70B1FE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM EMU to face I-AA team August 28, 2003 November 3, 2010 The Detroit News and 2003 would be the final year for their football program, which had been losing nearly $1 million per year from 1999 through 2003.http://media.www.easttennessean.com/media/storage/paper203/news/2006/12/07/News/Football.At.What.Cost-2526418.shtml Football at what cost? Sterling Feleesha December 7, 2006 November 3, 2010 East Tennessean https://web.archive.org/web/20080308080353/http://media.www.easttennessean.com/media/storage/paper203/news/2006/12/07/News/Football.At.What.Cost-2526418.shtml 2008-03-08 dead Scoring summary 1st Quarter 1:16 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 68 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–0 EMU 2nd Quarter 10:26 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 38 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 14–0 EMU 8:56 East Tennessee State – Scott Brumett 70 yard interception return (Jonathan Godfrey kick) 14–7 EMU 0:57 East Tennessee State – Brian Matthews 34 yard pass from Carl Meadows (Jonathan Godfrey kick) 14–14 3rd Quarter 7:12 East Tennessee State – Gavin Varner 1 yard run (Jonathan Godfrey kick) 14–21 East Tennessee State 4:02 EMU – Chinedu Okoro 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 21–21 4th Quarter 7:49 EMU – Eric Deslauriers 44 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 28–21 EMU Western Illinois Leathernecks 7 7 6 14 Eagles 3 3 3 3 Following the Leathernecks' win over EMU, Western Illinois received its first-ever #1 ranking in the national Division I-AA polls, though they lost the ranking the following week with a 35–7 loss to the eventual I-A national champions, the LSU Tigers. Scoring summary 1st Quarter 11:02 Western Illinois – Travis Glasford 2 yard run (Justin Langan kick) 0–7 Western Illinois 4:14 EMU – Andrew Wellock 38 yard field goal 3–7 Western Illinois 2nd Quarter 13:01 EMU – Andrew Wellock 33 yard field goal 6–7 Western Illinois 2:01 Western Illinois – James Norris 95 yard punt return (Justin Langan kick) 6–14 Western Illinois 3rd Quarter 13:27 EMU – Andrew Wellock 35 yard field goal 9–14 Western Illinois 8:41 Western Illinois – Travis Glasford 1 yard run (Justin Langan missed kick) 9–20 Western Illinois 4th Quarter 13:18 EMU – Andrew Wellock 25 yard field goal 12–20 Western Illinois 7:22 Western Illinois – Russ Michna 15 yard run (Justin Langan kick) 12–27 Western Illinois 3:56 Western Illinois – Travis Glasford 11 yard run (Justin Langan kick) 12–34 Western Illinois Akron Eagles 0 10 7 0 Zips 7 14 0 3 Scoring summary 1st Quarter 3:42 Akron – Matt Cherry 58 yard punt return (Jason Swiger kick) 0–7 Akron 2nd Quarter 14:17 Akron – Miquel Irvin 16 yard pass from Charlie Frye (Jason Swiger kick) 0–14 Akron 11:06 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 13 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–14 Akron 4:15 Akron – Charlie Frye 2 yard run (Jason Swiger kick) 7–21 Akron 1:20 EMU – Andrew Wellock 43 yard field goal 10–21 Akron 3rd Quarter 3:49 EMU – Chinedu Okoro 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 17–21 Akron 4th Quarter 5:14 Akron – Jason Swiger 23 yard field goal 17–24 Akron Navy Eagles 0 0 0 7 Midshipmen 8 3 14 14 thumb|right |EMU junior quarterback Chinedu Okoro being tackled by Navy junior linebacker Lane Jackson. With their win over EMU, the Midshipmen won consecutive home games for the first time since 1997.http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232632426 https://web.archive.org/web/20090319122552/http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232632426 dead March 19, 2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Navy Midshipmen – Recap September 20, 2003 November 1, 2010 ESPN EMU's offense committed six turnovers,http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recap?gid=200309200102 Navy 39, Eastern Michigan 7 Yahoo! Sports September 20, 2003 November 4, 2010 including four interceptions thrown by Chinedu Okoro, about which head coach Jeff Woodruff commented, "You can’t beat a high school team giving up five turnovers...Mathematically, you are out of the game with that. That was frustrating because the defense was playing well." Scoring summary 1st Quarter 1:12 Navy – Eric Roberts 15 yard pass from Craig Candeto (Amir Jenkins pass from Craig Candeto) 0–8 Navy 2nd Quarter 7:57 Navy – Geoff Blumenfeld 29 yard field goal 0–11 Navy 3rd Quarter 12:23 Navy – Tony Lane 32 yard run (Geoff Blumenfeld kick) 0–18 Navy 8:17 Navy – Trey Hines 17 yard run (Geoff Blumenfeld kick) 0–25 Navy 4th Quarter 13:50 Navy – Craig Candeto 3 yard run (Geoff Blumenfeld kick) 0–32 Navy 12:28 Navy – Bronston Carroll 2 yard run (Geoff Blumenfeld kick) 0–39 Navy 7:13 EMU – Chris R. Roberson 13 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–39 Navy Maryland Terrapins 6 10 7 14 Eagles 3 7 3 0 This game was the first and so far, the only occasion on which a team from an AQ conference played at Rynearson Stadium. Scoring summary 1st Quarter 12:07 Maryland – Domonique Foxworth 44 yard interception return (Nick Novak kick failed) 0–6 Maryland 2:09 EMU – Andrew Wellock 42 yard field goal 3–6 Maryland 2nd Quarter 4:56 Maryland – Josh Allen 1 yard run (Nick Novak kick) 3–13 Maryland 0:23 EMU – Kevin Zureki 8 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 10–13 Maryland 0:02 Maryland – Nick Novak 27 yard field goal 10–16 Maryland 3rd Quarter 10:54 EMU – Andrew Wellock 25 yard field goal 13–16 Maryland 5:42 Maryland – Josh Allen 8 yard run (Nick Novak kick) 13–23 Maryland 4th Quarter 14:54 Maryland – Scott McBrien 9 yard run (Nick Novak kick) 13–30 Maryland 9:16 Maryland – Dan Melendez 14 yard pass from Scott McBrien (Nick Novak kick) 13–37 Maryland Western Michigan Broncos 0 0 14 17 Eagles 0 3 0 0 Scoring summary 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 13:34 EMU – Andrew Wellock 32 yard field goal 3–0 EMU 3rd Quarter 11:30 Western Michigan – Greg Jennings 34 yard pass from Chad Munson (Robert Menchinger kick) 3–7 Western Michigan 5:42 Western Michigan – Philip Reed 9 yard run (Robert Menchinger kick) 3–14 Western Michigan 4th Quarter 10:23 Western Michigan – Greg Jennings 22 yard pass from Chad Munson (Robert Menchinger kick) 3–21 Western Michigan 8:46 Western Michigan – Robert Menchinger 22 yard field goal 3–24 Western Michigan 2:49 Western Michigan – Tyson Devree 16 yard pass from Chad Munson (Robert Menchinger kick) 3–31 Western Michigan Toledo Eagles 7 0 7 0 Rockets 14 28 7 0 Scoring summary 1st Quarter 12:57 Toledo – Trinity Dawson 5 yard run (Jason Robbins kick) 0–7 Toledo 7:17 EMU – Chris R. Roberson 4 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–7 0:04 Toledo – Trinity Dawson 1 yard run (Jason Robbins kick) 7–14 Toledo 2nd Quarter 11:35 Toledo – Astin Martin 1 yard run (Jason Robbins kick) 7–21 Toledo 6:42 Toledo – Trinity Dawson 8 yard pass from Bruce Gradkowski (Jason Robbins kick) 7–28 Toledo 4:13 Toledo – Steve Odom 12 yard pass from Bruce Gradkowski (Jason Robbins kick) 7–35 Toledo 0:31 Toledo – Terrance Hudson 19 yard pas from Bruce Gradkowski (Jason Robbins kick) 7–42 Toledo 3rd Quarter 3:29 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 3 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 14–42 Toledo 0:00 Toledo – Steve Odom 80 yard punt return (Jason Robbins kick) 14–49 Toledo 4th Quarter Bowling Green Falcons 14 12 0 7 Eagles 7 7 3 3 Scoring summary 1st Quarter 13:19 Bowling Green – P.J. Pope 1 yard run (Shaun Suisham kick) 0–7 Bowling Green 10:38 EMU – Kevin Zureki 40 yard pass from Chinedu Okoro (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–7 3:45 Bowling Green – Josh Harris 20 yard run (Shaun Suisham kick) 7–14 Bowling Green 2nd Quarter 14:12 Bowling Green – Shaun Suisham 24 yard field goal 7–17 Bowling Green 10:56 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 3 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 14–17 Bowling Green 6:59 Bowling Green – Josh Harris 4 yard run (Shaun Suisham missed kick) 14–23 Bowling Green 0:22 Bowling Green – Shaun Suisham 23 yard field goal 14–26 Bowling Green 3rd Quarter 2:15 EMU – Andrew Wellock 40 yard field goal 17–26 Bowling Green 4th Quarter 12:59 Bowling Green – Josh Harris 5 yard run (Shaun Suisham kick) 17–33 Bowling Green 8:08 EMU – Andrew Wellock 29 yard field goal 20–33 Bowling Green Central Michigan Following the 38–10 loss to Central Michigan, EMU's eight consecutive loss, Jeff Woodruff, who had compiled a 9–34 record in 3 seasons, was fired on November 3. Running backs coach Al Lavan was named the interim coach while the school conducted a national search for the new permanent coach. Eagles 7 3 0 0 Chippewas 0 10 14 14 Scoring summary 1st Quarter 10:33 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–0 EMU 2nd Quarter 14:57 EMU – Andrew Wellock 21 yard field goal 10–0 EMU 8:52 Central Michigan – Joseph Staley 29 yard pass from Derrick Vickers (Mike Gruzwalski kick) 10–7 EMU 2:26 Central Michigan – Mike Gruzwalski 33 yard field goal 10–10 3rd Quarter 11:03 Central Michigan – Jerry Seymour 14 yard run (Mike Gruzwalski kick) 10–17 Central Michigan 0:23 Central Michigan – Troy Peyerk 12 yard pass from Derrick Vickers (Mike Gruzwalski kick) 10–24 Central Michigan 4th Quarter 9:42 Central Michigan – Jerry Seymour 16 yard run (Mike Gruzwalski kick) 10–31 Central Michigan 4:41 Central Michigan – Jerry Seymour 15 yard run (Mike Gruzwalski kick) 10–38 Central Michigan Central Florida Knights 0 13 0 0 Eagles 10 7 0 2 In Al Lavan's first game as interim head coach, the Eagles snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 19–13 win over Central Florida. After the two offenses combined for 20 second-quarter points, neither offense scored in the second half of the game. Scoring summary 1st Quarter 12:50 EMU – Alonzo Harris 15 yard pass from Ken Bohnet (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–0 EMU 4:13 EMU – Andrew Wellock 39 yard field goal 10–0 EMU 2nd Quarter 13:50 Central Florida – Dontavius Wilcox 8 yard run (Matt Prater kick) 10–7 Central Michigan 9:31 Central Florida – Matt Prater 40 yard field goal 10–10 4:25 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 16 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 17–10 EMU 0:50 Central Florida – Matt Prater 46 yard field goal 17–13 EMU 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 3:42 EMU – Matt Kudu safety 19–13 EMU Ball State Cardinals 0 0 7 7 Eagles 0 14 17 7 With a win over Ball State, the Eagles achieved back-to-back wins over Division I-A opponents for the first time in more than three years; they had last done this in November 2000, in Jeff Woodruff's first season as head coach.http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mac/eastern_michigan/yearly_results.php?year=2000 Eastern Michigan Yearly Results 2000–2004 November 4, 2010 College Football Data Warehouse https://web.archive.org/web/20101205035138/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mac/eastern_michigan/yearly_results.php?year=2000 December 5, 2010 dead mdy-all Scoring summary 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 14:58 EMU – Ken Bohnet 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–0 EMU 5:29 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 14–0 EMU 3rd Quarter 9:37 EMU – Andrew Wellock 32 yard field goal 17–0 EMU 7:44 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 24–0 EMU 4:00 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 1 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 31–0 EMU 1:31 Ball State – Dante Ridgeway 1 yard pass from Andy Roesch (Brian Jackson kick) 31–7 EMU 4th Quarter 11:18 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 9 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 38–7 EMU 3:47 Ball State – Ryan Hahaj 20 yard pass from Andy Roesch (Brian Jackson kick) 38–14 EMU Northern Illinois Eagles 14 3 0 7 Huskies 7 10 13 8 Scoring summaryhttps://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores103/103326/20031122NCAAFNORTHERNIL0nr.htm USA Today November 22, 2003 November 10, 2010 Eastern Michigan vs. Northern Illinois 1st Quarter Northern Illinois – Shatone Powers 8 yard pass from Josh Haldi (Steve Azar kick) 0–7 Northern Illinois EMU – Anthony Sherrell 2 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 7–7 EMU – Anthony Sherrell 15 yard run (Andrew Wellock kick) 14–7 EMU 2nd Quarter Northern Illinois – Steve Azar 28 yard field goal 14–10 EMU Northern Illinois – Michael Turner 59 yard run (Steve Azar kick) 14–17 Northern Illinois EMU – Andrew Wellock 36 yard field goal 17–17 3rd Quarter Northern Illinois – Steve Azar 23 yard field goal 17–20 Northern Illinois Northern Illinois – Michael Turner 31 yard run (Steve Azar kick) 17–27 Northern Illinois Northern Illinois – Steve Azar 44 yard field goal 17–30 Northern Illinois 4th Quarter EMU – Kevin Zureki 20 yard pass from A. J. Bennett (Andrew Wellock kick) 24–30 Northern Illinois Northern Illinois – Michael Turner 3 yard run (Josh Haldi run for two-point conversion) 24–38 Northern Illinois Roster 2003 Eastern Michigan Eagles f 5 Jr Chris Talley WR 6 Jr Chris Roberson Chris Roberson (American football) WR y 7 Fr LaGarian Houston WR 8 Sr Jeff Crooks QB 82 Sr Kevin Zureki TE 2 So Yves Dieudonne DB 14 Jr Jereme Perry DB y 37 Sr Mike Salvatori LB https://web.archive.org/web/20040103083255/http://www.emich.edu/goeagles/football/2003/fbroster.html *Jeff Woodruff Tim Salem(Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks) References External links Eastern Michigan Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles football seasons Eastern Michigan Eagles football