Wikipedia

1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team

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.

1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football
MAC champion
California Bowl champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record10–2 (7–1 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRynearson 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 State5–3–07–4–0
Miami (OH)5–3–05–6–0
Bowling Green5–3–05–6–0
Western Michigan4–4–05–6–0
Central Michigan3–4–15–5–1
Toledo3–4–13–7–1
Ball State3–5–04–7–0
Ohio0–8–01–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 5Youngstown 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 3Northern Illinois*
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 32–3113,306[5]
October 10at Central Michigan
L 6–1625,906[6]
October 17Ball Statedagger
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 35–2817,201[7]
October 24at Western Michigan
W 23–179,472[8]
October 31Ohio
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 34–1611,763[9]
November 5at Toledo
ESPNW 38–917,041[10]
November 14Bowling Green
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 38–1820,205[11]
December 12vs. San Jose State*
ESPNW 30–2724,000[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[13]

Coaching staff

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Name Position Year at school
Jim Harkema Head coach 5th

After the season

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

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
7172Gary PattonRunning backNew York Jets

References

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  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.
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