The football program has been so bad at Eastern Michigan the last few years that even the head coach was not sure what he was watching sometimes.

Jeff Woodruff finally discovered what he had been waiting two years to see during a practice this spring in Ypsilanti. It dawned on him as he was walking off the field.

"I just saw the first football practice since I’ve been here," said Woodruff, recalling the day the Eagles program came back to life.

If EMU was indeed on the right track, it would be grand news for the Eagles’ faithful fans, who have enjoyed only one winning season (6-5 in 1995) since 1989. In year three of Woodruff’s rebuilding project, EMU players and coaches are optimistic about their program’s future once again.

Team Info Location:   Ypsilanti, MI   Conference:   Mid-American (West)   Last Season:   2-9 (.222)   Conference Record:   2-6 (6th)   Off. Starters Returning:   5  Def. Starters Returning:   7  Nickname:   Eagles  Colors:   Dark Green & White   Home Field:   Rynearson Stadium (30,200   Head Coach:   Jeff Woodruff (Kent '79)  Record at School:   3-8 (1 year)  Career Record:   3-8 (1 year)  Assistants:   Pete Alamar (Calif. Lutheran '83) Off. Coordinator/Offensive Line     Charley Molnar (Lock Haven '84) Quarterbacks      Mike Cummings (Buffalo '94) Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator     Bob Diaco (Iowa '95) Running Backs     John Dignan (Michigan State '94) Inside Linebackers      Billy Harris (Michigan '70) Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs     Scott Schroeder (Iowa '91) Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends      Mark Woodson (Wayne State '83) Wide Receivers      Kevin Wolthausen (Humboldt State '81) Outside Linebackers  Team Wins (last 5 yrs.):   4-3-4-3-2   Team Rank (last 5 yrs.):   105-111-111-109-116   2001 Finish:   Lost to Akron in regular-season finale.

"They are excited because they are seeing success and seeing [the hard work] paying off," said Sherwood, who spent the bulk of his coaching career working under his father in-law, coach Don James, at the University of Washington.

Sherwood follows the same philosophy as James, which is to establish a strong work ethic and surround your program with good people.

Some of the Eagles last season might have been too young to even know if they were any good. EMU started 11 freshmen, making it the youngest team in the country.

The Eagles have 29 lettermen back from a 2-9 season, including sophomore quarterback Kainoa Akina (5-11, 192), who arrived on the scene last year and started the final seven games. In the finale, a 65-62 loss to Akron in triple overtime that ranks as the NCAA Division I-A’s second-highest scoring game, Akina threw for a school-record six touchdown passes. He finished the day 27-of-50 for 392 yards and three interceptions.

Woodruff is not ready to hand Akina, or any other returning player, a starting job based on what they did last year. He wants his players to treat their role on the team as if it were a real job, and that means clocking in to work every day.

"I told them to go earn your job like you were working at the plant," he said.

The Eagles have plenty of work to do after finishing last in the MAC in offensive points per game (17.9), turnovers (minus-8), total offense (300.8 yards per game), first downs (185) and third down conversions (27.6 percent) in 2001.

While the offense struggled, the EMU defense put up respectable numbers, finishing seventh in total defense (375.7 yards per game) and third in pass defense (198.2 yards per game). But two of their top linebackers, Scott Russell and Kenny Philpot, are gone, and free safety Marvin Harris decided not to return to school.

To help fill some voids, EMU brought in 24 players, including two junior college transfers and former Kentucky running back Martez Johnson (5-10, 188).

EMU had a few last-minute coaching changes with quarterbacks coach Cary Conklin resigning to seek a job in the NFL and Kevin Wolthausen coming aboard as an assistant coach/outside linebackers coach. John Dignan also left as inside linebackers coach and Bob Diaco slid over from the outside spot to replace him.

Woodruff wants spirited competition at all of his positions, and that is exactly what he got at the quarterback spot during spring drills.

Akina earned the job last year, after Jeff Crooks (6-2, 206) went down with a shoulder injury, and started seven of the final eight games. He completed 140-of-267 passes for 1,504 yards and 14 touchdowns, including nine in his final two games. He had 11 interceptions.

Akina also finished second on the team in rushing with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries.

"We had hoped to red-shirt him, but we were forced to play him," Woodruff said.

Akina’s rise came at the expense of Crooks, who transferred to EMU last spring from Fulton (Calif.) Junior College after passing for 2,293 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for more than 500 yards in 2000. Last year, he was limited to two games because of injuries and finished 21-of-47 passing for 221 yards and one touchdown.

Crooks and Akina figure to battle it out for the starting job in the fall, but senior Troy Edwards (6-2, 210), junior Rick Pyle (6-3, 205) and sophomore Chinedu Okoro (6-1, 204) were also given a chance to state their cases in spring ball. Okoro and Crooks each threw two touchdowns in the spring scrimmage.

The Eagles’ backfield situation improved enough during the off-season that last year’s leading rusher, sophomore C.R. Roberson (5-101/2, 185), is heading for a new position -- wide receiver.

The combination of Roberson’s light build and the return of senior Ime Akpan (6-0, 230) led to the switch. Akpan missed almost the entire 2001 season with a knee injury, but managed to appear in four games and rush for 98 yards and four scores on 25 carries.

EMU hopes Akpan, a transfer from Youngstown State in 2000, can become a ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ for opponents much like Christian Okoye did for the Kansas City Chiefs in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Akpan runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and can bench more than 400 pounds.

His main competition in the backfield will come from senior transfer Johnson, who had a chance to compete for the starting job with the Wildcats this spring but opted to leave after the program was placed on probation.

The good news is Johnson can play right away because the Wildcats were banned from a bowl game this season, allowing all of their seniors the chance to escape and be eligible immediately. But the bad news is Johnson has one only year of eligibility.

Junior Marcus Crosby (5-10, 205) and red-shirt freshman Justin Henry (5-41/2, 154) provide depth at the position, while junior Ashantti Watson (5-10, 202) has not been cleared to play after missing most of the 2001 season with a broken foot.

With Akpan and Johnson, EMU should be able to improve on the 108.9 yards per game average and eight rushing touchdowns from last year.

"We’ve changed," Woodruff said. "The first year our fastest running back ran a 4.9, that’s means I ran faster than them coming out of the tunnel.

Woodruff wants to start his best 11 offensive players, which is why Roberson has shifted to flanker and paired up with senior Kevin Walter (6-3, 220).

Roberson averaged 105.8 all-purpose yards per game last year, and the Eagles can use the help there.

Walter, a second-team all-MAC selection, led the Eagles in receptions (62), receiving yards (748) and touchdowns (six) last season but is the only veteran back. Second-leading receiver Terrance Lloyd left school and two other wide-outs graduated, leaving a large void.

Sophomore Chris Talley (5-11, 174) was pressed into action in his first season with the Eagles, but figures to have an expanded role this year. He made the biggest strides of any receiver in the spring.

Senior Erik Ibom (6-2, 196) and sophomore Alonzo Harris (6-2, 195) bring experience to the position. Sophomore James Stanford (6-2, 193) led the receivers in the spring game with three receptions for 129 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown pass from Okoro.

Freshmen LaGarian Houston (5-8, 165) hails from Immokalee High School in Florida and runs a 10.6 in the 100-meter dash. He might not see much action at receiver, but could help return kicks and punts.

Tall target Courtney Evans (6-4 1/2, 190) finished his career at Central High in Battle Creek, Mich., with a school-record 105 receptions for 1,987 yards. He had 39 receptions for 514 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. Speedster Trumaine Riley (5-9, 165), from Walsh Jesuit in Akron, Ohio, can run a 4.4 in the 40 and is also a standout baseball player.

At tight end, junior Kevin Zureki (6-21/2, 251) started last season and had 10 catches for 111 yards and one touchdown. Senior Brett Wells (6-2, 252) also saw some action and provides more size and experience on the offensive line, which is inexperienced.

The Eagles have one starter back, sophomore guard Dan Davis (6-4, 270), and he played in only six games last year because of injuries. Despite a lack of experience, Woodruff is upbeat about some of the burly additions to the line.

"It’s not as bleak as it looks on paper," the coach said. "We’re bigger, stronger and faster."

The Eagles are hoping junior Michael Johnson (6-3, 300) and converted tight end Tom Kaleita (6-5, 275), a sophomore, can take over at left and right tackle, respectively. Backing them up will be sophomore Mario Tucker (6-3, 320) and red-shirt freshmen Brad Kegebein (6-6, 252) and big Sam Estes (6-5, 342).

At guard, junior Derrick Swanigan (6-2, 361) and red-shirt freshman Gemayel Cowser (6-2, 260) are battling for playing time. Sophomores Steve Godbold (6-1, 280) and Nick Suszan (6-2, 261) will back them up along with red-shirt freshmen Brian Booth (6-3, 295) and Paul Rapien (6-3, 243).

Sophomore Scott Golem (6-5, 282) has locked up the center position, while junior transfer Lloyd Wilson (6-3, 290) arrives from Cerritos (Calif.) Junior College to add depth.

Golem has big shoes to fill. Former center Cory Annett was a Verizon Academic All-American and chosen in the first round (third overall) of the Canadian Football League draft by the Toronto Argonauts. Former EMU guard John Grabowski signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Eagles added more size by landing in-state recruit Robert Seehase (6-7, 273) from Cadillac High School. He was ranked 35th on the Detroit Free Press Fab 50 list as a senior.

What’s in a name? Apparently quite a bit when it comes to kickers at EMU, which has stayed in-state and tapped into West Bloomfield High School’s program.

Senior Eric Klaban (5-10, 185) returns for his second season after transferring from Ohio State, and his younger brother, red-shirt freshman Brian Klaban (5-7, 190), will back him up. The brothers’ father, Thomas Klaban, kicked at Ohio State from 1972-76.

Eric Klaban handled all the kickoff duties last year, but split the field goals. He finished 7-of-10 on field goals, including a 48-yard kick, and was 1-for-1 on extra points. This year, he will have both jobs full time.

Senior Jari Brown (6-4, 265) is the elder statesman up front and set a good example in spring ball by earning the "Most Improved Award" on the defensive line. The defensive tackle, a two-year starter, played in 11 games last year and finished with 30 tackles, including eight for losses, and two sacks.

Defensive ends Matt Kudu (6-3, 268) and C.J. Roberson (6-1, 220) also earned some time in the line up with a combined 15 starts. Kudu played as a freshman and produced 41 tackles with two sacks. The senior Roberson (no relation to C.R. Roberson) was a starter the final eight games and made 15 tackles.

The Eagles lost one starter on the line of their 4-3 defense. Three players are fighting for the opening -- juniors Brian Jenkins (6-1, 240) and Hammond Russell (6-3, 279) and sophomore Eric Pettway (6-2, 270).

Red-shirt freshmen Matt Lisek (6-2, 245) and Olivier Gagnon-Gordillo (6-2, 245), and junior Lennard Wornum (5-11, 253) add depth. The Eagles could also turn to two freshmen -- Sean Simms (6-5, 275) and Scott Steenbergh (6-4, 310).

The unit that lost the most from last season is at linebacker, where a pair of All-MAC second-team players provided the heart and soul on defense. Four-year players Russell and Philpot combined for 228 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles their senior seasons.

Philpot will have the opportunity to play at the next level, signing a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions .

"I’m not sure you can effectively replace two players like that," Woodruff said.

The Eagles have to try, and junior David Lusky (6-2, 230) is expected to replace Russell at middle linebacker after making 34 tackles as a backup last year. Sophomore Keyvon Barbee (5-10, 225) stepped off the high school field and right into the lineup last year, starting two of the 10 games he played for EMU. He made 11 tackles and will replace Philpot on the outside.

Sophomore Kevin Harrison (6-1, 225) has battled injuries since he arrived at Ypsilanti, but the Eagles have him penciled in as the other starting outside linebacker. Junior Mike Salvatori (6-2, 216), sophomore Marvin Hicks (6-4, 218) and red-shirt freshmen Steve Bednarik (6-1 1/2, 220) and John Webster (6-0, 241) add depth.

Freshmen Zach Harris (6-0, 245) and Martez Ivey (6-1, 215) were tackling machines in their final seasons of high school.

After the secondary was under construction much of last season, the Eagles emerged with three starters for 2002. EMU will need some help back there with Michigan State and quarterback Jeff Smoker on the schedule the first week of the season.

"We’ll find out right out of the gate [how good the secondary is]," Woodruff said.

Senior cornerback Erick Middleton (5-10, 175) led the team with three interceptions and finished fifth in tackles with 56 last year. The other starter, sophomore Michael Woods (5-10, 166), stepped up in his first college season and made 22 tackles in nine games.

Sophomores Nate Brooks (5-8, 168) and Steven Lewis (5-8, 155), plus red-shirt freshman Gavin Gardner (5-9 1/2, 172) also figure to play at the corner.

Harris decided not to return to school, so EMU signed Antelope Valley (Calif.) Junior College transfer Jamie Manor (6-0, 200) to replace him. The junior made 98 tackles last season at AVJC and was eligible to practice with EMU in the spring.

Junior Frank Archie (5-9, 185) and sophomores Mark Carter (5-11, 190) and Corey Edwards (5-10, 185) are inexperienced backups.

Sophomore Jerry Gaines (6-2, 180) was another freshman to start in his first season. He made 33 tackles in 10 games and earned the starting strong safety job this season. Backing Gaines up is sophomore Corey Parker (6-1, 195).

Freshman Oscar Caywood (5-11, 170) was an All-Ohio defensive back last fall out of John F. Kennedy High in Cleveland. Montreal native Manesse Zephir (6-0, 205) was the No. 1-ranked strong safety in Eastern Canada coming out of Vieux. He had 50 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions his final season.

Junior David Rysko (6-1, 197) returns for his second season as the starter. He averaged 35.8 yards on 88 punts last season.

Rysko’s longest punt was 77 yards and he placed 13 kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Both kickers have experience, as does the long snapper, senior Carson Dach (6-1, 258), who has played 33 straight games.

C.R. Roberson and Talley both handled some of the kick returns last year, but the team will miss Lloyd’s experience on punts. Some of the Eagles’ young speedsters could make their mark fielding kicks.

The Eagles gave up three touchdowns on returns last season, while not scoring any points there.

Some people might consider the close proximity to Michigan as a detriment, but Woodruff views it as an aide in landing recruits.

"Having Michigan down the road is an asset," he said. "We don’t go head-to-head in recruiting."

With 23 freshmen coming in and seven non-qualifiers from last season, the Eagles appear to be soaring in their pursuit of players once again. The quest for talented players sent EMU coaches across the country and into Canada, where they found Simms and Zephir.

Woodruff would prefer to stay home for talent, but will also jump on a plane, train or even an airboat to meet with a potential player.

With back-to-back solid recruiting classes, the Eagles’ future is starting to look brighter again. Last year’s class produced eight starters as freshmen.

The Eagles are heading in the right direction with Woodruff at the helm, but they are not there just yet. The team is still extremely young and has a brutal early-season schedule.

EMU opens at Michigan State before playing host to traditional MAC West power Toledo in the second week of the season. After playing a winnable game against Southeast Missouri State the next week, the Eagles head to Maryland to play the Terps.

Yikes.

The team might be bigger, faster and stronger than a year ago, but it still needs to learn how to play at the collegiate level. That’s one thing it can’t learn on the practice field, or in the weight room, no matter how much time the players spend there.

If the Eagles can stay healthy and together through the first four games, they could have a say in who wins the MAC West this season.

A winning season would be nice, but four or five wins and continued success in the right direction is a more realistic goal.

EMU needs to straighten out its quarterback situation like several other schools in the West and find the right combination on both lines in order to accomplish it.

In another year, the Eagles will be harder for opponents to deal with than trying to pronounce Ypsilanti.