EMU’s Ike Spearman rewarded for perseverance

Ypsilanti – After missing each of the last two seasons with two different leg injuries, Eastern Michigan redshirt senior linebacker Ike Spearman was, to say the least, eager for Friday’s 61-14 win over Mississippi Valley State.

He said as much Wednesday in the team’s weekly news conference.

“It was huge,” said Spearman, who was Eastern’s leading tackler in 2013, with 82. “It was just great to be back out there with my team. With all the preparation I’ve put in mentally and physically, I feel like I’m back better than ever. I can’t wait to get out there again.”

Spearman said after watching the Eagles play at Florida two years ago and at LSU last season, he’s noticed a difference in this year’s team. He says that will be evident Saturday when the Eagles play an SEC school, Missouri, for the third time in as many seasons.

“It’s big (playing at Missouri), but I feel like we’re better prepared in all phases,” said Spearman, who is from Saint John, Indiana. “Special teams, offensively and defensively. I feel like overall, we have better team chemistry and I feel like that’s going to really help us this weekend.”

He said being on the sidelines the last two years served as further motivation to get back on the field.

“The support staff that I’ve had has been great,” Spearman said. “Starting with the coaches having faith in me, keeping with me throughout this time. My family, my girlfriend, everybody who’s had my back.”

Spearman said he’s also learned to focus. While a redshirt senior in terms of eligibility, Spearman is a graduate student, working toward a master’s degree in communications.

“To be honest, I never expected to get a master’s,” he said. “It’s helped me see the importance of making the most of every opportunity and prepare like a pro for everything.”

That work ethic is not lost on EMU coach Chris Creighton.

“I’ve seen (Spearman) in the most difficult football situation that you can be in, and that is going through two different injuries in back-to-back years that have prevented him from playing a single play,” he said. “So I know a lot more about who he is, his ability to deal with adversity, his character, his perseverance, his drive, his determination, and so it’s absolutely no surprise that he’s having success and will have success on the field.”

Building off a big win

Creighton broke down his team’s first home win since it beat Buffalo, 37-27, on Oct. 11, 2014.

“I really feel our guys were locked in,” Creighton said. “It had been eight months or so since the last time we’d been able to play. I really focused on our run defense and being able to hold on to the ball.”

Eastern’s run defense, which finished dead last in FBS last season, held Mississippi Valley State to 23 yards on 32 carries.

“We really made a statement there,” Creighton said.

As for the turnovers, the Eagles had zero fumbles, but did throw one interception, while forcing three fumbles from the Delta Devils, and recovering two. Eastern scored on each of the ensuing drives.

“It’s better than turning it over two or three times, but I still want to be better at that,” Creighton said.

He said while the Eagles were far from perfect, they didn’t get complacent in the second half, despite having a 28-0 lead at halftime.

“There was a different feel, attitude, mindset on the sideline in the second half,” Creighton said. “It wasn’t ‘Hey, we’ve won this game and we’re waiting for the clock to tick down.’ We were playing and into it. We have to be each week.”

Junior quarterback Todd Porter, starting in place of redshirt junior Brogan Roback, who was suspended for a violation of team rules, was 15-of-22 for 171 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Creighton said what stood out to him about Porter wasn’t his statistical performance, but an instance in which he prevented a turnover on a bad snap.

“He probably could have thrown it to the flat, as the play was designed that way, but didn’t make a bad play worse,” Creighton said. “He just took care of the ball, he tucked it, got a few yards and lived to play another down. For his first game, just the composure he showed in that moment, to me, was as big as anything he did all night.”

Creighton would not say who would start at Missouri.

Missouri lost 26-11 to West Virginia in Barry Odom’s first game as coach of the Tigers. He was previously Missouri’s defensive coordinator.

News and notes

EMU redshirt freshman kicker Paul Fricano was named Special Teams Player of the Week in the Mid-American Conference West Division after setting a school record by going 8-for-8 in extra point attempts. He also made a 35-yard field goal with 7:11 left in the third quarter.

Eastern Michigan at Missouri

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Mo.

TV / radio: SEC Network / WEMU 89.1 FM

Line: Missouri by 25

Records: EMU 1-0, Missouri 0-1

Notables: Eastern Michigan is 0-2 against SEC teams in Chris Creighton’s time as coach. The Eagles lost to Florida, 65-0, on Sept. 6, 2014, and 44-22 to LSU on Oct. 3, 2015. Eastern last played Missouri on Sept. 6, 1997 – a 44-24 loss to the Tigers. Former Lion Charlie Batch was 17-of-38 for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

Al Willman is a freelance writer.

Twitter: @AlWillmanSports