Camellia Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs Georgia Southern Saturday: This will be EMU's second bowl game in three years.

Photo Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor and Publisher Jeff Brown.

Our Eastern Michigan Eagles will be participating in the fifth annual Raycom Media Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama playing against Georgia Southern on Saturday December 15! EMU finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 out of the Mid American Conference, while Georgia Southern finished 9-3 out of the Sun Belt Conference. Oh, and guess what? Both teams are Eagles. Well, thats alright. Adds a little extra flavor to the game!

The Camellia Bowl will mark Eastern's second bowl in two years, while Georgia Southern will be appearing in the teams second bowl game in team history.

The game will be coming to you from beautiful Crampton Bowl way down south in Montgomery, Alabama. Have I ever been to historic Crampton Bowl? Nope, but the pictures sure look pretty
 and will provide a beautiful back drop to to an EMU bowl game victory.

The game will be aired on ESPN with kick off set for 4:30. Also, catch the game on WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) with broadcasters Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick. They do an awesome job!

Eastern Michigan's defense has been stellar all season and have one of the top defenses in the nation, allowing only 22.0 points per game. Did you know that Eastern's defense is ranked in the top four nationally for defense in the redzone? Yep! Further, EMU has held opponents to 160.0 yard passing per game, which is fifth fewest in the nation. Stingy defense!

Eastern Michigan quarterback Tyler Wiegers has had an excellent season completing 64.8 of his passes which is 26th in the country.

Go Eagles!

Parola Perspective In Brief: On the Press.

By PWP contributor Brooks Parola.

There is much outrage about Trump and Saudi Arabia, as there should be. There is much outrage about Trump and his border policies, as there should be. But there's not nearly enough outrage being expressed about Trump and his attacks on the press...and there needs to be.

Folks, the press don't want to be the story, so they're not talking about it. So...we need to talk about it.

United Way of Washtenaw County Announces Dr. Lori Pierce as 2019 Woman of the Year.

  

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to the United Way of Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs has been selected by the United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC) Women United group as the 2019 Woman of the Year. Dr. Pierce will be honored at the UWWC’s Power of the Purse event on March 14, 2019, at The Kensington Hotel on State Street.

“Dr. Pierce exemplifies what the Power of the Purse initiative is about: women taking action to address community issues,” said Pam Smith, President of the United Way of Washtenaw County, and member of the Power of the Purse committee. “We are thrilled to honor her achievements and leadership at our event," according United Way.

Dr. Pierce was chosen by the Power of the Purse committee for her exemplary leadership role in the community and her accomplishments in Radiation Oncology and women’s health issues.

“I am so humbled to have been chosen to receive this honor. It has been a privilege for me to care for women with breast cancer and I have based many of my research goals on the needs and concerns expressed by my patients. It is an honor to work side by side with these women and their families to try to improve their lives and the lives of others diagnosed with cancer.”, shared Dr. Pierce." This according to the UWWC media release.

Currently, Dr. Pierce is a Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.  She was previously a Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and in 1992, joined the faculty at the University of Michigan where she has focused her career primarily on the treatment of breast cancer. She has also served in multiple administrative positions including Residency Director and Clinical Director in the Department of Radiation Oncology.  In August 2005, Dr. Pierce was appointed by the University of Michigan Board of Regents to be Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs of the university, a position she still serves, according to the UWWC press release.

With over 160 manuscripts and book chapters published, Dr. Pierce has received numerous teaching awards. Locally, she has been an active volunteer/supporter of Food Gatherers, served as a United Way Campaign Co-Chair with her husband, Tony Denton, and is a member of the UWWC Tocqueville Society, according United Way of Washtenaw County.

The UWWC established the Woman of the Year honor in 2009.  Previous recipients include Cecilia Fileti, Cynthia Wilbanks, Verna McDaniel, Beth Fitzsimmons, Martha Darling, Pat Warner, Denise Rabidoux, and Lucy Ann Lance.  The 2019 Event Chair is Stacy Fuqua, according to a UWWC press release.

ABOUT WOMEN UNITED

Women United is a United Way national network of some 55,000 members in 137 U.S. communities and the most successful philanthropic effort of its kind. Previously known as Women’s Leadership Council, the committee has raised nearly $330,000 locally, in Washtenaw County, to support women’s financial stability programs.  

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY

According to the UWWC release, "As part of our 96-year history, the United Way of Washtenaw County brings people, organizations and resources together to create a thriving community for everyone. Our focus areas of Health, Education and Financial Stability provide the building blocks to strengthen the community and create opportunities for individuals and families. Our Volunteer Center provides an easy online way for people to connect with nonprofits in the community and our 2-1-1 helpline refers more than 8,000 people annually to critically needed services. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit uwgive.org."

Alabama News Station Reporting that Eastern Michigan will take On Georgia Southern in Raycom Camellia Bowl.

Photo Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

 As of approximately 2 PM Sunday, December 2, WSFA Ch 12 News out of Montgomery Alabama reports that Eastern Michigan has been selected to play in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. According to the report EMU will take on Georgia Southern in Cranton Bowl. 9-3  Georgia Southern represents the Sun Belt while our 7-5 Eastern Michigan Eagles play in the Mid American Conference.

EMU's selection to play in a bowl game is exciting news for the state of Michigan, Ypsilanti, the entire Eastern Michigan community and as an EMU alum, yours truly!

As of 3:45 PM Sunday, I have not seen an official announcement from EMU about the bowl game selection, but according to WSFA News 12 Montgomery, Alabama, Eastern is in! This will be Eastern's second bowl appearance in three years. Go Eagles!

Stay tuned for updates and confirmation from Eastern Michigan University.

Parola Perspective in Brief: On Michigan Basketball.

By PWP contributor Brooks Parola formerly of Flint Town.

Since Michigan became defense oriented a few years ago, they've become increasingly tough to beat. The offense was always potent; this year is probably the weakest it's been in a while.

And, Coach B's teams don't foul, they don't turn the ball over, (he will not tolerate giving up threes, while we bomb away at our opponents...you don't win matching our threes with twos) and now they won't let you score...from the field, or the line.

As stated in a recent Detroit Free Press article, "Opponents are hitting just 36.1 percent of their two-point attempts against Michigan." That's ridiculous. This team also doesn't foul, as it ranks in the top 10 nationally in opposing free throw rate. When you can't get a clean look at the basket and you don't get to the foul line, life is pretty much miserable.

That's what Michigan's doing to people.

But there's more to this story. And it's the reason why Michigan seems to be becoming a team that'll be incredibly difficult to beat this season.

"When a (Luke) Yaklich defense shoots like a Beilein offense," noted college basketball analyst John Gasaway tweeted Wednesday. "Forget about it."