Japanese Michigan coach returns dwelling to face No. 25 Washington

NCAA Football: Eastern Michigan at MinnesotaSep 9, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Japanese Michigan Eagles coach Chris Creighton appears to be like through the second quarter in opposition to the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities

There can be a number of sentimentality for Japanese Michigan coach Chris Creighton in Saturday afternoon’s sport at No. 25 Washington, the defending nationwide runner-up.

Creighton grew up in Seattle and performed quarterback at Roosevelt Excessive Faculty, so it is going to be a homecoming for him.

In his eleventh season at Japanese Michigan, Creighton stated he has by no means returned to the world as a head coach, so this can be a brand new expertise for him as he relives some childhood recollections.

“I went to Husky video games as a child,” Creighton stated. “We really have been shut sufficient the place I received sweatbands and soiled socks from guys as they have been leaving the locker room. I assumed I used to be hitting the treasure chest.”

Creighton hopes his return dwelling will end in a win in opposition to a Washington crew that did not expertise any slip-ups final week in its season opener.

In its first sport beneath first-year head coach Jedd Fisch and a number of new faces who transferred into or signed with this system as freshmen, Washington earned a 35-3 dwelling win over Weber State.

Fisch stated he’ll proceed to throw youthful gamers into the combo after enjoying 9 of the 18 true freshmen on his roster final week.

“We do not actually speak an excessive amount of about redshirting,” Fisch stated. “That is not likely a part of our program. Our program proper now’s about enjoying the perfect gamers proper now and seeing if we will develop them.”

As for Japanese Michigan, Fisch stated he was impressed by the play of its defensive position in a 28-14 win over UMass, a victory that can put Washington quarterback Will Rogers and the offensive line on excessive alert this week.

The Eagles recorded six sacks in opposition to the Minutemen in Week 1.

“They play a number of post-I protection, so count on a number of effort to cease the run, and we’ll see how we reply to that,” Fisch stated.

One Japanese Michigan participant who must be conversant in Washington is linebacker James Djonkam, who was named the Mid-American Convention’s Defensive Participant of the Week final week after registering 13 tackles and one sack.

Djonkam is a switch from Arizona State, which performed Washington final season earlier than convention realignment took each groups out of the Pac-12.

–Subject Stage Media