| The history of Eastern Michigan basketball is replete with courageous victories, heartbreaking defeats, and forceful personalities. Every EMU basketball season, no matter how successful, seems to bring an uncommon number of outstanding performances and exciting games. Looking back 91 years and 1655 games (in 1988--ed.), it is not easy to contemplate the game of basketball and its changes from the day in 1898 when a team first represented "Michigan State Normal School." It is even more difficult to choose 14 specific games that may--for one reason or another--be highlighted with a yellow marker and be proclaimed the most important in Huron Hardwood History. But that is what we intend to do: to take a close look at 14 games that hold some important meaning to EMU basketball, be it an exciting overtime victory or a contest with tournament implications. In the early days of Eastern basketball, the Michigan State "Normalites" played an independent schedule of games that included opponents that represented such far-ranging institutions at Michigan State University (then known as Michigan State College) and the Michigan School for the Deaf. Those teams enjoyed many successes, but it wasn't until an Ypsilanti High School graduate named Elton Rynearson arrived in 1912 that the first Golden Era of Eastern basketball dawned. "Rynie" played several sports at the Normal College, displaying exceptional ability in baseball, basketball, and football. In fact, Rynearson left college in 1915 to pursue a baseball career in the Detroit Tigers' farm system. An injury to his pitching arm ended Rynie's dream, but his return to Ypsilanti for the 1916-17 basketball season triggered a five-year run of 65 Normal victories in 77 games. The other important personality that made an impact on "Normal" basketball was Elmer D. Mitchell. Athletic Director, Assistant Profressor, and Head Basketball Coach, Mitchell was a far-sighted leader in college athletics who later launched the nation's first Intramural Program, at the University of Michigan. Rynearson captained and started at forward for the 1916-17 squad, which opened the season 11-0. The Normalites rolled into Grand Rapids in mid-February for a game against that city's YMCA team, which had won its last four games by a total of 104 points. The Grand Rapids team caught the Normalites on a bad night and took an easy 37-23 victory. Having moved to Ypsilanti from Grand Rapids the year before, one can conjecture Coach Mitchell had arranged the contest...and it isn't likely he was pleased with the drubbing. |
| Six days and one game later, on February 22, the "Men From Ypsi" had a rematch with the Grand Rapids bunch, this time in Ypsilanti. World events were rapidly pulling America into a world war. Despite--or possibly because of--the war in Europe, the sinking of American ships by German U-boats, and the Russian Revolution the Ypsilanti Central High School gymnasium was jam-packed with the largest crowd of the season for the game. Over a thousand fans were on hand to see the best team to have ever played for the Normal School go up against the only team it had lost to. Basketball rules at the time provided for a jump ball after every score, slowing the pace of the game. But from the opening tipoff coach Mitchell had his team rush for the opposing basket. Normal center William Dunn won most of the jump balls, forcing the Grand Rapids team back on its heels under the Normalites' rushing tactics. It was a very physical game, and the man who took most of the punishment was Rynearson. Rynie was fouled time and time again by the YMCA club and continually obliged by sinking his foul shots. Behind the steady scoring of Rynearson, the Normalites took an early lead and extended it to 16-5 by halftime. In the second half, Mitchell decided to change his strategy and concentrate on defense in order to protect the 11-point lead. Rynearson, Dunn, Edward Powers, and then Edwin Shadford dominated the frontcourt. Donald Lawler and John Edwards hounded the Grand Rapids guards, forcing them into turnovers and several low-percentage shots. Some of those "prayers" were answered when a YMCA guard named Hooker sank two shots from near half-court. That wasn't enough to quiet the huge crowd or cut into the Normal School lead, and the locals prevailed by a final score of 25-13. Rynearson led all scorers with 15 points, scoring nine from the free throw line. Dunn, Shadford, and Powers--who once played with that same YMCA team--also scored. With their only loss of the season avenged, the Normalites went on to roll over their final four opponents to finish the season at 17-1. That .944 winning percentage is easily the best mark ever recorded in Huron Hardwood History. Return to: Huron Hardwood History Dave's Attic |
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| Elton Rynearson (with ball) |
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| Elmer Mitchell |
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| February 22, 1917 Ypsilanti, MI Eastern Michigan 25 Grand Rapids 13 |