Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Seven Football Players Named Phil Steele All-MAC
12/13/2016 11:16:00 AM | Football
Redshirt senior Pat O'Connor led the Eagles with a first team selection
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team had seven of its student-athletes named to Phil Steele Postseason All-Mid-American Conference Teams, announced Monday, Dec. 12. The Eagles only had two named to the list last season.
For EMU, redshirt senior defensive lineman Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita) led the way being named to the first team, while redshirt junior punter Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon), redshirt freshman placekicker Paul Fricano (Rochester N.Y.-Churchville-Chili), and redshirt senior offensive lineman Cole Gardner (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia) were each named to the second team. In addition, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior), senior defensive back DaQuan Pace (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech), and redshirt senior offensive lineman Andrew Wylie (Midland, Mich.-Midland) all garnered All-MAC Third Team honors.
Each of the seven earned the second honors of the postseason, as all seven were also named to the All-MAC team by the conference, Nov. 30. Fricano, Gardner, Harris and Pace were also named to the 2016 Academic All-MAC team as well.
O'Connor was the team leader on a much improved defensive unit for EMU in 2016. In his final season, O'Connor set the EMU sack record since 1998 by getting to the quarterback 19.5 times in his career. In total on the season, the Chicago native sacked the QB a team-high eight times, which was good for 39th in the country and fourth in the MAC. In addition, O'Connor had 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 15 QB hurries, and five forced fumbles, and was one of just nine players in the nation with five or more forced fumbles on the season. He finished his career as the sack leader, QB hurries leader, and forced fumbles leader, while also finishing third on the tackles for loss with 31.5. When O'Connor plays in the bowl game, he will break the record for most career games played as an Eagle with 49.
Barnes was successful punting the ball for the Eagles this season. The Ray Guy semifinalist punted the ball 60 times for an average of 43.73 yards and a career-long of 61 yards. He pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line, 27 times, and had 18 kicks of 50+ yards. His season average ranked 23rd in the country and second in the MAC. His average of 50.0 against Bowling Green, Oct. 1 was an EMU single-game record, while his season average broke the 36-year single-season record. Currently, Barnes ranks second in career average (42.6), while his 7,548 career yardage ranks seventh all-time.
Fellow EMU specialist Fricano earned the starting kicking job during the offseason following the graduation of Dylan Mulder last season. The redshirt freshman burst onto the scene this season as a model of consistency, breaking the single-season extra point record after converting on 40-of-41 attempts this season. In total, the Rochester, N.Y. native hit 17-of-22 field goal attempts with a season long of 46, for a team-high 91 total points. He finished the year ranked fifth in the MAC in points (58th in the country). His 77.2 percent field goal percentage ranked 46th in the country, and fourth in the MAC, while his 1.42 field goals per game was 22nd in the nation, and second in the conference.
Gardner was the starting left tackle on one of the best offensive line units not only in the MAC, but in the country. Gardner started all 12 games protecting the blind side for EMU this season. The converted tight end will finish his career playing in 47 career games, making 31 career starts, and he will finish his career tied for fifth in career games played. The EMU frontline completed the season ranked 12th in the country (fourth in the MAC) in sacks allowed, as well as second in the country (first MAC) in tackles for loss allowed.
Harris was another menace next to O'Connor on EMU's defensive line this season. The Lambertville, Mich. native finished fourth on the team with 63 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, as well as six QB hurries. He made his biggest mark in the turnover battle for Eastern, forcing three fumbles, and leading the team with three fumble recoveries, which ranked sixth in the country and second in the MAC. In the season finale against CMU, Harris had the game sealing interception, the first of his career. Harris was also a huge asset on the field goal block team, getting his mitts on two attempts this season. He was one of just 29 players to block multiple field goals this season.
Pace wrapped up his stellar EMU career as the career pass breakup leader with 24 career interruptions. This season, the cornerback finished with 47 total tackles and a team-high three interceptions, as well as a team-best eight breakups. His three picks ranked fifth in the MAC, as well as 59th in the country, while his 11 passes defended was tied for ninth in the MAC. A staple in the secondary in his four-year career, Pace will finish his career tied for 11th in games played with 46 appearances for Eastern.
Wylie was the other anchor on the stellar EMU frontline. The redshirt senior started all 12 games at right tackle this season. He will finish his career with 44 starts, which ranks fourth all-time at EMU, while his 46 appearances will rank tied for 11th all-time.
For the first time since the 1987 season, Eastern Michigan is headed to a bowl game. The Eagles have accepted an invitation to the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. EMU will take on Conference USA opponent Old Dominion University (8-3, 7-1 C-USA), Friday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. The game takes place at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas and will air live on ESPN.
The Eagles will come into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl following one of the most successful seasons in its 125-year history. EMU finished with a winning record for the first time since 1995, most wins (seven) since 1989, and its first bowl appearance since 1987 when EMU won the California Bowl. The Eagles tied the FBS mark for biggest turnarounds in 2016, improving on its win total from one win in 2015, to its seven this season.
It will be important to purchase tickets for the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl directly from the EMU Athletic Ticket Office by calling 734.487.2282. Tickets for the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl are priced at $50. Tickets purchased through EMU directly support Eagle athletics and our student-athletes. Purchasing tickets through the University's allotment guarantees that your group will be seated in the official EMU seating block(s). Also, purchasing tickets through the University's allotment positions EMU for future postseason opportunities by establishing a tradition of strong bowl participation by our fan base.
For EMU, redshirt senior defensive lineman Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita) led the way being named to the first team, while redshirt junior punter Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon), redshirt freshman placekicker Paul Fricano (Rochester N.Y.-Churchville-Chili), and redshirt senior offensive lineman Cole Gardner (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia) were each named to the second team. In addition, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior), senior defensive back DaQuan Pace (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech), and redshirt senior offensive lineman Andrew Wylie (Midland, Mich.-Midland) all garnered All-MAC Third Team honors.
Each of the seven earned the second honors of the postseason, as all seven were also named to the All-MAC team by the conference, Nov. 30. Fricano, Gardner, Harris and Pace were also named to the 2016 Academic All-MAC team as well.
O'Connor was the team leader on a much improved defensive unit for EMU in 2016. In his final season, O'Connor set the EMU sack record since 1998 by getting to the quarterback 19.5 times in his career. In total on the season, the Chicago native sacked the QB a team-high eight times, which was good for 39th in the country and fourth in the MAC. In addition, O'Connor had 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 15 QB hurries, and five forced fumbles, and was one of just nine players in the nation with five or more forced fumbles on the season. He finished his career as the sack leader, QB hurries leader, and forced fumbles leader, while also finishing third on the tackles for loss with 31.5. When O'Connor plays in the bowl game, he will break the record for most career games played as an Eagle with 49.
Barnes was successful punting the ball for the Eagles this season. The Ray Guy semifinalist punted the ball 60 times for an average of 43.73 yards and a career-long of 61 yards. He pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line, 27 times, and had 18 kicks of 50+ yards. His season average ranked 23rd in the country and second in the MAC. His average of 50.0 against Bowling Green, Oct. 1 was an EMU single-game record, while his season average broke the 36-year single-season record. Currently, Barnes ranks second in career average (42.6), while his 7,548 career yardage ranks seventh all-time.
Fellow EMU specialist Fricano earned the starting kicking job during the offseason following the graduation of Dylan Mulder last season. The redshirt freshman burst onto the scene this season as a model of consistency, breaking the single-season extra point record after converting on 40-of-41 attempts this season. In total, the Rochester, N.Y. native hit 17-of-22 field goal attempts with a season long of 46, for a team-high 91 total points. He finished the year ranked fifth in the MAC in points (58th in the country). His 77.2 percent field goal percentage ranked 46th in the country, and fourth in the MAC, while his 1.42 field goals per game was 22nd in the nation, and second in the conference.
Gardner was the starting left tackle on one of the best offensive line units not only in the MAC, but in the country. Gardner started all 12 games protecting the blind side for EMU this season. The converted tight end will finish his career playing in 47 career games, making 31 career starts, and he will finish his career tied for fifth in career games played. The EMU frontline completed the season ranked 12th in the country (fourth in the MAC) in sacks allowed, as well as second in the country (first MAC) in tackles for loss allowed.
Harris was another menace next to O'Connor on EMU's defensive line this season. The Lambertville, Mich. native finished fourth on the team with 63 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, as well as six QB hurries. He made his biggest mark in the turnover battle for Eastern, forcing three fumbles, and leading the team with three fumble recoveries, which ranked sixth in the country and second in the MAC. In the season finale against CMU, Harris had the game sealing interception, the first of his career. Harris was also a huge asset on the field goal block team, getting his mitts on two attempts this season. He was one of just 29 players to block multiple field goals this season.
Pace wrapped up his stellar EMU career as the career pass breakup leader with 24 career interruptions. This season, the cornerback finished with 47 total tackles and a team-high three interceptions, as well as a team-best eight breakups. His three picks ranked fifth in the MAC, as well as 59th in the country, while his 11 passes defended was tied for ninth in the MAC. A staple in the secondary in his four-year career, Pace will finish his career tied for 11th in games played with 46 appearances for Eastern.
Wylie was the other anchor on the stellar EMU frontline. The redshirt senior started all 12 games at right tackle this season. He will finish his career with 44 starts, which ranks fourth all-time at EMU, while his 46 appearances will rank tied for 11th all-time.
For the first time since the 1987 season, Eastern Michigan is headed to a bowl game. The Eagles have accepted an invitation to the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. EMU will take on Conference USA opponent Old Dominion University (8-3, 7-1 C-USA), Friday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. The game takes place at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas and will air live on ESPN.
The Eagles will come into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl following one of the most successful seasons in its 125-year history. EMU finished with a winning record for the first time since 1995, most wins (seven) since 1989, and its first bowl appearance since 1987 when EMU won the California Bowl. The Eagles tied the FBS mark for biggest turnarounds in 2016, improving on its win total from one win in 2015, to its seven this season.
It will be important to purchase tickets for the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl directly from the EMU Athletic Ticket Office by calling 734.487.2282. Tickets for the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl are priced at $50. Tickets purchased through EMU directly support Eagle athletics and our student-athletes. Purchasing tickets through the University's allotment guarantees that your group will be seated in the official EMU seating block(s). Also, purchasing tickets through the University's allotment positions EMU for future postseason opportunities by establishing a tradition of strong bowl participation by our fan base.
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