East Michigan News

In the latest episode of the Eastern Insider podcast, hosts Tom Helmer and Greg Steiner engage in a Halloween-themed discussion before delving into sports. Helmer shares his plan to dress as Batman, while Steiner recalls a past "Dadbod" costume worn by Helmer at a basketball game. The conversation touches on Halloween traditions, candy preferences, and updates on Eastern Michigan University's football and soccer seasons.

The first segment features Sahar Nusseibeh, the new head coach of EMU's women's basketball team. She discusses the team's transition, chemistry, and goals for the upcoming season. Bringing five players from Canisius with her, Nusseibeh compares blending new and returning athletes to "a little bit of the Brady Bunch." She highlights the importance of teamwork and unity in rebuilding the program: "We talk about building a sisterhood—successful teams do that."

Nusseibeh emphasizes adaptability and continuous improvement: "Our focus is to be better every day. We reflect, we adjust, and by March, we want to be playing our best basketball." As they prepare for their season opener on November 4th, she notes that the starting lineup remains undecided but will likely feature a mix of returners and newcomers.

The second segment shifts focus to Chris Creighton, head coach of EMU's football team. Reflecting on last week's loss to Akron, Creighton acknowledges areas needing improvement: "We have to be better at running the ball and stopping the run if we want to win games." Despite setbacks, he praises his team's resilience in converting key downs.

Looking ahead to their matchup against Toledo on November 2nd, Creighton expresses respect for their opponent: "Toledo knows who they are and executes well." He highlights ball security as crucial for success against Toledo's talented offense.

Creighton also mentions balancing football with family life during Halloween festivities: "We work a lot, but it's important to carve out time to be good husbands and fathers."