Eastern Michigan hoping new gray turf at 'The Factory' brings fresh outlook, more wins

In this photo taken on Aug. 15, 2014, Eastern Michigan players line up for a play during NCAA college football practice at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.. The school has replaced the stadium’s green artificial turf with gray FieldTurf. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Aug. 15, 2014, Eastern Michigan players walk across the field before NCAA college football practice at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.. The school has replaced the stadium’s green artificial turf with gray FieldTurf. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) (The Associated Press)

Rynearson Stadium's green artificial turf didn't do Eastern Michigan's football team any favors over the past decade, so the team hopes a switch to gray might give it a fresh outlook.

If it looks like a factory floor, that's by design.

New head coach Chris Creighton said after a recent practice at the Ypsilanti stadium now dubbed "The Factory" that it's a good metaphor for the broader change in culture he's hoping to instill in the team. He says a factory is a place where you go to work, it's blue collar and things are built there.

Creighton compiled a 44-22 record in six seasons coaching Drake before he took over at Eastern Michigan from Ron English. English's teams won just 11 games during five years as the Eagles' coach.