On any given day in the college football world, you can find duplicate jersey numbers throughout a team’s roster
The reasoning behind it is simple: There are more players on a roster than there are two-digit numbers, creating the need for some players to share a number with a teammate.
Those shared numbers could be anything: No. 2, No. 13, or even No. 46.
Any number can be shared, and most of the time, one offensive player will wear the number while a defensive or special teams player also wears it. That way, the two players never overlap on the field.
But for Eastern Michigan University and the Eagles football team, two numbers will never be shared or see an overlap on the field. The first is No. 2. The second is No. 0, or, to Eastern Michigan football, it is known as “The Zero.”
“The Zero” isn’t available to just any player, and it can never simply be chosen. The number must be earned by a player on the defensive side of the ball.
A player must earn the right to wear “The Zero” by embodying the values of ETOUGH while emphasizing selflessness, hard work, and toughness. The player awarded “The Zero” represents the spirit of Eastern Michigan’s defensive culture and grit.
“The Zero” was first introduced during the 2020 season after the NCAA changed its rules earlier that year to allow players to wear No. 0.
It is a weekly, merit-based honor designed to recognize the team’s defensive identity.
“The Zero” gets passed around every week, meaning no player on the roster is officially listed as wearing No. 0 until gameday.
You don’t have to be the star player or have a fantastic game to earn the jersey. You earn it by being the hard hat on defense while also having the best attitude during the previous week’s game.
The Pillars of the ETOUGH Philosophy
The culture Eagles head coach Chris Creighton has cultivated requires each of his athletes to be selfless, hardworking and tough, all traits of the ETOUGH philosophy that Creighton established when he first became Eastern Michigan’s head football coach.
ETOUGH is not just an idea. It is an acronym that helps guide Eastern Michigan football players.
- E stands for Eastern.
- T stands for Team first.
- O is for Obsessed with getting better.
- U is Unwavering in adversity.
- G is having Great effort.
- H is for Heart.
These six ideals provide a framework for how “The Zero” can be earned, and it is up to the player to embody each one to earn the right to wear it.
Some players who have earned the honor of wearing “The Zero” include defensive ends Justin Jefferson and Carter Evans, along with linebacker Barry Manning.
All three players were known for their outstanding performances as Eastern Michigan Eagles on the field while also leading their teammates with a positive, team-first attitude.
Cultural Significance in Ypsilanti
At Eastern Michigan, wearing No. 0 or No. 2 is never easy because of the legacy those numbers hold.
But every player who dons either number has earned the right to wear it.
Those two numbers are culturally and vitally important to the Eastern Michigan football program. As the season rages on, taking a moment to understand just how significant they are helps illustrate the respect both numbers command from teammates and coaches alike.
“The Zero” may only appear on a jersey for one game at a time, but the values behind it last far longer.
It represents the hard hat mentality, the willingness to put the team before yourself and the toughness required to be an Eastern Michigan Eagle.
