EAGLE FOOTBALL Monday, Sep. 4, 2017 Contact: Dave Cook (509-359-6334, 280-2502 cell, [email protected]) Internet: HTTP://WWW.GOEAGS.COM or HTTP://WWW.EWU.EDU Twitter: @ewuathletics, @ewufootball, @CoachBestEWU, #GoEags Facebook: EWU Football, EWU Athletics • Instagram: ewuathletics EWU-NDSU Play in 50th Game on the Red Turf Bison & Eagles expected to wage another epic 2017 Eagle Football #7/6 Ranked Eastern battle between top 10 teams at sold-out Roos Field Washington Univ. “Eagles” in the Big Sky/Missouri Valley Challenge Series versus #2/#2 North Dakota It’s already been said – State University “Bison” and proven -- in the Eastern Washington University football Saturday, September 9 • 1:05 p.m. Pacific program that iron sharpens iron. Roos Field (8,600) • Cheney, Wash. In a repeat match-up between EWU Coach: Aaron Best (Eastern Washington ‘01) top 10 ranked teams, the No. 7/6 School Record: 0-1/0-0 Big Sky Conference (First Season) Career Record: 0-1 (First Season) Eagles open their 2017 home 2017: 0-1/0-0 Big Sky Conference schedule at sold-out Roos Field 2016: 12-2/8-0 Big Sky Co-Champions with North Dakota Last Game: Texas Tech 56, #5/4 EWU 10 (Sept. 2 in Lubbock, Texas) this Saturday (Sept. 9) when No. TV: SWX in Eastern Washington area & NBC North Dakota 2 North Dakota State visits in Webcast: ESPN3 Radio: 700-AM ESPN and 105.3-FM in the Spokane/Cheney area, the opening weekend of the Big as well as KTEL 1490-AM & 99.7-FM in Walla Walla. Larry Weir Sky Conference/Missouri Valley Football Conference Challenge returns for his 27th season calling the play-by-play, with analysis handled by Paul Sorensen. Broadcasts begin one hour prior to Series. kickoff and include an expanded post-game show. Internet Radio: www.tunein.com (search for Eastern Washington In what will be the 50th game on the famed red turf of Roos University). Field, kickoff is 1:05 p.m. in a game televised live by SWX in the Radio Mobile Phone App: Available via tunein radio. Live Stats: www.ewustats.com Eastern Washington region, NBC North Dakota and via ESPN3. Weekly Coaches Show: Starting Sept. 4, Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Fans can also listen to the game on the Eagle radio network “Impulse Club” at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, with video highlights and commentary by head coach Aaron Best at 5:30 (including 700-AM ESPN), via the web at tunein.com and via p.m. listen via 700-AM ESPN & 105.3-FM. mobile phone app, with pre-game coverage starting one hour prior Watch Parties: Consult EWU social media outlets for details the Friday before games. Those who may carry EWU games include to kickoff. “Epic” at Northern Quest Casino and Resort in Airway Heights, Bor- This week’s showdown with the five-time NCAA Football racho in downtown Spokane and the Swinging Doors in Spokane. Championship Subdivision Champions is the second game of a home-and-home series against the Bison. Eastern, which won the NORTH DAKOTA STATE national title in 2010 prior to NDSU’s incredible run of five-straight, UNIV. “BISON” lost 50-44 in overtime on Sept. 10, 2016, in Fargo. Eastern Coach: Chris Klieman (UNI ‘90) knocked off NDSU 38-31 in overtime in the only previous meeting School/Career Rec.: 40-5 (3 Seasons)/43-12 (4) with the Bison on Dec. 11, 2010, in the FCS Playoffs in Cheney. 2016: 12-2/7-1 Missouri Valley (t-1st) SID: Ryan Perreault (701.231.8331/793-0521/ [email protected]) Both teams advanced to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs last Website: www.gobison.com season, but losses enabled current No. 1 ranked James Madison 2017 Schedule (1-0 Overall) to become the first team other than EWU or NDSU to win the Sept. 2 Mississippi Valley State W, 72-7 Sept. 9 at Eastern Washington national title since 2009. Sept. 23 Robert Morris Sept. 30 Missouri State All-Time Scores “They have a very highly intelligent offense and defense, and Oct. 7 at Indiana State Tied 1-1 their special teams are a well-coached outfit,” said Eastern head Oct. 14 at Youngstown State Year Res. Score Loc. Oct. 21 Western Illinois 2016 L 44-50 (ot) A coach Aaron Best. “They do everything really, really, really well. Oct. 28 Northern Iowa #2010 W 38-31 (ot) H And that’s even mentioning how physical they are. But our goal is Nov. 4 at South Dakota State Nov. 11 South Dakota H-Home; A-Away; S-Spokane; to be the most physical team between the tackles on defense, and N-Neutral; #FCS Playoffs. EWU Football - Page 2 to sustain drives with points at the end on offense. It’s a tall the preseason STATS NCAA Football Championship task, but our team is up for that challenge.” preseason top 25 rankings, and were one notch higher While NDSU opened its season with 72-7 home romp in the poll of coaches. EWU’s finished 12-2 and a perfect past Mississippi Valley State, Eastern lost 56-10 against 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference a year ago and ended the Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference on Sept. 2 to mark year ranked fourth in the NCAA Football Championship the head coaching debut of Best. The Bison outgained Subdivision. Eastern advanced to the semifinals of the FCS MVSU 683-58 in total offense, including a massive 498 to Playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons, and 12th minus-31 advantage in rushing and 85-89 in passing. playoff berth overall. Meanwhile, Eastern faced the top offense in the NCAA Eastern was 6-2 versus ranked teams last year, and Football Bowl Subdivision and were out-gained 626-301 was No. 8 when it fell to top-ranked NDSU. EWU is 17-41 in total offense and 449-220 through the air. This week’s all-time versus top 10 teams and 8-33 versus teams in meeting with NDSU is a night-and-day type of situation for the top 5, but are 8-6 and 3-5, respectively, since 2010. Eastern’s defense. Overall, EWU is 25-12 since 2010 versus ranked teams, and 54-66 all-time. “That’s going to be one of the bigger challenges for our defense,” said Best of the contrast in styles. “We’re not The Eagles are well-stocked with experience on the going to play this week against many four-receiver sets and field. Eastern returns 51 letterwinners, including 25 on on-the-edge rushes, passes and screens. It’s probably not defense, 22 on offense and four on special teams. Six an 180-degree turn in what we faced last week, but pretty starters return on offense and six on defense. darn close.” Dropping just two spots in both polls, Eastern is ranked seventh in this week’s STATS FCS Top-25 rankings and EWU-NDSU Game Notes is rated sixth by the coaches. North Dakota State is No. 2 in both polls, behind defending FCS champion James Big Sky & Missouri Valley Begin Challenge Series Madison. Eastern has now been ranked by STATS in 72 of its last 73 polls, including a current streak of 15-straight In an effort to publicize current matchups and promote future non- conference scheduling between two of the premier FCS conferences, weeks in the top 10. The only schools with longer streaks the Mis souri Valley Football Conference and the Big Sky Conference are NDSU, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State. have announced a Challenge Series between the two leagues. The The Eagles entered the season ranked fifth in eight-game series will begin Sept. 9 and conclude Oct. 7. Location/Founded: Cheney, Wash./1882 Big Sky Record: 8-0 (co-CHAMPIONS) Enrollment: 12,279 (fall ’16) Big Sky Titles: 9 (92-97-04-05-10-12-13-14-16) 2017 Big Sky Conference Standings Switchboard: 509.359.6200 FCS Playoff Appearances: 12 (85-92-97-04-05- Big Sky Conference All Games President: Dr. Mary Cullinan 07-09-10-12-13-14-16) Team W L PCT PF PA W L PCT PF PA Nickname/Colors: Eagles/Red and White FCS Record & Championships: 14-10 . 2010 Affiliation: NCAA Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Champions Weber State 0 0 ---- 0 0 1 0 1.000 76 0 Conference: Big Sky Conference All-Time Homecoming Record: 55-32-3 Montana 0 0 ---- 0 0 1 0 1.000 45 23 Stadium: Roos Field (formerly Woodward Field) All-Big Sky Conf. Performers Returning: 7 Northern Colorado 0 0 ---- 0 0 1 0 1.000 41 14 Capacity/Surface: 8,600/Sprinturf Letter Winners Returning: 51 (22 offense/25 Idaho State 0 0 ---- 0 0 1 0 1.000 37 6 Ath. Phone: 509.359.2463/1.800.648.7697 defense/4 specialists) Eastern Washington 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 10 56 Athletic Director: Bill Chaves Letter Winners Lost: 19 (10 offense/9 defense/0 Northern Arizona 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 24 62 Senior Woman Administrator: Pamela Parks specialists) Southern Utah 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 21 77 Faculty Representative: Laurie Morley Starters Returning: 12 (6 offense/6 defense, plus UC Davis 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 17 38 Head Athletic Trainer: Brian Norton 2 kickers, 1 punter, 1 snapper) North Dakota 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 16 37 Facilities Manager: Kerry Pease Starters Lost: 10 (5 offense/5 defense) Sacramento State 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 6 28 Equipment Manager: TBA/Spenser Ybarra Offensive Formation: Multiple Montana State 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 1 .000 0 31 Marketing/Promotions: Kyle Hoob Defensive Formation: 4-2-5 Portland State 0 0 ---- 0 0 0 2 .000 38 55 Business Oper.: Chad Karthauser (Assoc.