Read the transcript of this chat in the extended post:

Oct 2 2014, 11:58 AM

Jim: All right, folks, let's talk Eastern Washington sports!

Oct 2 2014, 12:00 PM

Guest719 (guest): What do eastern fans think of WSU?

Oct 2 2014, 12:00 PM

Jim: Hello, 719: The school or the team?

Oct 2 2014, 12:00 PM

EaglePower (guest): lets do this!

Oct 2 2014, 12:00 PM

Jim: Yes, let's!

Oct 2 2014, 12:00 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): I think they'll win a few more games this year.

Oct 2 2014, 12:01 PM

Jim: Before the season, I had the Cougs at 5-7, and I think it'll turn out that way.

Oct 2 2014, 12:01 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): I also think we could take 'em.

Oct 2 2014, 12:01 PM

Jim: Three weeks ago, yes. But WSU is playing better.

Oct 2 2014, 12:02 PM

Jim: So who's excited about the Eagles' first home game in five weeks?

Oct 2 2014, 12:03 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): me me

Oct 2 2014, 12:03 PM

Jim: I for one am tired of traveling, although California was quite pleasant!

Oct 2 2014, 12:03 PM

EaglePower (guest): Jim, have you been to practices this week? If so how have we been looking...any word on Forte?

Oct 2 2014, 12:04 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): any interested in fortes status as well. I saw he did not practice yesterday

Oct 2 2014, 12:04 PM

Jim: I was at practice on Tuesday. I didn't see Forte, but we was suited up for the UC Davis game and I could see that he wanted to play. I believe he will play on Saturday.

Oct 2 2014, 12:04 PM

Guest152 (guest): i think that the WSU coaches and players and for that matter all local football teams watch the Eagles and realize that it is never over

Oct 2 2014, 12:05 PM

Jim: An inspiration to everyone?

Oct 2 2014, 12:05 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): Guest, I agree

Oct 2 2014, 12:06 PM

Jim: Who out there is afraid of Idaho State - they hung 639 yards on Sac State last week.

Oct 2 2014, 12:07 PM

Guest152 (guest): More concerned that UC Davis showed other teams a model to slow us down

Oct 2 2014, 12:08 PM

Jim: That was surreal: Almost 4 minutes into the second quarter, and EWU was taking the field for its second possession.

Oct 2 2014, 12:08 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): I agree, but you need to have the personnel to be able to play like that. Idaho State doesnt

Oct 2 2014, 12:09 PM

Jim: ISU is a pass-first, hurry-up team; this game will be high-scoring.

Oct 2 2014, 12:09 PM

SE174 (guest): ISU will get their points, but they won't be able to keep up with us. Their defense is atrocious.

Oct 2 2014, 12:11 PM

Jim: ISU coach Mike Kramer told me earlier this week that the defense is still a work in progress - last year in Pocatello, the Eags put a school record 700+ yards on them.

Oct 2 2014, 12:11 PM

GoldenEagle (guest): Unlike UC Davis they will use all of the field vertically. Our DBs will get a workout. Will Todd Raynes play or still injured?

Oct 2 2014, 12:11 PM

Jim: Eastern's been hedging a bit lately on injuries; Raynes and Forte are both listed as questionable.

Oct 2 2014, 12:11 PM

EaglePower (guest): we could see 100 points plus

Oct 2 2014, 12:12 PM

Jim: 80 for sure

Oct 2 2014, 12:12 PM

SE174 (guest): Sac State's D is pretty bad as well.

Oct 2 2014, 12:12 PM

Jim: Yes, but that was a big win the ISU program, which admittedly has struggled for many years. I sense an uptick.

Oct 2 2014, 12:12 PM

Guest941 (guest): Any word on the Gateway? Heard it's close...

Oct 2 2014, 12:13 PM

Jim: Tell us more, cuz I'm not getting much that's tangible enough for a story.

Oct 2 2014, 12:13 PM

EaglePower (guest): overall the Big Sky looks very bad this year for some reason. run the table again?

Oct 2 2014, 12:14 PM

Jim: I agree that the league OVERALL is down, but that's no reflection on Eastern. MSU and UM are decent, and I'm not sure about NAU. It drops off after that.

Oct 2 2014, 12:14 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): Gateway, have heard there is a lead donor identified but other than that they need other financial backing from other big donors. that could have changed

Oct 2 2014, 12:15 PM

Jim: Identified, yes. Committed, no. That's been the case for several months now.

Oct 2 2014, 12:15 PM

Guest941 (guest): My sources are probably not reliable. Sorry.

Oct 2 2014, 12:15 PM

Jim: Darn!

Oct 2 2014, 12:15 PM

EaglePower (guest): sshhh...we are in the "quiet phase"

Oct 2 2014, 12:16 PM

Jim: Sorry ... maybe it will pop up in the middle of the night if we don't talk about it.

Oct 2 2014, 12:18 PM

Jim: For what it's worth, the Gateway Project was first announced in April of 2102, with schematic drawings and artist's renderings unveiled in November of that year. That means the "quiet phase" is entering its third year.

Oct 2 2014, 12:18 PM

Guest941 (guest): Do you think Evan Day will sit out the season?

Oct 2 2014, 12:19 PM

Jim: I've asked a few folks, and they just can't put a timetable on it. They're hoping for late October ... sure would be a shame for a senior who's worked so hard.

Oct 2 2014, 12:20 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): with respect to the Gateway, I think we need to scrap that specific plan and just focus on getting permanent seating on the west side of the stadium

Oct 2 2014, 12:21 PM

Jim: I've heard that opinion from others; right now it's designed as multiuse, but a seating-only arrangement would be cheaper.

Oct 2 2014, 12:21 PM

EaglePower (guest): agreed. something with a much smaller price tage associated with it that can be expanded later into a gateway type facility

Oct 2 2014, 12:22 PM

Jim: I hope to have a Gateway story soon, but frankly I've been swamped with football stories - imagine that. Look for something the week of the No. Colorado game.

Oct 2 2014, 12:22 PM

Guest941 (guest): I think we need the Gateway. Another bad set of bleachers won't cut it (especially if the track is still there.) We'll get left behind by the Montanas and Montana States among upper FCS teams...

Oct 2 2014, 12:23 PM

Jim: And that's another issue entirely: what does Eastern need to keep up with UM AND MSU?

Oct 2 2014, 12:23 PM

Guest847 (guest): Read the TSN article titled "Where is the VA He is an hype". What did you think about it, Jim?

Oct 2 2014, 12:24 PM

Jim: I skimmed it, but at the end of the day, you have to play more than one game against FBS competition.

Oct 2 2014, 12:24 PM

Jim: He's a great one, though, but you already knew that!

Oct 2 2014, 12:24 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): also need to address things like concessions and bathrooms. Games with a crowd over 10k and it's just packed in there.

Oct 2 2014, 12:25 PM

Jim: For sure. That restroom/concession building is an eyesore, IMO. It's gotta go!

Oct 2 2014, 12:25 PM

EaglePower (guest): any news on the recruiting front? I saw we had some CA recruits at the Davis game and may already have 3-4 verbals

Oct 2 2014, 12:26 PM

Jim: Only two verbals so far, but frankly I just don't pay that much attention AT THIS STAGE.

Oct 2 2014, 12:26 PM

Guest881 (guest): Another sell out this weekend. It seems like the extra seating would product the best returns. Building smaller with room/ability to expand might be the best answer.

Oct 2 2014, 12:26 PM

Jim: That's a viable option.

Oct 2 2014, 12:27 PM

EaglePower (guest): not looking for specifics, just numbers of verbals

Oct 2 2014, 12:28 PM

Jim: At this point, 8 offers and two verbal commits: a lineman from Olympia and a linebacker from Fresno. The coaches worked it pretty hard during the bye week. The near-miss at UW must have helped.

Oct 2 2014, 12:28 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): why is it all or nothing with Gateway?

Oct 2 2014, 12:29 PM

Jim: Because most of the cost is tied up in the complex on the east side of the stadium (seats, luxury boxes, retail, offices). Take those out and there's not much else.

Oct 2 2014, 12:31 PM

Jim: I believe the mixed-use approach was designed to appeal to the school as a whole, and not have this be strictly a football facility. That might appease the academic types, but drives up the cost.

Oct 2 2014, 12:31 PM

Jim: Let me repeat: this is a very complex issue, fraught with politics as well as cost issues.

Oct 2 2014, 12:31 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): seems like we could aim much smaller and get better results.

Oct 2 2014, 12:33 PM

Jim: The current price tag is $65-70 million. I'd advise you to Google images for 'Gateway Project' and get reacquainted with the big picture.

Oct 2 2014, 12:33 PM

EaglePower (guest): thanks for the info. I'm glad to see we have been recruiting heavily in CA the past several years. We've had some real gems from the bay area

Oct 2 2014, 12:33 PM

Jim: You are welcome. As the coaches say, it all gets sorted out in the first week of February.

Oct 2 2014, 12:33 PM

eaglesfootball (guest): my personal opinion is that appeasing academic types should not be a requirement here since state money cant be used anyway

Oct 2 2014, 12:35 PM

Jim: Yes, but the university must approve. Part of the idea is to create a figurative "bridge" over Washington Street, which has traditionally divided sports and academics. A mixed-used building could fill that role.

Oct 2 2014, 12:35 PM

clawman (guest): Once they start sinking money into the current facility there will be no going back and doing it right. Eastern will destined to be a second tier program as far as facilities. Kind of like repainting an old car... you still have an old car.

Oct 2 2014, 12:36 PM

Jim: How do folks define "second tier" in terms of facilities?

Oct 2 2014, 12:37 PM

Jim: IMO, the school needs an updated stadium with seating of at least 15K.

Oct 2 2014, 12:37 PM

Jim: The rest is window dressing I IF your bottom line is long-term competitiveness.

Oct 2 2014, 12:37 PM

EaglePower (guest): Facilities are the one thing that holds Eastern back from being a truly elite FCS program.

Oct 2 2014, 12:38 PM

Jim: Lots of steak but not so much sizzle. However, the tailgating scene is better than ever.

Oct 2 2014, 12:38 PM

EaglePower (guest): If it were only about stadium size, Eastern could go back to playing games at Joe ALbi.

Oct 2 2014, 12:39 PM

Jim: Sorry, but Albi is a dump; I would play there only while a new facility was under construction - too far from campus.

Oct 2 2014, 12:39 PM

EaglePower (guest): If something doesn't get done with Roos Field over the next 3-4 years, we may be forced to do just that if we want to continue to play in the second tier of college football.

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

Jim: No matter what you do, it still comes down to money - the deep pockets

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

EaglePower (guest): Albi is a dump and obviously not the best choice. We'd potentially lose a lot of student interest playing there. But we may not have a choice with conference realignment coming. That is if we don't get something going on campus.

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

Jim: Realignment - what do you think that would look like?

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

EaglePower (guest): And I also agree with Jim that you need buy in from the University.

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

Guest152 (guest): enough let's finish with football talk

Oct 2 2014, 12:42 PM

Jim: Xs and Os - bring it on!

Oct 2 2014, 12:43 PM

Jim: ISU has a running game for the first time in years, although their QB Justin Arias isn't very mobile. I think that's a plus for Eastern.

Oct 2 2014, 12:43 PM

EaglePower (guest): P5 will break away...remaining FBS conferences will merge with the top 4 FCS conferences. Idaho and Wyoming looks more like Montana and MSU than they do USC.

Oct 2 2014, 12:44 PM

Jim: That's what many are saying ... no way Eastern joins that group with a stadium that holds 8,600. Then what?

Oct 2 2014, 12:44 PM

Guest847 (guest): Who are the impact players on ISU

Oct 2 2014, 12:46 PM

Jim: The go-to receiver is Mangum, a big kid who will give the EWU CBs a lot of trouble in single coverage. RB Xavier Finney leads the Sky with 543 yards, but his YPR is only 4.9 which is only 8th among the top 10 backs in the conference. In other words, the running game is still a work in progress. Better than last year, though.

Oct 2 2014, 12:47 PM

Guest152 (guest): Will any of the D lineman that have been injured return this week

Oct 2 2014, 12:48 PM

Jim: DE John Goldwire (concussion) played at Davis. ... Pulu (elbow) is still out .. and of course Evan Day (ACL) still out.

Oct 2 2014, 12:48 PM

EaglePower (guest): They could play at Albi, that's my point. If it's only about seating capacity it could be done. As for ISU, I think our DE's will get some sacks this saturday.

Oct 2 2014, 12:48 PM

Jim: No to Albi, yes to sacks by the DEs!

Oct 2 2014, 12:49 PM

Guest761 (guest): would like to see some of those guys return too. I think Pulu could be a big body in the middle to help out

Oct 2 2014, 12:49 PM

Jim: Andru has been plagued by injury almost since he arrived.

Oct 2 2014, 12:49 PM

clawman (guest): Upper tier would be U of M, MSU, App state, seating upper teens to mid 20's capacity. Mid tier is Idaho St, NAU, Ceder city is just OK. To be an effective all purpose facility is should seat 20k plus or minus and be able to have concerts, monster trucks, rodeo, etc.

Oct 2 2014, 12:51 PM

Jim: Do you think it will stratify that much? Where do you see the mid-FBS teams (Nevada, Fresno St. Wyoming, etc.) ending up? In an EWU glass that's half-full, could they join those schools (and UM, MSU) IF a 20K stadium gets built?

Oct 2 2014, 12:51 PM

Guest761 (guest): Albi could be an interim solution for a couple of years but long term we will need a better stadium on campus

Oct 2 2014, 12:51 PM

Jim: Yep

Oct 2 2014, 12:51 PM

clawman (guest): My understanding is there are several other possible locations on University land.

Oct 2 2014, 12:51 PM

Jim: Lots of land beyond the current stadium - that isn't the problem.

Oct 2 2014, 12:52 PM

EaglePower (guest): Jim, to answer your question. Yes. I think it would be a conference which looked very similar to the Big Sky in the late 80's and early 90's with schools like Nevada, Idaho, etc.

Oct 2 2014, 12:54 PM

Jim: Yes, that would be exciting. Imagine a 12-team league including EWU, UM, MSU, NDSU, Wyoming, Utah St. Boise St, Nevada, Fresno State, San Jose St.,Idaho UNLV

Oct 2 2014, 12:54 PM

GoldenEagle (guest): Arias the ISU QB doesn't seem very mobile, but has a strong arm. Can we get enough pressure on him to keep him from picking our D apart?

Oct 2 2014, 12:55 PM

Jim: Yes, note that Ebukam had two sacks last week at Davis. And Davis has a better running game than ISU. The ends could have a big day.

Oct 2 2014, 12:55 PM

Guest761 (guest): Idaho is also held back by their stadium. Kibbie Dome is a major problem as well. Same boat as ISU for that matter.

Oct 2 2014, 12:56 PM

Jim: Yes they are - but let me ask you - in your mind, what separates EWU football from Idaho right now; it's certainly not the product on the field!

Oct 2 2014, 12:56 PM

EaglePower (guest): The ISU O Line is rumored to be night and day from last year

Oct 2 2014, 12:56 PM

Jim: Kramer told me the that's been the biggest difference-maker this year (spoken like an former lineman!)

Oct 2 2014, 12:56 PM

Guest761 (guest): domes seemed trendy in the 70's but were perhaps not the best long term solution

Oct 2 2014, 12:57 PM

Jim: a bit liminting, those domes!

Oct 2 2014, 12:57 PM

clawman (guest): Score prediction?

Oct 2 2014, 12:57 PM

Jim: I see a runaway by the offense ...EWU 52, ISU 27

Oct 2 2014, 12:57 PM

EaglePower (guest): Biggest difference, scholarships and Idaho being the flagship university so they get more state money than EWU. Although the second part of that doesn't seem to help out much on the field.

Oct 2 2014, 12:58 PM

Jim: Yes, they do - we keep coming back to money, don't we?

Oct 2 2014, 12:58 PM

clawman (guest): Eagles 45 ISU 15 with West playing most of the 4th qtr

Oct 2 2014, 12:58 PM

Guest761 (guest): EWU 48 ISU 34

Oct 2 2014, 12:58 PM

Jim: clawman, I have to think ISU gets more than 15.

Oct 2 2014, 12:59 PM

EaglePower (guest): lol clawman

Oct 2 2014, 12:59 PM

Guest881 (guest): EWU 48 ISU 24

Oct 2 2014, 12:59 PM

EaglePower (guest): Eastern 56 ISU 38

Oct 2 2014, 12:59 PM

Jim: Thanks, everyone, that may have been our best chat ever - gotta put my fingers on ice.

Oct 2 2014, 12:59 PM

clawman (guest): Defense is peaking and confident. Cody McCarthy is going to hunt, KILL it!!

Oct 2 2014, 1:00 PM

Jim: Wouldn't you know it - McCarthy is my feature story for this week. Look for it Friday!

Oct 2 2014, 1:00 PM

EaglePower (guest): thanks Jim

Oct 2 2014, 1:00 PM

Jim: Thanks, all! Till next week ...

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