Chad Chat: Cougs’ Eaton Tackles A Mike

Destiny guides some love affairs.

They are just, simply, meant to be.

And in those cases, one can almost imagine that first electric moment of irresistible attraction.

Tracy sees Hepburn, Lassie licks Timmy, Chad Eaton spots an open microphone.

Fate.

The well- and often-spoken Eaton, also known as a promising defensive tackle from Washington State, is not only preparing for the impending NFL draft, but getting paid for what had previously been only an enjoyable hobby - voicing his abundant opinions.

He’s doing so as a fill-in talk-show host on Seattle’s KJR radio.

“Last week I (hosted) twice, from 6 to 10, and it’s fantastic,” Eaton said from his family’s Puyallup home. “I get to voice my opinions - like how much I hate Charles Barkley.”

But how is his obvious Cougar bias received in the home of the Huskies?

“They’re getting used to me. I’ve even had guys call up and say they’re big Husky fans but they still like me,” Eaton said. “I say, ‘Aw yeah, and you’re a real sucker, too.’ “

In a time when bombast boosts shockjock radio shows, Eaton has found a comfortable home.

“For the last two years or so, at Washington State, I would do little interviews occasionally, and a producer asked me if I wanted some air time,” Eaton said, recalling a question that featured about the same degree of difficulty as deciding if a beagle might appreciate a pork chop. “I did it and they loved it. He said that if things don’t work out with football to be sure and come back.

“I love it; hey, I want to become a (television) talk show host - move over Gordon Elliott and Jerry Springer, here comes Chad Eaton.”

Eaton may not be the biggest on-air personality KJR has ever had in listenership OR displacement, since his 292 pounds may not top a certain sports babe who rose to fabulous prominence in town. But he will certainly be the first to be drafted into the NFL.

Winner of the Morris Trophy as the best defensive lineman in the Pacific-10 Conference, Eaton expects to be taken somewhere in the second or third rounds of the April 22-23 draft.

“They’re saying late second or early third (round) with late third as the worstcase scenario,” he said.

At the scouting combine in Indianapolis, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 repetitions and ran a respectable 5.0 seconds for 40 yards.

A member of the Cowboy brass shopping for talent at the combine told Eaton that the 40 time is fairly insignificant for a defensive tackle. “He said, ‘Chad, after all, how many times have you had to run 40 yards to catch somebody?’ ” Eaton said. “I told him, ‘Quite a few. Have you seen any of my films?’ “

Wednesday, Eaton joined a handful of former Cougar teammates in an audition for a dozen scouts in Pullman.

Cornerback Torey Hunter ran well, Eaton said, although he wonders if scouts are suspect of his size.

And defensive tackle Don Sasa has made a strong surge since late in the season. “The thing that impressed the scouts is that he’s a real hard worker and they know that that’s what it takes,” Eaton said.

Linebacker Mark Fields, with exceptional speed and natural skills, should be the first Cougar taken in the draft.

“I think they’ll pick him up - not for his great intelligence - but for his quickness and speed,” Eaton commented with his customary frankness. “He’ll be a good specialteams guy and as soon as he matures a little bit, they can get him back in there at middle linebacker and give him a go.”

Given his crusade against convention, no one will be shocked by Eaton’s preference of NFL teams.

It is a preference that could reunite him with fellow Puyallup product Billy Joe Hobert, whose dubious fiscal status and flashy sports car are linked in memory with the NCAA woes the University of Washington suffered through.

“Oh yeah, I want to go to the Raiders, no question - sign me up,” Eaton said. “I want to go down there with Billy Joe Hobert, raise some hell and ask him how’s that Camaro of his.”

But Eaton isn’t willing to wait around too long, even for the Raiders.

“If I don’t get picked by the end of the third (round), I quit,” he said. “If they want to draft me in the fourth, fifth, or sixth, I’ll just stick with the radio broadcasting.”

He may be joking.

But with Eaton, who can be sure?