Spokane7
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December 16, 2010 in Sports
Blanchette: Kick in the tail feathers for no-show Eagles fans
Dear Montana fan,
I’m not sure how to say this, so I’m just going to say it.
Help.
That’s right, help.
If you’re not doing anything Friday night – and I know there’s no football game in your town (sorry) – do you think you could be coaxed over the mountains to fill a few seats at Roos Field?
Apparently, people here can’t attend games because they’re far too busy.
So far, Eastern Washington has hosted two games in the FCS playoffs – you know, for the national championship? – and managed to attract a total of 7,725 customers. That’s roughly the number of people who shoe-horn themselves into the bar across the bridge from Washington-Grizzly Stadium to watch on TV because they can’t get one of the 25,000 tickets when Montana plays a Division II palooka in September.
Now the Eagles have another game in Cheney – against defending FCS champion Villanova – with a trip to the title game at stake.
So, a little help?
This is not going to be well-received, I know.
The Eastern people are going to hate it. They hate everything Montana, pretty much for the sport of it now. They hate how you win every year – well, until this year (sorry) – and all the times they’ve been zeebed in Missoula and the unfortunate smugness that inevitably infects a segment of the fandom of any successful program.
And this will only encourage that segment – those who have convinced themselves that Missoula, if not the birthplace of the game, has always been Rabid Football Fanboy Central. Although the few of us who used to shiver on those creaky old planks in the “temporary” stadium that was used for 20 years know better, don’t we?
Well, too bad. These are desperate times.
There’s a football team in Cheney that deserves a bigger audience, and an audience three hours to the east that’s used to being at a football game this time of year (sorry).
OK, “deserves” is an awkward concept. Attendance at a football game is not a civic responsibility. Elections deserve 100 percent turnout and never get them.
Still, this is a community that goes ga-ga over big events, and some not so big. Skating? The first time the national championships came to Spokane there were people standing at the convention center to watch 12-year-olds fall down, and setting attendance records at the Arena. The NCAA basketball tournament fills the joint. The Memorial Cup drew mega-crowds even for Guelph vs. Val d’Or. The Zags, the Shock, the Indians – none lacks for an audience.
And yet when EWU hosted Southeast Missouri State two weeks ago, a whopping 3,665 showed up, nearly 2,000 less than Eastern’s worst-attended regular-season game.
Yes, it was Apple Cup weekend and the Zags were on TV, and likely there was a discount coupon for a pizza that could only be used at that hour. Alibis R Us.
But there was no sporting competition to speak of last Saturday, when the Eagles pulled out a thriller over North Dakota State. The thrills were shared by all of 4,060 – a not insignificant portion of whom wagon-trained in from North Dakota, which is a freeway few exits east of Argonne Road.
I know, I know. The students were gone for the holidays. Snow was in the forecast. Another pizza coupon.
Here’s the punch line: Spokane actually bid to host the FCS championship game in January. Wisely, the NCAA said thanks-but-no-thanks, and stifled its giggles – at least until it heard the city couldn’t figure out how to get snow off the field for a high school playoff game.
This indifference can’t be pinned on the school’s marketing efforts. They’ve worked that angle like crazy this year, playing off the gimmick of the new red field, and sold more season tickets than ever. There have been giveaways or themes every game, and this week they’ve even arm-twisted some businesses into buying tickets for kids.
There are 35,000 Eastern alums in Spokane County. Presumably, many have spouses, kids, friends and neighbors who enjoy football.
And yet we’ll field the usual few phone calls at the newspaper this week complaining about how Eastern is ignored, because it’s easier than looking inward and admitting, gee, too few who went to school there give a damn about athletics – or even the school, for that matter.
So, getting back to the earlier appeal – come on over, Griz fans. If I recall, many of you did just that back in 1997 when the Eagles were advancing in the playoffs and your team had been eliminated (sorry). Yes, you’ll have to put up with the red field, but the football played on it is still good, and you’ve proven you appreciate good football.
As for you folks here, the game’s on TV. It’s a great opportunity to use that pizza coupon.
Blanchette: GU track lifts off with Thomas 
EbbNFlow on December 16 at 8:18 a.m.
Thanks for trying John.
But if you actually turned around and looked out the south facing windows of EWU’s press box, you’d see that a lot of Montana Griz have been supporting EWU’s run through the playoffs. You would have seen the great maroon and silver painted RV with “Griz” logos on the side. You’d of seen the guy in shorts with the Griz jersey on, or the dozens of other FCS football fans geared up in Griz wear supporting the Eags. Or go read eGriz where there are pages upon pages of threads devoted to talking about the Eagles and urging fans to attend. And the thread devoted to fans who did attend who discussed the game and the experience.
And again John, why make this all about the red turf? Most opposing fans will tell you that after the first few possessions, they pretty much forget they’re watching a game on different colored turf. But for some reason, you can’t stop talking about why people don’t like it (you’re like a 9/11 truther or an Obama birth certificate person) Give it up man.
I appreciate you trying to guilt apathetic Spokane in to driving out to Cheney, but by BS detector is going mad over your fake sincerity.
For all of you Montana fans who have been supporting us (not you AlphaGriz) because you like good football, you care about the FCS, and you care about the Big Sky Conference - thank you and I look forward to seeing you all on Friday night.
For you EWU alums who can’t muster up the energy to “endure the cold” or “make the drive out to Cheney” shame on you.
For you John and the rest of the media - we can see through your fake interest like kids who know their parents aren’t paying attention when they’re telling a story. We’re more offended by your fake interest than we are by you ignoring us all together.
EWU football isn’t all red turf and gimmicks. Talk about Renard Williams blowing up offensive lines all playoffs long. Talk about the Eags secondary stepping up huge. Talk about the struggles and the overcoming of those struggles by Bo Levi Mitchell.
Talk about how for a decade EWU football has been as successful as any program in the nation. This isn’t EWU football’s first successful season - talk about the starting of a tradition of winning here, a legacy.
TheInferno on December 16 at 9:13 a.m.
I’ve said this once publicly already, but it’s worth saying again.
I was talking to a Griz fan at the tailgate last weekend, and he said “Spokane should be ashamed of themselves for how little they support this team”. I couldn’t agree more.
We talked briefly about how this town practically wets itself when a movie theater gives away free popcorn, but all the self-professed “football fans” here can’t be bothered to spend 30 minutes in the car when a local team has made it to the national semi-finals for the first time in 13 years!
I love the excuses, too. “It’s too cold.” Really? Anyone who’s ever been to Cheney knows that. C’mon folks, you live in Spokane, the concept of dressing in layers can’t be that foreign. “It’s too windy.” Anyone who’s ever spent more than five minutes in Cheney knows the wind blows ALL the time - except on the hottest days of the year.
The sad part is that if Eastern does something really phenomenal in the next few weeks, this merry band of front-runners, bandwagoners, and fair-weathers will be out in Cheney next fall crowing to anyone who will listen about how they believed all along.
I suppose rather than rant about who Eastern isn’t, it’s better to thank those who are already there. Thank you to the die-hards for making most or all of the games this year, and thank you Griz fans for making the trek these past few weeks.
Go Eags!
BrandonHansen on December 16 at 10:01 a.m.
Perhaps if Spokane media stopped focusing on a terrible Zags team?
Perhaps a column for the Kennell’s terrible student section the past two years is in order (I’ve had several east coasters tell me “Boy! Is that place overrated!”)
Perhaps if the local media dedicated more than a few inches to EWU in paper unless they’re making a championship run?
Perhaps if Spokane Media didn’t treat EWU like the funny little brother?
The reason just isn’t the fans, it’s the general culture around the city. The past few years the athletic department has busted their butts promoting the program but before that (and I remember), a sub .500 Cougs team would get the front page over the Eags.
93bird on December 16 at 10:05 a.m.
I’ll be at the game tomorrow with the rest of my crew. We’ve had an amazing time at each game and I don’t want it to end. I’m not surprised to see so few people in the stands. Between the late 80s and mid 90s, Eastern was treated like a community college, or a commuter school. Neither sports fans nor alumni cared about the Eagles. It was easier to find self validation following a crappy Cougar team since they played with the big boys in the Pac10, or band wagon with the cinderella Zags even though nobody’s an alum. Now though, the Eagles are on top, but showing up to see them means you’ve been wrong about them all along. That’s something Spokane Coug and Zag fan just can’t stomach. So I’ll gladly take my half-empty stadium as long as it means that those who are with me are Eagles til the end.
Go Eagles!
Grizzler on December 16 at 12:03 p.m.
Honestly I won’t be able to make it over to the game, but I will watch on TV and will be 100 percent behind the Eagles. Griz fans always support a fellow BSC program in their post season endeavors. Of course that’s asking a lot of pretenders like MSU, but the Eagles have a shot at the title with that running back you have there. The Big Sky gets insufficient respect from the FCS and media (you’ll notice this when you get to Texas for the title game) so we will take all the conference success we can get! See you in Missoula next year for some payback. Oh, and by the way, what will you call the “Inferno” when it fades to pink?
ash_sk8s on December 16 at 12:09 p.m.
Sounds like a lot of what Portland State faces too. With UO and OSU, no one give’s a rats ass about the Viks. Not the students, not the media, and not the alumni. It’s quite sad. I’m a proud PSU fan wishing you guys the best of luck this weekend! I hope your fans show up, and go kick some!
Redsack on December 16 at 1:03 p.m.
Spokane should be ashamed. Just plain pathetic.
HelenaGrizgirl on December 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Fun article, John. EWU needs someone to hate, and we Griz fans get that. But I always tell my Bobcat lovin’, Griz-hatin’ friends that MSU should spend less time on how “the Griz get all the attention! Waaaah!” and more time figuring out how to improve themselves. They’re finally putting their money where there whiny mouth is, making big improvements to their facilities. (Alas, MSU, not known for its business and marketing programs, still lags behind in the self-promotion department, but they’re trying.) MSU finally has a coach who aspires to greater things and an administration that seems to realize it shouldn’t settle for mediocre results in football and basketball. UM’s administration and fans, frankly, just have higher standards. This year’s 7-4 football season was disappointing, yet Cliff Heisel would have given an arm and a boot for that kind of success at MSU a few years ago.
But I digress. Most Griz fans don’t hate EWU. We respect them. Their football program and coaching staff have always been good. I worry far more about the EWU game every year than the Griz-Cat game. But wthout fans, EWU will never have a GREAT program. Griz fans show up in droves wherever their team plays. (That’s why we so lovingly refer to your quaint little stadium as “Eastern Washington Grizzly Stadium” when we play there, since we usually outnumber the home crowd.)
We’re happy the Big Sky is still represented in the playoffs. (Some of us are a teeeensy bit happy that the Eagles and not the Cats survived. Perhaps this will help remind the Bobcats that the Eagles put the “Co” in “co-champions”… MSU invariably leaves the “co” part out.)
But here’s the thing. EWU won’t have fans until it, too, learns the art of self-promotion. “Gimmick” is the right word for that turf debacle. Holy bloody eyeballs, Batman! Did anyone test how that plays on television? Clearly not. It is nauseating.
I’ll be rooting for the Eagles, hard. But I won’t be watching it on TV (sorry). It’s possible the field is less revolting in person, but I have a Carroll College NAIA national championship game to watch, so I can’t go (sorry). The Griz will get you next year in our top-of-class facility with respectable turf (sorry). But for this year — GO EAGLES!
EWUAlum97 on December 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Good article, John. It stings a little, but hard to argue with most of it. Eastern really has nothing to be ashamed of. They’ve done a fairly good job of promoting the program this year, and the team has proven itself on the field. And honestly, the media coverage this week has been decent enough, even though I would argue that in the past it’s been a complete joke.
With the winter break and students not in town, the attendance of the last 2 playoff games has been hurting. But in reality, that shouldn’t even matter when you have 35 thousand EWU alums living in the Spokane area. 35 thousand, and we can’t fill the stadium to capacity? If we could get even an 8th of that number to come out on top of the die-hard fans that make it every game rain or shine already, we’d fill Roos Field to capacity.
The real people that should be embarassed are the alums that don’t support the University and the casual sports fans in the area. Something like 67 of the players on the roster are from the state of Washington. All these Shock fans, Coug fans, and so called football experts in the area should support this team. It’s a great team that leaves it all out on the field, and they deserve a lot better support than what they’ve had the past couple of games. I’m really starting to believe that a lot of Spokane folks are fair-weather fans that will attach their name to whatever is deemed “cool” for the moment.
TheInferno on December 16 at 3:20 p.m.
@Grizzler - Thank you for your kind words and support, but you guys have seriously got to stop with the “pink” deal. :) We’ve had it four months and I’ve heard that crack about 500 times! It’s fade-resistant, so it will be red, red and red for the foreseeable future. On the off chance it does fade, it’s warrantied and Sprinturf will replace it free of charge.
@HelenaGrizgirl - We know the field’s a gimmick - it falls into the “loved and hated, but not ignored” category. It’s got people talking, and that was its purpose. Our players and coaching staff love it, and have taken it upon themselves to defend it. Want a hint to lessen the shock? Watch it in HD.
Contrary to Blanchette’s opinion, I don’t hate Montana, I appreciate what they’ve accomplished over the past 25 years. With their ‘84 championship, MSU could’ve been “the team” in Montana but UM was proactive with the stadium, coaching staff and commitment to winning and it shows today. Good luck to the Saints in their title game!
misjustice on December 16 at 4:12 p.m.
My boyfriend and I are going; date night!
We were just going to buy tickets at the gate but he scored free tickets, thanks to generous individuals and businesses which purchased and donated 1,500 tickets! Thanks for the donation!
Go Eags!
; )
ericdx on December 16 at 4:27 p.m.
OK, I will be an honest one here. I attended Eastern for a couple of years in the 80’s, and I live in Cheney, and frankly, there is a reason that many EWU alumni do not support the school, come out to games, or any of that.
The statement about Eastern being little better than a community college were pretty much right on par. The school is not that highly thought of, and frankly, my time there as a student was not very memorable (and not for a lack of trying).. The fact is, people don’t go to EWU because it is their dream to go there, they go there because the school, until the very recent past, was nothing more than a place to go if you could not afford to go to WSU or UW, or did not have the grades to get in to either of those schools. Football attendance was a joke. The games were played in Spokane, and since over half the student body lived in Spokane, and the administration really did not seem to give a damn about the student experience, the only way for the campus students to get to the games was to bum rides from people going to the games or spend an hour and a half trying to navigate the city busses to get there. Now 20 years later, I am just supposed to wet all over myself because EWU has had a good run? I don’t think so. The student experience at EWU gave me the drive to get good enough grades after a couple of years there to be able to transfer to WSU.
Alumni support comes from a positive college experience, and I can honestly say that my time at Eastern was not positive, because the school itself did nothing to really make it positive. Even when people (like myself) were in organizations that are well suited to making college a fun and positive experience (Greeks/clubs/Residence hall associations) the school showed varying shades of indifference to outright hostility to these groups.
Maybe EWU is finally starting to wise up and become a school that students like, but they are paying for many years of being a school that you went to because of a lack of options, and the school treated you like they knew they had you because of that, and therefore did nothing with, to, or for the students that would build them into loyal alumni later in life. Say what you will about WSU, and their poor football teams, but at least there, you get exposed to the idea of Cougar Spirit. What do you get at EWU? Nothing. Heck, I would love to hear if anyone knows the words to EWU’s fight song? I doubt any ofthe students know it. I went to school there for 3 years, and never heard the words to it, and never saw it written down once. I’m not even sure what the tune for the fight song is. You go to Pullman, and they teach you the fight song at New Student Orientation, and give you the words in your new student binder.
Is it unfortunate that EWU is making a title run without a large crowd? Yes. Is it suprising? No. I will be there tomorrow night, but mostly because my son wants to watch a football game. He ejoyes football games just for the sport, and he does not care who wins. Will we cheer for EWU? Probably, just because they are the home team. Frankly, if High School football was still going on, I would be at a High School game tomorrow night, as I have more fond memories fo football fridays in High school (at Albi), then football Saturdays at EWU (also at Albi).
Maybe if Eastern starts consistantly winning the Big Sky year after year, people here might get excited. Montana has big followings because they are good year in and year out. Their success shows in that they were actively courted to move up to an FBS conference. Constant success builds fans and resources. Flashes of briliance, mixed with years of mediocrity do not.
And as far as the comments by Blanchette, he is as much of a band wagon jumper as anyone in the area. He is mostly concerned with the Cougs, Zags, Huskies, Mariners, and Seahawks, and he is a hack. How many games have you been to this year, John?
ChrisL on December 16 at 5:11 p.m.
@ ericdx Not sure what you’re experience was at Eastern back in the 80’s, but I can see where some of your points are coming from. That said, EWU is a far different place now than it was back then. Far different. And your assertion that Eastern is “nothing more than a place to go if you could not afford to go to WSU or UW, or did not have the grades to get in to either of those schools” is bs. I had good enough grades coming out of high school to get into just about any school I wanted to. I chose Eastern because it had a nationally recognized program in the career field that I wanted to go into. I then went on to get a graduate degree at UW. By the way, WSU isn’t exactly Harvard, bud.
I’m sorry your experience was poor, but as I mentioned, the University is a far different place now than it was back then. I graduated in the late 90’s and loved every minute of my experience at EWU, and will continue to support both the school and athletics programs.
ChrisL on December 16 at 5:52 p.m.
Also, I should mention that most EWU folks don’t hate Montana, as the article claims. Most folks I know have a lot of respect for UM and the tradition they have built there. Students are students so there’s always going to be some banter, but overall, I think most people recognize the success UM has had with their program for what it is - fantastic.
TIMJOFRED on December 16 at 7:17 p.m.
I give dispute to Ericdx’ comments. I graduated from EWU in 1979. I had a great time there and a great education. I had the grades and test scores to have gone to any college I wanted. I chose Eastern for personal reasons.While there, I enjoyed going to football games. I still enjoy them now.
Currently, I live in the Tri-Cities and if you think Spokane ignores EWU you should try the Tri-City Herald. Their sports staff has got to be the laziest in the Northwest. There are a lot of EWU grads in the Tri-Cities too and EWEU gets very little attention here. Oregon and Oregon State get more.
This year I have been able to attend the Montana game and the SEMO game this year. I would love to attend the game tomorrow but my work schedule doesn’t allow me to get from Tri-Cities to Cheney in time.
I have been an Eagles fan through thick and thin. I remember EWU beating WSU in basketball here at the Tri-Cities Coliseum several years ago. Even after that, EWU beat UofW in Seattle in the pre-Romar years. Next year EWU plays Uof W in Football and in 2012 the Eagles play WSU. Can’t wait!
I am proud of the Eagles and what they have accomplished over the years without the kind of support that the Griz get in Montana. I wish I could be at the game tomorrow but you know I will be cheering for them while watching them on TV. I will also be insisting that my Coug friends root for them too.
An expanded stadium with better amenities would help increase the crowd, But there is no excusefor Spokane to not support the Eagles. You have to start somewhere and the Eagles have done their part. Next year, I just might buy season tickets, see you all at the games!
EbbNFlow on December 17 at 5:59 a.m.
@ericdx - I pretty much disagree with everything you said except your last paragraph.
“And as far as the comments by Blanchette, he is as much of a band wagon jumper as anyone in the area. He is mostly concerned with the Cougs, Zags, Huskies, Mariners, and Seahawks, and he is a hack. How many games have you been to this year, John?”
I’ve been calling him out on this for damn near a decade. He has been to as many games this year as his WSU travel schedule would allow. Which I’m guessing is only the last two games. Unless he came over to watch his alma matter Montana play in September.
I thought the SR had Steve Bergmum to cover EWU? Ah well. I actually prefer the coverage we get from local blogs and the grassroots feeling of being an Eags fan.
humbleservant on December 17 at 8:58 a.m.
@ericdx - I agree with your assessment of EWU in the 1980’s. The day I graduated I shook the Cheney dust off my shoes and vowed never to return.
Then, EWU started to become the university I could support. Dr. Jordan and now Dr. Arevalo have done an excellent job molding and forming Eastern into a school that makes us all proud. For all of the @ericdx types out there I simply ask one thing: Please give EWU another shot and see just how wonderful EWU has become.
This is not so much about football as it is about Spokane not recognizing that the best school in the area is only 16 miles away, not 90. Seventy (70) percent of college graduates in Spokane graduated from EWU. Seventy percent! Not WSU. Not Gonzaga.
Come on, Eagle fans! This is our time. Our time to start a new tradition. Come out to tonight’s game and see some real football in a real playoff with real consequences! This is your chance to get on ESPN and show people that Spokane is more than a nice place to watch ice skating.
BTW, here is the EWU Fight Song:
Go, Eagles Go
Put all you have in every play.
We’ll let you know
That we are with you all the way.
So then it’s fight, Eagles fight.
Show us the fight we’d like to see.
Red and white just fight, fight, fight
And Eagles will win the VICTORY!
Go Eagles!
EdubU on December 17 at 9:51 a.m.
Griz fans are very dedicated and loyal for three good reasons. One, it’s the only game in town on a given Saturday. Sure a lot of Montanan’s are Cat fans, but the Grizzles have a bigger following. Second, Washington-Grizzly stadium is a great facility and provides a huge home field advantage, they are tough to beat @ home. Plus Griz fans are knowledgeable and passionate about thier team and football in general. The third reason is success of the program the last 12+ years. Winning season’s, consecutive playoff appearances, a couple of National Championships breeds success and a loyal following. The expectation in Missoula each fall is to win the Big Sky, go to the playoffs and contend for a FCS Championship.
Eastern on the other hand plays at an antiquated stadium 15 miles from Spokane, has to compete with the Cougar games on Saturdays and Gonzaga Basketball(now.) WSU is a bigger school in a bigger conference so as bad as they have been the past 3 years they still have a bigger fan base and a much more loyal alumni. I would bet though that if EWU continues to make playoff runs and consistently contends for Big Sky and FCS Championships you’ll see attendence go up. But it will never compare to the Griz. I for one admire their loyalty and passion, appreciate how much $$ they pump into Spokane’s economy every other year, and am a little tired of them outnumbering EWU fans on our home turf, and until this year coming over here and kicking our butts. Thanks for the support this post-season Griz fans and to all the EWU fans in Eastern Washington and Spokane, get out to the game tonight. I would if I still lived in Spokane, but I will still root on my team and my school from the west side of the state. Go Eags.
ALPHAGRIZ1 on December 17 at 11:05 a.m.
Go NOVA!!!!!!!
Redsack on December 17 at 12:42 p.m.
@ericdx That is complete horse *$#@. I had excellent grades in high school and went to WSU for my freshman year. I had excellent grades there as well but transfered to EWU after that. Why? Because I had a horrible experience. I was an ant in a colony of millions who’s fate didn’t matter jack to any of the arrogant big heads on campus. At Eastern I was able to get involved and become active in athletics. Ever hear Colin Cowherd talk about that? That’s how he got play-by-play experience and was able to accomplish anything his high ambitions would allow. Eastern gave him that chance. Oh yeah… He went here in the 80s.
Do you realize how impressive this accomplishment is considering Eastern’s athletic budget? Besides the recent gift of Roos and others for the turf, Eastern has the smallest budget in the Big Sky. The coaches and staff have had to scratch and claw their way to success. Kudos to them for their hard work.
Maybe your college experience was bad because you didn’t put anything into it. Ever hear of “don’t ask what you can do for your country…” Same thing applies.
Perhaps Eastern struggled for many years because too many people like yourself turned back on it. Anyone remember attendance at GU Bball games in the 80s and 90s? Pretty bad. Once they had their Cinderella run in 99’, the community got behind them and the program grew from there. You can’t have continued athletic success on an island. You need a solid fan base.
I hope Spokane/EWU Alums will show there support tonight. The Eagles deserve it.
MadHatterGriz on December 17 at 1:17 p.m.
Excuse me, Do the words double standard ring true in this article and the begging on my knees approach are synonymous to the phrase catch 22!
Where was the love and support for Griz fans when this September the EWU Ticket office was trying to shut out every Griz fan from purchasing tickets to the EWU vs Griz game. Sorry, to buy tickets you need to buy season tickets and become a booster and then and only then will we let you have the luxury of purchasing tickets for this game.
Hypocrisy at it’s finest! You do realize that after Montana fans were still able to buy tickets without all the said requirements that we had more fans (over 4,000) then you had in the stadium last weekend for your very, very lucky win (inconclusive replay) and non over whelming fan support.
Now you come begging on your knees to have us help you support a team, who now with out your star running back Taiwan is going to experience your own inferno of hell as you go up in flames against Nova and Szczur . Sorry, just stating the obvious facts here.
Myself and I believe the rest of Griz Nation will support you as we did even with our rival the Bobcats, as we support our Big Sky schools. But my support will be from my Lazy Boy in my living room where the weather is finer and the beer is colder and much cheaper and we do have better microbrews then Spokane.
I would encourage you to come to Missoula next season and produce a video on how to be a true fan and then send it to every EWU grad and football fan in Eagle Country.
I promise you we will not try to out ticket your previous demands and if you stop buy my tailgate I’ll even host one of the microbrews for you and teach you the funner side of a football nation that you and EWU Eagle country can wish for and hope that they may obtain in the future with out the gimmicks of a very obnoxious sound system and a field of red that will be bleeding Eagle blood this weekend. (at least the blood will blend in to the field)
Best of luck on Friday night and Merry Christmas to all and to all good night!
As Dandy Don once said, “Turn out the lights the party is over”
GoGriz1 on December 17 at 3:47 p.m.
LMFAO…Talk about desperation. Yeah…like true Grizzly fans are going to support your team after the stunt EWU pulled for the game against UM. We would have gladly helped fill the stadium for that game and the one tonight. Butt not now, thank your administration for that one, including the little message that went along with that game.
I am sorry to hear that Jones is out for the game so I would have to say the Eagles season is nearing an end. Too bad because I dislike the Wildcats and their arrogant trash talking coach even more. Oh well, I will be rooting against whoever wins this game anyway.
GO GRIZ!!!
MadHatterGriz on December 17 at 8:59 p.m.
OK, I’ll be the first to admit it, I was wro… wron… Wrong (fonzie speak) After what appear to be a devastating start… the Eagles hold true and deliver the blow at the end and your headed to a National Championship!
Congratulations on out playing Nova and congrats to Mario Brown for stepping it up after Taiwan went down, the only one that went down in flames was my prediction!
I took some flack for supporting the team that beat the Griz, but as I wrote earlier, I support the Big Sky Schools and I am excited that for the 3rd year in a row a Big Sky Team will be in the National Championship game.
I along with some of Griz Nation wish the Eagles best of luck in Frisco, TX and bring that trophy back to the Big Sky!
Come next fall it’s in our house baby and believe me I’ll be there with 25,000 rabid Griz fans supporting the Big Sky and Griz football and just think, if we hadn’t been so great these past 17 years, the Big Sky wouldn’t be as great as it is!
WAC who? Love the play off format, on the field is where it should be decided. Good Luck Eagles, and GO GRIZ!!!
Until next year my fine feathered Eagles, get ready for the throw down showdown in Zoo Town!!!
EdubU on December 17 at 10:18 p.m.
Thanks NoGriz0, nice to know you are a Big Sky football fan. As usual, if your team is not in the championship or even made the playoffs your true colors are showing. Root against us all you want and if Eastern wins the National Championship or loses it you can still root against who ever wins it anyway.
ChrisL on December 17 at 10:27 p.m.
What a great win and exciting time for the Universtiy. Funny to see all the nay-sayers come out of the woodwork prior to this game, only to watch them slink back in after the outcome.
I love this Division. (By the way, Eastern is Division I FCS, not Division II). The excitement of the playoffs is just incredible (even without the full support of Spokane) and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Playing for a real National Championship is what it’s all about.
Go Eags! On to the National Championship!
PolsonGrizz on December 18 at 5:50 p.m.
Being the guy in the shorts. We have been to all three of your playoff games and had a great time. We were treated with the utmost respect and couldn’t count how many times we heard “Go Griz” and the numerous thank yous for coming.
We had a great time cheering you on. Good luck in Frisco.
Mitch and Pam
richardthelionhearted on December 19 at 4:50 p.m.
I went to Eastern and have 2 buildings named for relatives on that campus. After graduating, I wouldn’t go across the street to see a game. After the way students are treated at EWU, I don’t blame them!
ChrisC on December 20 at 2:03 a.m.
@richardthelionhearted “After the way students are treated at EWU, I don’t blame them!”
WTF does that mean? I went to EWU, and was never treated badly. I’m not saying it never happens, but geez…..maybe some folks need to work on their sense of entitlement. Maybe it’s a generational thing. But whatever - go support Gonzaga like the rest of the lame bandwagoners in Spokane.
ChrisC on December 20 at 2:24 a.m.
“And yet we’ll field the usual few phone calls at the newspaper this week complaining about how Eastern is ignored, because it’s easier than looking inward and admitting, gee, too few who went to school there give a damn about athletics”
You are not off-base here, John. But let’s be honest here. It’s a FACT that the local media has done Eastern no favors throughout the years. Yeah, WSU, and to a lesser extent GU will generally make the head-lines over what’s going on out in Cheney. I think most people get that - WSU is Pac-10, and GU has become a prominent B-ball program. But looking back to Eastern’s playoff run in football back in ‘97, and their NCAA b-ball tournament appearance in ‘04, local coverage was a joke.
All that said, this year it has been better. Hell, we were even on the front page of the Seattle Times Saturday. Let’s hope that the Spokane area media will continue to give decent coverage to a school in which 70% of all college graduates in the area attended.