Eastern Washington will hold open tryout Thursday night for offensive linemen

Who wants to be the “Rudy” of the Inland Northwest?

Now is your chance.

Like something out of yesteryear, the fliers went up this week across the Eastern Washington University campus. As help wanted ads go, they left a bit to be desired:

“Offensive line tryout … 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28th at Roos Field. Must be a full-time student … Bring your own gear … Water not provided.”

Also, there’s no pay if you earn the job. But you might get an autograph from quarterback Gage Gubrud.

It seems the Eastern Washington offensive line is down a few bodies. As the second- and third-stringers move up the depth chart, the Eagles need some bodies for the scout team.

Bottom line: Head coach Aaron Best wants a few good men – large men, big enough to fill a XXX-Large T-shirt and capable of holding their own in practice against the Eagles’ first-team defense.

That’s how Rudy Ruettiger made a name for himself 40 years ago at Notre Dame – by taking his licks and making the scholarship players better .

But for all his hard work, Ruettiger never earned a scholarship. Best wasn’t ruling that out – “if we can find a gem.”

Shifting into sales mode, Best said this is “an opportunity to be part of the Eagle program, and it may turn into something more than that.”

That’s a long shot, but Best figures it’s worth a college try. He figures there are plenty of able-bodied former high school football players who could help the Eagles.

“The purpose is to give our defense as good a look as we’d like during practice,” Best said.

All-campus tryouts are a rare thing these days, though former Washington State coach Paul Wulff held one for quarterbacks in 2008.

The tryout will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on the red turf at Roos Field. Best and his coaches will evaluate the prospective players for size and athletic ability.

“We want to see athletic movement,” Best said.