Dave Trimmer

The Eastern Washington football team proved it can bounce back. Now the Eagles are hoping the fans come back.

The whistle sounded the same and the man blowing it was familiar, but it is definitely a different combination as the Eastern Washington men's basketball team sets out to build on its most successful Division I season. The welcoming whistle was blown by Mike Burns when the Eagles reported for the first time as members of the exclusive Big Dance Club.

OGDEN, Utah – It was miserable at cold, wet and windy Stewart Stadium Saturday afternoon. The football game was worse – at least for the home team.

Regardless of their last result or next opponent, Eastern Washington University football coaches steadfastly remain focused on their team. Eagle fans have more choices.

The difference between a team that has won or shared eight of the last nine Big Sky Conference football championships and one hoping to win its first since 1997 is timing. Montana continually made clutch plays, the last a blocked field goal by Shane MacIntyre with 18 seconds to play, allowing the fifth-ranked Grizzlies to escape Woodward Field on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon with a scintillating 31-28 victory over No. 23 Eastern Washington that kept 10,754 fans on edge.

Like so many Eastern Washington football players, Michael Roos has taken a somewhat meandering path to become a stalwart for the Eagles. But unlike most, Roos' path is a lot different even if it is much shorter.

Eastern Washington University started the football season 0-2 by falling behind 30-0 and 21-0 in road games, but since then the Eagles have been amazing. In rolling to four consecutive wins Eastern has scored 172 points – 124 before halftime – and the Eagles' opponents have scored 23. Three times EWU has scored in the first minute of the second quarter and twice in the closing seconds before halftime.

Bring on the Grizzlies. Eastern Washington set up a showdown with Montana by destroying 16th-ranked Northern Arizona 45-14 Saturday afternoon before 5,171 fans at chilly Woodward Field.

Tom Finnerty is taking the last seven credits he needs for his communications degree at Eastern Washington University. After football season he'll do an internship, but with all that education there are still some things he doesn't know.

PORTLAND – Even with showdowns against 20th-ranked Northern Arizona and seventh-ranked Montana up next, the Eastern Washington football team faces what could be a make-or-break game. The Eagles (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky Conference) are at Portland State (2-1) tonight at 6 at PGE Park in the Big Sky opener for the Vikings.

Portland State running back Ryan Fuqua surpassed the 4,000-yard plateau last week. Contrary to popular belief, half of those yards have not come against Eastern Washington.

Idaho State and Eastern Washington got into another football shootout Saturday night, but this time the Eagles defense didn't get involved. Eastern opened Big Sky Conference play by scoring on its first four possessions and Darius Washington rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns to clobber the Bengals 47-22 before 5,581 fans at Woodward Field.

Idaho State and Eastern Washington got into another football shootout Saturday night but this time the Eagles defense didn't get involved. Eastern opened Big Sky Conference play by scoring on its first four possessions and Darius Washington rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns to clobber the Bengals 47-22 before 5,581 fans at Woodward Field.

The Eastern Washington football team has problems – any team that starts the season 0-2 does. With any hope, Central Washington won't become another.

The donor suites and media center at Eastern Washington's remodeled Woodward Field will be all but done when the Eagles kick off against Central Washington tonight. "It will be right up against Friday night, but we will have it done with the exception of minor things the public won't even notice," EWU athletic director Scott Barnes said. "The only exception is the stair towers won't be painted."

Sometime during the Eastern Washington football season Ryan Phillips will do something special. If Hollywood had a hand in the script, that sometime would be Saturday when the Eagles play their home opener.