Ewu Starting Spring From Scratch
Second-year Eastern Washington football coach Mike Kramer isn’t sure what to expect as spring practices begins today.
He has a better idea what not to expect. Namely, a team that will contend for a Big Sky Conference championship.
That’s what Kramer and an Eagles team stocked with seniors felt justified in expecting one year ago, before awakening to a 4-7 season.
But more than expectations have been adjusted heading into the 1995 season. After clashing over playcalling with longtime EWU assistant J.D. Sollars, Kramer has taken over the offense. Sollars becomes assistant head coach.
“It’s the same egg,” Kramer insisted, “just a different shell. You’ll find the same stuff inside.”
Starting today, the focus shifts to the field, where sophomore Brian Sherick will try to fight off Josh Lies, Harry Leons and Scott Bond for the right to replace QB Todd Bernett.
The Eagles should be set at running back, with senior David Lewis the incumbent. Rex Prescott saw extensive playing time as a freshman last season, when he was among the more elusive runners in the Sky.
“They give us a real dynamic 1-2 punch,” Kramer said. “Both of them are about 10 to 15 pounds bigger.”
Lewis and Prescott will run behind a line that loses all-conference guard Harold Fox, but returns talented tackle Tom Ackerman and steady center Kevin Peterson.
Senior Jesse Hardt is the Big Sky’s best tight end. With little depth at wide receiver, Hardt’s role will almost certainly increase.
EWU should be adequate at linebacker, even with the loss of allconference pick Evan Brady. Dion Alexander returns for his senior season, two years after making first-team All-Big Sky.
Besides receiver, where junior college transfer Antoine Miller appears to be EWU’s best, the Eagles’ most obvious deficiencies are along the defensive line and at defensive back.
Former Portland State assistant Jesse Williams was hired to coach the defensive line, and will be forced to replace four senior starters.
The defensive backfield also looks weak, pending the arrival of several transfers.