Sewell Slogan: ‘I’Ll Be Back’ Demonstrating Perseverance, He’s Compiling Fine Rushing Stats

Eastern Washington football fans should thank the NCAA for determining that star running back Joe Sewell cannot play after this season.

It probably means the senior will find a way to make it into an EWU uniform in 1996. Sewell’s record for perseverance against staggering odds is that strong.

After playing running back and nose tackle at Centralia High School, where he graduated in 1991, Sewell headed off to play junior-college ball at Wenatchee Valley. Two weeks into winter practices, players were informed that the football program had been terminated. Sewell’s thoughts went south - all the way to the JC in Walla Walla.

His troubles were just beginning. Thanks to a nearly unbreakable spirit, so was his playing career.

A blown right knee before his first game at Walla Walla? No problem.

A blown left knee before his first game at EWU? Not a concern.

Buried on the depth chart coming into this season? Let me show you.

Sewell says, “I’ll be back” more often than the Terminator.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pounder has worked his way back from the pain and isolation of rehabilitation and is quietly putting together the best season for an EWU running back since Mel Stanton gained 1,238 yards in 1965.

It would seem doubtful, however, that Sewell, in just his third season of college ball, might be granted an opportunity to play a fourth season. He took time off from school after each knee injury, a no-no in the book of the NCAA, which rarely loosens its 5-year limit on athletic careers.

“We’re working on that right now,” insisted Sewell, a finance major. “Both of my doctors are writing letters saying why I couldn’t go to school during those fall quarters. So I should get it back; it looks pretty good.”

EWU coach Mike Kramer isn’t so sure, although he admits he knows better than to doubt Sewell.

“Joe Sewell is one of those guys who, when you tell him he can’t do something, he does it,” Kramer said. “He works hard at every single thing he does - harder than most, and that’s what makes him different.”

Hard work allowed Sewell to prove his skeptics wrong. “I was really disappointed (after the first knee injury),” Sewell said. “The doctor, he tells me that I’ll never be as fast and I’ll never be able to play ball like I used to. I was down in the gutter.”

Sewell climbed out, shocking Walla Walla coaches by covering 40 yards in 4.4 seconds at spring drills. A strong 1993 season drew interest from Boise State and EWU. Sewell committed to EWU without as much as a visit.

“It was December first,” Kramer recalled. “We call him, he picks up the phone and says, ‘Coach, I’m coming, but I have one question - can I play on special teams?”’

Kramer was sold.

“Not, ‘Can I wear No. 32?”’ the coach clarified, “but, ‘Can I play special teams?”

His right knee fully recovered, Sewell was expected to compete for the starting tailback job heading into last season. Those plans were derailed in EWU’s first fall scrimmage, when Sewell heard a familiar pop.

This time, it was the left knee.

“I was going down on special teams, on kickoff coverage,” Sewell said, “I was turning around looking at somebody, and somebody accidentally hit me.”

Sewell’s upper body spun one way while his right foot remained facing forward, planted firmly in the turf. Kramer cringed.

“He told me that day, ‘I’m coming back, and I’ll be better than ever”’ Kramer said. “There was no question in his mind. I’m like, ‘Right - here’s a full scholarship sitting on a kid who’s never going to play a down for me.”’

Sewell, who bench-presses a team-high 415 pounds, embarked on a rehab program so intense that Kramer was forced to adjust his expectations. The intensity carried into this season, a season Sewell entered as the third-string tailback, behind incumbents David Lewis and Rex Prescott.

Kramer rewarded Sewell with playing time in the season opener; Sewell responded by rushing for 173 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-16 win. In the eight games since, Sewell has gained 703 yards and scored seven times.

With customary performances Saturday at home against Montana and the following week against Cal Poly-SLO, Sewell would become just the fourth back in EWU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

For once, the odds seem in his favor.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CLOSING IN With two games left, Joe Sewell is on pace for the second-best rushing year in EWU history. 1. Mel Stanton (‘65) 1,238 2. Meriel Michelson (‘50) 1,049 3. Jamie Townsend (‘85) 1,007 4. Jamie Townsend (‘88) 993 5. Meriel Michelson (‘49) 992 6. Harold Wright (‘91) 910 7. Joe Sewell (‘95) 876