Eastern Washington Coach Hits The Opinion Field Head On

Eastern Washington radio announcer Larry Weir called it the hardest hit he had ever seen.

EWU football coach Mike Kramer said the hit would have drawn a $12,000 fine had it occurred in a National Football League game.

For EWU wide receiver Jerrold Jackson, it was the hardest hit he never saw.

Jackson was knocked unconscious in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 40-30 road loss to Weber State, falling victim to what the Eagles contend was a helmet-first blow delivered by Wildcats strong safety Sheddric Mickles as the 145-pound Jackson attempted to catch a pass over the middle.

“He was knocked out as much as anybody that’s an inch away from dead,” Kramer said. “That’s a pretty brutal hit. On the tight-angle (video) copy, it shows leading with the head, and in college it’s a 15-yard penalty.”

No penalty was called.

“In the college and high school ranks, I don’t think they’re as conscious of it,” Kramer said. “I don’t fault the refs for not calling it. There’s certainly a strong sense of protectionism in the pros, though, that maybe should be part of the college game.”

Jackson has not practiced this week, but is expected to play against Idaho State on Saturday at Woodward Stadium.

Homespun Hysell

Down-to-earth Montana State coach Cliff Hysell was typically hilarious and blunt this week. His answering machine greeting: “We’re practicing football, so call me early, call me late - I’ll get back to ya.”’

On MSU’s dismal 37-0 loss to Northern Arizona last Saturday: “You remember in the old days, when your dad took you behind the woodshed and grabbed a two-by-four… . That’s what it was like.”

Carried away

David Lewis may no longer be EWU’s starting tailback, but the senior hasn’t been forgotten.

Playing in relief of recently named starter Joe Sewell, Lewis scored three touchdowns on six first-half carries in last weekend’s loss at Weber State.

The Sewell-Lewis combination has helped EWU improve to third in conference rushing, averaging a healthy 186.3 yards per game. Last season, the Eagles averaged just 99 yards rushing per game, ranking seventh.

Sewell is averaging 107 yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry, and his 429 yards rushing ranks third in the conference. Lewis ranks sixth in the conference with 303 yards (5.0 ypc).

Doormats no longer

Three teams that weren’t listed among the preseason top three are starting to look like Sky contenders.

Since Idaho put a 70-21 hurt on Idaho State last year, the Bengals are 9-2. In that span, ISU has downed Montana, Boise State and Idaho (last Saturday) in Holt Arena.

NAU is 4-1 and has given up 14 points in its last four games, scoring 229. “I’d be very surprised if they don’t win one or two (against BSU on Saturday and Montana in two weeks),” said MSU’s Hysell.

And Weber State, after two narrow losses to Division I-A foes, has rebounded with three straight wins. Weber visits Montana Saturday, but gets BSU, Idaho and NAU in Odgen, Utah.

BSU unplugged briefly

Upset that Boise broadcaster Mike Responts had called Boise State administrators liars and its players criminals, school officials revoked the radio talk-show host’s media credentials Tuesday afternoon.

Within hours, the school reversed the move, meaning the KTIK host will be on the sideline for Saturday’s home game against NAU.

Responts had reacted to reports that 17 BSU players had recent run-ins with the law.

Sky lines

Montana State, Idaho’s opponent on Saturday in Bozeman, Mont., will have the services of running back Matt Engelking, who was knocked out of the NAU game with a concussion.

Engelking, who started the year with four 100-yard games, was sidelined in the first quarter. He returned, took another savage blow to the head and left for good….

Idaho hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since 1991 and hasn’t dropped consecutive Sky games since 1986. Counting a playoff loss to end the 1994 season, however, UI has lost four of five games….

Former EWU running back Daryl Wright is the starting tailback at Puget Sound of the NAIA. Wright supplanted older brother Harold as EWU’s starter in 1992, then left the Eagles for UNLV, where he spent last season. Harold Wright, who holds EWU records for most carries in one game (40, tied with sophomore Rex Prescott) and one season (592), is a teacher and assistant coach at Spanaway Lake High School.

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