Scrimmage Pleases Ewu Coach

There was a lot to like in the eyes of head coach Mike Kramer as Eastern Washington wrapped up its second week of two-a-day practices with a scrimmage filled with impressive performances on offense, defense and in the kicking game.

“This is the best I’ve felt through winter conditioning, spring ball and two-a-days about our football team,” said Kramer, whose team opens the season with a Big Sky Conference game at Weber State on Sept. 7.

“I think we’re starting to round into the kind of team it will take to be successful. Hopefully we will dwell on our effort tonight and have some confidence going into the Weber State game.”

Kramer was most pleased by Eastern’s efforts in the kicking game. First-year kicker Josh Atwood made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder. His last kick was a 39-yarder on the scrimmage’s final play.

“I’m real excited about Atwood’s play, and I’m very excited about Aaron Best’s ability to step in and be our long snapper,” Kramer said. “I’m really thrilled.”

Eastern’s offensive squads piled up 425 yards and scored 36 points, with junior quarterback Harry Leons leading the way. He was 12 of 18 for 164 yards and one touchdown.

Griffin Garske, who is pushing Leons for the starting spot, was 7 of 13 for 131 yards and a pair of scores.

Avont Grant led the defense with a pair of sacks. Grant is a sophomore defensive tackle from Lewis and Clark High School.

Idaho A.D. search

Six names have been forwarded to the University of Idaho president’s office as candidates for the vacant athletic director’s job.

The search committee recommended: Oval Jaynes, who recently resigned as A.D. at Pittsburgh; Peter Hart, assistant A.D. at Utah; Dave Martin, associate A.D. at Oklahoma State; Jim Schaus, senior associate A.D. at Cincinnati; Bob Stull, former football coach at Missouri and Texas-El Paso; and Chris Peterson, assistant A.D. at Creighton.

Search committee chairman By- ron Dangerfield would neither confirm nor deny the names submitted to President Bob Hoover. Dangerfield said the list should not be viewed as finalists. Those will be determined by Hoover.

Interviews are expected to begin next month with a selection to replace Pete Liske anticipated near the end of September.

Basketball

Idaho coach Kermit Davis announced that Marcus Wallace of Mountain Home, Idaho, has joined UI and will play this season.

Wallace, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound forward, the 1994 Idaho player of the year, has spent the past two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho. Last season he averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Wallace had signed at San Diego State, but was denied admission because one of his classes at CSI didn’t transfer, Davis said.

Veteran coach Ernie Wheeler was named by Davis as an administrative assistant who will work closely with the academic program.

, DataTimes