Optimistic Eagles open fall practice

The immaculate upper practice fields at Eastern Washington University became a classroom Tuesday morning.

Each member of the football coaching staff was going through position drills.

In the far back corner, Chris Hansen was showing one lone cornerback how to backpedal, while front and center, Aaron Best was demonstrating footwork for offensive linemen.

Overall, about 20 first-year Eagles were learning the ropes, the coaches demonstrating and instructing.

That changed in the afternoon when about 75 veterans hit the field.

After testing and conditioning, the team picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference went through its initial practice, two hours in 88-degree temperatures.

Coaches didn’t have to demonstrate drills, but they certainly raised their voices as the countdown to the Sept. 2 season-opener at Nichols State in Louisiana began.

There were no surprise absences – at least for the coaches.

“Everybody we anticipated showed up,” fifth-year head coach Paul Wulff said.

Then he dropped a bombshell. Tight end Tim Calhoun, who was honorable mention All-Big Sky as a freshman, but missed last season with an ankle injury, is going to miss the upcoming season after wrist surgery.

Calhoun seemed to be coming around after three surgeries on an ankle when an MRI revealed an injury from weight lifting. He had surgery in July with a four-month recovery expected.

“It’s a sad deal and it hurts our team,” Wulff said. “With him and (sophomore fullback) Brad Farrel quitting after the spring, those two were two of the better players at their position in the Big Sky.

“But, you know what? We’ve got some good young players. Lars Slind will step in at fullback and do a great job. Chris Cwik is an all-conference tight end, Wil Haas is back (from injury) and along with Anthony McCarty and Tom McAndrews, we feel we have some good players at that position.”

Of more immediate concern is wide receiver, where last year’s 6-5 team graduated two starters and lost one potential replacement in the spring.

Skyler Allen, who was a quarterback last fall, switched to receiver and suffered an elbow injury in the spring game.

“Right now he’s going to be a punter/kicker only,” Wulff said of the versatile redshirt sophomore from Pasco. “He feels comfortable there and it’s a dire need of ours. With receiver, those are the biggest question marks heading into our season.”