EWU’s Cole takes neutral stance

Ryan Cole insisted he would be just as excited if the Eastern Washington Eagles were opening their football season against Slippery Rock or, in his words, Joe Schmoe.

But they’re not.

The Eagles leave today for Corvallis, Ore., and a Thursday night televised matchup with Oregon State.

It so happens that Cole left Corvallis about 18 months ago, generally unhappy with his overall OSU experience, accentuated by his position on the depth chart of a coach who didn’t recruit him.

Still, the bruising 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back is approaching the return to Reser Stadium as just another game.

Cole, the Washington Gatorade Player of the Year when he graduated from South Kitsap in 2002, rushed for 292 yards while appearing in 25 games for the Beavers, the high-water mark being a 104-yard game against Washington State as a sophomore.

Last fall he gained 879 yards and scored 14 touchdowns for the Eagles, highlighted by a 154-yard, five TD game against Portland State that earned him Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.

“Things have obviously worked out well for Ryan,” said Mike Riley, who is entering the fourth year of his second stint as OSU’s head coach, “I thought he was a good back when he was here. He has done very well there and has become a big part of their offensive attack.”

When rumors began circulating last fall that OSU was searching for a Big Sky opponent, Cole didn’t have an emotional reaction one way or the other.

“I didn’t really care,” he said. “If it happened, it happened. I didn’t have any control over it. In the back of my mind, yeah, I did play there, but this game is not going to make or break our season.”

The Beavers are expecting Cole to come right at them.

“I know he’s definitely a strong runner,” friend and OSU junior defensive tackle Curtis Coker said. “I think he is probably going to run the hardest he has ever run in this game. I’m sure he didn’t transfer because he felt good. He transferred because he wasn’t playing and he’s probably mad about that, so he’s going to want to come in here and show the coaches that he shoulda been playing.”

Cole isn’t dwelling on what might have been – or what might be, for that matter.

“My personal goal is just to get the win. That’s the most important thing, not how many yards I rush for or how many touchdowns,” Cole said. “I had some good times, but that was then, this is now.”

Oswald dedication

The Eagles are dedicating the OSU game in the memory of long-time Cheney football coach and former Beavers player Tom Oswald and will wear T.O. stickers on their helmets.

Oswald died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

Oswald’s son Drew, who lettered at EWU in 2004, will serve as honorary captain. The rest of the family will also attend the game.

“We wanted to do something to honor Tom for this game since he was a player at Oregon State and such a huge part of our community and Eastern for so many years,” EWU coach Paul Wulff said. “I know he was looking forward to possibly attending this game. He’ll be attending it a little differently, but honoring him is the least we can do as a program.”