For Eastern, 0-3 equals 1-2

The Eastern Washington University Eagles are addressing the inadequacies that have surfaced in their 0-3 start.

Now it’s time to look at the big picture.

It was almost a given they would start the football season 0-2 with Oregon State and West Virginia on the schedule.

All the third loss means is fans have little confidence in their Eagles heading into the Big Sky Conference opener Saturday at Montana State.

Otherwise, the 21-14 loss to Central Washington means the same as a 55-0 victory would have.

From the time Eastern signed the contract with West Virginia for a second I-A payday, the coaches knew their only chance of making the I-AA playoffs was to win the conference’s automatic berth.

That’s because games – usually wins – against Division II opponents don’t count when teams are being selected for an at-large berth in the playoffs.

Translation: With the schedule the Eagles faced, they would be in the same boat even if they were 1-2.

The only way to get eight wins, barring a I-A upset, would be to run the table in the Sky.

That’s not right, for a number of reasons:

“There are a number of I-AA teams that offer limited or no scholarships, but playing them counts for the magic number of eight to make the playoffs.

“Of those limited or non-scholarship programs, a large majority of them are in the east.

“Teams in Division II, which do offer scholarships, are every bit as good.

“If I-A teams can count wins over I-AA to be bowl eligible (and only six wins are needed), I-AA should be able to count a D-II win.

If you think that philosophy is messed up now, if a 12th game is approved Big Sky teams are going to be at a bigger disadvantage as they try to find “counter” games.

Plucky Bears

Northern Colorado looked pretty dismal opening the season with 38-7 and 45-3 losses to UC Davis and Portland State, respectively.

Then came the punter fiasco, with the backup stabbing the starter in the leg.

Leading up to the trip to Texas State, a I-AA semifinalist a year ago, no one outside the program was talking football.

Low and behold, the Bears eked out a 14-13 win despite getting dominated statistically.

“This team sticks together as a family, through adversity, and helps each other out,” first-year coach Scott Downing told The Greeley Tribune.

“Look at that scoreboard – we won,” Bears defensive back Aaron Henderson said. “This was definitely for Rafael (Mendoza, the punter) and for coach Downing. He has the heart of a champion and has brought us through some tough times.”

Quick kicks

There is a full slate of conference games this week. Northern Colorado is the odd-team out in the nine-team Big Sky, playing Western Illinois at home. … Northern Arizona defensive back Jeff Wheeler became the third I-AA player, and third in the Big Sky, to return two interceptions for touchdowns. … Northern Arizona quarterback Jason Murrietta leads the nation with a passing efficiency rating of 191.5. … Portland State used four quarterbacks against California after starter Sawyer Smith and backup Tygue Howland were injured. Third-stringer Rob Freeman went 12 of 17 for 119 yards, and wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland, an option quarterback in high school, took a couple of snaps. … Portland State wide receiver Brendan Ferrigno caught a touchdown pass from Kirkland, who was not lined up at quarterback at the time. Ferrigno is the son of California Bears wide receivers coach Dan Ferrigno. Kirkland also caught a TD pass from Freeman. … Weber State went 133 minutes before scoring its first touchdown of the season. … Montana State’s shutout at the hands of UC Davis was the Bobcats’ first at home since 1983. The 45-0 score was the worst home whitewash in 91 years.