Ewu sports chat Dec. 11 (noon)

Read the transcript of today’s chat in the extended post.

Dec 11 2014, 11:59

Jim: OK, folks, let talk about Eastern sports!

Dec 11 2014, 12:03 PM

Jim: Warmup question: What’s the key to Saturday’s game against Illinois State?

Dec 11 2014, 12:06 PM

Guest5310 (guest): I think our receivers vs. their DB’s and our DL vs their OL

Dec 11 2014, 12:06 PM

Jim: I agree. Twice Baldwin told me this week that he expects to find space upfield (of course, he always expects that!)

Dec 11 2014, 12:07 PM

Jim: Speaking of the D-line, I wrote a feature this week on the six true freshmen on that unit. They’ve made big strids.

Dec 11 2014, 12:07 PM

Jim: Strides, that is.

Dec 11 2014, 12:08 PM

Jim: ISU has a beefy O-line, including two 330-pounders at guard. Should be interesting.

Dec 11 2014, 12:09 PM

Guest5310 (guest): Great article. Those guys are going to be great in the future with all the strides they have made this year. Great coaching

Dec 11 2014, 12:10 PM

Jim: Assistants Ryan Sawyer and John Graham have done a great job bringing these guys up to speed. Nice kids too - I’ve spoken to several of them.

Dec 11 2014, 12:10 PM

guest7893 (guest): A little early in the discussion for predictions, but what’s your thoughts on UNH-Chatty game tomorrow?

Dec 11 2014, 12:11 PM

Jim: Good question. People may not realize it, but the Eagles will know Friday night whether they have a shot to host another semifinal game. If Chattanooga wins, the EWU-ISU winner will host. If it’s UNH, it will be a long trip.

Dec 11 2014, 12:12 PM

Jim: It’s hard to pick against UNH, which is the top seed, playing at home with a veteran team that reached the semis last year and has a great running game.

Dec 11 2014, 12:12 PM

Guest5310 (guest): Off subject, but I think there is a lesson in trusting the blogs, rumor etc. re:coach changes. Between the Griz BS about Beau the the surprise announcement by Neb. and OSU. Not that we are out of the woods yet

Dec 11 2014, 12:13 PM

Jim: Not off subject at all! I too fell into the trap of repeating what was reported by other news organizations, after they assured me their sources were “in the know.”

Dec 11 2014, 12:14 PM

Jim: The OSU opening has been a distraction for everyone, myself included.

Dec 11 2014, 12:14 PM

guest7893 (guest): That’s why i was asking. Seems like home semi’s are a booger and an away might break that cycle, but traveling West to East is a bigger booger!

Dec 11 2014, 12:14 PM

guest7893 (guest): Only “Beau Knows” for sure. lol

Dec 11 2014, 12:16 PM

guest7893 (guest): Cart before the horse, must take care of ISU first, but was curious as to others thoughts on the possible trek East.

Dec 11 2014, 12:16 PM

Jim: Getting back to New Hampshire, that would be a very tough trip. The last comparable trip for the Eagles was back in 2007, when they had to go to Appalachian State for a quarterfinal game. However, the Eagles lost by only 38-35, the same year AppSt beat Michigan. I have a feeling Baldwin can overcome that as well.

Dec 11 2014, 12:17 PM

Jim: By the way, that AppSt turned out to be the last for Paul Wulff, who was hired a month later by WSU.

Dec 11 2014, 12:18 PM

Guest5310 (guest): Q had a great game, Did he come out health? What about Neary (Sp)?

Dec 11 2014, 12:19 PM

Jim: Quincy Forte is good to go after admitting that he was only about 90 percent vs. Montana. Neary, the left guard, is listed as questionable with a knee injury after missing the Montana game.

Dec 11 2014, 12:20 PM

Jim: Also, tight end Terry Jackson (who caught a TD pass vs. the Griz, is questionable with an ankle injury and RB Jalen Moore is questionable with a knee injury.

Dec 11 2014, 12:24 PM

Guest5310 (guest): Even though all of us will be at game, I think it is unfortunate that ESPN did not step up and put this week round on either ESPN, ESPN2 it would have been nice to get the exposure.

Dec 11 2014, 12:24 PM

Jim: A slap in the face, I think, with two straight games unavailable on the tube.

Dec 11 2014, 12:25 PM

guest7893 (guest): What kind of crowd is expected? Student section may drop off with classes ending this week.

Dec 11 2014, 12:26 PM

Jim: It doesn’t make sense at first, but crowds drop in the playoffs, because of weather, the end of term, etc. You’d think more people would attend a game with so much riding on it.

Dec 11 2014, 12:27 PM

Guest7968 (guest): ESPN3 works pretty good. You can re watch the game long after the game is over, but it would have been nice to be have some national tv exposure.

Dec 11 2014, 12:27 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Hopefully students will still go to the game.

Dec 11 2014, 12:28 PM

guest7893 (guest): Our game is available as a Pay-per-view on ESPN gameplan. Did the half season upgrade to catch the playoff games. Picture is still lousy, but a little more reliable than streaming on-line for us.

Dec 11 2014, 12:28 PM

Jim: Of course, Christmas shopping is sooooo important (I hope that sounds sarcastic enough, and that my wife doesn’t read this).

Dec 11 2014, 12:28 PM

Guest7968 (guest): If this is any indication of attendance, you can still ring up tickets for the west side of the stadium. I have not been able to do that in years, including playoffs.

Dec 11 2014, 12:29 PM

Jim: That’s no surprise, but at least the weather is better than a year ago.

Dec 11 2014, 12:30 PM

Guest7968 (guest): Gameplan is pretty cool too. I bought the package for the first round games. $ well spent.

Dec 11 2014, 12:30 PM

guest7893 (guest): We got great West Side seats for the SHSU semi-final game. Aside from the final result, one of the best games I’ve ever seen.

Dec 11 2014, 12:30 PM

Jim: Glad to hear that. I probably don’t pay enough attention to the TV options out there.

Dec 11 2014, 12:31 PM

Guest7968 (guest): Incredible game! Metal bleachers for me

Dec 11 2014, 12:31 PM

Jim: Illinois State has a mobile quarterback. That worries me - anyone else?

Dec 11 2014, 12:32 PM

Jim: The Eagles struggled with scramblers last year vs. Jacksonville State and Towson.

Dec 11 2014, 12:32 PM

Guest7968 (guest): We have to be happy with the D performance last week. Lets do it again boys! All games in the playoffs are worrisome! JJ was a mobile quarterback as well. That makes me feel a little better.

Dec 11 2014, 12:33 PM

Jim: Never would I have expected the Eagles to hold Montana to 90 yards total offense in the first half.

Dec 11 2014, 12:33 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Defense played awesome. Will need another performance like that to get it done this weekend.

Dec 11 2014, 12:34 PM

Jim: Very aggressive too, with two more picks and blocked punt. EWU has 14 takeaways in its last four games.

Dec 11 2014, 12:34 PM

EWU98 (guest): What do you think of Vernon’s Shot at the Payton award?

Dec 11 2014, 12:35 PM

Jim: I think he wins a close vote over the Villanova QB, who does have a higher passer rating.

Dec 11 2014, 12:35 PM

guest7893 (guest): We seem to finally be coming together on D. They know what they need to do. Confident our boys will get it done.

Dec 11 2014, 12:35 PM

Guest7829 (guest): I wasn’t surprised. Their o line is not the greatest this year. ISU’s will be q completely different animal.

Dec 11 2014, 12:36 PM

Guest7968 (guest): Roberson has run for 850 and 8 touchdowns on the season. Certainly something that has to be accounted for.

Dec 11 2014, 12:36 PM

EWU98 (guest): I think they are better prepared for scrambling Qb’s than last year. They handled MSU’s pretty well. Despite the passing yards. Our D line was very green for that game.

Dec 11 2014, 12:37 PM

Jim: The improved D-line has been a key; great move earlier this year to invest in the future and burn a few redshirts, IMO.

Dec 11 2014, 12:37 PM

Guest5310 (guest): As Beau always has said the Takeaway Ratio is 1 of the most important. Did not know we had done so good (14) in last 4 games

Dec 11 2014, 12:38 PM

Jim: For Baldwin, the big stats are turnover ratio, 3rd-down conversions and red-zone performance, on both sides of the ball. It’s hard to disagree.

Dec 11 2014, 12:38 PM

guest7893 (guest): YES!! How about Todd Raynes??!! So happy for him to have a game like that after all the injury struggles last year and earlier this year.

Dec 11 2014, 12:38 PM

EWU98 (guest): Were you aware that Baldwin interviewed for the OSU job?

Dec 11 2014, 12:39 PM

Jim: We had several unconfirmed sources, but not enough to publish.

Dec 11 2014, 12:40 PM

Jim: I walked a fine line all week on the OSU story.

Dec 11 2014, 12:40 PM

Guest7968 (guest): 14 in 4 games is amazing! Let’s continue the trend.

Dec 11 2014, 12:40 PM

EWU98 (guest): According to the Portland Tribune, athletic director Bob De Carolis interviewed five candidates to fill the head-coaching vacancy. The list included Gary Andersen, Hawaii head coach Norm Chow, San Diego State defensive line coach Osia Lewis, Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin and Utah State head coach Matt Wells.

Dec 11 2014, 12:40 PM

Jim: Who does the Portland Tribune cite as its source?

Dec 11 2014, 12:40 PM

Guest7829 (guest): It wouldn’t surprise me as far as OSU goes. The UM rumor seems to have been a complete fabrication.

Dec 11 2014, 12:41 PM

Jim: Actually, I’ve heard that Montana made a pretty strong push for Baldwin, but that he wasn’t going to another FCS school.

Dec 11 2014, 12:41 PM

EWU98 (guest): I can understand that. The one name that stood out on that list was Norm Chow. That is pretty good company.

Dec 11 2014, 12:41 PM

Guest7829 (guest): I think it was purposely “leaked” to serve as a distraction.

Dec 11 2014, 12:42 PM

Jim: That’s possible. On the other hand, Montana would love to have Baldwin right now.

Dec 11 2014, 12:42 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Oh yes, I am sure Montana pushed hard for him.

Dec 11 2014, 12:42 PM

EWU98 (guest): no source given. Just part of their bullets in the story.

Dec 11 2014, 12:43 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Norm Chow, that’s a pretty high profile name.

Dec 11 2014, 12:44 PM

EWU98 (guest): That is what I thought as well.

Dec 11 2014, 12:45 PM

Jim: At this point, Baldwin is still in the mix at Colorado State, and could be an offensive coordinator at OSU or another school. But would he want that? Thoughts?

Dec 11 2014, 12:45 PM

GOEAGS (guest): I think Beau is clearly headed to Colorado State

Dec 11 2014, 12:45 PM

Jim: Why do you think that?

Dec 11 2014, 12:45 PM

GOEAGS (guest): Florida OC makes sense too

Dec 11 2014, 12:46 PM

Jim: Perhaps, but why would Jim McElwain, a longtime OC himself, turn the playcalling over to Baldwin, who also lacks ties to the SEC?

Dec 11 2014, 12:46 PM

EWU98 (guest): It has been great seeing all the former players come back for games…any word on Kurt Schultz coming in for a game?

Dec 11 2014, 12:47 PM

Jim: No word on Schultz; but yes, it was nice to see Mitchell, Kaufmann, Lee, and others last week.

Dec 11 2014, 12:47 PM

EWU98 (guest): I see Colorado State does not have a AD as well? Maybe Chaves and Baldwin a package deal?

Dec 11 2014, 12:47 PM

Jim: That would hurt - the Eagles, I mean!

Dec 11 2014, 12:47 PM

Guest7968 (guest): OC at a big gig would be a huge pay raise, but then it’s not your program. It will be interesting. I (selfishly) would love to see Beau be patient if he doesn’t get a FBS head gig this year. There is a lot coming back next year.

Dec 11 2014, 12:48 PM

Jim: Baldwin dearly wants to run his own program.

Dec 11 2014, 12:48 PM

GOEAGS (guest): I think its a HUGE loss for EWU Football, and would set us back. And most likely cost us the Sr Season of VA. He will transfer out once BB leaves, or follow BB to where he goes.

Dec 11 2014, 12:48 PM

EWU98 (guest): Speaking of issues. Do you think Portland State is one year away from being done now that they hired their assistant as their head…to me it looks they are gonners with the support from the top.

Dec 11 2014, 12:49 PM

Jim: It does look like a hospice operation at this point. It’s real tough at PSU.

Dec 11 2014, 12:49 PM

Guest7968 (guest): I don’t think its that easy for players just to follow coaches.

Dec 11 2014, 12:50 PM

Jim: Especially at this stage of VA’s career - no way he moves.

Dec 11 2014, 12:50 PM

GOEAGS (guest): Jim - What chances do you give EWU Basketball vs USF and UW? I would gladly settle for 1-1 split vs those teams. But I think 2-0 can happen!

Dec 11 2014, 12:51 PM

Jim: I predict they’ll win tonight, but lose at UW. The Huskies are pretty tough this year.

Dec 11 2014, 12:51 PM

GOEAGS (guest): I will remember that comment once he is gone. If BB leaves, VA will too. He would love a shot at competing in big time D1 conference.

Dec 11 2014, 12:51 PM

EWU98 (guest): I so badly want a UW win! I am so tired of all the UW’ers around me talking smack!

Dec 11 2014, 12:53 PM

Jim: If Baldwin leaves, I think Vernon is more like likely to go pro immediately than follow Beau and possibly learn a new system, perhaps be stuck behind another QB, relocate, etc.

Dec 11 2014, 12:53 PM

Guest7968 (guest): Husky win vs San Diego State was impressive.

Dec 11 2014, 12:53 PM

Guest7829 (guest): GoEags…um…

Dec 11 2014, 12:53 PM

GOEAGS (guest): Im a huge UW fan as well as EWU Grad. UW basketball is way overrated. They have big time trouble scoring. IF EWU is hot from 3 point land watch out. Upset City Baby.

Dec 11 2014, 12:53 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Jim, exactly.

Dec 11 2014, 12:54 PM

Jim: Six minutes left: let’s hear some predictions for Saturday’s game.

Dec 11 2014, 12:54 PM

Guest4396 (guest): GOEAGS: VA cannot transfer without sitting out a season, which he doesn’t have as a 4th year player. Only way he can transfer is if he graduates this year, and I doubt he’s that close to graduating.

Dec 11 2014, 12:55 PM

Jim: Actually, he’s done pretty well in the classroom, but like most football players, he’s on a five-year academic track toward a bachelor’s degree.

Dec 11 2014, 12:55 PM

EWU98 (guest): Go pro? Really? Where do you think he would fall in terms of draft order? I can’t see him being higher than a 5th (no offense as I love myself some VA) and at that point is it worth it.

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

Jim: I’m thinking CFL, and Vernon has told me the same thing as his most realistic shot at playing pro ball.

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

Guest7968 (guest): You can’t just transfer up. It doesn’t work like that. Especially a Red Shirt senior.

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

GOEAGS (guest): EWU 42 ISU 37

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

Jim: That’s pretty close.

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

GOEAGS (guest): No offense, but he wouldn’t get drafted. No chance. Undersized, and his last 3-4 games his accuracy has looked VERY Suspect

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

EWU98 (guest): Totally agree CFL.Prediction for Saturday unless you have already thrown it out.

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

Joemon (guest): EWU takes it 45 31

Dec 11 2014, 12:56 PM

Guest7968 (guest): I like the Eags in a tight one 42-35! I like Chatty by 3 and one more home semi!

Dec 11 2014, 12:57 PM

Jim: The mobile QB for ISU scares me.

Dec 11 2014, 12:57 PM

Guest5310 (guest): Eags 45 -Redbirds 30. U of New Ham Crashes and burns. Eags Play Semi’s at home next weekend. A guy can dream right

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

Jim: On the other hand, the ISU defense will struggle in coverage. My prediction: EWU 48, ISU 38

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

GOEAGS (guest): Can we PLEASE make our Extra Points this week!! ALL of them.

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

EWU98 (guest): Personally I would like to play the Semi’s on the road. Two home losses tend to get in one’s head. But first the Red Bird.

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

Jim: And I’ve never been to New England. I have dreams too!

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

Guest7829 (guest): Eags 56 (I-Madea-Mistake) 36

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

Guest7968 (guest): Thanks Jim! Go Eagles!

Dec 11 2014, 12:58 PM

EWU98 (guest): Totally Agree GOEAGS! Every time I see a missed extra point. I think back to our Play-off debacle one-point loss.

Dec 11 2014, 12:59 PM

GOEAGS (guest): We need the big play VA back this week.

Dec 11 2014, 12:59 PM

Jim: Thanks, everyone - hopefully we’ll do it again next week!