Grip on Sports: The rivalry between Eastern and Idaho is growing and will take another step in the fall
A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you wanted to know why Idaho is such a good fit in the Big Sky Conference, all you had to do last night was parachute into Cheney and watch the two basketball games between the schools. Read on.
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• There isn’t even 100 miles separating Eastern Washington University and the University of Idaho, but for the past couple decades there has been a divide.
The Vandals decided to try to play football at a higher level, and the rest of the athletic programs were dragged along.
Until a few years ago. When UI returned to the Big Sky in every sport but football, the rivalry games with EWU were back on. There was a difference, however. In the years the Vandals were trying to break through college football’s glass ceiling, Eastern improved in every sport.
And basketball was no exception. So last night’s doubleheader in Cheney pitted four of the better the teams in the conference.
The women’s game went to the Eagles, who avenged a WNIT loss to Idaho last season.
The men’s game went to visiting Vandals, who avenged quite a few losses to Eastern recently. But it wasn’t easy, just like rivalry games are supposed to be.
It was a battle between neighbors, with the winners staying in touch with the conference front-runners. The losers are also in the same position, not exactly atop a league that has been competitive against other conferences to a higher degree than usual, but still within reeling-them-in distance.
And the competitive nature of Friday’s game bodes well for the Big Sky and the rivalry.
The Vandals’ experiment with FBS football is over. Next fall they will fall back to the FCS ranks as a full-fledged Big Sky member. It’s a leap no one else has done, going back to its roots so to speak. Idaho’s other sports have been in the conference for a few years, paving the way, experiencing the vastness of a conference that covers the West – and reaches, for a while at least, into the Midwest.
It’s a great fit. If last night’s basketball games tell us anything, they tell us this is where the Vandals and the Eagles belong.
• But is it where Eastern Washington athletic director Bill Chaves belongs? Possibly not, at least not anymore.
Jim Allen is reporting Chaves is the front-runner to be the next AD at North Dakota, the Midwest school that is leaving the Sky soon to join the Missouri Valley Conference for football and the Summit League for everything else.
It’s a better fit for the Fighting Hawks – and more than likely for the Big Sky, which supplied a home to the only school in North or South Dakota not in those leagues.
While the change is ongoing, so is a search for a new athletic director. Chaves is one of four to have interviewed and whose names have been sent to the school president, who will make the decision. That should be done in the next week. Then we will know Eastern’s future.
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WSU: It was a busy day in Pullman, with Theo Lawson having to cover the usual basketball stuff, including a preview of today’s home game with California, but also football news. The most important, probably, is the news a kicker is transferring from Arkansas to Washington State and will be eligible to play next season. The other story is about Luke Falk’s postseason game. … The long losing streak for the WSU women against Stanford continued last night in the Bay Area. The Cougars lost their 63rd consecutive game to the Cardinal without June Daugherty. … Back to football, Marcellus Pippins is also playing in an all-star game.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the conference has a deal with SiriusXM radio, which will come to fruition sometime this year. … The basketball schedule rolls on today, with Oregon trying to make it two upsets in succession when the Ducks travel to Tucson to take on Arizona. … Speaking of Arizona, the Wildcats may have zeroed in on their new football coach, though picking Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo may cost them their quarterback, who doesn’t want to run the wishbone. … Back to hoops, Arizona State looks to bounce back after a slow stretch. So is Utah. … UCLA is starting to pick it up. … Washington’s biggest improvement this season is on the defensive end. … Colorado is looking for a win at Pauley. … There is some athletic director news, with Utah’s Chris Hill fined $10,000 for his tirade the other night and Dan Guerrero talking about UCLA’s future. … We have a chance to see how Colorado is doing financially. … Back to football, an ASU player received another year of eligibility. … Jacob Eason is leaving Georgia, but where he is headed is still unclear.
Gonzaga: After a Thursday night home game against Portland, the Zags are on the road tonight to face USF, one of the teams hoping to make some noise in the WCC. The Dons are coming off a last-second loss. Jim Meehan has more in this preview and he has a look at the best USF offensive player. … Former manager Brian Pete scored in the win over Portland and Whitney Ogden has a story on what that meant for the team. … Around the WCC, USD is struggling. … BYU hopes to build some offensive depth.
EWU and Idaho: We start with the basketball game coverage from Jim Allen. He has a story on the men’s game and on the women’s game that preceded it. … John Blanchette was also in Cheney and he has a column on the men’s game as well. … Dan Pelle has a photo reports from the men’s and women’s games.
Chiefs: A win is always an appreciated present for a coach. Kevin Dudley has coverage of Spokane’s 6-2 gift for coach Dan Lambert.
Preps: Basketball was front and center Friday night, with Dave Nichols covering Gonzaga Prep’s manhandling for Lewis and Clark, 64-25. … We also have a roundup of GSL girls action and roundups from girls and boys games in the area. … I’m not sure this is a good idea.
Seahawks: Who will the Hawks hire as their offensive coordinator? … Kam Chancellor is making noise about next season. … Cliff Avril feels pride in his homeland.
Mariners: The M’s have reached agreements with their arbitration-eligible players. … A minor league player has been suspended.
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• Another Saturday in basketball season. It’s a great help getting through winter. Until later …