First practice is Aug. 5
The Eastern Washington University football team will begin practices for the 2018 season the first week of August on the Sports and Recreation Center practice fields in Cheney.
Players will report on Thursday, Aug. 2 for orientation and conditioning, then the team will practice together for the first time on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 3 p.m.
Eastern will practice in pads for the first time on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. Because the NCAA no longer allows two-a-day practices, Eastern will practice together for nearly a full month prior to the team’s opener, which is Sept. 1 at home against Central Washington. The Eagles are expected to exclusively use the practice fields through Aug. 14, after which Roos Field will be utilized
The Eagles will scrimmage twice before the team’s season opener. Eastern’s first scrimmage of preseason camp will take place on Saturday, Aug. 18 at approximately 3 p.m. at Roos Field. The second scrimmage will take place on Saturday, Aug. 25, also at approximately 3 p.m. at Roos Field. Both are free and open to the public.
Quarterback chosen as STATS FCS 3rd Team All-American
FROM NEWS SERVICE REPORTS
Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud was among 15 players from the Big Sky Conference honored July 31 on the STATS NCAA Football Championship Preseason All-America squad. The 2016 FCS All-American was a third team choice among the group of 98 players honored nationally representing 56 teams and 13 conferences
Eastern head coach Aaron Best already knows he has one of the best field generals in the FCS, but he also likes the supporting cast Gubrud, the senior from McMinnville, Ore., has this season.
“I think having nine starters back on offense really helps,” Best, whose team lost just a starter at wide receiver and another at offensive tackle from last year’s team, said.
A two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award given to the top offensive player in FCS, Gubrud followed a record-breaking 2016 season with a solid junior campaign. He was named 2016 FCS Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, but a 7-4 record last season has the entire Eagle team hungry to get back to the playoffs after advancing to the semifinals in 2016 for the fifth time in school history.
“I tell our team that just because you have guys back doesn’t mean you’re going to be better,” Best said. “One would assume that’s the case, but just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re better. That’s what I challenge Gage with.”
Earlier in July, Eastern was picked by both the media and the coaches to win the Big Sky Conference championship. Eastern was third with a 6-2 mark last year, but has won championships nine times – including five of the last eight (2010, 2012-14, 2016).
“I think there is a level of being humbled from last year’s 7-4 campaign,” Best said. “The benchmark is the playoffs, and if seven wins doesn’t get you in like last year, the bar is high. We annually have this target on our back from the coaches and media poll by having success in the last 15 years, and we have created the pressure for ourselves to be better and better every year. I’m excited for this situation and I believe this is what competitors do to thrive in tough situations. Everyone is going to give you their best shot, and they have over the last couple years.”
Earlier this summer Gubrud was selected by Athlon Sports as the lone quarterback on its 27-player preseason All-America team. He was also a third team preseason All-America selection by Hero Sports, and joined teammates Jay-Tee Tiuli and running back Antoine Custer Jr. as preseason All-Big Sky selections.
Gubrud is also one of four Eagle seniors serving as co-captain for the 2018 season, joining safety Mitch Fettig, linebacker Ketner Kupp and center Spencer Blackburn.
Gubrud is 17-6 in 23 games as a starter, and in 27 total games as an Eagle he has 9,441 yards of total offense and 8,568 passing yards.
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