Adams has completed the mission he agreed to do

Come this Sept. 5 in Eugene, Ore. a player who’s been not just an integral part of the Eastern Washington University football team for the last three years, but more-or-less its face, could possibly be opposite his teammates and friends on the turf of Autzen Stadium.

“Big Play V.A.,” otherwise known as quarterback Vernon Adams, could very well take his incredible athletic skills south and don the uniforms of many colors worn by the Oregon Ducks.

The thought of Adams departing evokes all kinds of conjecture, questions and last but not least, plenty of emotion, and not necessarily in that order.

There’s the selfish side in the Eagle Nation where some will cry, “Tell me it ain’t so and oh, what will we do?”

Please calm yourself. Adams’ understudy, Jordan West, did a fine job when V.A. went down with a broken foot last October and kept Eastern on track for a third straight Big Sky Conference football championship— and another berth in the playoffs.

Adams, who came to Eastern lightly regarded on big-time college recruiting radars, has found a place here to show off his many talents. He’s been a self-contained school-record setting highlight film virtually every time he put his 6-foot, 200-pound frame on the field.

He’s also kept EWU on the national stage in his three years taking snaps, both on the football field with his stellar play, and on the awards stage where Adams has earned repeat All-American honors and was twice a runner-up for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS’s Heisman Trophy-equivalent.

Adams sees an opportunity now that his star shines a bit more brightly than it did when he came out of Alemany High School in Pasadena, Calif. in 2011.

Oregon has reportedly offered Adams a scholarship to pursue a masters degree, and an opportunity to compete — not necessarily play — for one of the premiere programs in big-time college football.

And while his degree in recreation is there should he need it, Adams’ No. 1 career goal is to play professional football. Time playing at Oregon can enhance that.

In possibly going to Oregon, Adams has an opportunity to compete for the quarterback job formerly held by Heisman Trophy winner, Marcus Mariota, who will enter the NFL draft in April. Mariota, like Adams, was a redshirt freshman in 2011 who has played the last three seasons.

However, down in Eugene, just as was the case when Adams first competed for the starting job in 2012 at EWU’s spring ball, there will be others competing for No. 1.

The Ducks are currently four-deep on the QB depth chart and will reportedly sign another top-rated blue chipper on National Letter of Intent Day, which was Feb. 4. So there are no guarantees if Vernon rolls the dice with the Ducks.

While Adams vacillates, the immediate future of his coach, Beau Baldwin, was solidified for the near future after he signed a five-year contract extension with Eastern.

And that helps illustrate some of the potential dangers the search for greener grass pose.

One has to think back to 2013 when stellar wide receiver Brandon Kaufman passed up his senior season at Eastern to enter the NFL draft. Undrafted, Kaufman made the roster for the Buffalo Bills, but was later cut. Talented and tough, having played the 2010 season with a separated shoulder, Kaufman is still trying to resurrect his career after failing to make the roster of the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions this past summer.

Former Eastern basketball coach Ray Giocoletti left Cheney a decade ago for the University of Utah in 2004. After three seasons and steadily declining results, he was fired in Salt Lake and spent five seasons as a Gonzaga assistant before his 2013 hiring at Drake University.

It’s very important to remember that should Adams depart for Duck Dynasty West, he will have completed the No. 1 job he signed on to do — earn a college degree — which he will finish this June.

And if that’s the case, thanks V.A. for all the memories and we wish you well.