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Qwest Field and CWU

eagle11

eagle11

Active member
How does everyone feel about having the first game of the season at an alternate site? I for one could care less cause the students aren't back so we might as well play at Qwest. However, I would like the Eags to get a game on the red turf before Montana so I kind of have mixed feelings but we should kick CWU's butts no matter what. Go Eagles!!!
 
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about not getting to play a game on the turf before Montana, but at least they'll have a couple weeks of practice on it.

I do like that particular game being at Qwest because the day after is the Seahawks season kickoff against the Niners... huge game out of the gate. I'll be going to both games. 8-)
 
eagle1 said:
How does everyone feel about having the first game of the season at an alternate site? I for one could care less cause the students aren't back so we might as well play at Qwest. However, I would like the Eags to get a game on the red turf before Montana so I kind of have mixed feelings but we should kick CWU's butts no matter what. Go Eagles!!!
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Thats gonna be a tough game for EWU, especially if we don't have a good showing in Reno ! There are quite a few CWU alumni in the Puget Sound region ! That could be a "trap" game if Eastern isn't carefull ! I have to agree with you , I think that would've been a good time to break in the red rug ! GO EAGS !!
 
Have to disagree since I think they got the scheduling just right. Assuming that there will be a little national exposure for the first game on Red Turf, it makes much more sense to have it in front of what will be a packed house with a crazy crowd for a rivalry game. All things that you couldn't guarantee for a game against CWU before school is in session.
 
Obzerver said:
Can;t imagine this being a trap game...didn't CWU beat us the last time we played?
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Yes they did and with that said the "trap" lies in not taking them seriously, with the Montana game and new turf up the next weekend ! Scary !
 
Buy a ticket for the Qwest game and buy a few for your friends. If you have not been to Qwest Field, this is a great opportunity at a reasonable price. I gathered around 20 of my Seattle area friends last year, none of them with much interest in EWU football but after watching Taiwan run on the turf at Qwest they can't wait to come back and cheer the Eagles on. With both Johnson brothers healthy, our defense will help make sure the result is different than the last time EWU faced Central. We respect the CWU program and will not take them lightly. Coach Baldwin, Coach Best and the rest of the staff won't let that happen. Rally your friends and let's double the crowd from last season. Our team deserves (and needs) crowd support on September 11. Contact Troy with the EWU ticket office and support your Eagles!
 
I hate the thought of playing CWU at a neutral site. Not because of the financial aspects- which will likely work in our favor- but because we have no business letting a team like CWU get a neutral site against us. We've taken a game against a D-II opponent and turned it into a game we could potentially lose... and if we lose it, the season effectively ends before we even see Woodward Field.

Our AD has lacked an understanding about how to schedule a good FCS schedule for some time. Playing a BCS bodybag is fine- once a year- but then you need to paddycake up the schedule with games YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO WIN EVERY TIME OUT. Playing tough D-II teams is, quite simply, an unnecessary risk for little financial reward. And playing them at a neutral site adds to the stupidity.

The other issue is that we seldom schedule non-conference FCS games against teams that suck. We always aim high, whereas Montana is getting those lower-tier FCS games on their schedule. That is a big advantage to boost your record against an FCS opponent and not be in a prolonged, physical game.
 
LDopaPDX said:
I hate the thought of playing CWU at a neutral site. Not because of the financial aspects- which will likely work in our favor- but because we have no business letting a team like CWU get a neutral site against us. We've taken a game against a D-II opponent and turned it into a game we could potentially lose... and if we lose it, the season effectively ends before we even see Woodward Field.

Our AD has lacked an understanding about how to schedule a good FCS schedule for some time. Playing a BCS bodybag is fine- once a year- but then you need to paddycake up the schedule with games YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO WIN EVERY TIME OUT. Playing tough D-II teams is, quite simply, an unnecessary risk for little financial reward. And playing them at a neutral site adds to the stupidity.

The other issue is that we seldom schedule non-conference FCS games against teams that suck. We always aim high, whereas Montana is getting those lower-tier FCS games on their schedule. That is a big advantage to boost your record against an FCS opponent and not be in a prolonged, physical game.
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Good post Dopa !! my concerns exactly !
 
EWU has a tremendous opportunity in its 1st 3 weeks to set the tone for there entire 2010 season. Compete or win vs Nevada, beat a tough D-II in-state rival (CWU) on a neutral field, and take care of business against the Grizz on the Red Turf in their home opener. I look at this as an opportunity, as does the players and coaches. Don't forget we got Montana State on the road the week after UM game. I like the opening schedule as the entire team will be focused from August 8th.
 
LDopaPDX said:
The other issue is that we seldom schedule non-conference FCS games against teams that suck. We always aim high, whereas Montana is getting those lower-tier FCS games on their schedule. That is a big advantage to boost your record against an FCS opponent and not be in a prolonged, physical game.
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That's the problem with teams out West, is that there aren't a whole lot of them, and travel costs come into effect if we try to go East. I'd love to see us play San Diego though, from a weak Pioneer league, or any of the Dakota Schools, which aren't much further than NAU is from us. I don't know why we won't do any home and home deals with further east teams like we're doing with SUU and Cal Poly in current/upcoming years.

Montana doesn't play lower-tier FCS games... they play garbage D-II teams that UM can make more $ on than playing bodybag FBS games, since they have the luxury of not worrying about getting to at least 7-DI wins. They've also played Cal Poly and UC-Davis in current/recent years OOC, neither of which I would say is weak at all. They also have a home and home 3 way deal with McNeese State and App State in the coming years.

But all in all, yeah, I agree, we need to load up the schedule with winnable FCS teams, but financially we can't afford to unless we also take a $ game.
 
Montana does a good job of padding their schedule with very winnable games, but they also have made some strides to schedule some quality FCS non-conference games as well. I think they have a home and home with App State set up, if I am not mistaken.
 
i was under the impression they scheduled this game in seattle because they weren't 100% sure the red would be complete in time.
 
I think it's more about the gate ($$$) than an extra week to get the turf ready. Central should be a reasonably good draw at Qwest. It makes sense to play one game a year on the west side, so west side HS coaches and recruits can see them play in that setting. I also like playing the game at Qwest before classes start because after classes start, I like the home games being on campus so it is easy for students to go and have a good time. That needs to be a big part of college football.

If UW's stadium plans go forward, it looks like the EWU/UW game will be at Qwest next year. I wonder if EWU would then still schedule a home game at Qwest.
 
FreeBird said:
If UW's stadium plans go forward, it looks like the EWU/UW game will be at Qwest next year. I wonder if EWU would then still schedule a home game at Qwest.
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Probably not, I would imagine. I can't see playing x 2 games in Seattle, even if one of them isn't counted as a home game. Playing UW at Qwest satisfies everything I imagine we are trying to accomplish by playing a game in Seattle....(I.E. Exposure, recruiting, etc.)
 
My understanding is that the 7,000 or so we drew at Qwest last year was essentially the break-even. I think the Admin really hoped Portland State would bring a few fans... they didn't. I was shocked that Eastern drew all the fans from 4 hours away while PSU couldn't muster more than about 200 from 2 1/2 hours away.
 
Gotta think of the 7,000 fans for EWU there was a good chunk of them from the westside. Lot's of alum from EWU living over there and students from there...more so than PSU.
 
I can't wait! We're getting a pretty good sized crew ex-players heading to Quest for the game and it's going to be a blast! I had to miss the Quest game last year, so it's going to be great to see everyone and watch the 2010 vintage of Eagle Football take care of business against CWU. Who's with me?
 
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