UGGHH

[EagerEagle]

I still think we will continue to see folks entering the transfer portal until EWU figures out what athletics is going to look like going forward in all sports. I saw that Meadows also entered the portal as did Davidson and Robertson. This is a University problem at this point. Coaches have cuts in pay and seems to be a lot of uncertainty. Coach Bodner has been tweeting/posting about it, Ojoh from the football squad just entered the portal. We are in for some dark days until May rights the University ship and we can truly see where we are headed for athletics. With the uncertainty, this become the new reality sadly. You can't blame the loyalty thing on the kids, I truly don't think this is a coach thing as most have come out and respect our new coach, I truly feel this is a University issue.

 

[EWU98]

Will see who stays and who goes. Early signing is April the 14th. So I would guess that as a coach at EWU I would want a answer by Monday so I can start going after others to fill the void.

 

[EagerEagle]

Jack Perry and Kim Aiken Jr have entered the portal as of this morning. They will all be in the portal prior to signing day. Per Collingwood Robertson has committed to Portland.

 

[Obzerver]

https://twitter.com/TylerRo87069943/status/1377695434190123012

Give me a break...swoop is now in the portal. Good luck in Portland Swoop! Is that what we are suppose to say?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Will see who stays and who goes. Early signing is April the 14th. So I would guess that as a coach at EWU I would want a answer by Monday so I can start going after others to fill the void.

I mean, seriously. At this point, will the last person left please remember to lock the door and turn off the lights? I'd guess 95% of our points production and 95% of our rebounding has left the building.

At this point, we need to immediately get to work with transfers. There's no other option. Worse yet, outside of Venters, none of the young guys really showed anything last season, so it's not like we have anything returning that we can count on in the slightest. I'd have to wonder what Eastern's short term plan on Riley is, because his first week has been the biggest disaster in program history. Eastern MUST pull 6 or 7 guys out of other schools immediately... and like within the next week or so.

And I agree with EagerEagle, the university is largely to blame. They allow morons to float talk of dropping athletics without shutting that shit down. Arevalo would've had that squashed the second a word of it trickled to the media. The leadership at Eastern hasn't said a word about it, and we're seeing coaches and athletes leave en masse. Lynn Hickey hasn't even made a statement on it yet, and she's got to be feeling like she's gotten the shaft from EWU admin. At this point, if I'm her, I'm screaming at the Interim Pres and Trustees to release a public statement either reaffirming their commitment to athletics for the long-term or threaten them with every coach and athlete heading for the door.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Will see who stays and who goes. Early signing is April the 14th. So I would guess that as a coach at EWU I would want a answer by Monday so I can start going after others to fill the void.

If you're holding out hope any of these guys is staying, it's not happening. Shit, the Groves brothers were so anxious to leave they announced their departure with a press release. I really hope--- and I know it's a false hope--- that Eastern asked for an exit interview of some kind with the coaches and players that left. The only thing worse than the athletes leaving is not fixing the problems that hastened their exit. Clearly, there is a systemic issue at play here and no one on a successful team was happy with the powers-that-be at Eastern.

 

[EagerEagle]

I agree, some strong statements need to be made by the University. Football season will soon be coming to a close and the transfer portal for our players will be looming. Dr. May is set to make an announcement of his recommendation to the BOT and then the BOT will not make an announcement according to the timeline until June. It may be to late by then. How many more athletes have to leave or threaten to leave? We are full turnover with our basketball teams.. what's next?

 

[EWU98]

As much as I would like to jump on your ban wagon I have to disagree. We are the victim of our own success here and the rules of the NCAA are KILLING EWU we now have become a feeder for upper division D1 schools. The BIG SKY is BLEEDING players its not just EWU
Grabbed below from the Griz forum. Obviously not updated with the last two but I think you will get my point. There will be maybe over 2k players in the portal when it is all done.
The AD's and presidents need to fix this free transfer rule without a consequence other wise we are going to just be a farm system for the power schools.
I bet if you look around and see all of the low to mid majors schools who won conference titles you will see a lot of their players with extra time in the portal.
Oh and yes I think we will see some movement for football, but because we are out there playing right now and with a playoff run we will be able to keep a majority of our players as I think most major D1 schools will be back on their normal schedule with having spring ball and such and figured things. I would not be surprised to see EB3 and our placekicker gone though after the season.

Transfer: T, Graduate T: GT)
* Starter

Eastern Washington: (6)
- PF Jordan Veening, RS SO (T) (3E)
- SG Jacob Davison, RS SR (GT) 1E
- C Tanner Groves, RS JR (T) 2E
- SF Jacob Groves, SO (T) 3E
- PG Michael Meadows, RS SO (T) 3E
- SF Tyler Robertson, SO (T)

Idaho: (7)
- *P Scott Blakney, SR (GT) -Montana, Montana State, Idaho State, Portland State
- *G Ja'Vary Christmas, SR (GT)
- PG Hunter-Jack Madden, FR (T)
- *SG DeAndre Robinson, JR (T)
- SG A.J. Youngman, RS JR (GT)
- *PG Damen Thacker, SR (GT)
- PF Babacar Thiombane, SR (GT)

Idaho State1)
- SG Noble Cooper, JR (T)

Montana: (2)
- G Cameron Satterwhite, SR (GT)
- *C Michael Steadman, Sr (GT)

Montana State4)
- SG Caleb Bellach, FR (T) Montana Technological University
- PG Mike Hood JR (T)
- PF Finn Fleute, RS FR (T)
- PF Bilal Shabazz, JR (T)

Northern Arizona: (4)
- PG Dayton Harris, FR (T)
- *SG Luke Avdalovic, JR (T)
- SG Jackson Larsen, RS FR (T)
- *PG Cameron Shelton, JR (T) (1-2E) - Loyola Marymount

Northern Colorado: (6)
- G Greg Bowie II, RS JR (GT)
- SF Marque English, SO (T)
- SG Rodrick McCobb, RS SR (GT)
- PF Roy Grigsby , RS SO (T)
- PG Sam Masten, JR (T)
- PG Malcolm Little, FR (T)
**Added**
- PG Dru Kuxhausen, SR (T) McNeese State

Portland State: (1)
- SG Gio Nelson, RS JR (2E)
- SG Kyle Greely, RS SO (3E)
- PG James Scott, RS SR (GT)

Sacramento State2)
- PFJordan Cook-Harper, JR (T)
- *PG Brandon Davis, JR (T)
**Added**
- C Jonathan Komagum, JR (T) Toledo

Southern Utah: (1)
- C Yuat Alok, RS SR C(GT)- Coppin State

Weber State:
- PF Mitch Brizee, RS FR (T)

 

[Obzerver]

I've been told the last few weeks by people expressing their shock that EWU is losing the Football program. Yakima Herald-Republic had a headline awhile back that the Football program is in jeopardy shortly after that report went public. I shrugged it off thinking they hadn't read the entire report. Apparently here in the Tri-Cities some alums are thinking the sky is falling on the athletic programs at EWU. Yes, someone need to say something and get the word out...grow a spine dumb bastards.

 

[EWU98]

I've been told the last few weeks by people expressing their shock that EWU is losing the Football program. Yakima Herald-Republic had a headline awhile back that the Football program is in jeopardy shortly after that report went public. I shrugged it off thinking they hadn't read the entire report. Apparently here in the Tri-Cities some alums are thinking the sky is falling on the athletic programs at EWU. Yes, someone need to say something and get the word out...grow a spine dumb bastards.

Not happening and yes would be nice to have a statement.

 

[EWU98]

For those wondering who is left:


G 6'2" 190 LBS 1L
55
ELLIS MAGNUSON

G/F 6'5" 180 LBS HS "KAY-LIN"
22
KAELAN O'NEIL


F 6'9" 195 LBS HS "RAD-DOH-CHUH-EYE-YUH"
21
VICTOR RADOCAJ


G 6'2" 180 LBS 1L "KUH-SAWN ROWSE"
5
CASSON ROUSE


G 6'5" 175 LBS HS "AH-MA-TOE"
4
ISAIAH AMATO

G/F 6'7" 175 LBS HS
2
STEELE VENTERS

G 6'4" 175 LBS 1L "FAH-DOLL"
1
AUSTIN FADAL

 

[LDopaPDX]

As much as I would like to jump on your ban wagon I have to disagree. We are the victim of our own success here and the rules of the NCAA are KILLING EWU we now have become a feeder for upper division D1 schools. The BIG SKY is BLEEDING players its not just EWU
Grabbed below from the Griz forum. Obviously not updated with the last two but I think you will get my point. There will be maybe over 2k players in the portal when it is all done.
The AD's and presidents need to fix this free transfer rule without a consequence other wise we are going to just be a farm system for the power schools.
I bet if you look around and see all of the low to mid majors schools who won conference titles you will see a lot of their players with extra time in the portal.
Oh and yes I think we will see some movement for football, but because we are out there playing right now and with a playoff run we will be able to keep a majority of our players as I think most major D1 schools will be back on their normal schedule with having spring ball and such and figured things. I would not be surprised to see EB3 and our placekicker gone though after the season.

Transfer: T, Graduate T: GT)
* Starter

Eastern Washington: (6)
- PF Jordan Veening, RS SO (T) (3E)
- SG Jacob Davison, RS SR (GT) 1E
- C Tanner Groves, RS JR (T) 2E
- SF Jacob Groves, SO (T) 3E
- PG Michael Meadows, RS SO (T) 3E
- SF Tyler Robertson, SO (T)

Idaho: (7)
- *P Scott Blakney, SR (GT) -Montana, Montana State, Idaho State, Portland State
- *G Ja'Vary Christmas, SR (GT)
- PG Hunter-Jack Madden, FR (T)
- *SG DeAndre Robinson, JR (T)
- SG A.J. Youngman, RS JR (GT)
- *PG Damen Thacker, SR (GT)
- PF Babacar Thiombane, SR (GT)

Idaho State1)
- SG Noble Cooper, JR (T)

Montana: (2)
- G Cameron Satterwhite, SR (GT)
- *C Michael Steadman, Sr (GT)

Montana State4)
- SG Caleb Bellach, FR (T) Montana Technological University
- PG Mike Hood JR (T)
- PF Finn Fleute, RS FR (T)
- PF Bilal Shabazz, JR (T)

Northern Arizona: (4)
- PG Dayton Harris, FR (T)
- *SG Luke Avdalovic, JR (T)
- SG Jackson Larsen, RS FR (T)
- *PG Cameron Shelton, JR (T) (1-2E) - Loyola Marymount

Northern Colorado: (6)
- G Greg Bowie II, RS JR (GT)
- SF Marque English, SO (T)
- SG Rodrick McCobb, RS SR (GT)
- PF Roy Grigsby , RS SO (T)
- PG Sam Masten, JR (T)
- PG Malcolm Little, FR (T)
**Added**
- PG Dru Kuxhausen, SR (T) McNeese State

Portland State: (1)
- SG Gio Nelson, RS JR (2E)
- SG Kyle Greely, RS SO (3E)
- PG James Scott, RS SR (GT)

Sacramento State2)
- PFJordan Cook-Harper, JR (T)
- *PG Brandon Davis, JR (T)
**Added**
- C Jonathan Komagum, JR (T) Toledo

Southern Utah: (1)
- C Yuat Alok, RS SR C(GT)- Coppin State

Weber State:
- PF Mitch Brizee, RS FR (T)

Here's the difference between us and every other program: The players leaving our program are the best players on the team. Only Idaho is similar in that it's their best players leaving as well, but how good could you possibly call the players off a one win team? Montana is losing a couple of better players, but both are graduate transfers. Not only that, but this list doesn't even have Perry and Aiken, who both quit very recently.

This is unequivocally affecting Eastern disproportionately to the rest of the conference. Yeah, we can complain about NCAA rules, and those complaints are valid. But displeasure among our players seems far worse than anywhere else. And if you go back to Eastern's press release last week, they stated the new hire was supposed to bring "continuity." It failed miserably on that front and has led to more turmoil within the program than at any point in history.

If the word "crisis" was ever applicable in college sports, this is it. Eastern is facing an exodus, mostly in basketball, but if not addressed it'll bleed over to other sports. Losing our best linebacker is showing the issue in football as well. Given we have a handful of players who haven't played a down yet this season - or haven't played more than a game at the start--- it might be reasonable to think the problem is even greater than reported in football... they've just done a better job of keeping it from getting it leaked to the media.

 

[LDopaPDX]

One other thing... I planned on giving money during the last big fundraising launch after Eastern won the basketball conference tourney. I was waiting until the end of the month when the coffers filled back up in my bank account. I doubt I was the only one. Since that time, literally EVERY piece of news on Eastern athletics is terrifying. I'm no longer comfortable donating money to the department when the future seems so nebulous.

After reading that report, I was sure the consultant had effectively said "you'd be stupid to mess the the athletic department". I mean, they seem to say over and over that the risks associated with downgrading athletics are substantial, and Eastern already keeps these programs on a shoestring budget compared to peer institutions. Yet, seeing the mass defections all across the department, you have to be worried that the university is seriously considering dropping athletics, or at least hammering the department to a point at which it's no longer recognizable.

Now... I sure as hell hope that's not the case. It's seems like a kneejerk reaction to yank the funding for a department that historically overperforms their budget by miles. The school's budget deficit is due to lack of attendance (during one of the best economic periods in American history, no less) and that is because of failed leadership. If the same failed leadership wants to double down on their bad decision making by making yet another shitty decision, I'm not sure I'd be that surprised anymore. The fact we've heard nothing from the AD--- or the new coach--- on this critical subject seems like everyone is either asleep at the wheel or bracing for worse things to come.

 

[EagerEagle]

I've been told the last few weeks by people expressing their shock that EWU is losing the Football program. Yakima Herald-Republic had a headline awhile back that the Football program is in jeopardy shortly after that report went public. I shrugged it off thinking they hadn't read the entire report. Apparently here in the Tri-Cities some alums are thinking the sky is falling on the athletic programs at EWU. Yes, someone need to say something and get the word out...grow a spine dumb bastards.

Yup, I'm in Tri-Cities, and I am starting to feel like things are piling up and the sky is cracked. Why not try to get some positive, get some butts in the seats at the football games when the state is in phase 3. Make a positive statement about athletics. When I call in to ask questions people seem to be in a daze. They don't know if we will have fans at the football games, there is some disarray that needs to be taken care of. Someone needs to speak up and get things moving in the right direction.

 

[Obzerver]

https://twitter.com/MikeMeadowsII/status/1378052586834518016/photo/1
Watch out for that door.

 

[LDopaPDX]

https://twitter.com/MikeMeadowsII/status/1378052586834518016/photo/1
Watch out for that door.

I held Shantay Legans in pretty high regard; besides respecting him as a coach, I liked him as a person.

This recruiting of Eastern players is a low-class move. The fact is there's no way all these players decided to quit when they did... this was certainly a conversation that was had while he was still employed at Eastern. The ethics and morality of that are highly dubious, and it may have even been in breach of contract.

I don't think I could point to any other coach in history actively recruiting players from his previous team while coaching at the same level as before. I no longer hold him in high esteem. What's worse, he seemed to advocate for Riley to be his replacement... knowing full well he was leaving the team to a coach that the players wouldn't support. Something must've happened where he decided not just to leave, but to screw the program as much as he possibly could. I can understand leaving, but trying to screw Eastern as bad as possible is sketchy as hell.

Seriously, can anyone think of any program in NCAA history where a coach left and took all his players to another school? I can't. The fact Eastern hasn't addressed this publicly is equally bad.

 

[Obzerver]

LOL...check this...Swoops gonna bop UCLA's coaches Dad...deservedly so, I"ve had enough of seeing that guy. Ya I'm a hater!

https://twitter.com/AJCaplan/status/1378532189609078788

gonna bop him for picking his nose...lol in the gif there's actually two Swoops in the shot.

 

[clawman1]

https://twitter.com/MikeMeadowsII/status/1378052586834518016/photo/1
Watch out for that door.

I held Shantay Legans in pretty high regard; besides respecting him as a coach, I liked him as a person.

This recruiting of Eastern players is a low-class move. The fact is there's no way all these players decided to quit when they did... this was certainly a conversation that was had while he was still employed at Eastern. The ethics and morality of that are highly dubious, and it may have even been in breach of contract.

I don't think I could point to any other coach in history actively recruiting players from his previous team while coaching at the same level as before. I no longer hold him in high esteem. What's worse, he seemed to advocate for Riley to be his replacement... knowing full well he was leaving the team to a coach that the players wouldn't support. Something must've happened where he decided not just to leave, but to screw the program as much as he possibly could. I can understand leaving, but trying to screw Eastern as bad as possible is sketchy as hell.

Seriously, can anyone think of any program in NCAA history where a coach left and took all his players to another school? I can't. The fact Eastern hasn't addressed this publicly is equally bad.

I totally agree Dopa, he has lost a LOT of respect with me. Burning bridges is really short sighted!

 

[Obzerver]

Aiken going to Arizona.
Tanner Groves tweet: https://twitter.com/tannergroves/status/1379503522534711297/photo/1

 

[EagerEagle]

Davison to Cal Poly.