Eastern Washington University football coach Dick Zornes might start believing in Santa Claus. The Big Sky Conference granted Eastern its long-desired wish on Wednesday, admitting the school for membership effective July 1, 1987. | Sky finally opens wide for Eastern Eagles

Eastern Washington football coach Dick Zornes guessed right. | EWU, Idaho get playoff assignments

Last weekend, after his Hilltoppers were leveled by Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA college football playoffs, Western Kentucky coach Jack Harbaugh suggested the Eagles might not know how good they are. | Sky-high evaluation

Also: Penguins end Eagles’ march

The donor suites and media center at Eastern Washington’s remodeled Woodward Field will be all but done when the Eagles kick off against Central Washington tonight. | EWU unveils new look

From big and brawny to fast and furious. That’s the change of direction Eastern Washington takes as the 14th-ranked Eagles march on in the I-AA football playoffs. | Bearkats are next challenge for No. 14 Eagles

Also: Nightmare finish

In a vote as close as so many of the games in which he played, Eastern Washington University quarterback Erik Meyer won the Walter Payton Award on Thursday. | Magnificent Meyer

It is always satisfying to see a plan come together – even if it is Plan B. | Eags turn to Plan B-aldwin

Also: John Blanchette: Beau knows it takes work

When Michael Roos and his wife, Katherine, first pledged $500,000 to jump start Eastern Washington University’s Red Turf Project, they expected the process of replacing Woodward Field’s grass playing surface to evolve in a timely fashion. | Eagles see red

Eastern Washington University has been a fourth-down and fourth-quarter team throughout most of this magical college football season. | Soaring achievement

Also: John Blanchette: Eastern never blinked | Notebook | Keys to the game | Stats

His debut year, a national championship. The next year, the Walter Payton Award. | Eastern’s Mitchell wins Walter Payton Award

As the rains kept falling Friday night, the Eastern Washington football players soaked it all in. | Three-for-three

Once again, Cooper Kupp stands alone. | Kupp wins FCS Offensive Player of the Year