Eagles, BYU set matchup
Eastern Washington’s test against a Division I-A football team next season will come against “Quarterback U.”
The Eagles will face Brigham Young University early next year in Provo, Utah.
“One of the things I do when I begin to schedule is I want to give student-athletes an experience,” EWU athletic director Darren Hamilton said. “I look at the tradition of the schools and the traditions of the conference.”
Referring to great BYU quarterbacks of the past such as Jim McMahon and Ty Detmer, Hamilton said, “I consider that Quarterback University. It exposes our kids to a storied program.”
The date to play the Mountain West Conference team has not been finalized.
Hamilton declined to reveal what EWU would be paid for the game. The Eagles received $300,000 to play Oregon State and $450,000 for playing West Virginia this fall.
“I don’t like to talk about the financial matters in particular, but it’s just enough for us to maintain our status as a I-AA program,” he said.
Hamilton said he also considers ease of travel to help Eastern maximize the payday, and going into Salt Lake City is an easy, direct flight.
The other two non-conference games for 2007 are up in the air, though he is hoping for a pair of I-AA opponents.
He said he is in negotiations with Delaware State, a school that is also at the I-AA level.
“I think that’s an opportunity to play a I-AA school that has a different focus in terms of the mission and also gives us an opportunity to compete on a level playing field with the hopes of getting an at-large playoff berth,” Hamilton said.
Eastern also has a contract to play UC Davis next season. Because the Eagles opted out of going to Davis this fall after the Aggies played in Cheney last season, Hamilton suspects the game may be canceled.
“Their athletic director has waffled. I’m not sure if they’re going to buy us out,” he said. “I don’t want to be caught in the lurch, so we’re trying to be proactive.”
EWU played San Jose State last year. Prior to that, EWU went to Air Force (2004), Idaho and San Diego State (2003), Arizona State (2002) and Connecticut (2001).