SWX Right Now-Sports News for Washington and IdahoEastern fills football schedule

Eastern fills football schedule

Site of Central Washington game still up in air

by EWU Athletics

The 2010 schedule for the Eastern Washington University football team is nearly complete, as a season-opening road game at Nevada will fill the 11th and final game on its schedule, EWU athletic director Bill Chaves has announced. The schedule includes six home games, but whether five or six of them take place at Woodward Field in Cheney, Wash., has yet to be determined.

In playing at Nevada, the Eagles will take-on its former Big Sky Conference rival on Thursday, Sept. 2 in Reno. Eastern was originally going to open the season against Oregon State on Sept. 4, but that meeting was postponed to enable OSU the opportunity to play Texas Christian that same weekend at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Chaves said the Central Washington game on Sept. 11 may be played at Qwest Field in Seattle, but that has not been finalized yet as both schools are continuing to work out details. Last season, Eastern played Portland State on Oct. 31 at Qwest in the inaugural "Showdown on the Sound."

If the Central game is moved to Seattle, Eastern's home opener at Woodward Field will be Sept. 18 when 12-time defending Big Sky Conference champion Montana visits. Besides being Welcome Back Weekend at EWU, that game may also be the debut of the new red synthetic turf that is planned to be installed this summer at the 44-year-old stadium.

Eastern's other home games are Oct. 9 versus Northern Arizona on Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame Day, Oct. 23 versus Sacramento State for Homecoming, Nov. 13 against Southern Utah in a non-conference game and Nov. 20 versus Idaho State to end the regular season. Game times have yet to be determined.

Chaves said the Oregon State game is now scheduled to be played on Aug. 31, 2013, giving the Eagles three-straight games against Pacific 10 Conference foes from 2011-2013. Eastern is scheduled play at Washington on Sept. 3, 2011, and Washington State on Sept. 8, 2012. Eastern also has a contract in place to play at Western Athletic Conference member and former Big Sky rival Idaho on Sept. 1, 2012.

2010 EWU Schedule

9/2 - at Nevada

9/11 - Central Washington (site to be determined)

9/18 - Montana

9/25 - at Montana State

10/2 - at Weber State

10/9 - Northern Arizona

10/16 - at Northern Colorado

10/23 - Sacramento State

10/30 - at Portland State

11/6 - Open

11/13 - Southern Utah

11/20 - Idaho State