Nichols is latest EWU Big Sky Offensive Player-of-the-Year

What's that place south of here that calls itself “Quarterback U?” Well they might just want to step away from that distinction.

Eastern Washington University is fast becoming a Mecca of outstanding, award-winning quarterbacks.

For the fourth time in the last six years, an Eastern signal caller has been selected as the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year as sophomore Matt Nichols earned that honor when the All-Big Sky Conference team was announced this past Monday.

Erik Meyer, the player Nichols replaced, was the Big Sky's Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Meyer played as a freshman under Josh Blankenship, who received the honor in 2002.

One year earlier, current Miami Dolphin running back Jesse Chatman was the league's top offensive player, giving Eastern five of the last seven winners.

Last year, Nichols endured a 3-8 record as a freshman when he had a school-record 17 interceptions and just eight touchdowns.

This season, Nichols has completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,125 yards, 30 touchdowns, just six interceptions and a passing efficiency rating of 161.4 to rank seventh in that category in FCS.

“It's been an amazing turnaround,” Eagle head coach Paul Wulff said. “Matt has helped us improve a great deal, but so have our coaches and other players. Everybody worked hard in the off-season to make our team get better.”

Joining Nichols on the first team were wide receiver Aaron Boyce, offensive guard Matt Alfred and defensive end Greg Peach.

Alfred was honored for the fourth-straight year after earning first team honors in 2005 and second team honors in 2004 and 2006.

Peach earned honorable mention in 2006.

Second team selections were offensive tackle Zach Wasielewski, defensive tackle Lance Witherspoon and safety Bryan Jarrett.

Wasielewski was honorable mention last season and Jarrett earned first team All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore in 2005.