Former Eagles now on Cal Poly sidelines

CHENEY — Eastern Washington University football fans who might have hoped to say hello to a group of former Eagles who relocated to warmer climes in California at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will just have to wait for another time.

The Beau Baldwin-led Mustangs (0-2) gallop into Roos Field Saturday, March 27 for a Big Sky Conference encounter with Aaron Best’s Eastern Eagles (2-1) for a 1:05 p.m. kickoff. Baldwin will be accompanied back to Cheney by former EWU head coach Paul Wulff, as well as players Erik Meyer, Nicholas Edwards and J.C. Sherritt, all assistant coaches.

Cal Poly, which had an earlier game with Weber State postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, comes off a humbling 73-24 loss at U.C. Davis on March 20 and a 34-20 loss to Southern Utah in Baldwin’s debut.

But according to a school news release, “Spectators will be allowed into the Eastern Washington University versus Cal Poly football game next Saturday (March 27) at Roos Field, but will be limited to guests of student-athletes and a limited number of EWU students,” Eastern Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Lynn Hickey announced March 19.

The statement went on to say, “At this time, no tickets will be made available to the general public, including current season ticket holders.”

The game will be televised regionally in Eastern Washington by SWX, and may also be viewed via Pluto TV Channel 1053 (http://pluto.tv & http://watchbigsky.com). Fans can also listen to the game on 700-AM ESPN, 105.3-FM.

In accordance with the Health Washington – Roadmap to Recovery Phase 3 guidelines, Eastern is permitted to allow attendance at up to 25 percent of capacity of the facility. However, as EWU considered regional and institutional guidelines to safely bring spectators back to campus for EWU Football, it was evident that the number of spectators should be less than the 25 percent of capacity allowable.

In addition, Eastern parking lots will continue to be closed to the general public and no pre-game tailgating or overnight parking will be allowed.

Eastern also hosts Idaho on April 10, and additional spectator attendance will be reevaluated as that date approaches. The process for obtaining the limited tickets if they become available will be communicated directly to those who qualify.

Paul Delaney is a retired former Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].