2012 Big Sky Conference Countdown: Eastern Washington

One year after winning their first FCS championship in program history, the Eastern Washington Eagles struggled mightily in trying to defend their championship.  They finished the 2011 season with a 6-5 record and failed to make the playoffs, as they opened their season with four straight losses (Washington, South Dakota, Montana, and Montana State).  Now with a new season around the corner, the Eagles won't have the pressure of entering a season as defending FCS champion.

Head coach Beau Baldwin should have his troops ready to go this season.  He's been at the helm in Cheney since former coach Paul Wulff left the program to coach at Washington State in 2008.  Baldwin guided the Eagles to the FCS national championship in 2010, in the program's first season back in the postseason after the NCAA imposed a two-year postseason ban on the program for rules violations (the Eagles were banned from postseason play in 2008 and 2009).

Last season the Eagles' passing game was by far the most prolific in the conference, averaging 368.4 yards/game, with the now-graduated Bo Levi Mitchell throwing for 4,009 yards and 33 touchdowns on the season.  Now, Kyle Padron will be the Eagles' signal-caller this season, whom like Mitchell, transferred to EWU from SMU, and Padron beat out redshirt freshman Vernon Adams and junior Anthony Vitto for the starting job.  The Eagles bring back their two leading receivers in seniors Nicholas Edwards (pitcured above) and Greg Herd, who both had over 1,000 receiving yards.

On defense, the Eagles bring back their leaders in tackles, sacks, and interceptions.  Junior linebacker Ronnie Hamlin recorded 85 total tackles, while senior defensive end Paul Ena shared the team lead in tackles for loss with 12.  Senior defensive end Jerry Ceja led the team with 5.5 sacks, even though he didn't start any games in 2011.  Junior defensive back T.J. Lee III shared the team lead in interceptions with two.

MY THOUGHTS: The Eagles are a team you just don't overlook.  Dating back to when Mike Kramer was their head coach in the 1990s, EWU has made a reputation of being a giant killer when you least expect it, especially to perennial power Montana.  Back when Kramer was coaching the Eagles in 1997, they ended the Grizzlies' 40-game home winning streak (a streak that dated back to the 1992 season), and ended another long win streak by the Grizzlies (25 straight dating back to 2001) at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane in 2002.  Look for 2012 to be a bounce back season for the Eagles.

UP NEXT: Montana

Image credit: Eastern Washington athletics