Mounties Begin Spring Practice

 

4.23.07

 

La Grande, Ore - More than four months from now, on September 1st The Eastern Oregon University Football Team will host non-conference rival Southern Oregon at Community Stadium.  This morning, the Mountie players and coaching staff began work preparing for that game, which will mark the start of the 2007 season.

 

Last year, in Head Coach Ian Shields first season, EOU finished 6-5 in the always tough Frontier Conference. 

 

Their will be some holes to fill from last years roster.  Seniors; Jimmy Hoffman, Sean O'Brien, Jomo Wilson and Greg Fullerton highlight a talented group of student-athletes that will not be on the field next season.

 

Eastern will return 14 starters, including Linebacker Corey Dunn who was 1st Team All-Frontier Conference.  Travis Morsheck, Mario Olivares, Michael Eby and Rodell Razor all had terrific seasons in 2006 and will be asked to help lead a strong group of newcomers in 2007.

 

In all, EOU signed 43 new additions to the program.  Top newcomers will include Offensive Lineman and University of Oregon transfer Shawn Flanagan.  He, coupled with fellow transfers Gavin Smith (University of Idaho) and Jordyn Jackson (Western Washington University) along with freshman Bradley Padayao (Kapolei, HI) and DeShawn Smith (San Jacinto, CA) look to be the cream of a bumper crop of student-athletes brought in by Head Coach Ian Shields and his staff.

 

This spring Mountie Football fans will have two chances to watch their team in action.  On May 12th the squad will play the annual Blue / Gold Scrimmage.  The Mountaineers will also travel to Pendleton for The Rollin Schimmel Memorial Spring Game. 

 

Once again, the Mountaineers will be practicing early (6:50- 8:40am to be exact) in an effort to allow the student-athletes a chance to concentrate on their studies during the day.

 

 

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