8/21/07: Monday With the Mounties

August 21, 2007

Well I’ll start by apologizing I couldn’t publish last week; I was enjoying a final celebration of summer at Shasta Lake in California. It wasn’t too bad; I barely made it in the sunshine and warm weather. But don’t get use to this; it will be Monday with the Mounties every other week.


Well as I mention this is the last celebration of summer, the 2007-08 athletic year begins. Things got underway here at Eastern over the last weekends with the alumni games for soccer and volleyball. It’s always enjoyable to see if the former players still “got it.”


And, actually I can not even insert the cliché joke against former players here; EOU alumni teams gave the current teams a great game. The current squads were able to pull away with victories, but it’s always a plus to play a team other than the one you have played the entire off-season.


It was also great to see the early support from the fans in the community and the other fall sport teams. I will give the award for “best team in the fan support area” award to the football team. If these guys have half the energy on the field this season as in the bleachers at a volleyball game, we are all in for a great season.


Things got a little rocky after that for volleyball and soccer. Volleyball struggled against top-notch Junior College opponents at the College of Southern Idaho tournament winning only one of their seven games. Soccer was shut-out here at home by North Idaho College, 1-0. Fortunately for both teams, all these games were just exhibitions.


Let’s now break and take a look at some Mountaineer athlete interests….


James Mayfield- Football, WR, Senior, from Bellevue, Washington
Worst Movie You Have Ever Seen: Nacho Libre
If You Could Date any Actress it would be: Kim Possible
Best Restaurant in La Grande: New York Richies
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Seattle Supersonics
Favorite Outfit to Wear: Sweats

Chelsea Lally- Volleyball, OH, Senior, from Salem, Oregon
Worst Movie You Have Ever Seen: Premonition
If You Could Date any Actor it would be: Channing Tatum
Best Restaurant in La Grande: El Erradero
Favorite Pro Sports Team: “Not a big fan of the pros”
Favorite Outfit to Wear: Sweats


The men’s basketball team has taken full advantage of their trip to Costa Rica. Not only have they had a great bonding experience through a trip to the National Children’s Hospital and some zip-lining, but they’re playing some pretty good ball as well.


EOU barely escaped their first game against the Costa Rican Junior National team, 95-18, so much for that fear of jet-lag. Eastern then when on to victories over two teams that compete in the Costa Rican National League. Looks like it will be a fun year in La Grande for basketball.


Looking towards the events this week, Soccer will open its regular season at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho on Thursday. The volleyball team travels to the Willamette University Invite in Salem where Friday they’ll meet Cal-Santa Cruz and George Fox, and then Saturday EOU squares off against Linfield and closes with Willamette. And, of course, the football season kicks off this Saturday at Community Stadium at 1 pm against Southern Oregon.


I’d like to post a little memo out there to everyone, if you are wondering when the cross country season outlooks will be released, it will be next Monday, September 3rd. If you have not read the soccer, volleyball, or football ones, click that little “back” button and find it on our athletic page.


I’ll close with a few random thoughts; to all the parents who may read this please take note of this quote often said that I heard, “This place is a complete mess!” I have to ask, what is an incomplete mess? The other thought I have to share, on my last visit to the grocery store I saw “Sugar-Free Kool-Aid,” now I’m all for the feel better about yourself eating, but this is insane. I thought Kool-Aid was sugar; it must be an empty container.


Anyways, after those random thoughts, everyone have a good week, and please come out and support the Mountaineers. Until next week, stay down or mount up!