A group that included national players of the year and some eye-popping statistics, an All-Decade team has been announced by the Eastern Washington University athletic department, and includes a total of 67 players who concluded their careers as Eagles between 2000 and 2009.
 
To be chosen to the team, players needed to have earned at least third team All-Big Sky Conference honors, with others automatically added by being named team MVP on offense, defense or special teams, or as an Academic All-American. Among the group of 67 players, 34 were on offense, 23 on defense and 11 on special teams (one was on multiple units).
 
Coached by Paul Wulff (2000-07) and later Beau Baldwin (2008-09), Eastern had a 67-49 record in those 10 seasons, including a 45-30 (.600) record in the Big Sky. Eastern won league titles in 2004 and 2005, and advanced to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009.
 
Highlighting the list of honored players was Walter Payton Award winner Eric Meyer, a quarterback who concluded his career in 2005, and defensive end Greg Peach. Peach concluded his career in 2008 as the winner of the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in FCS, while Meyer earned his by being the top player offensively in FCS.
 
That pair had record-breaking seasons and careers, with Meyer finishing with 10,942 yards of total offense to break the school record at the time. Peach had 35 1/2 career sacks – 18 alone in his sensational 2008 campaign. Those two sack figures remain as EWU records and ranked among the best in league history, and Peach would go on to play
 
But even more gaudy numbers were put up by quarterback Matt Nichols and running back Jesse Chatman. Nichols started four seasons and finished with school and Big Sky records of 13,308 yards of total offense and 12,616 passing – both records which still stand. Chatman set school records in 2001 with 2,096 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns scored and 172 total points, and finished with 2,520 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) which still stands as a league record.
 
A pair of players on EWU's All-Time team have already been inducted into the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame – offensive tackle Michael Roos and defensive tackle Dario Romero – with many more sure to follow in the years to come. Both played in the National Football League, with Roos playing 10 years for the Tennessee Titans after earning offensive lineman of the year accolades in FCS. Romero played a combined 10 years in the NFL and Canadian Football League.
 
Meyer also went on to a 10-year professional career, and Peach (CFL) and Chatman (NFL) had pro careers that lasted seven seasons. Nichols is still a starting quarterback in the CFL, with eight seasons of experience thus far.
 
In all, the list of 68 players included 28 who would earn All-America honors as Eagles. A total of eight Big Sky Conference Player of the Year honors were won – Meyer in 2004 and 2005; Nichols in 2007 and 2009; Chatman in 2001; and quarterback Josh Blankenship in 2002. On defense, Peach was honored in 2008 and linebacker Joey Cwik was the Big Sky MVP in 2005.
 
The largest group to be recognized was the offensive line with 11 honored players (five tackles, four guards, two centers). There were four quarterbacks and eight wide receivers. Those groups included seven All-Americans on the offensive line, three at quarterback and a trio at wide receiver, including two-time choice Eric Kimble (2002-05).
 
Ten defensive linemen were honored (five tackles, five ends), including four All-Americans. Peach, Romero and end Jeff Allen were each honored two seasons as All-Americans, as well as safety Julian Williams (1997-00). Kimble, Meyer, Chatman, offensive guard Matt Alfred (2004-07), and return specialist Lamont Brightful (1998-01) were also two-time All-Americans, and Brightful received All-America recognition as a wide receiver as well.
 

2000-09 All-Time Football Team

 
Record of 67-49 .578 / 45-30 .600 Big Sky Conference – titles in 2004, 2005 (2); FCS Playoffs in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 (4)
Head Coach: Paul Wulff (2000-07/8 seasons) – Record of 53-40 .570 / 34-25 .576 Big Sky Conference – titles in 2004, 2005; FCS Playoffs in 2004, 2005, 2007
Head Coach: Beau Baldwin (2008-09/2 seasons) – Record of 14-9 .536 / 11-5 .688 Big Sky Conference – FCS playoffs in 2009
 
Honors Key . . .
^National Player of the Year Honors Won (not by position, just offense or defense or overall)
~Number of times on Coaches All-America Teams (AFCA, Burger King Coaches, Kodak)
!Number of years received All-America recognition (all, including honorable mention)
$Number of Big Sky Conference Player of the Year on Offense or Defense Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
%Number of All-Big Sky Conference First Team Honors Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
*Number of All-Big Sky Conference Second Team Honors Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
+Number of All-Big Sky Conference Third Team Honors Won (Award started in 2013)
= Number of Times Team MVP on Offense, Defense or Special Teams
&Number of Times Academic All-American
#Member of Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame
 
  
 

Offense
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Fritz, Luke	1997-98-99-00	76	OT	Osoyoos, B.C.	Oroville HS '96	!%*
#Roos, Michael	2001-02-03-04	71	OT	Vancouver, Wash.	Mountain View HS '00	~!%
Sherrod, David	2000-01	71	OT	Atkins, Ark.	Atkins HS '97/Univ. of Memphis	!%
Sigler, Kurt	1999-02-03	77	OT	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho	Coeur d'Alene HS '98	**
Wasielewski, Zach	2004-05-06-07	64	OT	Seattle, Wash.	Chief Sealth HS '03	*
Alfred, Matt	2004-05-06-07	66	OG	Gig Harbor, Wash.	Gig Harbor HS '03	!!%%**
Hanni, Rocky	2004-05-06-07	77	OG	Sumner, Wash.	Sumner HS '03	!%*
Poston, Asim	1999-00-01	61	OG	Tukwila, Wash.	Foster HS '97	!%
Christiansen, Jeff	2002-03	73	OG	Lynnwood, Wash.	Meadowdale HS '00	*
Polinder, Chris	1998-99-00-01	55	C	Lynden, Wash.	Lynden HS '97	!%*
Sigler, Kraig	2002-03-04-05	75	C	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho	Coeur d'Alene HS '01	**
Meyer, Erik	2002-03-04-05	9	QB	La Mirada, Calif.	La Mirada HS '01	^^!!$$%%*===
Nichols, Matt	2006-07-08-09	16	QB	Cottonwood, Calif.	West Valley HS '05	~!$$%%==
Blankenship, Josh	2002	6	QB	Tulsa, Okla.	Union HS '99/Univ. of Tulsa	!$%=
Salanoa, Fred	2000-01	12	QB	Aiea, Hawaii	Radford HS '96/Snow JC, Utah	*
Chatman, Jesse	1999-00-01	8	RB	Seattle, Wash.	Franklin HS '98	!!$%*=
Washington, Darius	2001-02-04	5	RB	Mukilteo, Wash.	Mariner HS '99	!%
Griffith, Jovan	1998-99-00-02	21	RB	Lompoc, Calif.	Lompoc HS '97	%
Cole, Ryan	2005-06	24	RB	Port Orchard, Wash.	South Kitsap HS '02/OSU	*
Alexander, Alexis	2006-07-08	44	FB	Medical Lake, Wash.	Medical Lake HS '01/WSU	**=
Slind, Lars	2002-03-04-05	44	FB	Colbert, Wash.	Mead HS '01	**
Curley, Dan	1998-99-00-02	85	TE	Anacortes, Wash.	Anacortes HS '97	!%
Overbay, Nathan	2006-07-08-09	19	TE	Chehalis, Wash.	W.F. West HS '05	!%
Cwik, Chris	2001-02-03-04	89	TE	Spokane, Wash.	Mead HS '01	%
Calhoun, Tim	2002-05-06	87	TE	Zillah, Wash.	Zillah HS '02	*
Ballew, Lance	1997-98-99-00	82	TE	Leavenworth, Wash.	Cascade HS '96	&
Kimble, Eric	2002-03-04-05	32	WR	Tacoma, Wash.	Franklin Pierce HS '01	!!%%**
Boyce, Aaron	2006-07-08-09	9	WR	Kent, Wash.	Kentwood HS '05	!%**
Brightful, Lamont	1998-99-00-01	4	WR	Everett, Wash.	Mariner HS '97	!%*
Davis, Tony	2006-07-08-09	20	WR	Olympia, Wash.	Capital HS '05	*=
Randall, Kyler	2000-01-02-03	13	WR	Ferndale, Wash.	Ferndale HS '00	*&&
Brown, Brynsen	2006-07-08-09	83	WR	Puyallup, Wash.	Emerald Ridge HS '05	*
Levens, Joe	1998-99-00-01	7	WR	Walla Walla, Wash.	DeSales HS '98	*
Vijil, Raul	2002-03-04-05	15	WR	Pasco, Wash.	Pasco HS '01	*
Defense
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Peach, Greg	2005-06-07-08	94	DE	Vancouver, Wash.	Evergreen HS '05	^~!!$%%==
Allen, Jeff	1997-98-99-00	94	DE	Spokane, Wash.	Central Valley HS '96	!!%%
Finnerty, Tom	2003-04	96	DE	Spokane, Wash.	Mead HS '00/Yuba CC, Calif.	%
Belford, Jason	2005-06-07-08	4	DE	Tacoma, Wash.	Lincoln HS '04	*
Kragt, Jacob	2006-07-08-09	99	DE	Ritzville, Wash.	Lind-Ritzville HS '05	&
#Romero, Dario	1997-98-99-00	75	DT	Spokane, Wash.	Lewis & Clark HS '96	!!%%=
Witherspoon, Lance	2005-06-07-08	55	DT	Federal Way, Wash.	Decatur HS '04	!**
Alcala, David	1997-98-99-00	50	DT	Quincy, Wash.	Quincy HS '96	*
Myers, Brandon	2001-02-03-04	50	DT	Tacoma, Wash.	Wilson HS '99	*
Nikolao, Harrison	2003-04-05-06	57	DT/OL	Tacoma, Wash.	Lincoln HS '02	*
Cwik, Joey	2002-03-04-05	49	ILB	Spokane, Wash.	Mead HS '02	$%%*==
Belzer, Greg	1997-98-99-00	44	ILB	Chewelah, Wash.	Jenkins HS '96	!%**=
Vincent, Luke	1999-00-01-02	38	ILB	Pasco, Wash.	Pasco HS '98	!**=
Eneberg, David	2003-04-05-06	40	ILB	Mukilteo, Wash.	Kamiak HS '02	=
Griffin, Anthony	1998-99-00-01	23	OLB	Olympia, Wash.	Capital HS '97	!%**
Trufant, Isaiah	2002-03-04-05	36	CB	Tacoma, Wash.	Wilson HS '01	%*
Hendrix, Jesse	2002-03-04-05	29	CB	Lakewood, Wash.	Lakes HS '01	%
Phillips, Ryan	2003-04	2	CB	Seattle, Wash.	Franklin HS '00/Mt. San Antonio Col.	%
Olesen, Ole	1997-98-99-00	25	CB	Gig Harbor, Wash.	Gig Harbor HS '96	*
Williams, Julian	1997-98-99-00	3	S	Vancouver, Wash.	Mountain View HS '96	!!%%*
Jarrett, Bryan	2005-06-07	6	S	Puyallup, Wash.	Puyallup HS '03/WWU	%*
Keeler, Brandon	2002-04-05-06	19	S	Federal Way, Wash.	Federal Way HS '02	%*
Hanson, Jessy	2001-02-03	37	S	Renton, Wash	Lindbergh HS '99	*=
Special Teams
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Bergstrom, Brett	2005-06	28	K	North Bend, Wash.	Mount Si HS '02/Shasta JC	%=
Griggs, Troy	1999-00-01	19	K	University Place, Wash.	Curtis HS '98	!*
Macias, Felipe	2007-08	96	K	Oxnard, Calif.	Channel Island HS '05/Moorpark C.	*
Brayton, Fritz	2007-08	46	P	Portland, Ore.	Westview HS '04/WSU	*
Nicassio, Jesse	2002-03	23	P	Oak Park, Calif.	Oak Park HS '99/Citrus CC	*=
Brightful, Lamont	1998-99-00-01	4	KR	Everett, Wash.	Mariner HS '97	~!!%%%=
Kimble, Eric	2002-03-04-05	32	PR	Tacoma, Wash.	Franklin Pierce HS '01	%==
Smith, Gregor	2004-05-06	21	ST	Nine Mile Falls, Wash.	Lakeside HS '03	*
Brown, Brynsen	2006-07-08-09	83	ST/KR	Puyallup, Wash.	Emerald Ridge HS '05	=
Macomber, Adam	2005-06-07-08	35	ST/KR	Port Angeles, Wash.	Port Angeles HS '05	=
Ramos, Nicholas	2006-07-08-09	21	ST/KR	Winters, Calif.	Winters HS '05	==