FARMINGTON, Utah — He has always been an Eagle legend, but now former Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer earns an honor at the conference level. Meyer was elected to the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame today, announced by the conference office.
The Big Sky Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on July 20 at Northern Quest Resort and Casino, starting at 6 p.m.
"I was caught completely off-guard – I had no idea what it was about," Meyer said after being notified by assistant Big Sky commissioner Jon Kasper. "When he told me, it shocked me. Obviously it was very exciting news. I didn't even know I was nominated for it, so it's really cool to have it back in Spokane, my second home. That is awesome."
Hall of Fame Eligibility Criteria
- An alumnus/alumna is eligible only if he/she has participated in two (2) full seasons of competition at a Big Sky member institution and should have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at the institutional, conference and national level.
- An alumnus/alumna is eligible at any time beginning five (5) years after completing their collegiate eligibility.
- Coaches who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for recognition into the Hall of Fame after service of five (5) full years.
- Coaches must have completed their tenure as coach or have been out of the conference for at least five (5) years.
- Administrators who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for recognition into the Hall of Fame after service of three (3) full years and are immediately eligible.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class was selected by a committee of 14 members, which included representative from all 10 full-time Big Sky institutions, as well as an additional Athletic Director, Senior Women's Administrator, a conference office representative, and an at-large committee member among the group of 14 voters.
During Meyer's time in Cheney, EWU went 28-19 overall and was 17-11 in Big Sky games. The Eagles were co-champions in Meyer's final two seasons (2004, 2005), also advancing to the NCAA FCS playoff each season as well. The Eagles were 11-3 in conference and 16-9 overall during those two seasons.
Meyer won the 2005 Walter Payton Award after throwing for 4003 yards that season, with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The same season, Meyer was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, adding top offensive player awards from FCS.org and Football Gazette. In the 2004 season, Meyer earned his first Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year award.
Meyer finished with 10261 yards, 84 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 42 games played. He joined an exclusive club with 10000-plus yards, the 17th FCS member to achieve the milestone.
Meyer still holds the program record for pass completion percentage at 65.7 percent and his 166.5 passing efficiency rating is second in program history. Among other categories, Meyer also ranks second in average yards per play (9.4) and total offensive yards per play (7.97). He is fourth in passing attempts (1097), pass completions (721), yards (10261), yards per completion (14.2), while ranking fifth in touchdowns (84), touchdowns responsible for (91). yards per completion (14.2) and total offensive yards (10942). Meyer is sixth in total offensive yards per game (260.5) and seventh in passing yards per game (244.3).
After graduating from Eastern, Meyer signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006. Meyer also played in the Canadian Football league, NFL Europa, while having a six-year career in the Arena Football League. During his time in the AFL, Meyer was named the league MVP in 2013 with the Spokane Shock, throwing 112 touchdowns for a franchise single season record. He played for the Shock from 2010-14. His professional career ended with the San Jose SaberCats after the 2015 season.
Along with his professional playing career, Meyer began coaching at Eastern in 2012, and then spent the 2013 season as quarterbacks coach at Central Washington. He moved on to coach at his alma mater, La Mirada High School, before joining former Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin and former Eastern receivers coach Nick Edwards on the staff at California of the Pac-12 Conference. Meyer served on the staff as a quality control coach on offense under Baldwin, who was the offensive coordinator. Edwards was running backs coach after serving as wide receivers coach. Meyer then became quarterbacks coach at Cal Poly when Baldwin took the head coaching position there on Dec. 11, 2019. Baldwin has since left, but former EWU head coach Paul Wulff took over as head coach for the 2023 season. For the 2024 season, Meyer is co-offensive coordinator along with another former Eagle coach, Timm Rosenbach.
In 2008, Meyer was selected to EWU's "100 for 1000" All-Time Football Team to celebrate Eastern's 100th year of football. He was also selected to the Big Sky's list of 50 Greatest Male Athletes, earning the No. 12 ranking.
Meyer will be the third Eagle to be elected to the Big Sky Hall of Fame after Michael Roos and Kim Exner were inducted in the 2023 class.
The Eagles open the 2024 regular season on Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth! Season ticket renewals for the 2024 football season are now open. Renew by March 31 to guarantee your seats for all six home games at Roos Field. Ticket packages can be renewed online via your Paciolan account, over-the-phone at 509-359-6059 or by emailing tickets@ewu.edu.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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