How a bright red field helped an underdog football program reach the summit
In short: In 2010, Eastern Washington University did something unprecedented: they replaced their natural grass with vibrant red turf. This bold aesthetic choice coincided with the most successful season in program history, transforming a regional competitor into a national champion.
The transformation of the Eastern Washington Eagles began long before the red turf arrived. For much of its early history, the program operated under different identities, including its time as the 'State Normal School' and the 'Savages.' The mascot change to the 'Eals' occurred in 1973 after the Board of Trustees deemed the previous name unacceptable, a move driven by the student body.
The program's competitive trajectory saw significant shifts in affiliation. After competing in the NAIA, where they reached the national championship finals in 1967, the school moved to NCAA Division II in 1978. By 1984, they transitioned to Division I-AA (now FCS). While the school faced an initial rejection from the Big Sky Conference in 1985, they were eventually invited in 1986 and officially joined in July 1987.
The 2010 season remains the program's definitive milestone. Following a highly publicized installation of red SprinTurf—the first of its kind in American college football—the team, led by head coach Beau Baldwin, secured its first FCS National Championship by defeating the Delaware Blue Hens 20–19 in Frisco, Texas. The new playing surface, nicknamed 'The Inferno' after a fan vote, became a symbol of this era.
Today, the Eagles play at Roos Field, a stadium renamed in 2010 to honor alumnus Michael Roos, who contributed $500,000 toward the turf installation. The program continues to be a fixture in the Big Sky Conference, maintaining a legacy of 28 conference championships since 1901.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Eastern Washington Eagles football
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