CHENEY, Wash. — Smoke from the Spokane-area fires forced Eastern Washington football to adjust practice again Tuesday, with the Eagles spending most of the day indoors before getting a limited session outside.
Head coach Aaron Best said the situation has reminded the team that football comes second to what’s happening across the region.
“There’s way bigger things in life,” Best said. “Football’s a distant second.”
With air quality changing throughout the day, Eastern has prepared multiple practice plans to stay flexible. Best said the team has handled the uncertainty well, even though indoor practices limit what can be accomplished.
The Eagles have used the modified practices to focus on mental preparation, something Best believes is just as important as physical reps.
Defensive back Ambrose Marsh agreed, saying players have stayed engaged despite the unusual circumstances.
“If you can get guys to lock in… you can get a lot of good things out of these indoor practices,” Marsh said.
Wide receiver Cole Pruett said the team has embraced the challenge instead of dwelling on it.
“We’ll make the best out of it,” Pruett said. “We’ll just go to work no matter what.”
As camp continues, the Eagles hope to return to a normal practice schedule, but for now they’re focused on controlling what they can while keeping perspective during a difficult week across the Inland Northwest.
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