By MARK ST.J. COUHIG
Sequim Gazette
Coach Mike “Mac” McMahan is looking for a few good men. And if they happen to be very large, that would be even better.
McMahan says his Olympic Peninsula Eagles are just a few linemen short of a national championship-caliber semi-pro football team.
Former Forks High All-American Luke Dixon was in Pullman this week to meet with Washington State coaches. Dixon is hoping the Eagles will be a springboard to the next level.
Sequim Gazette photo by Mark Couhig
The 26 players now working out with the team have all the necessary skills but big men are in short supply.
McMahan said he’s made arrangements to make signing up as easy as possible: the $150 player’s fee can be waived and, perhaps more importantly, McMahan has arranged to provide insurance for players. It’s just $20 and provides medical coverage for all practices, games and other activities involving the team.
Sign up soon: The Eagles kick off with a preseason game April 16 in Tumwater against the Washington Cavaliers. The regular season begins with a May 7 match against the Cascade Xtreme. That game will be played on the Eagles’ home field, Roosevelt Elementary School in Port Angeles.
The team has added a 10th game to its schedule, an Aug. 13 exhibition match at Civic Field in Port Angeles against Everett Junior College.
McMahan says Everett coaches will be looking to add players to their roster. While former Forks Spartan Luke Dixon — a high school All-American — is hoping the Eagles provide him with a better shot at a Washington State scholarship, McMahan says others who want to play college ball also should sign up. They never will have a better opportunity to be noticed, he said.
“We’re trying to give (current and former) high school players a chance to play somewhere other than Division I football,” he said.
The Eagles also are teaming up with the Port Angeles YMCA to put on a youth football camp, with the championship game to be played at halftime of their Aug. 13 exhibition game.
During Sequim’s May 7 Kids Day Picnic, Eagles players will have an “obstacle course” at Carrie Blake Park, providing local peewees with an opportunity to try exercises that will improve their pigskin skills.
Those interested in sponsoring the Eagles or buying advertising space in game programs can contact McMahan at 360-670-5835.
Anyone interested in joining the Eagles as a player, coach, film person “or who just wants to help the team out,” can contact McMahan or visit the website at leaguelineup.com/opeagles.
No football experience is required to play. To qualify, players must be 18 or older by May 7, the date of the first game this season. The oldest player currently on the team is Dave Politte, 44. McMahan said the average age is 29.
Reach Mark Couhig at mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.
