Aug. 3, 2006
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University first-year head football coach Robin Ross welcomes 105 players to fall training camp Wednesday. The first practice is Thursday at 1:45 p.m. on the campus field.
The players will be in full pads for the first time Mon., Aug. 14. Two scrimmages will be held, the first on Wed., Aug. 16 at 1:45 p.m. and the other on Wed., Aug. 23 at 3:30 p.m. Both will take place on the campus field as Civic Stadium is being renovated.
Western moves into its regular game-week routine on Sat., Aug. 26, opening the season on Thu., Aug. 31 (6:30 p.m.) at Humboldt State.
The Vikings return 13 starters and 36 letter winners from last year's 4-6 squad, which placed second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at 3-3.
Western competes in the North Central Conference, one of the strongest NCAA Division II alignments, this season.
Following the opener at Humboldt State, the Vikings play four straight games against 2005 DII national playoff teams, beginning with their home opener on Sat., Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. against non-conference foe Washburn KS.
Western entertains Nebraska-Omaha in its first NCC contest on Sat., Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.
In all, the Vikings have six games at Civic Stadium. They play host to Minnesota-Duluth on Sept. 30, South Dakota on Oct. 14, Western Oregon on Oct. 28 and Augustana SD on Nov. 4.
Western also is the home team when it meets arch-rival Central Washington at Qwest Field in the fourth annual Battle in Seattle for the Cascade Cup.
Western senior quarterback James Monrean (Bellingham/Sehome) leads the offense.
A second-team GNAC all-star last season, Monrean passed for 2,322 yards, the sixth highest total in school history, and 19 touchdowns, completing 195-of-317 attempts. He ranked 28th nationally in total offense, averaging 252.7 yards per game.
The line is anchored by senior tackle Brandon Torrey (Graham/Bethel), a unanimous first-team all-GNAC pick last season. A number of talented receivers return, among them junior Brett Upchurch (Sammamish/Eastlake), who had 45 catches for 620 yards and four touchdowns, and senior Matt Wilson (Auburn), who had 24 receptions for 306 yards and three scores.
Heading the defense are sophomore tackles Junior Aumavae (Palmer, AK), who was a first-team all-GNAC pick last season, and linebacker Shane Simmons (Kent/Kentlake), who was credited with 66 tackles, with team highs of 8.5 for loss and five quarterback sacks, and also added four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
