PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Eagles semipro football team is on the move, again.
New owner Mike McMahan is looking to bring the Eagles back to their original nesting grounds in Sequim, with a few dates in Port Angeles as well.
The team played its last two seasons at Memorial Field in Port Townsend, but with McMahan taking over the plan is to bring the Eagles west with home games at Sequim High School and in Port Angeles.
“I really had a dream of getting a team and really trying to make it work here,” said McMahan, who replaces J. Piper and Troy Linenkugel as owner.
“I think [Port Angeles] loves football. This could be a real great football town.”
McMahan has yet to reach an agreement with either the Sequim or Port Angeles school districts on use of the fields.
It would take each district’s approval for the Eagles to get access.
“I’m in negotiations with them, but it’s a long road and I probably won’t know for another month or so,” he said.
“If I can, I would ideally like to split the games between PA and Sequim, that would be my dream. That way both towns can get behind the team.”
The Eagles compete in the Cascade Football League, which may include as many as 12 teams from all over Western Washington this spring.
They were winless two years removed from playing in the CFL championship game.
McMahan and the Eagles’ four-member board will hold a team meeting at the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles on Saturday.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the hotel’s Peninsula Room where McMahan will lay out, “this is who I am, and this is how I want to run things.”
“I know football,” he added. “I can teach it. I’m really good at it and I love the game.”
The 46-year-old was inducted into the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in 2006 after starring at quarterback for 14 years for teams in Federal Way, Kirkland and Edmonds.
He coached the Snohomish County Thunder, also of the CFL, the last three seasons after serving as offensive coordinator for the Eagles.
McMahan put together a five-year plan for the Eagles after taking over the club in September.
Part of that plan includes securing sponsors (Red Lion is the first), organizing volunteer work in the community and recruiting area athletes.
He said he’s already talked to administrators at Port Angeles High School about bringing in seniors from this year’s team.
He wants to do the same with players from Sequim, Forks and other North Olympic Peninsula high schools as well.
“It’s going to be a lot of local guys,” said McMahan, who will also be the team’s offensive coordinator.
“I really want to make it a team for the people up here that helps out the community, a team that people know about. If we could send a couple of kids to play college ball somewhere, that would be cool.”
Practices are set to begin in January, and are open to anyone interested. Tryouts are scheduled at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, at a field to be determined.
McMahan is also looking for coaches to add to his staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The regular season begins in May and lasts through July.
Season tickets are available at $25 for a six-game package. Each of the games will have a community theme, be it through fundraising or simply raising awareness.
“This town could really support a football team,” McMahan said. “It’s inexpensive, it’s entertaining, it’s good clean football, it’s something the family can do together.”
For more information on the Eagles, visit http://tinyurl.com/yzy56m3.