On a day of firsts, the Eastern Washington University seniors will experience a finale.

It is Senior Day for the Eagles’ football players. The game will take place, for the first time, at Qwest Field against Portland State in what is billed as “The Showdown on the Sound.”

The importance is magnified by the news Tuesday that the NCAA reversed a postseason ban imposed upon Eastern for recruiting violations committed under former coach Paul Wulff. Should Eastern win its final three games, the Eagles could get consideration for a FCS playoff appearance.

“I broke it to the seniors that morning at 8 a.m.,” EWU coach Beau Baldwin said of the NCAA’s decision. “Our guys have fought through a lot of adversity, way back to hearing the news of the ban in February. We have great leaders getting this team into a great frame of mind.”

One of those players is outside linebacker Makai Borden, a fifth-year senior out of Puyallup High who also is one of the Eagles’ captains.

The reversal of the postseason ban fits nicely into the positive outlook Borden has of the world and his life.

“To be honest, I thought it would be crazy if they didn’t make that decision,” Borden said. “It’s unexplainable, but I just had a feeling. However, even if it went the other way I didn’t want it to negatively affect my play.”

For Borden, playing football has been a part of his very being since childhood. Sports is a family tradition.

“My first word was actually hike,” Borden said. “Not mom. Not dad. It was hike. That gives you a picture of how sports-crazy our family is.”

Borden expects 14 family members to walk out onto the field with him today. His mom, Patrice, will be there. So will his brother and sister, and their families.

One person will not be there.

Borden’s father, Randy, will be missing – at least in the physical sense. Randy Borden died of colon cancer when youngest son Makai was 11.

The family, which lived on the Sammamish plateau at the time, moved to Puyallup to be closer to Makai’s sister and her family. Instead of attending Eastlake High like his older brothers, Makai Borden went to Puyallup and played running back and safety for Tom Ingles.

Nine years later, Borden considers his father every game day.

“I still get sad,” Borden said. “But it’s a happy sad, really. I used to be angry sad. There just were so many distinctive things. Like, he used to whistle with his fingers. It was screeching loud.

“When he’d give me corrections while I was playing, he’d whistle. I’d look up in the stands. Every time I have a mess up even now, I think I can hear that whistle.”

Randy Borden knew of what he spoke.

A high school All-American who played football, baseball and basketball, the elder Borden went to BYU to play football. An injury cut short his career.

Randy Borden went on to pursue his music after that, forming a band called “Jon & Randy” with partner Jon Osorio. They had a hit as late as 1995 with “Hawaiian Eyes.”

But for the Bordens, sports was always their first love.

“My dad was a huge sports fan,” Makai Borden said.

It shows in his son, too.

“Makai just brings a passion for the game to everything,” Baldwin said. “Whether it’s in meetings, at practice or games, he shows up ready.”

Those in attendance today will see that passion.

“It’s going to be really emotional,” Makai Borden said. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’m sure whoever is watching will be able to see it. And I know he (his dad) will be watching. He’ll just be another one in attendance.”