This year, the Panther Club reached out to the Panthers of yesteryear with a message of unity.  The message was clear: the past, present and future Panther Athletics successes aren't possible without the support of alumni.  In response, hundreds have stepped forward to join TEAM 2010 and to pave the roads towards future Panther wins. 

One of those individuals was C. Nelson Grote.  With his permission, we have shared his letter, sent to the EIU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Barbara Burke.  We are thankful for Mr. Grote's - and the hundreds of other alumni that have stepped forward - support.

Dear Ms. Burke,

I am responding to your communications regarding TEAM 2010. I would like to be involved.

I may be one of your oldest former athletes as I am 82 years old. In fact, my contribution brings to question whether I deserve to be called a former athlete. It is true that my name is on the 1945 football roster. I had a handicap in that I was very near sighted and there was no way to correct my vision and still play. I had a second problem in that I had not played high school football. However, I was very athletic and strong physically. I was a farm boy who had been baling hay and throwing 100 pound bales around. I was also fast on my feet and weighed 220 pounds. The coach was hard pressed to find players due to the fact that very few veterans had returned and most men on campus were 4F and not eligible to serve in the Armed services. I was qualified (1A) to enlist in the Army. The coach was willing to give me a chance and I was a fast learner.

The year 1945 was a significant time since EIU purchased their first plastic helmets for the first team only. I had to wear the old leather helmet. It actually turned out to work best as the plastic ones had not been perfected and often split open on hard head-to-head contact. The plastic helmets were tailored after the army helmet “liners” and had little, if any, cushion on the inside. While I worked very hard and traveled with the squad, I only played in a few games and contributed very little, really. When I came back from the Army, I decided to not pursue a sport for which I was not well qualified. Many vets had played in the service and I had not. I still have many memories and I will share a few of them at this time.

The year was also very significant in the fact that the very first black athletes were enrolled. They were Dick Spillers and Jim Johnson. They were fine young men and well liked by everyone. Dick had a great sense of humor and Jim was a gentleman and I believe later worked for the University. I do not know what Dick did after graduation.

My coach's name is now on the Stadium and was one of my Health and Physical Education teachers, Dr. Lantz. The Health and Physical Education Building was named for him at the time and Dr. McAfee had her name on the basement of the building. I know that Dr. Lantz's name is on the new basketball arena and Dr. McAfee's name is on the Health and Physical Education Building. Dr. McAfee held two jobs, that of Dean of Women and also the Women's Health and Physical Education teacher.

Please find a small check enclosed as my contribution with the hope that it will help you attain the 2,010 members. I have been retired for almost 20 years after a career in education, ending in serving as President of Morehead State University, a partner of yours in the OVC. Best wishes.

Sincerely yours,
C. Nelson Grote '50
President Emeritus
Morehead State University

Mr. Grote has also shared tales of what being an EIU student was like during the WWII era.  Please click here to catch a glimpse of what was.