Eastern Illinois football reported to camp on Wednesday as the Panthers prepare for what will be head coach Bob Spoo's 25th and final season on the EIU sidelines. The Panthers will hold meetings on Thursday with the first practice scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night at O'Brien Field. The season opener for the Panthers will take place on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Illinois State.
NEWS & NOTES FROM DAY ONE OF CAMP
MEDIA DAY & KID'S CLINIC – Eastern Illinois will hold its annual media day and free kid's clinic on Monday, Aug. 8 at O'Brien Field. The Panthers will take their team picture at 1 p.m. followed by media day beginning at 1:15 p.m. The free kid's clinic will begin at 1:30 p.m. and run for approximately 45 minutes with an autograph session at the end of the clinic.
NEW FACES ON THE SQUAD – EIU welcomed three transfer players to the roster on Wednesday as the team officially reported for camp.
Tyler Anderson and
Pat Cox have both transferred from Northern Illinois while
Joe Campagna has transferred from Ferris State. Anderson is a kicker/punter while Cox is a defensive back. Both players redshirted for the Huskies last season and will be eligible to play this year. Campagna will have to sit the 2011 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
SPOO'S 25TH SEASON – The opening of camp signaled the start of the 25th season for head coach Bob Spoo at Eastern Illinois. Spoo enters the season with 142 career victories which ranks in the top ten among active FCS coaches for victories. The 2011 season will also mark his 50th season in a coaching career that started back at Fenwick High School in Chicago.
INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE – Single game tickets for the 2011 season are now on sale for all five Eastern Illinois home football games. Tickets can be purchased online at
www.eiupanthertickets.com or by calling 217-581-2106. Season tickets are available for $62 for the season.
SCRIMMAGES SET – Eastern Illinois will have two scrimmages during fall camp with the first taking place on Thursday, August 11. The second scrimmage will take place on Thursday, August 18. The Panthers season opener this year will be on a Thursday night with the game being telecast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
FAN DAY / PANTHER CLUB PICK-UP – Eastern Illinois will have a Fan Day/Panther Club Benefit pick-up day on Saturday, August 20 at O'Brien Field. Panther Club members and fans are encouraged to come pick-up their benefit packets for the 2011 season at 4:30 p.m. that evening and stick around for a BBQ and watch part of that day's scheduled football practice. Members of the coaching staff and this year's senior class will join in at the BBQ following the practice.
RIVARLY GAME HAS A NAME – Following 99 previous meetings, Eastern Illinois and Illinois State have a new name to their rivalry as the contest will now be called the Mid-America Classic. The winner of the annual game will take home the new traveling trophy that was unveiled at a press conference on Aug. 2.
