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Eastern Illinois at Minnesota
Thursday, August 28 at 6 p.m.
TCF Bank Field (50,805) – Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: Panther Radio Network – WEIU 88.9 FM (Charleston), WHOW 1520 AM / 92.3 FM (Clinton), WSVZ 98.3 FM (Shelbyville/Effingham) and WMKR 94.3 FM (Taylorville)
 
EIU Football Game Notes  |  Minnesota Website For Notes   | 
 
5 Things To Watch EIU at Minnesota
 
1.) Eastern Illinois will open its 111th year of intercollegiate football on Thursday night at Minnesota.  The Panthers have won their last three season openers including a 40-19 win at San Diego State last year.  EIU will be under the direction of first year head coach Kim Dameron who was the Panthers defensive coordinator during the 2000 season when EIU made the FCS playoffs with an 8-4 record after going 2-10 during the 1999 campaign.   This will be EIU's 19th time playing on Thursday night, the Panthers are 12-6 in previous Thursday games. 

2.) Eastern Illinois big question on offense has been who will step into the starting quarterback role replacing 2013 Walter Payton Award winner Jimmy Garoppolo.  Two quarterbacks – Andrew Manley and Jalen Whitlow – will see playing time at Minnesota with the likely starter to be announced prior to the game.  Manley is a transfer from New Mexico State where he led the Aggies to a win over Minnesota in 2011.  Manley played in just five games last season as a back-up to Garoppolo completing just two passes.   Manley was the starting quarterback following spring practice.  Whitlow is a summer transfer from Kentucky who started 15 games over the past two seasons for the Wildcats.  He passed for a career high 225 yards against SEC East Division Champion Missouri in 2013. 

3.) Eastern Illinois other question mark heading into the season opener is the starters on special teams.  Redshirt freshman will take over the punting duties after the Panthers graduated senior Scott Weatherford at that position last year.  The field goal kicking duties may be by committee early on as EIU has to replace four-year starter Cameron Berra at that position.  Seniors Cody Meyer and Taylor Kerr along with true freshman Nick Bruno have all taken turns kicking during fall camp and the kicker for the season may be who has the hot foot that weekend. Weatherford was also the holder on field goals and will be replaced by wide receiver Adam Drake. 

4.) Eastern Illinois will be playing a game against a Big Ten member school for the seventh time on Thursday night at Minnesota.  The Panthers are 0-6 in previous games against the Big Ten having faced Illinois (twice), Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue since the 2006 season.   EIU is scheduled to play at Northwestern during the 2015 season.  EIU does have five wins against schools from FBS conferences including last year's 40-19 win over San Diego State in the season opener.  EIU lost at FBS Bowl team Northern Illinois, 43-39, in their other contest against the FBS in 2013. 

5.) While most of the talk has been about the loss of Walter Payton Award winner Jimmy Garoppolo and All-American wide receiver Erik Lora, the Panthers do return five potent offensive weapons for head coach Kim Dameron.   EIU returns three starting wide receivers in Adam Drake, Keiondre Gober and Jeff LePak.  Drake and LePak both earned All-American honors last year with LePak listed as a tight end.  Those three returners accounted for just over 2,900 yards receiving last season.  The Panthers return starting running backs Shepard Little and Taylor Duncan in the backfield.  The two are the top returning tandem in the FCS in rushing yardage from last season combining for 2,539 yards.  Little has been named to the Walter Payton Award preseason watch list.