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Eastern Illinois (1-0, 0-0 OVC) at Western Michigan (0-1, 0-0 MAC)
Waldo Stadium (30,200)   •   Kalamazoo, Mich.
September 8, 2012   •  6 pm (Central)   •   TV: ESPN3

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois and Western Michigan meet on Saturday night with the two schools entering the contest following far different results.  The game will feature two high powered quarterbacks as both offenses like to pass the ball.

EIU will be led by junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week following a 369 yard passing day.  The Panthers beat Southern Illinois 49-28 in their home opener Thursday night at O'Brien Field.  Garoppolo passed for five of the teams school record setting seven touchdown passes.

Just an hour north of Charleston on Saturday afternoon, Western Michigan's high powered offense was shut down by Illinois, 24-7.  Alex Carder, the nation's returning passing leader, was limited to 239 yards passing while being intercepted three times.  WMU rushed for negative six yards against Illinois.

THE SERIES
Eastern Illinois holds a 1-0 series advantage over Western Michigan as the two teams previously met on August 29, 1996.  Mike Simpson, making his first start at quarterback for EIU, led the Panthers to a 28-20 win.  Simpson was 24-of-38 for 321 yards and four touchdowns.  EIU could have extended the margin but missed three field goals and had another blocked.  The Broncos were coached by former EIU head coach Al Molde.

• EIU is 3-4 all-time against the Mid-American Conference.  EIU has wins over Eastern Michigan (2004), Northern Illinois (1998) and Western Michigan (1996).  EIU's losses were to Toledo (1984 & 2000) and Central Michigan (1999 & 2008).  EIU's other win over an FBS school was against current MAC member Akron in 1989 when Akron was an independent. 

• Jimmy Garoppolo was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.  It was Garoppolo's first Player of the Week honor.  He was also named the CFPA National Offensive Player of the Week and College Sporting News National Offensive Player of the Week.

• EIU's defense forced six turnovers in the opener against Southern Illinois.  It was the first time since Oct. 8, 2005 that EIU had forced six or more turnovers in a game.  The last time was against Southeast Missouri during a 48-24 win.

• Dino Babers became only the sixth coach all time at EIU to win his first game on the sidelines.  He joins Al Molde (1983), Darrell Mudra (1978), Winfield Angus (1935), Joseph Brown (1904) and Thornton Smallwood (1902) as coaches to win their first game.  Only Brown and Mudra won their first two games as EIU's head coach.

• EIU set a school record with seven touchdown passes on Thursday night against SIU.  The previous record was six touchdown passes set on two occasions.  The last was on Oct. 14, 2000 against Murray State.  The other was Nov. 13, 1982 against Kentucky State.

• The 49 points in the opener were the most scored by EIU since a 49-14 win over UT Martin at O'Brien Field in 2009.  It was the most points scored in a season opener for EIU since the Panthers beat Lock Haven 62-16 in 1991.

• Jimmy Garoppolo passed for a career high 369 yards in the win over SIU.  It was the junior quarterback's fifth career 300-yard game moving him into fourth on the Panthers all-time list for 300-yard games.  The total was the 18th best single game total in EIU history. 

• Jimmy Garoppolo passed for five touchdowns becoming only the seventh player in school history to pass for five or more touchdowns in a game.  The last player to do it was Tony Romo on Oct. 19, 2002 against Southeast Missouri.

• Erik Lora hauled in 13 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns against SIU.  The 13 receptions are the fourth best total in school history, two shy of Willie White's record of 15 set in 1971 against Illinois State. 

• The 151 yards receiving by Erik Lora was a career high for the junior receiver who missed last season with a hip injury after leading EIU with 50 catches in 2010.  It was Lora's second career game with more than 100-yards receiving.  It was his second career double digit reception game.

• EIU is now 4-2 in its last six openers including a 4-0 record against FCS opponents.  All four of those wins have come in Thursday night contests at O'Brien Field.  The last loss to open a season against an FCS opponent was in 2004 to Indiana State.

• Chris Wright opened the season with two touchdown receptions giving him six straight games with at least one touchdown grab.  The two scores moved the senior receiver up to fourth on the EIU career list with 23 touchdowns. 

• Chris Wright moved his career receiving yardage up to 1,635 on Thursday making four catches for 80 yards.  Wright needs 65 yards to crack the EIU career top ten with 1,700 yards. 

• The last time Eastern Illinois scored 49 points through three quarters of play was on Nov. 14, 2009 during a 49-14 win over UT Martin.  In that contest the Panthers scored 14 in the first, 14 in the second and 21 in the third.

• Saturday's game will mark EIU's fifth appearance on an ESPN Network.  EIU has previously played on ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Classic.  The last appearance was last season on ESPN3 at Jacksonville State.

• Sam Hendricks and Erik Lora both passed and caught touchdown passes on Thursday versus Southern Illinois.  The last Panther to accomplish that feat was Justin Duhai on Oct. 14, 2006 passing and receiving a touchdown both in the first quarter as EIU beat Eastern Kentucky 28-21 in Richmond.

• Place kicker Cameron Berra knocked home all seven point-after attempts on Thursday night.  For his career Berra has now made 54-of-57 PAT's including 18 straight dating back to the 2011 game at Murray State.

• Jimmy Garoppolo's 369 yards passing without an interception was the fourth best total in school history without a pick.  Tony Romo passed for 414 yards against Toledo without a turnover.  Sean Payton accomplished it twice with a 461 yards against Western Kentucky and 400 yards against Southern Illinois.

• Eastern Illinois picked up four sacks against Southern Illinois on Thursday night with solo sacks by Robert Haynes, Jerone Williams, Judes Amilcar and Pat Wertz.  EIU had 14 total sacks as a team last year.  The last time EIU had four or more sacks in a game was in last season's win at Austin Peay.

• Erik Lora's 151 yards receiving against Southern Illinois rank him first in the FCS following the first week's games in terms of receiving yardage.  Lora's 13 receptions were the second most in the FCS sitting only behind Derek Graves of Idaho State with 15 receptions.

• Chris Wright's two touchdown receptions on Thursday moved him into fourth on the EIU career list.  Wright is also fourth on the FCS active leaders list with 23 touchdown receptions.  Of the top four players ranked Wright has moved into that list with the fewest number of receptions (88).  For his career 1 out of every 4 of Wright's receptions have resulted in a Panther touchdown.

• Artavious Dowdell had one tackle for loss against SIU as he moved into 11th on the EIU career tackles for loss list.  Dowdell now has 25 tackles for loss for 119 yards.  Dowdell's biggest season was as a sophomore where he finished with 12.5 tackles for loss for 50 yards.

• Eastern Illinois defense is ranked first in the FCS in turnovers gained after the Panthers forced six turnovers by SIU. 

• Tavares Crawford is 4th in the FCS in kick off return average at 35.7 per return.  For his career Crawford is averaging 25.8 yards per return with one career touchdown.

• Jimmy Garoppolo and Erik Lora were named the College Football Performance Awards players of the week at their positions with Garoppolo also bringing home National Performer of the Week honors.

• Scott Weatherford ranks 44th in punting after the junior averaged 40.2 yards per punt with two of his eight punts inside the 40 yard line.  His long was 55 yards. 

• Robert Haynes led the Panthers defense with ten tackles against Southern Illinois including a sack and two forced fumbles.  Haynes played most of his time on special teams last year making 13 total tackles.

• Rex Bonham made the switch to defensive line the week prior to the season opener with Southern Illinois.  The former tight end responded making two tackles in the contest with some time on special teams.

• GAROPPOLO MOVES UP RECORD BOOK
Jimmy Garoppolo moved up the Eastern Illinois career record book during Thursday's win over Southern Illinois.  He moved up the career list in total offense, passing yards, passing attempts, pass completions and touchdown passes.  Garoppolo is poised to move up in several of those categories at Western Michigan.

Total Offense... needs 3 yards to moved into 6th
Passing Yards... needs 70 yards to move into 5th
Passing Attempts... needs 54 to move into 5th
Pass Completions... needs 16 to move into 6th, 22 for 5th
Touchdown Passes... needs five to move into 4th

• STOPPING THE PASS
Eastern Illinois had eight pass break-ups and two interceptions on Thursday against Southern Illinois.  Last season EIU's defense led the OVC in pass defense ranking 7th nationally.  Entering the second week of the season two Panthers are ranked nationally.
   -- DJ Bland is ranked third in passes defended as he had one interception and two pass break-ups.  Bland had three pass break-ups last season
   -- Nick Beard is ranked 10th in passes defended as he broke up two SIU pass attempts.  Last season Beard led the Panthers secondary with six pass break-ups.

EASTERN ILLINOIS HEAD COACH DINO BABERS
A New ERA of Eastern Illinois football began on December 9, 2011 as Dino Babers was hired as the Panthers head football coach replacing 25-year veteran Bob Spoo.  Babers had been an assistant coach at EIU in 1987 as a member of Spoo's first Panthers coaching staff.  After one season as an assistant at EIU Babers moved on to coach at nine other programs, most recently as the receivers and special teams coach at Baylor.  Last season he was on an offensive staff that helped coach Robert Griffin III to the Heisman Trophy while ranking as one of the nation's most explosive offenses.  Baylor beat Washington in the Alamo Bowl as Babers coached in his 12th bowl game as a coach.  In addition to his time at Baylor, Babers has coached at UCLA, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Arizona, San Diego State, Purdue, Northern Arizona, UNLV, Eastern Illinois, Arizona State and Hawai'i.  He was the assistant head coach at UCLA while serving as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and Arizona.  Babers has coached numerous players who have played in the NFL including 27 wide receivers who have made NFL rosters.  A native of San Diego, Calif., Babers attended Hawai'i where he was a four-year starter (1979-80, 82-83) earning his degree in 1984.  He earned a master's from Arizona State in 1988.  EIU beat Southern Illinois 49-28 in Babers opener as the Panthers head coach.

WESTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH BILL CUBIT
Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit is in his eighth season as the Broncos head coach.  He has led the program to three straight bowl games including the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.  Cubit was the 2005 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year and has a 47-40 record at WMU.  Prior to taking over the WMU program in 2005 Cubit was the offensive coordinator at Stanford.  He also has coordinator stops at Rutgers, Missouri and Western Michigan.  He had a successful stint as the head coach at Widener University and has a career record of 81-58-1.  Cubit is a 1975 graduate of Delaware where he was an honorable mention All-American quarterback for the Blue Hens.  This will be his first game against Eastern Illinois.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan features a pass heavy offense that features the nation's top returning passer in Alex Carder.  The Broncos ranked 8th in passing offense last year at 337 yards per game as receiver Jordan White led the nation in receptions.  White is now gone and Carder was limited to 229 yards passing at Illinois last week.  His new favorite target is freshman Jaime Wilson with eight catches for 59 yards.  The Broncos run game was held to negative six yards rushing against Illinois.  Western Michigan's defense was led by Johnnie Simon with 18 tackles and Terry Easmon with 11. 

ON THIS DATE IN EIU HISTORY
September 8, 1979 - Don Pittman returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown and Eastern Illinois dominated play as the Panthers rolled over Butler 38-0.  EIU's defense led by Randy Melvin limited Butler to just 47 yards of total offense (the second lowest total in school history) with 20 yards rushing and 27 yards passing.  Melvin finished with 11 tackles including three quarterback sacks.

EIU / WMU TIES
Eastern Illinois and Western Michigan do have several ties despite the two programs only meeting one previous time on the gridiron.  Former EIU head coach Al Molde left the Panthers program following the 1986 season to lead WMU from 1987-96.  Molde is the Broncos all-time leader in wins with 62 leading the 1988 team to its first NCAA Division I bowl appearance.  More recently, current EIU athletic director Barbara Burke was a two-sport standout for the Broncos in the early 1980's earning All-America honors in softball. 

GREAT LAKES STATE CONNECTION
Eastern Illinois currently has two players on its roster from the state of Michigan.  Running back Ryan Jones is from Canton in the Detroit suburbs.  Defensive back Anthony Goodman is from Lansing.  EIU assistant coach George Ricumstrict is also a Michigan native.