GAME NOTES  |  UTM Website

Eastern Illinois (2-3, 0-1 OVC) at UT Martin (4-2, 2-1 OVC)
Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.
October 9, 2008 • 6 p.m. • TV: None

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois and UT Martin meet for the 14th time when the Panthers travel to Tennessee for a Thursday night contest. This will be EIU's second Thursday night game of the season after opening the year on a Thursday night at Central Michigan. This will also be EIU's only game during a 19-day span. EIU has dropped its last two trips to Graham Stadium including a 15-9 set back in 2006 that ended the Panthers 15-game OVC win streak. 

EIU enters the game 2-3 and 0-1 in the OVC following a Sept. 27 loss to Jacksonville State. In that game EIU was held to only 20 yards net rushing which did include a 20-yard rushing loss by punter Kevin Cook on a safety. The Panthers have not lost back-to-back OVC games since Nov. 6 and Nov. 13, 2004. 

UT Martin enters on a short week having played Tennessee State on Saturday night. The Skyhawks held a 17-7 halftime lead only to lose to the contest in overtime. This game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, but was moved up two days to accommodate UT Martin's fall break on the weekend.

EASTERN ILLINOIS - UT MARTIN SERIES
This will be the 14th meeting between Eastern Illinois and UT Martin. The Panthers have dominated the series holding a 11-2 all-time series lead since first playing the Skyhawks in 1995. Over the last four seasons the series has evened out with each team winning two games on its home field. Last season EIU held off the Skyhawks as UTM ran out of time inside the five yard line pushing for a go ahead score in a 29-23 loss.