Locker Room Renovation Slide Show

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois football players will have a new place to call home next season as the Panthers unveiled their renovated football locker room which will be used for the first time in the fall of 2008.

The project took place during the spring practice season in which the former locker room was gutted and redesigned to create additional locker room space. The new space includes modern wooden lockers, new carpet and lighting and renovated shower and restroom facilities.

“This was something that was long overdue,” stated EIU head football coach Bob Spoo. “It was something we were able to do for our current and future players. Facilities have become such a large part of the recruiting process that we now feel like we have a high class facility for our entire program that can compete with what other schools have to offer.”

The locker room project is being funded by the 2008 football team which will play an additional guarantee game against Central Michigan University to open the season on August 28. The money from that guarantee game covered the entire cost the renovation project.

“This is something those players are going to earn with their hard work on the field,” said Ken Baker, EIU's interim athletic director. “The NCAA allows teams to play an additional game this season and after speaking with the coaching staff, this additional game at Central Michigan was added with the money being used to renovate the football locker room.”

Based on the way the calendar year falls during the 2008 season the NCAA allows FCS level teams to add a 12th game to their schedule if they choose to do so. Eastern Illinois along with several other schools in the Ohio Valley Conference have added a 12th game. EIU was already slated to play the University of Illinois on Sept. 6 for its other guarantee contest. The next season FCS level schools can play a 12th came is 2013.