GAME INFORMATION
No. 25 Eastern Illinois (4-2, 2-1 OVC)
vs. Tennessee Tech (3-2, 2-1 OVC)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
October 17, 2009 • 1:30 p.m. • TV: WEIU Channel 51
THE GAME
Eastern Illinois returns to Ohio Valley Conference action on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers host Tennessee Tech at O'Brien Field. Both teams enter the contest with a 2-1 record in the OVC and sit tied for third in the conference race. The game will serve as the Panthers homecoming contest and athletic hall of fame game. During the game Eastern Illinois will retire the No. 17 formerly worn by All-American quarterback Tony Romo.
Eastern Illinois enters the game on a two game losing skid following a home loss to Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 3 and last weekend's loss at Penn State. The Panthers were limited to only three points against the Nittany Lions during the 52-3 set back in Happy Valley. EIU has not lost a homecoming game since 1999, that loss was to Tennessee Tech.
Tennessee Tech enters the weekend with two straight OVC wins as they knocked off Austin Peay on Oct. 3 before winning on the road at UT Martin over the weekend. In their two OVC wins TTU has won by eight points or less on both occasions. Their one OVC loss this year was a 17-7 loss at Eastern Kentucky.
THE SERIES
This will be the 16th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech with the Panthers holding an 11-4 all-time series lead. EIU has won four straight in the series and 11-of-13 since joining the Ohio Valley Conference. One of the two losses was to Tennessee Tech in 1999 during the Panthers homecoming contest, the last EIU loss during homecoming. Last year in Cookeville, EIU churned out 296 rushing yards during a 38-20 win over the Golden Eagles. In that game Trevorus Bess (163) and Chevon Walker (109) both rushed for more than 100 yards while Desmin Ward scored three rushing touchdowns.
Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee Tech
