CHARLESTON, Ill. – With two weeks until the regular season opener, Eastern Illinois can start to turn its focus towards its Sept. 3 opener against Illinois State knowing who will be under center. Thursday afternoon the EIU football staff announced that transfer Jake Christensen has won the quarterback battle over the first two weeks of camp.
Christensen is a transfer from the University of Iowa where he started two seasons ago for the Hawkeyes. He was the starter at Iowa last season for two games before deciding to transfer for his final season. The NCAA granted Christensen a waiver to play his final season at EIU on Wednesday afternoon. At Iowa he passed for 2,800 yards in three seasons with 20 touchdowns.
He won the starting job from incumbent senior Bodie Reeder who started all 12 games in 2008 after earning the starting job four games into the 2007 season. Reeder enters his senior season having passed for 3,657 yards and 23 touchdowns.
EIU offensive coordinator Roy Wittke stated that Christensen had won the job based on the coaching staff's evaluation of both quarterbacks work during the fall camp. “We have evaluated every practice with both Jake and Bodie at quarterback and throughout camp Jake was able to make plays and help get us out of trouble.”
“Both Jake and Bodie have handled the competition with a lot of class,” added Wittke. “Both quarterbacks have played well and this was a difficult decision. Right now we feel Jake starting gives us the best opportunity to win football games. We believe we are fortunate to have two quarterbacks who have both been starters at the collegiate level and understand that we need both to be successful.”
Eastern Illinois will hold its second full scrimmage of the fall season on Saturday evening at O'Brien Field. The night kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a season ticket holder and Panther Club Fan Appreciation cookout followed by the scrimmage at 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers kick off the season in two weeks on Thursday, Sept. 3 against Illinois State. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. Season and single game tickets are on sale by calling (217) 581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthers.com
