Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Defend Our House. That is the motto for Eastern Illinois Athletics as the Panthers were officially welcomed back to campus on Sunday evening at the annual student-athlete cook out and Walk of Champions events. EIU won the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Cup last year marking the third time in the last four years that EIU has won the trophy which represents the top overall athletic department in the conference. EIU won six regular season championships in 2012-13.

The student-athletes were officially welcomed back to campus as University President Dr. William Perry followed by the head coaches of EIU's 21-interceollegaite sports and athletic director Barbara Burke speaking to the group.

"The Walk of Champions has become a tradition for our student-athletes here at Eastern Illinois University," said Burke. "The event is a great way to welcome them back to campus. The Walk of Champions shows the solidarity of our student-athletes and the family bonds that are built among not only individual teams but all of our student-athletes. We are 21-sports but one team. Our motto for this year is Defend Our House and together as one team we can indeed Defend Our House and bring home another OVC Commissioners Cup. "

Following the cookout the Panther student-athletes donned Walk of Champions t-shirts and marched through campus to take part in the University's First Night activities on the South Quad. Classes on the EIU campus began on Monday morning.

EIU opened competition over the weekend with men's soccer beating Saint Xavier in an exhibition match on Saturday at Lakeside Field. The women's soccer team takes to the pitch on Friday at 3 p.m. in the first official competition of the school year against Oakland University. The home opener for EIU football is Sept. 14 against Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic.