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Previous O'Brien Field 50 Year Sections
Post Season Games
Defensive Backs & Safeties
Offensive Linemen
Running Backs
Linebackers
Quarterbacks & Tight Ends

This year marks the 50th Anniversary for O'Brien Field as the Panthers began competition at the renovated complex for the 1970 season.

With no football on the docket for the fall of 2020, every Wednesday this fall we bring you some memorable moments, players and teams to cap the Golden Anniversary. 

The location for the current football and track field was in place prior to the 1970 season and referenced as Lincoln Field.  The current grandstand and press box were constructed for that year replacing smaller sideline bleachers converting the space into a true college football and track facility.

The first football game played at the newly dubbed location was on Sept. 12, 1970 with a 28-18 loss to regional rival Indiana State.  The Panthers would get their first win the following week with a 19-14 win over Milwaukee on Sept. 19.
 
This week we take a look at some of the great Panthers that stood out on special teams during their days at O'Brien Field.  The bottom of the list includes some of the Big Field Goals, Punts and Returns at O'Brien Field
 
EIU has had four players earn All-America honors on special teams during the Panthers time at O'Brien Field.
 
Don Manzke… Manzke was the Panthers first All-American selection as a special teams player earning honorable mention honors as a punter in 1981, EIU's first season at the NCAA Division I level.  Manzke averaged 41.5 yards per punt that season.
 
Rich Ehmke… Ehmke earned honorable mention All-American honors as a place kicker during the 1987 season as he led the Panthers in scoring with 57 points.   Ehmke knocked home 15 field goals while going 12-of-13 on extra point attempts.
 
Kevin Cook… Cook earned honorable mention All-American honors as a punter during the 2007 season.  Cook averaged 44.6 yards per punt for the year with 12 punts over 50 yards. 

Nick Bruno... Bruno was named a freshman All-American in 2014 as a place kicker... Bruno was 14-of-16 on field goals that season and knocked home 44-of-45 extra point attempts. 
 
 
EIU has had three other special teams players sign free agent contracts with NFL teams

Jeff Gossett… Gossett was signed as a free agent punter in 1980 and made his NFL debut in 1981 with the Kansas City Chiefs.  One of EIU's rare two-sport professional athletes, Gossett went on to a long Pro Bowl career as a punter in the NFL spending time with four different NFL teams – most notably the Los Angeles Raiders.  He also spent two seasons in the USFL.  As a baseball player he was selected in the 5^th round by the New York Mets and spent time in their minor league system.  Gossett averaged 39.9 yards per punt during the 1979 EIU football season.
 
Evan Araposthathis… Araposthathis was signed as a free agent punter by the St. Louis Cardinals football team and punted for the franchise during the 1986 season.  In two seasons for the Panthers he averaged 36 yards per punt while knocking home 11 field goals and 25 extra points.
 
Austin Signor… Signor signed as a free agent with the New York Giants in 2010 and was in camp with both the Giants and Oakland Raiders.  In 2013 he signed a three-year free agent contract with the Chicago Bears but never appeared in an NFL game.  In two seasons with the Panthers he made 14 field goals with 34 extra points.  On kickoffs Signor had 47 touchbacks on 120 kickoffs averaging 67.8 yards per kickoff for his career.
 
 
 
The remainder of the list highlights some of the special team Big Plays that Panthers have accomplished in games at O'Brien Field

50-Yard Field Goals
58 – Rich Ehmke (Oct. 11, 1986 vs. Northern Iowa)
50 – Steve Berryman (Nov. 3, 1984 vs. Northern Iowa)
50 – Jeff Sanders (Oct. 23, 1976 vs. Central State (Ohio)
 
70-Yard Punts
86 – Kevin Cook (Oct. 2, 2010 vs. Southeast Missouri)
79 – Tom Schofield (Nov. 22, 2003 vs. Samford)
78 – Don Manzke (Nov. 8, 1980 vs. Northern Iowa)
74 – Cody Edwards (Sept. 16, 2017 vs. Illinois State)
73 – Tyler Wilke (Nov. 17, 2007 vs. Samford)
72 – Henry Castellanos (Oct. 14, 1983 vs. Northern Iowa)
 
Kickoff Returns For Touchdown
96 – Matt Reyna (Sept. 15, 2018 vs. Indiana State)
95 – Andre Raymond (Sept. 21, 2002 vs. Indiana State)
90 – Mark Campana (Dec. 2, 1978 vs. Youngstown State) * NCAA Playoffs
88 – James Marable (Sept. 6, 1986 vs. Truman State)
84 – Obadiah Cooper (Oct. 3, 1992 vs. Southern Illinois)
 
Punt Returns for Touchdown (over 50 yards)
80 – Erik Lora (Nov. 2, 2013 vs. Tennessee Tech)
80 – Jermaine Mobley (Oct. 30, 2004 vs. Tennessee State)
75 – Shepard Little (Nov. 2, 2013 vs. Tennessee Tech)
71 – Chris Watson (Sept. 14, 1996 vs. Indiana State)
59 – Frank Cutolo (Sept. 9, 2000 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan) * had additional 38 punt return for TD in game