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

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 played both quarterback and tight end during their days at O'Brien Field.  The list includes two winners of the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the FCS.
 
EIU has had two players earn first team All-America honors as quarterbacks during the Panthers time at O'Brien Field.
 
Tony Romo… Romo was a three time Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the Panthers from 2000-02.  He earned All-America honors three times culminating with first team All-America honors in 2002 as he won the Walter Payton Award.  Romo ended his EIU career passing for 8,212 yards and 85 touchdowns.  Romo would sign with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and go on to have a Pro Bowl career with the Cowboys.  He is currently the top football analyst for the NFL on CBS.
 
Jimmy Garoppolo… Garoppolo was the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 as he earned first team All-America honors.  He was selected as the Walter Payton Award winner that same season.  Garoppolo passed for 13,156 yards in his career with 118 touchdowns.  He was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the highest ever draft selection by an EIU player.  He is currently the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
 

EIU has had three other quarterbacks and tight ends go on to professional careers in the NFL

Jeff Christensen… Christensen earned honorable mention All-American honors from the Sporting News and Associated Press in 1982.  Christensen passed for 6,282 career yards and 51 touchdown passes.  He was selected in the 5^th round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and would play five seasons in the NFL.
 
Sean Payton… Payton was a three time All-American quarterback for the Panthers earning second team honors in 1986.  He set a then school record for passing yards with more than 10,000 for his career.  Payton finished his EIU career with 10,655 yards and 75 touchdowns. Payton would play briefly in the NFL, Canadian Football League and Arena Football League before turning to coaching.  He is currently the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. 
 
Bob Rosenstiel… Rosenstiel was signed as an undrafted free agent at tight end and appeared in four games for the Oakland Raiders during the 1997 season.  He would later play for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe. During his two-year career for the Panthers he caught 18 passes for 210 yards and five touchdowns.
 
 
Six additional EIU quarterbacks or tight ends have earned an All-American honor playing for the Panthers or were invited to a professional camp

Steve Turk… After helping lead EIU to the 1978 National Championship, Turk signed as a free agent quarterback with the Green Bay Packers.  He would then play one season in the USFL with Denver.  Turk passed for 3,711 yards and 36 touchdowns in two seasons with the Panthers.
 
Rob Mehalic… Mehalic was selected as an honorable mention All-American in 1981 by the Associated Press.  That season he led the Panthers with 67 receptions for 787 yards and five touchdowns.
 
Dirk Androff… Androff was a two-sport athlete for EIU playing both football and basketball.  He signed as a free agent tight end with the New York Jets in 1983.  During four years on the gridiron Androff caught 56 passes for 773 yards and five touchdowns for EIU.
 
Nick Eller… Eller earned second team All-America honors from the Sports Network in 2002 as part of a high powered Panthers offense.  Eller was second on the team that year with 57 receptions for 721 yards and seven touchdowns. He signed a free agent contract as a tight end with the Baltimore Ravens.
 
 
Jeff LePak… LePak earned third team All-America honors at tight end in 2013 as part of the Panthers offense that led the nation in total offense that season.  LePak hauled in 51 passes for 723 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
Andrew Manley… Manley signed as a free agent quarterback in the Canadian Football League and played briefly with the Montreal Alouettes.  Manley passed for 858 yards in one season under center for the Panthers.