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

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 linebacker during their days at O'Brien Field.  The list includes three first-team All-Americans and four Conference Defensive Players of the Year.
 
EIU has had three players earn first team All-America honors as linebackers during the Panthers time at O'Brien Field.
 
Tim Carver… Carver was a tackling machine for the Panthers defense during the mid-1990's.   Carver helped lead EIU to the 1995 FCS playoffs and was named the Gateway Conference Defensive Player of the Year.  He made 138 tackles that season which ranks as the seventh best single season total in school history.  Carver holds the single season mark with 179 tackles in 1994 and is the EIU career leader with 585 tackles.  He earned first team All-American honors in 1995.
 
Nick Ricks… Ricks was a multiple time All-American for the Panthers in the early 2000's.  He earned first team All-American honors in 2002 after making 149 tackles which ranks fifth on the EIU single season list.  Ricks was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year that season and helped EIU make a third straight appearance in the FCS playoffs.  Ricks finished 9th in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2002 and 13th in 2003 with the award presented to the top defensive player in the FCS.  Ricks ranks second on EIU's career tackles list with 478.
 
Clint Sellers… Sellers helped lead a high powered defensive unit in 2005 that earned him OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  Sellers made 121 tackles that year to earn first team All-America honors.  Sellers played only one season for EIU.


In addition to the three linebackers listed above EIU has had one additional player earn Conference Player of the Year.

Donald Thomas… Thomas helped lead EIU to the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2006 and was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year.  Thomas would make 127 tackles that season, the 11th most in a single season in school history.  He was named a Sports Network 2nd Team All-American that season.  Thomas finished his EIU career with 321 career tackles.  Thomas was 19th in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award presented to the top defensive player in the FCS.


EIU has had two other linebackers go on to professional careers in the NFL

Mel Black… Black had a brief career in the NFL after playing linebacker for the Panthers.   A free agent signing, Black played two seasons for the New England Patriots appearing in six games between the 1986 and 1987 seasons.  
 
Kamu Grugier-Hill… Grugier-Hill was a hybrid linebacker for the Panthers defense occasionally shifting to safety during some defensive series.  In his primary position of linebacker he was selected in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  He would earn a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and currently plays for the Miami Dolphins. 
 
 
 
Five additional EIU linebackers have earned an All-American honor playing for the Panthers defense.

Tom Murray… Murray was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 1981.
 
Tyrone Covington… Covington was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 1983 and 1984.
 
Thomas Williams… Williams was a Sports Network 3rd Team All-American in 1997
 
Fred Miller… Miller was a Football Gazette 2nd Team All-American in 2001
 
Lucius Seymour… Seymour was a Football Gazette 3rd Team All-American in 2005

 

 

**** #EIUFANDEMIC (Sept. 28 – Oct. 3, 2020) – The Eastern Illinois Panther Club virtual event supporting EIU student-athletes. Text 76278 to 'EIUFANDEMIC' & register today.  Visit www.eiufandemic.givesmart.com and take a look at the premiere live experiences from the Cards, Bears, Saints, and over 100 must-have items. Bidding begins 9.28.20.