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** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 13 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2020-21 academic year. **

After having the 2020 spring athletic season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eastern Illinois Athletics was able to return to action in 2020-21 albeit in a much different manner than year's past.
 
Student-athletes and coaches had to follow a strict testing protocol to attempt to keep everyone as safe as possible.  Most of that work fell on the shoulders of the EIU Athletic Training staff.  
 
With the fall sports seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference and Summit League being moved to the spring semester, the EIU swim team was the first athletic team to compete during the academic year with a Nov. 6 meet at Ball State.  The Panthers swim teams would compete in one more meet prior to Thanksgiving before completing the remainder of their season in the spring.
 
The women's and men's basketball teams began their seasons the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving with a shortened scheduled for both teams.  
 
At home EIU played a large portion of its schedule without fans in Lantz Arena with up to 50 family members being allowed to attend games starting in February.  
 
During the spring, the fall athletic teams played a conference only slate of action while the spring sports, which had their seasons disrupted the year before, returned to a more normal type of schedule.
 
The year was highlighted by two team conference championships, several conference player of the year honors and several All-American awards being won.