CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo is preparing for 23rd season of football with the Panthers as EIU opens spring drills on Monday, March with a helmets only practice. EIU will host three spring scrimmages with the spring game set for April 25 at O'Brien Field.
EIU will kick off the season on March 30 with a 3:30 p.m. practice in helmets only. The Panthers will continue with two more helmet only practices the first week of April with the practice on April 3 taking place in Effingham.
Full contact drills open on Monday, April 6 with the first scrimmage of the spring slated for Saturday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. EIU's second scrimmage will be the following Saturday, April 18 also at 9:30 a.m.
The spring game is set for April 25 with a start time currently set at 9:30 a.m. at O'Brien Field. The final of fifteen allotted practices will be on Wednesday, April 29 when the Panthers offer a coaching clinic in conjunction with their final day of practice.
EIU opens the 2009 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 against Illinois State. A game at Penn State on Oct. 10 will match two of the longest tenured head coaches at the NCAA Division I level in Joe Paterno and Bob Spoo. EIU's home schedule this season consists of Illinois State (Sept. 3), Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 3), Tennessee Tech (Oct. 17), UT Martin (Nov. 14) and Tennessee State (Nov. 21). Season tickets for the 2009 season will be on sale in the coming weeks.
2009 Spring Practice Schedule
Monday – March 30 – Helmets only (3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday – April 1 – Helmets only (3:30 p.m.)
Friday – April 3 – Helmets only (3:30 p.m.) in Effingham
Monday – April 6 – Full Tackling (3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday – April 8 – Full tackling (3:30 p.m.)
Friday – April 10 – Shells only (3:30 p.m.)
Saturday – April 11 – 1st Scrimmage (9:30 a.m.)
Monday – April 13 – Shells only (3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday – April 15 – Full Tackling (3:30 p.m.)
Friday – April 17 – Shells only (3:30 p.m.)
Saturday – April 18 – 2nd Scrimmage (9:30 a.m.)
Monday – April 20 – Shells only (3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday – April 22 – Full Tackling (3:30 p.m.)
Saturday – April 25 – Spring Game (9:30 a.m.)
Wednesday – April 29 – Coaches Clinic/Helmets Only (6 p.m.)
All practices are open to the public and at O'Brien Field unless otherwise noted.
Media availability will be after all scrimmages/spring game (any other please contact SID office).
