EIU's Football Opener Will Be Carried Across Region

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois Athletics and WCIA Channel 3 in Champaign have announced that the Panthers Sept. 19 home football opener against Illinois State will be carried across the region in prime time.

In addition to be carried by CBS affiliate WCIA in the Champaign market the game will also be seen on CBS affiliate WMBD in Peoria and NBC affiliate WTWO in Terre Haute, Ind.

In order to broadcast the game in prime time on all three network stations the kickoff time has been moved back one hour to a 7 p.m. start.

The talent for the game will be provided by Nexstar Broadcasting, the parent organization of all three stations. Play by play will be Jason Pensky (WTWO), with Brett Behrens (WCIA) and Kurt Pegler (WMBD) doing color. EIU Alum Drew Wilder will be on the sidelines.

The game will be the 104th playing of the Mid-America Classic between EIU and ISU with several special presentations set to take place that evening. During the game EIU will unveil a banner to honor former NFL head coach and Eastern Illinois alumnus Mike Shanahan. During halftime EIU will introduce its 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame Class which includes former head coach Bob Spoo.

Tickets for the game are now on sale by calling the EIU ticket office at 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com

“This is a great opportunity for our football program to have this rivalry game between Eastern Illinois and Illinois State carried in prime time on these three great stations,” said EIU athletic director Tom Michael. “Our hope is for EIU football fans to come pack O’Brien Field that evening, but if they are unable to attend, this is a great vehicle for them to watch two good football teams compete for the Mid-America Classic Trophy.”

“Localism is in our DNA and we love highlighting local schools,” said WCIA vice president and general manager Coby Cooper. “So often, games are not available to us because of conference situations or because of the major sports networks picking up games. This is one of those times that all the stars just aligned to show this great rivalry game that is part of Central Illinois.”

Eastern Illinois, ranked No. 25 in the FCS Coaches poll, will open the season this Thursday renewing a long time rivalry at Western Illinois. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. and will streaming online on ESPN3 as part of the Missouri Valley Conference football package.