EIU Opens Season With University of Arkansas

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois football will play a member of the Southeastern Conference for the first time in school history when they open the 2018 season at the University of Arkansas.   The game was released on Monday as part of the Razorbacks future opponents for the next couple of seasons.
 
The game will be played in Fayetteville as the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 1 to kickoff the 2018 season for the Panthers.  With the season opener for EIU now slated against Arkansas, the Panthers adjusted two other 2018 non-conference dates on their schedule.  EIU will travel to Illinois State for the Mid-America Classic on Sept. 8 and then host Indiana State on Sept. 15 for the Panthers season opener.  EIU was originally scheduled to open the season against the Sycamores on Sept. 1 and travel to Illinois State on Sept. 15.
 
This will mark the second time EIU football has played a game in the state of Arkansas.  The Panthers first trip to the Natural State was in 2012 when EIU played at FCS member Central Arkansas.
 
Current EIU head coach Kim Dameron is an Arkansas native and played for the Razorbacks in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a wide receiver and defensive back.  He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1983.
 
In addition EIU currently has four players – Iziah Gulley, Cornelius Page, Jordan Jackson and Kylin Washington – and two incoming recruits – Marcus Bornslater Jr. and Jonathan McCoy – that hail from Arkansas and would have eligibility during the 2018 season.
 
The Panthers recently released their 2017 schedule and will open next season at Indiana State on August 31.  Season ticket renewals and sales will take place in early May for the 2017 season.   The Panthers begin spring practice on March 21 with the Spring Game set for April 22 at 12 p.m. at O’Brien Field.