Daily Eastern News: November 04, 2011 Eastern Illinois University
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep November 2011 11-4-2011 Daily Eastern News: November 04, 2011 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2011_nov Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: November 04, 2011" (2011). November. 4. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2011_nov/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2011 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in November by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. take the eld THE DAILY EASTERNASTERN NEWS’ FOOTBALLOOTBALL GAMEDAYAME MAGAZINE 19 20 87 11 To the Student Body, Faculty and Sta, Over the past twenty-ve years I can recall so much of what has taken place in my position as Head Football Coach at Eastern Illinois University. Memories keep ooding back as I reect on my life at this wonderful institution. It has been a fabulous time for me and my family. I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the support you have displayed for me, my sta, and players throughout the years. We have tried our best to provide a program that is worthy of your support, interest, and trust. I hope we have accomplished that for you. Now the time has come to move on to the next chapter of my life’s story. As I do, I will always be reminded of the opportunity aorded me by the EIU community and I will be extremely grateful for what you have helped me to accomplish. For without that loyalty and encouragement it wouldn’t have been possible. In my retirement, I will continue to support EIU in any way possible. I owe you that much for what you have done for me. It has always been about team. You are a part of that team and I believe the fu- ture is bright because of your involvement. Warmest Regards, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 2C eiu vs tsu TAKE THE FIELD GAME PREVIEW Teamprepares for last home game By Dominic Renzetti Seniors in last home game Sports Editor The Eastern football team is pre- #3 Lorence Ricks paring for not only its nal Ohio Val- #8 Cory Leman ley Conference game of the season, #19 NIck Martinez but for head coach Bob Spoo’s final game at O’Brien Field. #24 James Cooper Despite all the attention surround- #40 Keithan Hedrick ing the game, Spoo said he hopes his #75 Mike Garrity final game is not a distraction, yet knows there will be attention on him. #76 Eric Zink “I don’t know how you can avoid it,” he said. “I hope it’s not a distrac- tion.” German has completed 88 of 157 Spoo said that hopefully once the passes and thrown for 1,264 yards. actual game begins, the distraction Spoo said Tennessee State’s decision will be less of an issue. to start German was a good one. “It won’t be from the starting kick- “They made the right move, no o to the end of the game, hopeful- question about that,” he said. “(Ger- ly,” he said. man) is a big time player for being While the attention may be on such a young player.” Spoo, his attention will be on the op- Spoo said he expects a tough ponent, Tennessee State. Spoo called match-up between the Panthers and the Tigers a very athletic team. Tigers. “I don’t want that to interfere with “We’re in for a tough football what we need to get done on the game, but I hope we can rise to the eld,” Spoo said. “I have great respect occasion, so to speak,” he said. for Tennessee State, their athleticism, For the Panther offense, red-shirt the things they can do to hurt you.” junior running back Jake Walker had The Panthers are coming off of a a breakout game last week against win over conference opponent Austin Austin Peay, becoming the rst player Peay, but Spoo said the team must fo- this season to surpass 100 yards rush- cus on the current game. ing the ball. “You can’t think about the last “(Walker) doesn’t have all the juke- game you played whether you won ability like a lot of the fine running it or lost it,” he said. “You better be backs in our league have, but he’s a ready every week.” very tough minded guy,” Spoo said. e Panthers, currently with a re- Spoo called Walker a very assign- cord of 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the ment disciplined, mistake free, hard OVC, will be taking on a Tennessee runner. He said Walker was a great DANNY DAMIANI | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS State team that has had two weeks to team player and leader. Red-shirt junior wide receiver Chavar Watkins reaches to catch a 29 yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo Oct. 22 during Eastern's homecoming game prepare for this game. e Tigers have “We were happy to see him break against UT Martin at O'Brien Field. The Panthers came short in the final a record of 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the out finally,” he said. “We needed to minutes of the game losing 23-24. OVC. have our ground game going a little Leading the Tigers is red-shirt bit and I hope we can keep it up.” Spoo in Lantz Fieldhouse. e event will be available. freshman quarterback Michael Ger- Spoo’s nal game at O’Brien Field will be open to the public, no reserva- Dominic Renzetti can be man. Since taking over the starting will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Following tion required. reached at 581-7942 role from Jeremy Perry in week four, the game, there will a reception for Complimentary cake and beverages or [email protected]. VISITOR PERSPECTIVE Tigersfeel up to tough road task By Dominic Renzetti cord, the Panthers are still a very Sports Editor tough team, having lost many close games throughout the season. Game time forecast Tennessee State head coach Rod “It’s a very good football team, well Reed’s Tigers are coming o of an o- coached team, just had some tough Sunny week after losing to Eastern Kentucky breaks in there,” Reed said. 1:30 p.m. High: 61 by a score of 22-33. Reed said the o- One Eastern player Reed’s defense Sundown: Low: 55 week was much needed for his team. will be keying in on is sophomore 5:47 p.m. Wind: SSE 11 mph “We had a much needed o-week,” quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. he said. “We had gone eight straight “(Eastern has) a quarterback in there without a bye.” that’s thrown for over 2,200 yards,” he said. week against Austin Peay. tal yards. Four of those sacks came last In the Tigers’ last game against is season, Garoppolo has thrown “They’ve got a running back who’s week against Austin Peay’s freshman Eastern Kentucky, the team was with- for 2,219 this season, completing 188 got back on track, looked like last week, quarterback Landon Curtis. out several defensive starters. of 288 passes. He has also thrown for doing some good things there,” he said. Leman has more tackles than any “We were pretty banged up, played 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. On the defensive side of the ball, other player on the Panther defense, without a couple starters in the Eastern In last year’s meeting, Garoppolo led Reed said the Tigers will be aware of notching 87 total tackles, 46 of which Kentucky game on defense,” Reed said. the Panthers to an overtime victory over junior defensive lineman Artavious were solo tackles. ough Reed said the rest was much the Tigers, throwing for 331 yards and Dowdell and red-shirt senior line- “We’ve got our work cut out for needed, he said his team is focusing on four touchdowns. He completed 20 of backer Cory Leman. us,” Reed said. “We’re going to be up taking on the Panthers this Saturday. 33 passes in that game as well. “ey’ve got a kid there that sacks for the challenge. It’s a long ride up, “It was a much needed rest, but Reed, like Eastern head coach Bob the quarterback, and every knows but we’re getting ready.” we’ve been hard at work trying to get Spoo, noticed the resurgence of red- about Cory Leman,” he said. Dominic Renzetti can be EIU gured out,” he said. shirt junior running back Jake Walk- Dowdell is the OVC’s sack leader, reached at 581-7942 He said that despite Eastern’s re- er, who broke 100 yards rushing last recording ve sacks for a loss of 29 to- or [email protected]. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 3C eiu vs tsu TAKE THE FIELD PLAYER RADAR ON EDGE QB Quarterback RB Running back WR Wide receiver OL Oensive line DL KIM FOSTER | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS Defensive line (Above) Cory Leman, junior linebacker, walks onto the eld dur- ing the Homecoming game against Tennessee-Martin on Oct. 22 at O'Brien Stadium. (Right) Chris Wright, sophomore wide re- ceiver, runs to get into formation during the Homecoming game LB against Tennessee-Martin on Oct. 22 at O’Brien Stadium. Linebacker Leman,Wright among players to watch DB Defensive back By Dominic Renzetti Cory Leman fensive end Judes Amilcar, so fans can Sports Editor Linebacker - #8 expect the same intensity of Florida Red-shirt senior Cory Leman knows high school football games to be found how important it is to send head coach in Charleston this weekend.