Expectations for Eastern football are high going into the new season, and recent rankings by preseason publications are reflecting that sentiment.

The Panthers finished last season ranked 15 in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll following their 9-3 season, which included an 8-0 conference record and Ohio Valley Conference championship.

Last season’s success, coupled with the return of 17 starters and nearly 40 lettermen, has led to Eastern being ranked in the top 25 of all Division I-AA teams in a variety of preseason polls.

Lindy’s has ranked the Panthers at 14, while Street & Smith placed Eastern at 21 overall. SportsNetwork.com ranked the defending OVC champs at 15.

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said that it’s nice to be getting the national attention early, but that it really doesn’t mean a whole lot right now.

“It is nice that we are ranked, but it’s not important to us,” Spoo said. “It’s where we finish up, not where we start.”

Besides the expectations that rankings like these put on a team, Spoo puts those same expectations on the program as well, and with good reason.

“The expectations are high because of the number of returning players and the fact that we have improved our athleticism,” Spoo said. “You can’t say enough about what experience brings to a ballgame.”

With overall experience being one of the strengths of the team, Spoo views the areas that need work to be the places where replacements will be stepping in.

The Panthers lost a couple of ends, including four-year starter Kory Lothe, as well as safety Chad Cleeland on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side, a position of concern is center after losing three-year starter and two-time second-team All-OVC center Pascal Matla.

NCAA rules don’t allow for the coaching staff to monitor the players on a daily basis. The strength and conditioning coach can, however, and Spoo said that the players are going through their summer workouts and things are going very well.

“The players have been very attentive to what the expectations are and where they want to be by the end of the year,” Spoo said.

The Panthers’ 2006 season kicks off Sept. 2 at the University of Illinois. Eastern will face off with two other nationally ranked I-AA teams when they play at Illinois State (ranked 7 by Street & Smith) on Sept. 16 and again when they play at conference foe Eastern Kentucky (ranked 7 by Lindy’s).