No pressure, no diamonds.

That is one of several slogans Adidas has advertised in its campaign with Washington Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Often, that is a true and reckoning statement.

This aphorism, however, was proved false by the 2012 Eastern football team. The Panthers did not feel pressure. They may not have even known what pressure was, for the previous two seasons were bleak.

Back-to-back 2-9 seasons led them to be projected to finish last in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2012.

There was no pressure to win, because no one outside of the locker room expected it. With a new coach and a new system, it was expected to be the same old losing season.

It wasn’t. Finishing 7-5 overall and 6-1 in conference, the Panthers clinched the OVC Championship for the first time since 2009. The Panthers got their diamonds without pressure. But along with a championship ring, the pressure returned.

Immense pressure has found its way back onto the Panthers’ shoulder pads for the 2013 season.

Being the defending champions, Eastern will have a target on its head against every OVC team it faces. Every team wants to be able to say it took down the defending champions.

“Everybody has circled us on their schedule,” Coach Dino Babers said. “Everybody wants a piece of us, and rightfully so. Last year, they didn’t know what in the heck was going on. They were bamboozled. Well, now they know, and they’re coming.”

The pressure does not stop there. Eastern has also been projected to repeat as conference champions in 2013 by both Lindy’s College Football Magazine and Sporting New Magazine.

Both publications have also ranked Eastern as the No. 18 and No. 19 team in their FCS preseason polls, respectively.

But much like last year, Babers is not letting the expectations, or lack thereof, influence the Panthers’ mindset.

All Babers is focused on is continuing to demand the respect the Panthers have already gained among the OVC teams.

“This year will be a good indicator as to where we are at,” Baber said. “I have no idea what we’re going to do this year. But I know this: (teams in the OVC) respect us. So we gained respect, now we need to go out and demand respect.”

The Panthers gained respect. They earned the expectations. But will they see the diamonds? They will not know until the pressure takes full form on Aug. 31 when Eastern steps on the field against San Diego State.

The pressure is something entirely new, and after all, no pressure, no diamonds.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu.