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The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

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The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

Junior offensive line Nic DiSanto running to his position for practice at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus, Charleston Ill. April 3, 2025.

Newest EIU football captain comes from hockey, hard work

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 27, 2025

Junior offensive lineman Nic DiSanto was named the first of four EIU football captains named at the spring game Saturday.   DiSanto started playing football when he was in fourth grade but didn’t...

Eastern Illinois football redshirt junior running back Jay Pearson running down the middle of the field during Eastern’s spring game as the offense beat the defense 43-42 at O’Brien field on Saturday.

EIU football play spring game, announce team captains

Payton Liggins, Sports Reporter April 26, 2025

The Eastern Illinois Panthers wrapped up their spring practice Saturday morning at O’Brien Field. The Panthers offense solidified the 43-42 win, with redshirt junior Jesse Lajes scoring the final...

Eastern redshirt sophomore Jay Pearson runs the ball during the football game against Charleston Southern University Saturday at O'Brien Stadium. The Panthers won 16-13.

Youth talent takes starting role at EIU

Cameron Thomas, Sports Reporter April 24, 2025

Jay Pearson, a redshirt junior running back from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was 5 years old when his father Brenden Pearson introduced him to football.  “My dad, he played semi-pro,” Jay Pearson...

Sebastian Pares Defensive Line celebrates a touch down with this team at the Illinois Sate against Eastern Illinois game at Illinois State University at the Statefarm center lasted season, football game  in Normal Ill

Three Panthers prepare for NFL and CFL Draft

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 22, 2025

Three Eastern Illinois football players were invited to participate in Northwestern University’s pro day on March 18 at the Ryan Fieldhouse.   Graduate offensive lineman Sebastian Pares, defensive...

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, Panayiotis Mihalopoulos, lines up with the offensive line with the ball to throw it back during football practice at O'Brien Field on April 10.

Offensive lineman shares early hockey stint in Q&A

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 17, 2025

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Panayiotis Mihalopoulos is going into his third year with the Panthers.  Mihalopoulos started playing football during his freshman year of high school, but his...

Quterback redshirt junior Joey Sprinkle, pratices his throw and passes during practice at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus, April 3, 2025

Redshirt junior quarterback discusses position room strengths in Q&A

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 16, 2025

Redshirt junior quarterback Joey Sprinkle is getting ready to go into his second year with Eastern’s program.  Sprinkle, from Monticello, played soccer and baseball growing up and didn’t start...

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Cole LaCrue waits for the ball to be thrown back at him during football practice, at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus on April 10.

Former Wisconsin quarterback shares transfer decision in Q&A

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 14, 2025

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Cole LaCrue transferred to Eastern from the University of Wisconsin. LaCrue started playing football at the age of 5 years old but has been a multisport athlete throughout...

[thumbnail edition] Assistant Coach of the Linebackers, Rodman Noel talking to the linebackers about their positions at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus, Charleston Ill.

EIU football hire finds comfort in coaching

Cameron Thomas, Sports Reporter April 14, 2025

Rodman Noel, the newest linebackers coach for Eastern’s football team, was a former linebacker at North Carolina State and member of the Cleveland Browns.  Noel is originally from Everett, Massachusetts,...

[THUMBNAIL EDITION] (From left to right) Head football coach Chris Wilkerson works with his son student assistant coach Peyton Wilkerson at football practice at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus on Thursday.

Coaching EIU football like father like son

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 9, 2025

Growing up in a house where his father, Chris Wilkerson, was the head coach of multiple teams including Eastern’s football team, sophomore emergency management and disaster prep major Peyton Wilkerson...

Assistant Offensive Line Cole Hoover shows the angle of how their hands should be placed during pratice at O'Brain field during football practice on the Eastern Illinois university campus, Charleston Ill.

EIU football coach makes move to new role once held by his father

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor April 2, 2025

Coach Cole Hoover has not only completed his first year of coaching the tight ends where he played collegiately, but he also got promoted to the new offensive line coach—a role his father had when...

(Thumbnail Edition)
SUBMITTED PHOTO | BLAINEY DOWLING 
From left to right: senior safety Tienne Fridge, junior forward Katiebeth May, redshirt sophomore defender Elizabeth Galvin and redshirt sophomore quarterback Blainey Dowling at the Uplifting Athletes Conference Saturday Feb 1 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Uplifting Athletes conference teaches EIU athletes fundraising, leadership

Payton Liggins, Sports Reporter February 18, 2025

For the third consecutive year, four athletes from Eastern have traveled to Philadelphia to go to the Uplifting Athletes conference.   This year, redshirt sophomore defender Elizabeth Galvin and...

Former Eastern quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Eastern football team celebrate, winning the Ohio Valley Conference title for the second straight year with a 52-14 win over Jacksonville State at O'Brien Field on Sept. 16, 2013.

Former EIU quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo wears custom cleats before postseason run

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor January 9, 2025

On a sunny day in Los Angeles, former Eastern quarterback and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo stepped into SoFi Stadium with custom cleats to highlight K9s for Warriors. K9s...

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