Hall of Fame
James Hand was a four-year starter at left guard on the Colonels' offensive line, playing in 48 consecutive games from 1992-1995 after being redshirted his first season.
He opened holes for All-American tailback Markus Thomas that first season as Eastern went 9-3, participated in the I-AA playoffs and finished 12th in the final poll. EKU led the league in rushing that season with 2,783 yards, finishing fourth in total offense and second in scoring. As a sophomore, Hand continued to help open holes for an EKU running attack that featured two 1,000-yard rushers, including tailback Leon Brown who led the OVC in rushing with 1,046 yards. EKU turned in a perfect conference season that year at 8-0 and advanced to the I-AA playoffs where the Colonels lost a heartbreaker at Georgia Southern, 14-12. EKU rushed for 3,512 yards in 1993 and closed the season ranking second in the OVC in rushing, total offense and scoring and Hand was rewarded with his first of three first-team All-OVC awards.
As a junior, Eastern won its second straight league title, defeated Boston University in the first round of the playoffs before losing in the last minute, 18-15, at Youngstown State, the eventual national champions. Hand was named first-team I-AA All-American by two outlets as Eastern finished fifth in the final poll. The '95 season was another 3,000-yard rushing year for the Colonels' offense as Hand received his second of three team offensive line MVP awards. In 1995, his senior season, Hand served as offensive co-captain and was a three-outlet choice for All-American honors as Eastern finished 10th in the final I-AA poll and made its 16th playoff appearance in the past 17 years.
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