RICHMOND, Ky. – The ‘new’ season begins for the Eastern Kentucky University football team Saturday night when the Colonels welcome Eastern Illinois to Roy Kidd Stadium. Wazoo Sports is televising the game beginning at 7 p.m.

EKU (1-3, 0-0) is the only Ohio Valley Conference team yet to play a league game this year. The Colonels are 44-18 all-time in OVC openers. From 1981-99, Eastern Kentucky won 19 consecutive league openers. Tennessee Tech ended that streak in 2000 with a 9-3 victory in Richmond.

Eastern Illinois (0-5, 0-3) is currently on a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Panthers, traditionally one of the top OVC teams, are off to an 0-5 start for the first time since 1977.

Since Eastern Illinois joined the OVC in 1996, the Colonels are 7-7 against the Panthers, but have won the last three meetings. EKU forced five turnovers and threw for a season-high 293 yards in the 36-31 win in 2009.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--Wazoo Sports (18.2 in Lexington, 11.3 in Louisville)

Video Streaming
--Saturday’s game can be seen on the web for FREE at ESPN3.com.

Live Audio
--Saturday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Tickets
--Tickets are available by calling the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122. The ticket box office will open at the stadium Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m. as well.

Directions
--Click here for directions to Eastern Kentucky University.

Weather
--Saturday’s forecast in Richmond calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 81 degrees. Sunset is slated for 7:08 p.m., with temperatures dipping into the upper 40s at night.

Storylines
--EKU rumbled for 286 yards on the ground last week against Kentucky State, the most since the Colonels piled on 290 rushing yards against Murray State on Nov. 15, 2008. Sophomore RB Matt Denham leads the team with 149 yards rushing this year on just five carries (29.8 yards per carry).

-- Eastern Kentucky’s offense has had at least two turnovers in seven consecutive games.

GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE

Parking
• The Alumni Coliseum east side parking lot will close at 9 p.m. on Friday night before the game. Any cars remaining in the lot after that time are subject to tow. The lot will reopen at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.
• A reminder to Colonel Club members: an alternate route to the Colonel Club parking area is available by entering near Model School.
• Alternate parking areas include: Brockton Lot, located off Van Hoose Drive and behind the Brockton Apartments; Greg Adams Tennis Complex Lot, located across the Bypass from Roy Kidd Stadium.
• Please use one parking space per car or truck.
• Because of the large amount of pedestrian traffic that occurs on Kit Carson Drive after each home football game, Kit Carson Drive will be closed to southbound traffic from the Park Drive intersection to the Van Hoose intersection and will be closed to all traffic from the Van Hoose intersection to the Eastern Bypass intersection after each home game. This closing will occur at the end of each game and will last normally for a period of thirty (30) to forty-five (45) minutes. However, the closing may occur earlier and last longer than anticipated depending on traffic conditions and the size of the crowd.

Tailgating
To ensure that you and all fans have a positive tailgating experience, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
• All state and local laws must be observed.
• Responsible alcohol consumption will be allowed in designated locations in the Colonel Club and Alumni Parking lots for attendees age 21 or older only.
• For safety reasons, all beverages shall be consumed from plastic or paper cups and not in cans or bottles.
• Kegs are not permitted.
• Please clean up your tailgating area before going to the game or leaving the parking area.
• Please behave in an appropriate and responsible manner. Throwing objects or climbing on vehicles is not permitted.

Handicapped Ticket Information
• The handicapped seating area at Roy Kidd Stadium is located on top of the hill in the end zone opposite the scoreboard.
• Patrons must purchase a General Admission ticket to watch the game from this area.
• Patrons are welcome to have a companion sit with them in the area. Folding chairs are provided for any guests that need them.
• The handicapped accessible restrooms are located inside the Begley Building, behind section A under the ramp from the student entrance.
• Handicapped parking is available in the Moberly Lot past the Stadium off Roy and Sue Kidd Way on the right from the Bypass.