RICHMOND, Ky. – After a long month of preseason practices, the Eastern Kentucky University football team will finally strap on the helmets for the 2010 season opener Thursday night at Missouri State. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Colonels are anxious to start the season on a positive note. EKU just missed out on its third consecutive OVC title in 2009 after falling to Jacksonville State, 34-26, in the final game of the year. The Eastern defense returns eight of 11 starters including three preseason All-OVC players - senior defensive lineman Andrew Soucy, senior linebacker Jordan Dalrymple and junior defensive back Jeremy Caldwell. Caldwell was also one of 20 NCAA FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) players to be named to the initial Buck Buchanan Award watch list in July. The Buck Buchanan Award is handed out annually to the nation’s top FCS defensive player.

Eastern Kentucky’s offense will be in the hands of sophomore quarterback #T.J. Pryor#. Pryor was the 2009 OVC Freshman of the Year after finishing with the third highest passing total (2,153 yards) in EKU single-season history. However, only one of the projected five starters on the offensive line was a regular starter last year – senior Chris Krack. Krack has started 23 consecutive games at left guard.

Missouri State returns 17 starters and 20 seniors from a 6-5 team in 2009 that finished 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Topping the list of returnees for the Bears is three-time All-MVFC offensive lineman David Arkin and linebacker Antoine Wilkinson. A preseason All-American, Wilkinson notched 113 tackles – most by any Bear since 2002 – and defended nine passes with five tackles for loss as a junior.

This is the first meeting between the two teams. Missouri State is slated to visit EKU in 2011. The two teams shared two common opponents (and victories) in 2009 – UT Martin and Murray State.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game can be seen on the web as part at missouristatebears.com. The cost is $8.95. Click here for live video stream!

Live Audio
--Thursday’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 Missouri State ticket office at (417) 836-7678 or visiting the web at www.missouristatetix.com.

Directions
--Click here for directions to Missouri State University.

Weather
--Thursday’s forecast in Springfield calls for scattered thunderstorms and a high of 85 degrees. Sunset is set for 8:41 p.m. ET.

Storylines
--This is the fifth consecutive year, and ninth overall in the last 10 seasons, that Eastern Kentucky has opened its football schedule on the road. The Colonels have lost nine straight season openers including a tight 19-13 decision at Indiana last year.

-- In 2008, Eastern Kentucky tied for sixth among all 118 Division I FCS programs in turnover margin at +14. In 2009, the Colonels fell to 78th overall in turnover margin at -4. The EKU defense did not force a turnover in the final three games of 2009 (0-3).