RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will recognize its 2007 and 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Champion football teams this season.
 
All student-athletes, coaches and staff from both teams are invited to take part in a recognition ceremony during EKU's game against Southeast Missouri State University on Sept. 22.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 
In addition, there will be a reception for players, coaches and staff from the 2007 and 2008 teams on Friday, Sept. 21, at the EKU Center for the Arts.  At this time, it is anticipated that head coaches Danny Hope and Dean Hood will be in attendance.  For more information about the reception, and to RSVP, please contact Karl Park at karl.park@eku.edu or 859-622-8941. 
 
The 2007 OVC Champions finished 9-3 overall and were a perfect 8-0 against league teams.  Fourteen players – George Anderson (LB), Chris Coy (DE), Justin Curry (LB), Shawn Dedden (C), Zach Denton (DB), Cardius Dowell (DL), Sean Dumford (OT), Brandon Gathof (DB), Allan Holland (QB), Derrick Huff (DB), Taylor Long (K), Stephen Sizemore (TE), Bakahri Thornton (OG), and Bobby Washington (RB) – earned all-conference honors that season. 
 
Washington led the team in rushing with 1,073 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Mark Dunn added 686 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.  Holland completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,990 yards.  He threw 14 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.  Quinton Williams caught 38 passes for a team-best 631 yards and eight touchdowns.  Huff was chosen as an All-American after finishing the season with 64 tackles and nine interceptions.  Curry had a team-high 93 tackles and Coy led the Colonels with eight sacks.
 
The 2008 OVC Champions went 8-4 overall and 7-1 against conference teams.  After dropping its first conference game of the season, Eastern rolled off seven straight wins to capture the title.  The Colonels intercepted five passes to beat No. 18 Jacksonville State 38-35 at Roy Kidd Stadium.  In the season finale at Tennessee-Martin, Gathof blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired to preserve a championship-clinching 33-31 win.
 
Eight Colonels – Coy (DE), Denton (DB), Gathof (DB), Derek Hardman (OT), Tyjuan Jones (LB), Taylor Long (K), Sam Reid (C) and Sizemore (TE) – garnered all-conference honors.  C.J. Walker led the team with 706 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.  Holland threw for 2,121 yards and eight touchdown passes.  Stephon Fuqua had a team-best 535 receiving yards.  Long picked up All-America recognition after converting all 28 extra-point attempts and 20-of-27 field goal tries.  Denton intercepted six passes.  Jones had 102 tackles.  Chris Hall led the team with 13 sacks.
 
The 2018 season begins for the Colonels on August 30 when Morehead State visits Roy Kidd Stadium.  For season ticket information, contact the EKU Athletics Ticket Office at 859-622-2122.