1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football
ConferenceInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record4–5 (1–2 IIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumLincoln Field
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Central Michigan + 2 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Illinois State + 2 – 1 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Eastern Illinois 1 – 2 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Western Illinois 1 – 2 – 0 2 – 7 – 1
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Eastern Illinois University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1968 NCAA College Division football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Clyde Biggers, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 1–2 in conference play, tying for third place in the IIAC. The team played its home games at Lincoln Field in Charleston, Illinois.[1]

Quarterback Joe Davis led the team with 1,363 yards of total offense, an average of 151.4 yards per game. Davis also set an EIU single-season record with 307 yards of total offense.[2]

Fullback Dennis Bundy was the leading rusher with 529 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 155 carries.[2]

Tight end Ed Stephens was the team's leading receiver with 40 catches for 483 yards and three touchdowns. Stephens also set an EIU single-season record with 99 receiving yards against Wayne State. The club also set the school's single-game total offense record with 545 yards against Wayne State.[2]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14Indiana State*
L 0–235,000[3]
September 21Milwaukee*
  • Lincoln Field
  • Charleston, IL
W 15–145,000
September 28Fairmont State*
  • Lincoln Field
  • Charleston, IL
L 0–63,000
October 5Central Michigan
  • Lincoln Field
  • Charleston, IL
L 16–232,800–3,500[4][5]
October 12at No. 18 Illinois State
L 14–418,500[6]
October 19Bradley*
  • Lincoln Field
  • Charleston, IL
L 28–376,500[7]
October 26at Western Illinois
W 14–812,450
November 2at Illinois–Chicago*
W 8–75,000[8]
November 9at Wayne State (MI)*
W 60–19737[9][10]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[11][12]

Roster

[edit]
1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 12 Joe Davis Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "EIU Opens '68 Grid Season Saturday". Journal Gazette. September 13, 1968. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "It Was a Record Season for EIU". Decatur Herald. November 21, 1968. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Indiana State Deals EIU 23-0 Defeat". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. September 15, 1968. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Central Mich. Beats EIU 23-16". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. October 6, 1968. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Barnhart, Jim (October 13, 1968). "Redbirds Ramble Past Eastern Illinois, 41-14". The Pantagraph. p. B1. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Bill Theil (October 20, 1968). "Selinger, Bradley Outscore EIU 37-28". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Cassady Saves 8-7 Triumph for EIU". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. November 3, 1968. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Last Straw for Wayne at Home: 60-19 Rout!". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1968. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "EIU Smacks Wayne State 60-19, Ends Season With 3 in Row". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. November 10, 1968. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "EIU Football Online Guide, 2019" (PDF). Eastern Illinois athletics.
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