Eastern Illinois Panthers football
| Eastern Illinois Panthers football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| First season | 1899 | ||
| Athletic director | Tom Michael | ||
| Head coach | Chris Wilkerson 4th season, 13–21 (.382) | ||
| Stadium | O'Brien Field (capacity: 10,000) | ||
| Year built | 1970 | ||
| Field surface | Artificial Turf | ||
| Location | Charleston, Illinois | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | OVC–Big South | ||
| Past conferences | IIAC (1912–1969) AMCU (1978–1984) GCAC/GFC (1985–1995) | ||
| All-time record | 559–552–42 (.503) | ||
| Bowl record | 0–1 (.000) | ||
| Claimed national titles | 1 – (Div. II): 1978 | ||
| Playoff appearances | 2 (Div. II) 1978, 1980 16 (Div. I FCS) 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 | ||
| Playoff record | 5–1 (Div. II) 4–16 (Div. I FCS) | ||
| Conference titles | 19 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1948, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013 | ||
| Rivalries | Illinois State (rivalry) | ||
| Colors | Blue and gray | ||
| Fight song | Eastern State March | ||
| Mascot | Billy the Panther | ||
| Marching band | Panther Marching Band | ||
| Outfitter | Nike | ||
| Website | eiupanthers.com | ||
The Eastern Illinois Panthers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Eastern Illinois University located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association. The school's first football team was fielded in 1899. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat O'Brien Field, which is named after former head coach Maynard O'Brien.The school's most well knowned player is former quarterback Tony Romo, and Romo remains the only Eastern Illinois player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2021).