The EIU football season opener against SIU at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 30, 2012. (Jay Grabiec)

The EIU football season opener against SIU at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 30, 2012. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU fans during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on November 24, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Nicola Colucy during the EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

The Panther Marching Band during the homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on November 24, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on November 24, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on November 24, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

An EIU cheerleader during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU Football at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on March 21, 2021. (Femi Usikalu)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Dino Babers is announced as the head football coach in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on December 9, 2011. (Jay Grabiec)

An EIU cheerleader during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Head Coach Dino Babers and Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU fans during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU fans during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

The EIU Homecoming in Charleston, Illinois on Saturday, October 13, 2012. (Jay Grabiec)

Safety Ryan Meyer during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Nicola Colucy during the EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

Scense from homecoming on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

Head football coach Kim Dameron in O'Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on March 12, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)

Running back Shepard Little during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Wide receiver Jeff LePak catching a touchdown during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU fans during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

The EIU football season opener against SIU at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 30, 2012. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

The EIU football season opener against SIU at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 30, 2012. (Jay Grabiec)

Running back Taylor Duncan during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

The EIU Marching Band during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

EIU fans during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Wide receiver Erik Lora during the EIU vs Towson in a 49-39 NCAA FCS quarter-finals loss at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois on December 13, 2013. (Jay Grabiec)

Nicola Colucy during the EIU homecoming football game at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on October 25, 2014. (Jay Grabiec)