1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

1968 Eastern Illinois Panthers football
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	4–5 (1–2 IIAC)
Head coach	Clyde Biggers (4th season)
Home stadium	Lincoln Field
Seasons ←  1967 1969  →

1968 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	Indiana State *	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	L 0–23	5,000	[3]
September 21	Milwaukee *	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	W 15–14	5,000
September 28	Fairmont State *	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	L 0–6	3,000
October 5	Central Michigan	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	L 16–23	2,800–3,500	[4] [5]
October 12	at No. 18 Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL (rivalry)	L 14–41	8,500	[6]
October 19	Bradley *	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	L 28–37	6,500	[7]
October 26	at Western Illinois	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	W 14–8	12,450
November 2	at Chicago Circle *	Soldier Field Chicago, IL	W 8–7	5,000	[8]
November 9	at Wayne State (MI) *	Tartar Field Detroit, MI	W 60–19	737	[9] [10]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^{[11] [12]}

Roster

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 Redshirt

References

1. "EIU Opens '68 Grid Season Saturday". Journal Gazette. September 13, 1968. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "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 (1968 Central Michigan)". 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 (1968 Eastern Illinois)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 3, 2022.
12. "EIU Football Online Guide, 2019" (PDF). Eastern Illinois athletics.