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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
August 17, 2009
Eureka Football Opens Camp Monday
EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College football team will open practice in preparation for its 106th football season Monday afternoon. First-year head coach Kurt Barth will look to help the Red Devils improve upon a 3-6 record from last season.
The Red Devils will return to campus and check in Monday at noon before hitting the field for the first time at 4:15 p.m. The team and coaching staff will take part in picture day Tuesday and have afternoon practices throughout the week.
The upcoming season marks the beginning of Barth’s third stint on the Eureka coaching staff and first as head coach. The Minonk, Ill. native was a standout wide receiver at Eureka from 1994-97, as his four-year playing career included an NAIA national playoff berth in 1994 and three All-America selections. The Eureka College Hall of Famer coached as an assistant at Eureka in 1998 and again from 2003-04 as offensive coordinator. Barth’s assistant coaching staff is made up entirely of former Eureka College players.
Barth was introduced as head coach last December after a four-year stint as head coach at Eureka High School that included a trip to the IHSA 4A playoffs in 2007. He replaces Dan Sullivan, who resigned five games into last season with a 5-30 record in nearly four full seasons.
The 2009 schedule will see a significant change with Eureka’s switch to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference as an associate football member. The Red Devils competed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) last season after the disbanding of the Illini-Badger Football Conference in 2006. SLIAC foes Greenville, MacMurray and Westminster will join Eureka in making the jump to the UMAC for football only.
The Red Devils return several key players on the offensive side of the ball, including senior quarterback Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage H.S.). Lindsey threw for 1,097 yards in eight games a year ago as Eureka’s primary signal-caller. Senior running back Chris Wakid (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) returns to the fold in the backfield after compiling 409 rushing yards and a team-best six rushing touchdowns a year ago. Seniors Jordan Vignoni (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill H.S.) and Todd Stewart (Downs, Ill./Tri-Valley H.S.) will anchor the offensive line after earning All-SLIAC Honorable Mention honors last season.
On defense, senior linebacker Matt Knake (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg H.S.) returns after an All-SLIAC Honorable Mention nod in 2008 after leading the team with 87 total tackles. Junior Rosney Beverly (Normal, Ill./Normal West H.S.) shared the team lead with two interceptions last season and returns to lead the secondary. Freshman Travis Huber (Morton, Ill./Morton H.S.) will handle the kicking duties.
Eureka opens the season at home on Sept. 5 against in-state rival Knox at 1 p.m.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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