CHARLESTON, IL (9-21-2002) — Indiana State and Illinois State get their first taste of NCAA Division I-AA action when the twp schools meet Saturday, September 21 at EIU's O'Brien Stadium (cap. 10,000) in Charleston, IL.  The contest is set to kick off at 6:00 p.m., CDT.

The Records - Indiana State enters the contest at 1-2, dropping a pair of games to I-A opposition including an oh-so-close, 21-23, decision at Ball State and a 17-48 season-opening decision at Western Michigan.  The Sycamores' victory was a home-opening 14-10 victory over Cumberland.  Eastern Illinois brings an 0-2 mark into Saturday's contest, with both losses coming on the road against I-A competition - a season-opening 36-61 loss at Hawaii and a 13-63 loss last weekend at Kansas State.

The Coaches - Indiana State head coach Tim McGuire (Nebraska '75) is in his fifth season at the helm of the Sycamores football program.  McGuire's record as head coach at Indiana State stands at 13 victories and 34 defeats, while his six-year career mark stands at 20-49, including two seasons as the head coach at Morningside College (1981-82).  This season is McGuire's 10th as a member of the Sycamores' coaching staff.  Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo (Purdue '60) is 93-79-1 in his 16th season as a head coach, all at Eastern Illinois.

The Series - The Eastern Illinois rivalry represents Indiana State's longest-running series.  Indiana State holds a 35-33-3 series advantage, but the Panthers have won the last six meetings, including a 44-14 win in Charleston, IL last season.  Indiana State's last victory was a 27-24 home win in 1993.