Spring Break
Panther Briefs: Burge signs with Bloomington team
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 1/12/09 Section: Sports
Tristan Burge, who had two all-Ohio Valley Conference seasons at Eastern as well as a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers' practice squad, has been signed by the Bloomington Extreme for the 2009 season.
Burge was a free agent siged by the Packers in 2007 after being named third-team All-American at Eastern, where he was second on the team in tackles and started all 13 games at strong safety in 2006.
Burge, a Romeoville native, went undrafted.
After being released by the Packers, Burge spent last season playing for the Rockford Raptors.
His six interceptions were third among Continental Indoor Football League defensive backs.
The Extreme's regular season begins March 14 at home against Sioux Falls.
Burge's brother, Perry, finished his first season with Eastern football team.
Rugby tryouts announced
Eastern women's rugby head coach Frank Graziano said there are plans for an informational meeting about walk-on tryouts for the 2009 squad.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Lantz Arena Pool Lounge located next to Padovan Pool.
For more information, contact coach Graziano at (217) 581-7135 or via e-mail at fjgraziano@eiu.edu.
The Panthers, who finished their 11th season this past fall with an undefeated 10-0 record, are the only Division I squad in the nation.
All attendees must bring proof of insurance. Additionally, incoming freshmen must be registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse (visit www.ncaaclearinghouse.org).
"We have had several walk-ons make our squad every season," Graziano said. "That includes four current walk-ons, with many having earned starting spots."
Baseball game moved
The Eastern baseball team will play in Mattoon for the second straight season.
The Eastern-Southern Illinois-Carbondale game has been moved from Coaches Stadium on campus to Peterson Park in Mattoon.
The game is to be played at 6:30 p.m. on April 29.
On April 15, the Panthers defeated Illinois, 13-3 in front of more than 1,700 fans at Grimes Field in Mattoon.
The Panthers are coming off a 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title and berth in the NCAA Lincoln Regional.
The Eastern-SIUC game is expected to again feature free admission and pregame autographs.
The Panthers and Salukis are also scheduled to play March 4 in Carbondale.
Eastern opens its season in Hammond, La., for the second year in a row with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 20-22.
Football players earn honors
Two Eastern football players earned honorable mention All-America honors as Pierre Walters and Chaz Millard were both named to The Sports Network All-American team on Tuesday afternoon.
Walters (6-5, 269) is a senior defensive end from Forest Park, who finished the season with 48 tackles including a team-high 16.5 for loss. He ended his EIU career ranking third on the career chart for tackles for loss. Walters was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference first team selection and a 2008 preseason Buck Buchanan Award nominee.
He added 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and one blocked kick during the 2008 season.
Millard (6-3, 289) is a junior right guard from St. Charles who was the only Panthers lineman to start all 12 games at the same position during the 2008 season.
He graded out at 93 percent for the season collecting 57 decleater blocks for an average of 4.75 per game.
He was a preseason All-American selection and is a two-time first team All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree.
The Panthers finished the season at 5-7 and will open the 2009 season on Sept. 3 hosting Illinois State.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
Burge was a free agent siged by the Packers in 2007 after being named third-team All-American at Eastern, where he was second on the team in tackles and started all 13 games at strong safety in 2006.
Burge, a Romeoville native, went undrafted.
After being released by the Packers, Burge spent last season playing for the Rockford Raptors.
His six interceptions were third among Continental Indoor Football League defensive backs.
The Extreme's regular season begins March 14 at home against Sioux Falls.
Burge's brother, Perry, finished his first season with Eastern football team.
Rugby tryouts announced
Eastern women's rugby head coach Frank Graziano said there are plans for an informational meeting about walk-on tryouts for the 2009 squad.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Lantz Arena Pool Lounge located next to Padovan Pool.
For more information, contact coach Graziano at (217) 581-7135 or via e-mail at fjgraziano@eiu.edu.
The Panthers, who finished their 11th season this past fall with an undefeated 10-0 record, are the only Division I squad in the nation.
All attendees must bring proof of insurance. Additionally, incoming freshmen must be registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse (visit www.ncaaclearinghouse.org).
"We have had several walk-ons make our squad every season," Graziano said. "That includes four current walk-ons, with many having earned starting spots."
Baseball game moved
The Eastern baseball team will play in Mattoon for the second straight season.
The Eastern-Southern Illinois-Carbondale game has been moved from Coaches Stadium on campus to Peterson Park in Mattoon.
The game is to be played at 6:30 p.m. on April 29.
On April 15, the Panthers defeated Illinois, 13-3 in front of more than 1,700 fans at Grimes Field in Mattoon.
The Panthers are coming off a 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title and berth in the NCAA Lincoln Regional.
The Eastern-SIUC game is expected to again feature free admission and pregame autographs.
The Panthers and Salukis are also scheduled to play March 4 in Carbondale.
Eastern opens its season in Hammond, La., for the second year in a row with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 20-22.
Football players earn honors
Two Eastern football players earned honorable mention All-America honors as Pierre Walters and Chaz Millard were both named to The Sports Network All-American team on Tuesday afternoon.
Walters (6-5, 269) is a senior defensive end from Forest Park, who finished the season with 48 tackles including a team-high 16.5 for loss. He ended his EIU career ranking third on the career chart for tackles for loss. Walters was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference first team selection and a 2008 preseason Buck Buchanan Award nominee.
He added 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and one blocked kick during the 2008 season.
Millard (6-3, 289) is a junior right guard from St. Charles who was the only Panthers lineman to start all 12 games at the same position during the 2008 season.
He graded out at 93 percent for the season collecting 57 decleater blocks for an average of 4.75 per game.
He was a preseason All-American selection and is a two-time first team All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree.
The Panthers finished the season at 5-7 and will open the 2009 season on Sept. 3 hosting Illinois State.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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