Spring Break
Nationally-televised broadcast provides thrilling opportunity
Game allows parents to watch kids on television
Dan Cusack/Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Sports
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The game, which is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT, will be broadcast on ESPN Classic, which is available in approximately 55 million homes. The game can be found locally on Mediacom Ch. 29.
For many players from different states or who do not live in the immediate area, it allows friends and family to see college football on a national stage. And for many, see them play college football for the first time.
For freshman wide receiver Erik Lora, of Miami, he will be playing on national television months after graduating high school.
"It is incredible. Just to even think about it, is awesome," Lora said. "Never did I think I would be playing on ESPN Classic. It is a rush."
Lora said when he found out he immediately called his parents. He said they try to attend as many games as possible, but living in Miami makes it difficult.
"Both my dad and my uncle are coming to the game," Lora said. "My mother has to work this weekend so she is excited she gets to watch the game on ESPN Classic."
For senior safety Seymour Loftman, from Plantation, Fla., he said finishing his final year with a game on national television is a great way to go out.
"I didn't know we were going to be on ESPN Classic until Saturday," Loftman said. "I got a little excited. I started telling everyone back home, especially my friends and family that really never got a chance to see me play. This is an opportunity for everybody to see us play versus a very good football team."
Loftman said they want to prove something to the nation with this game and know they are coming into the game with a chip on their shoulder.
Junior cornerback C.J. James, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said the game has a lot of importance to him.
"My family hasn't seen me play since my senior year in high school," James said. "It's a big game, a lot of exposure. I'm going to perform to the best of my abilities because this is the first game my family is ever going to see me play in college."
Sports information director Rich Moser said Eastern does not receive any money from ESPN Classic for being on national TV because the game is part of the Big Ten package and Eastern just happens to be the opponent for that game.
He said there are times that TV does set match ups and pays both schools, but that is not the case for this game.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or dscusack@eiu.edu.
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