Loss tough finish for seniors
Fourteen seniors finish career in loss to SIU-C
Collin Whitchurch/Sports Editor
Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: Sports
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After starting every game of his junior year and seeing extensive playing time as a sophomore after transferring from Wyoming, Reeder found himself on the bench throughout 2009 as graduate student Jake Christensen led the Panthers to an Ohio Valley Conference Title.
But despite all that, Reeder stays positive when talking about his experience in his final season as a Panther.
"We've been through a lot, this senior class," said Reeder, who played the final two quarters of Saturday's season-ending loss to Southern Illinois-Carbondale. "We didn't make the playoffs last year and we were used to making a statement inside the conference. We felt like we brought our level up this year. We improved in all three phases of the game and set a good start for next year's team."
Reeder took all but four snaps at quarterback in 2008. He finished with 13 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, but the team struggled to a 5-7 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
This year was quite different. Reeder attempted just 18 passes all season with half of them coming against the Salukis. He sat and watched as Christensen, the former Iowa quarterback, throw for more than 2,200 yards and 19 touchdown passes and earned second team All-OVC honors.
Still, Reeder served as one of the team's four captains and stayed positive, supporting his teammates as he sat on the sidelines. Despite finally seeing a lot of action in Saturday's loss, Reeder said the amount of playing time was no silver lining on a tough loss.
"It hurts just as much," he said.
Senior center Chaz Millard, a three-time All-OVC performer, is in a unique situation because he is projected by some to potentially be drafted in the NFL Draft in April.
The Web site cdsdraft.com projects Millard to be drafted in the sixth round of the seven-round draft.
Millard said throughout the season that he doesn't worry about the future, but now that the season is over he said he hopes he has the opportunity to continue playing.
"Hopefully my football career isn't over and I continue playing and make the best of it," Millard said. "But I had a great time here."
Millard, who spent five years with the program, red-shirting his freshman year in 2005, said the season-ending loss was difficult because of the amount of dedication the seniors put into the program.
"It's unfortunate we had to go out like this," Millard said. "We worked really hard. Some of us have been here five years and we poured our heart into this program."
The Eastern football team will lose 14 total seniors from this year's team. Among those lost include Reeder and Christensen, who are the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart, and Millard and two other starting offensive linemen.
The team also loses its two starting defensive tackles, two starting safeties and place kicker.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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