Getting to know the Eastern Kentucky Colonels

EKU and NC State have met only once before on the football field--back in 2005. The Colonels were never properly introduced.

Eastern Kentucky University
Founded: 1906
Location: Richmond, KY
Enrollment: 16,454
Fun Facts: Back in the early 1920s, EKU was known as "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College." This country really did not have a good grasp on the best way to name colleges back then. "Powell Corner" is a major gathering spot for students on campus, and wikipedia tells me it is referred to among alumni as "Horny Corner" for "the flirtatious conversations that often occur there." I'll just leave that there. EKU used to have a mutt named Mozart that freely wandered around campus and served as a mascot of sorts. Mozart is buried on campus.

EKU Football
Affiliations: FCS, Ohio Valley Conference
First Game: 1909
All-Time Record: 552-344-38 (.611)
Head Coach: Dean Hood (8th season; 50-33 overall record)
Fun Facts: Eastern Kentucky had a string of 31 winning seasons broken in 2009. The Colonels have made it into the FCS playoffs on 21 occasions, which is second only to Montana, which has 23 all-time appearances. From 1979 through 1982 they appeared in the FCS title game, winning twice. EKU legend Roy Kidd was the coach behind the success; he won over 300 games at EKU and the Colonels' football stadium is named after him. 
Bonus Non-Football Fun Fact: Eastern students understandably wanted to get away from the school's first nickname, the Maroons. In the 1920s, they'd decided on the Leopards, and even tried to procure a live leopard from a Memphis zoo. But it all fell through, and they remained the Maroons until the 1960s, when the school was given the Colonels nickname. Why, well, I guess it felt right. 
All-Name Team: Freshman offensive lineman Z Stephenson, freshman wide receiver Michael Scott, junior kicker Zach Burgy-VanHoose, sophomore defensive back Kobie Grace, senior defensive lineman ShaQuille Prather. 
Returning Starters: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
Offensive scheme: Pro-style
Defensive scheme: 4-3
Alec's EKU preview

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