Leatherneck Nation

Western_101 wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2026 8:36 pm Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?
 

 

I'm working from home for the next week and a half (power is out in Sherman for scheduled maintenance), but I'll try to get a photo when I get back. Last I saw, it was all a light grey color (not the turf, one of the under-layers).

Doesn't have to do with this year's schedule, but WIU and Murray St agreed on a home and home - WIU goes to Murray St in 2029 and Murray St comes here in 2031.

meganeck wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:09 pm Doesn't have to do with this year's schedule, but WIU and Murray St agreed on a home and home - WIU goes to Murray St in 2029 and Murray St comes here in 2031.

 

Thanks, I've added it to the future schedules thread: https://www.leathernecknation.net/forum ... 5330#p5330

Also, I see that the OVC Preseason Poll has been released. We are 6th out of 8 teams.

1. UT Martin (6 first-place votes), 47 points
2. Southeast Missouri (1), 38
3. Lindenwood (1), 37
4. Gardner-Webb, 30
5. Charleston Southern, 26
6. Western Illinois, 23
7. Eastern Illinois, 14
8. Tennessee State, 9

Times have been released for the home games this year:
8/27 vs Northwestern College - 6 PM
9/5 vs Illinois State - 6 PM
9/19 vs Morehead State - 6 PM
10/3 vs Tennessee State - 3 PM
10/24 vs UT Martin - 3 PM
11/14 vs Gardner-Webb - 1 PM

Not surprisingly, the early season games start later in the day to avoid the afternoon heat as much as possible. The only November home game is at 1 so it ends up being played during the warmest part of the day.

Western Illinois Football leans on experience, trenches heading into 2026.
From WGEM-TV Sports:
https://www.wgem.com/2026/07/17/western ... into-2026/
 
 
 

Western_101 wrote:Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?
 

As of this morning:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ST_Lawson wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 11:01 am

Western_101 wrote:Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?

 

As of this morning:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Are they doing anything about the west side stands and pressbox?  Those are the same chair back seats from the 1970's.  Has to be worst/most unsafe home side stadium in FCS and probably tough to recruit to.

NewNeck wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 11:59 am

ST_Lawson wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 11:01 am

Western_101 wrote:Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?



 

As of this morning:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



 

Are they doing anything about the west side stands and pressbox?  Those are the same chair back seats from the 1970's.  Has to be worst/most unsafe home side stadium in FCS and probably tough to recruit to.


 

For not too much money you could probably Krylon those chair back seats in Purple and Gold with a big "W" showing through.  Would we be accused of putting lipstick on a pig?  P:robably
 

NewNeck wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 11:59 am

ST_Lawson wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 11:01 am

Western_101 wrote:Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?


 

As of this morning:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


 

Are they doing anything about the west side stands and pressbox?  Those are the same chair back seats from the 1970's.  Has to be worst/most unsafe home side stadium in FCS and probably tough to recruit to.

 

I thought there had been a big push to renovate the home side - what happened with that? Unfortunately, I don't have mega bucks to donate to the cause.

ST_Lawson wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 11:01 am

Western_101 wrote:Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?

 

As of this morning:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thank you! I have a feeling this is going to look great!