FAN INFORMATION (PDF) (INCLUDING PARKING UPDATES) | GAME NOTES (PDF) | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The 2019 season is here for the Morehead State football program. The Eagles open the campaign hosting Union (Ky.) at 6 p.m. ET Thursday with a Gold Rush game. Fans are encouraged to wear gold.

The game is presented by Penn Station East Coast Subs and is Morehead State Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. Information for fans, including information on the Eagle Chevrolet Buick GMC Tailgate Zone, can he found here (PDF). The Eagles are also proud to be supporting Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer for the second straight season by wearing gold shoe laces. Fans can make a donation here.

Thursday's contest will be aired live on ESPN+ (Tanner Hesterberg and Jim Tom Trent) and the Eagle Sports Radio Network on WIVY-96.3 FM, WMST-1150 AM and 106.9 FM and links on MSUEagles.com.

QUOTING COACH TENYER

On his team's preparedness for Union
"We are ready to go and play a game. With that comes a lot of uncertainties. We have film on last year (on Union) but that's it. It's really more about yourself and prepping and being ready to play the game and execute what we want to do."

On all the "newness" in the program
"The most important piece with all the new players, coaches and everything is consistency in week one, week two, week three and so on. Our players have done a really nice job of adapting. And that goes for coaches as well."

On the changes on defenses this year (new defensive coordinator Tony Brinson)
"We wanted a defense that matches our offense. We want to play fast and disrupt teams. We will be aggressive and hopefully have some positive outcomes."

GAME NOTES

• Head Coach Rob Tenyer begins his seventh season leading the Eagle program with the game versus Union. The Eagles are 1-5 in season openers under Tenyer but four of those have been on the road at nationally-ranked FCS programs.

• MSU has a 10-2 record in home openers since 2007.

• Amazingly, it's been 73 seasons (1946) since Morehead State and Union met on the gridiron. The series is tied 4-4-2.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Mark Pappas is expected to get his first career start but also expect to see redshirt junior Zach Hardin and junior transfer DeAndre Clayton under center. In limited action in 2018, Pappas completed three passes.

• Redshirt senior offensive lineman Josh Poe, who has shifted to right tackle, is a member of the official preseason All-Pioneer League team. Poe started all 11 games last season as well as nine in 2017.

• Five Eagles were selected Preseason All-PFL by PhilSteele.com. Josh Poe is a first-team pick, while junior kicker Andrew Foster and sophomore return man Ian Holder are on the second team. Senior center Cam Bailey and junior defensive lineman Vaughn Taylor, Jr., are third-team selections.

• Andrew Foster has been listed on the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List, presented by the Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council. He ranked second in the PFL in punting in 2018, booting 52 balls for a 41.9 average.

• Tenyer added five new coaches to the staff for the 2019 season. Tony Brinson, who was here for spring ball, is the new defensive coordinator. Jerome Riase (pronounced RISE) will lead the defensive line and serve as director of operations, Ken Lucky II will mentor the outside linebackers, Sylvester Wright IV will coach the cornerbacks and Chris Palubinsky will work with the tight ends. Also, former film crew lead Matt Turner is now the assistant to the head coach.

• Morehead State has led the Pioneer League in home attendance five consecutive seasons, averaging more than 5,000 for that span.