Next season, Eastern can announce to the nation it played California University, they may just fail to mention is actually a Division II school from Pennsylvania.

The Vulcans of California University (Penn.) will be the first opponent to test the new field turf at O’Brien Stadium Saturday Aug. 30 with a 6 p.m. start time.

Eastern was concerned after scheduling Division I-A and Big 12 conference member Missouri, and finding out the Tigers would have two games under its belt before hosting the Panthers.

“With such a young team, I felt that getting competition before that game was something of a priority,” Eastern Director of Athletics Rich McDuffie said.

After the Panthers were outscored last season by 144-49 margin to a pair of Division I-A opponents (Hawaii and Kansas State), they thought two more next fall was unnecessary.

“We felt one money game this year was enough,” McDuffie said.

California University will get $20,000 to come to Charleston and compete on Labor Day weekend. The Vulcans finished the 2002 season at 6-5 last year competing in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

“John Smith did most of the work finding us this game through a Web site and word of mouth,” McDuffie said.

The 2003 season will be the first 12-game schedule in school history for the Panthers.

The non-conference schedule ends for Eastern with a home game against Illinois State and a road test versus the Sycamores of Indiana State.