The Panthers improve to 4-1 after they beat the Northwestern State Demons at Turpin Stadium Saturday evening.

This is the best start the Panthers have had since 2013.

Here are some events that happened with EIU football alumni when the Panthers started 4-1 in 2013:

1. Jimmy Garoppolo was the Panthers’ starting quarterback as a senior at EIU.

Garoppolo won numerous awards throughout the 2013-2014 season with the Panthers, including the Ohio Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year and the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) National Offensive Player of the Year.

Garoppolo also won the Walter Payton Award at the end of the 2013-2014 football season.

2. Tony Romo was in his ninth season with the Dallas Cowboys.

Romo, a former EIU quarterback, led the Cowboys to an 8-8 season as the team finished in second place in the National Football Conference’s East Division.

Romo ended the 2013-2014 season recording 342 of 535 for 3,828 yards with 31 touchdowns.

3. Sean Payton resigned as the head coach with the New Orlean Saints.

Sean Payton, a former EIU quarterback, resigned with the Saints after a season-long suspension due to running a bounty program within the organization.

4. EIU’s current head coach, Chris Wilkerson, started the head coaching position at University of Chicago.

Wilkerson ended his first season with the Maroons as he led the team to a 6-4 record.

Eastern closed out non-conference play with a 19-10 win over Northwestern State.

Wilkerson and the team are looking to advance to 5-1 on Saturday as they play University of Tennessee-Martin.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at O’Brien Stadium.

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].