For senior finance major Larry Ward, lightning really did strike twice.

Homecoming weekend will be yet another tough test for a youthful Eastern soccer team that has struggled through the Missouri Valley Conference portion of its schedule this season.

After three road meets, the Eastern swimming teams will return for a Homecoming dual meet against Illinois-Chicago at 5 p.m. Friday at Lantz Natatorium. The meet will consist mainly of just short sprint events.

Panthers head coach Bob Spoo realizes after his squads 27-17 road win against Murray State, the Panthers need more than anything a momentum push heading into the final weeks of the season.

If anyone has ever wanted to feel like a champion runner, this Saturday is their opportunity.

With 23 matches down and nine more remaining, it would be safe to compare the first two months of the season to a rollercoaster ride.

Charleston will buzz with excitement this weekend as Homecoming 2003: "The Good, The Bad, The 80s" ushers in its last few days of spirited fun.

Both fond memories and bitter heartbreak have been implanted in the series between Eastern and Southeast Missouri the past few years.

Eastern has begun devising a new drug testing policy in order to catch up to other universities who have more complete policies.

Going into the Omni tournament, Eastern tennis head coach Brian Holzgrafe has liked what he has seen from both his men's and women's teams as the Fall season comes to a close. The tournament will be held in East Lansing, Mich., from Oct. 23-28 and will feature most schools from the Midwest.

There is a popular tee-shirt sold on the campus of Northern Illinois University that lists the scores of the Huskies three victories against Bowl Championship Series (BCS) schools and next to the those winning totals each of the conferences (Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big 12) logo's are crossed out with a big red "X." At the bottom of shirt, the phrase "Talking smack in the MAC-Huskies climbing the polls" is plastered in big letters.

Tennessee-Martin isn't necessarily an offensive powerhouse in the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Skyhawks believe they have the gutsiest quarterback in the league.