By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The suspensions of five Wheaton College football players tied to an alleged hazing incident last year has received some national media attention, but someone who has no interest in talking about is Norm Eash.

Eash’s Illinois Wesleyan Titans will provide the Thunder’s opponent Saturday in Wheaton’s first home game since criminal charges were filed in the case.

“There’s a lot of good kids in their programs, that was four or five players that they are talking about,” Eash said. “But once that was released, that’s not been on our minds and I don’t think we are even going there. We don’t even talk about it.”

The 4th-ranked Thunder host the Titans in their homecoming game.

Eash’s attention for his 19th-ranked Titans is trying to avoid the same second-half letdown which cost them last season. IWU led Wheaton 24-17 at halftime last season, before being outscored 31-0 in the second half.

“We didn’t match their desire in the second half because they came out and played harder,” Eash said. “They outplayed us in the second half.”

Defensive lineman Eric Dubose recalled the disappointing finish.

“It put a nasty taste in our mouths,” Dubose said. “I would say it’s a chip on our shoulders this year.”

The Wheaton game was freshman quarterback Brandon Bauer’s only loss last season despite throwing for a career-high 399 yards. Bauer’s focus is on knocking off another top-five team.

“If we pull out this victory it’s going to shock the nation again just like we did in week one (against Wisconsin-Whitewater),” Bauer said. We are going to make a statement and we are going to make a run.”

WJBC will have the play-by-play at 12:30 p.m.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].