By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Wesleyan football met the media this afternoon at Tucci Stadium. Norm Eash (ESH) enters his 32nd season at the helm of the Titans. He likes the mix of experience and youth on this year’s squad:

Illinois Wesleyan football coach Norm Eash has high expections with plenty of returning players from last year’s squad that shared the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title.

The Titans met the media on Friday afternoon. Eash welcomes back a big core of last year’s CCIW co-champs.

“We have six all-conference players returning, we have nine returning starters on offense and six on defense,” Eash said as he begins his 32nd year as the Titans’ boss. “You can see why we’re expecting big things.”

Eash said despite the experience, there’s a solid mix of youth on the roster.

“Our camp has been kind of unique just because half of our team is returning players and the other half is freshmen,” Eash said. “We have a really big freshmen class, so our main goal right now is to make sure that freshmen understand our culture. There is a Wesleyan way and that’s why we win here.”

Eash said despite a lot of returning experience from last year’s CCIW co-champions, there’s always competition for positions.

“I think there’s going to be some newcomers who come in and challenge and help us, especially with depth,” Eash said. “It’s always exciting to get into camp and see who’s going to be the surprise in camp. That’s the fun part of coaching.”

IWU opens the season at home on Sat., Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. as the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse visits Tucci Stadium.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].