By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – As Illinois Wesleyan prepares to open its 125th football season, coach Norm Eash believes he has scheduled the toughest open in the program’s history.

No. 3-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, winner of six NCAA Division III national titles in the last decade comes to Tucci Stadium Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Eash, who is set to begin his 31st season as Titans coach, said he expects his team to not get too amped-up for playing the perennial powerhouse.

“Come Saturday, I hope they play relaxed,” Eash said. “You want some type of arousal from your players, through I’m mean if you can’t go in with no emotion… but we have a veteran team.”

Senior Tight end Andrew Appel said the Titans motto is ‘Respect everyone, but fear noone.’

“We are treating Whitewater like a normal week one,” Appel said. “We have to respect them like we respect any opponent, but of course there is a little added anticipation because it is such a big game.”

Senior defense tackle Justin Krzeckowski said the Warhawks offense, which returns 10 starters, poses a challenge, but the Titan defense can keep them in check.

“Just looking at tape, they are real fast,” Krzeckowski said. “I think if we play a fast game, we play physical enough and use our techniques we were taught throughout the preseason and throughout my four years, I think we will have a real good chance of beating them up.”

Eash said it will be a game-time decision who starts at quarterback. Sophomore Brandon Bauer started most of the last season, while senior and two-year starter Jack Warner returns from missing all of last season due to injury.

WJBC will have the game starting at 12:30 p.m.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].