MACOMB, Ill. - Just over one week remains before the Western Illinois Football squad reports for fall camp. Head coach Mark Hendrickson and his staff can bring 90 student-athletes to campus per NCAA rules.

LEATHERNECKS READY FOR START OF CAMP: First-year Fighting Leathernecks report on Tuesday, August 3rd, while the rest of the team reports the next day. On Friday, August 6th, Western will go through the first of 29 practices before the 2010 season-opener against Valparaiso on September 2.

MVFC MEDIA DAY ANNOUNCED: The 2010 season marks the first time the Missouri Valley Football Conference will not hold an in-person football media day, previously held in St. Louis. However, next Monday (Aug. 2), the league's head coaches will participate in a teleconference for media members. The league office will announce the preseason poll and preseason All-MVFC team as voted on by the coaches, sports information directors and media members at that time.

SPEIGHT RECEIVES ANOTHER PRESEASON HONOR: Senior return specialist/wide receiver Todd Speight received another Preseason All-America accolade when he was named to the Second Team by The Sports Network. Speight also earned preseason national honors from the Consensus Draft Services (Honorable Mention) and Phil Steele College Football Preview (Third Team). The Missouri Valley Football Conference had 11 representatives on the preseason teams, the third-most among FCS Conferences behind the Southern (15) and Big Sky (12) Conference.

Speight, along with fellow seniors Kyle Glazier (linebacker) and Lito Senatus (wide receiver), received preseason national accolades this summer. According to Hendrickson, "Those are three outstanding seniors, and the good news is they are surrounded by several other seniors that will be very determined to have a very successful 2010 season."

FIRST YEAR OF FCS PLAYOFF EXPANSION: The 2010 season marks the first year of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff expansion from 16 to 20 teams. This year the Big South and Northeast Conference champion will receive an automatic bid while two additional teams will receive an at-large berth. The first round of the playoffs take place Saturday, November 27th. The national championship has been moved back to January 7, 2011 and will be held at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas - the first time since 1997 the title game will not be played in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE: Western Illinois Football tickets - both single game and season tickets - can be purchased online. Fans can buy tickets by going to www.GoLeathernecks.com and clicking on the football tickets link. For more information call (309) 298-1190.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: The Leathernecks will play two games on television during the 2010 regular season. Western's game at Purdue on September 11th will be televised by The Big Ten Network. On October 16 Western plays host to Youngstown State, and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest as part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference television package.