Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 14

i- 312.2CC2 SPORTS Under pressure, Spoo stayed the course This coach goes down and across But the guy who has now tied the record for most wins in Eastern football history is quite experienced going down and across. He daily works puzzles from the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Charleston Times-Courier and Daily Eastern News. Sundays, when the local papers do not publish, is no problem because the Tribune has two puzzles in different sections. "I guess it's kind of a hobby," Spoo said. "Especially on 1 ng trips, it helps divert the attention.

I'm kind of hooked on them." 1 "vl Maybe seemingly unassuming Bob Spoo is really just another arrogant, cocky know-it-all after alL "You can tell how confident Bob is because he's the only guy I know who fills in a crossword puzzle with a ball-point pen," Dave Kidwell, Eastern's assistant athletics' director for sports information and marketing, said about Eastern's football coach Bob Spoo. Spoo does not really sound like the Keyshawn Johnson of crossword puzzles. "It's not because I'm smart," he said of the ballpoint pen. "It's the only thing handy." Lasted continued going to go back to I-A football. I supposes because of the start, in '87 and '88 with losing seasons it was finally the third year we were able to do something if I had entertained any thoughts of moving to I-A, the first couple of years meant that I wasn't going to be sought after." Less than a month away from his 66th birthday, which comes Nov.

2 when the Panthers play at Tennessee State, Spoo is seeking to be the first EIU coach to take his team to three straight postseason playoffs. To do that, he will probably KEN TREVARTI IANSTAFF PI IOTOGRAPI IKR Bob Spoo watches practice this week In preparation not only for his Eastern Illinois football team's showdown of Ohio Valley Conference nationally ranked teams against Eastern Kentucky but also for the chance to become EIU's winnlngest football coach in history. "Bob is definitely a class act and obviously he's done wonders there. He has done it the right way," R.C, Johnson, Eastern's athletics director when Spoo came in 1987 .4 v- v- I': Si 'iX "This is my fifth year. Nobody else deserves It more than coach Spoo." On best memory: "Probably coach Spoo running special teams.

He takes it real seriously. Some people don't take special teams that seri- ously but that's his part of practice." Fullback Andre Jones ,5 "Just tremendous class and longevity, and he's really trained a lot of successful coach- es. Several of my mentors literally kicked I me out of Toronto and said 'Go work for Bob Spoo and you'll be I thought Toronto was a nice place to be and I liked the Arena League but now I see what they mean. I learned a lot about football, a lot about life. The thing I really appreciate is I i can be erescivs' tLzJ.

111 mistakes. Ccxh Spoo will let mo mi3: i takes." I Defensive secondary coach Edmund Janes i.cy ere as Ccb Spoo to treck V.s record for most wbs fcy an Eastern coach: "He's just a great guy. I love playing for him. He's understanding. You can talk to him about more than football." Defensive end Kory Lothe "There has been absolutely no talk around here about his becoming the winningest coach in Eastern Illinois football history.

I think that's a compliment to him because it's not been about him. It's never been about him. It's always been about Panther football. If there's anything about the program that shows his class, it's that." Offensive coordinator Roy Wittke "Bob Spoo is the type of coach every college president would want as his head coach because of his integrity. He plays by the rules and our athletes are good citizens.

And obviously, championship teams are always welcome when combined with those other factors." Dave Kidwell, assistant athletics director for sports information and marketing "When you think about this football team you think of him. It's just a great accomplishment Coach Spoo leaves It to his (assistant) coaches to coach but if he sees something you're doing wrong he will tell you. He definitely knows his stuff. You have to respect someone who has been doing this as long as he has." Quarterback Tony Romo Year W-L Saason summary 1987 5-6 Lost last three games to end EIU's streak of nine straight winning seasons 1938 5-6 Eventual NFL tackle John Jurkovic was Gateway Defensive Player of Year I 19S9 9-4 Upset Idaho, quarterbacked by John Friesz, in first round if I-AA playoffs i-i 10'J0 5-1 Freshman Jeff Thorr started opener at QB, missed last six games with iryury 1991 4-7 lost five games by one point, another by two and 42-13 at Iowa State I- 1902 5-8 Knocked off l-AA's top-ranked Northern Iowa in next-to-last game 1993 3-M Trips to nationafty ranked McNaese State, t-A Mavy made Btings difflcutt I 19S4 6-5 Rallied to win last four games for winning year to save the coach's job 1905 10-2 Tied for Gateway championship, lost, to Stephen F. Austin In playoffs i 1K6 84 Moved to Ohio Valley but lost to old nemesis Northern Iowa in playoffs 1937 8 3- Two scison-ending losses prevented third straight playoff season j.vfOS 65 kpt home from final defeat at Eastern Kentucky I V' 3 I to SiJu 3 viJi two i-Aftws and Injuries led to EIU'S worst year since 1977 I 84 Spoo is rui mar-up I-AA Coach of Year after remarkable turnaround I' VM 92 0VC splcos second straight I-AA playoff season I 2QC2 3-2 Ate losing to Hawaii, Kansas State, Panthers have won three a row'- Tuuil E3 75 1Sf-o can hreokCuarleilanti's school record today BobSpoo'sjobwasonthe line.

Many people knew that not-very-well kept secret in 1994 because Eastern Illinois' football coach would not mislead that season's newcomers. "This is how honest of a person he is," said Chris Wilkerson, then an EIU defensive tackle. "When he was recruiting he said 'I have a 'letter on file that if we didn't win six games that they would probably be playing for another In March of that year Bob McBee had been hired as ath-, letics director chosen by a search committee that had I some members with an agenda to get rid of some EIU coaches. They seemed to be getting their way when the 1994 football Panthers dropped to 2-5 with a loss at Western Illinois. With four games left.

Eastern's coaching staff had no more games it could lose. "It's an amazing thing because as a coach you are very fortunate never to have been fired," said John Smith, who was then Spoo's defensive coordinator. "But I thought my luck had run out." So did sports information director Dave Kidwell. "When we lost at Western Illinois and I knew the pressure was on, I was fearftd it was over for Bob and his staff," Kidwell said. "It's another lesson of never quitting or giving up.

They not only went on to win the next four games but then had back-to-back playoff seasons. I credit that to (quarterback) Pete Mauch and Chris Wilkerson." Stories have been told and retold about Wilkerson, then a senior player, telling the team in the locker room that anyone not planning to win the last four games should leave immediately. "It was something along those lines," Wilkerson said this week with a laugh. "There might have been a few swear words in there." Wilkerson, who went on to serve as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for Spoo before moving to NG AA" Division I-A San Jose State this year, was very serious about helping his head coach. "I wouldn't have come to Eastern Illinois if it wouldn't have been for coach Spoo.

Period. The bottom line," Wilkerson said. "He deserves to run that football program the way he runs it. I'm thrilled I had the opportunity to play for the man. I'm thrilled I had the opportunity to coach for the man.

"I'm glad he didn't lose his job on my watch as a player. That's all that I wanted was for him to stay as coach." Spoo did more than just barely hang on as a coach. In the seven years following that survival season his Panthers have been to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs -four times after also going to the 1989 postseason under Spoo. "We kind of stayed the course," said Smith, now EIU's associate athletics director. "We got transfers where we needed them but we didn't bring in 20 transfers the way Western (Illinois) did.

He didn't abort all of his offensive philosophies. He didn't bring me in and ask me to abort all my defensive philosophies." Now Spoo stands 96-79-1 and is tied with Charles Lantz Is Oakland ST. LOUIS (AP) First in total offense, check. First in first downs per game, check. First in points scored, check.

Yes, after a long absence, the "Greatest Show on Earth" will be back at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday. And along with the Oakland Raiders, the only undefeated team in the NFL, the St. Louis Rams will be there, too. "I don't know if you can call them the 'Greatest Show on Earth' just yet; that still has to be proven," cautioned Rams linebacker Don Davis. "But they are playing good football right now, and that's the facts." Facts enough to lay claim to the nickname earned by the Rams in the past three years as they scored more than 500 points each season, won a Super Bowl and appeared in a second? It's still early in the season, but consider: The Raiders have scored 162 points to open 4-0, which Rebuilt runners: James.

Lewis are ready to go Decs 1- tzztf 1 "He does but it's always for a good rea- son." Offensive tackle Jarad Kimbro i "He's really a calm guy. He yells when you need it but other than that he's a calm guy." Defensive end Kory Lothe tones c-ci -oo' tcrr-cr? "Nothing comes to mind that you can put in 1 print. He gets pretty fired up. He knows what to say to get you on the right path. Offensive tackle Mike Bujnak Any job has its negatives but any minuses for me are greatly outweighed by how fortunate I have been to deal not only with Spoo but EIU basketball coach Rick Samuels in my 14 plus years as sports editor.

You do not find better people. Or as Kidwell put it: "When Bob retires, I retire because I couldn't work with anybody better and I don't want to break in another coach." on Earth? All impressive. All meaningless, according to Gannon. "Of the four teams we've defeated, there's a possibility that none of them make the playoffs," Gannon where does that put us as a football team? How good of a team are we? I think that's to be determined." After an ugly 37-13 loss at San Francisco last weekend, it might be pointless to try and determine if the Rams are as bad as their 0-5 record would indicate. But for the record: Through five games in 2001, the Rams had 13 take-aways.

Through five games this season, the Rams have six, along with 15 turnovers. Only Minnesota has a worse turnover differential. Even before breaking his finger, Warner was off to a horrible start, throwing one touchdown and eight interceptions. His replacement, Jamie Martin, is a 32-year-old career backup making his third NFL start. from Bl have to hit the 100-win mark this year in a season in which his current Panthers are ranked ninth in NCAA I-AA despite starting the year with losses at I-A Hawaii and Kansas State.

Even he did not realize how long this "stepping stone" would last "No I didn't," Spoo said. "I didn't know how long it was going to be. I've enjoyed it. I hope to be able to do it for a few more years as long as I'm capable." Contact Brian Nielsen at bnietsenat jg-texom. 12-21 ct i-" noon, CSS semes IKCOriD- Ravens lead 2-1.

IAST Ravens beat Colts 3M? on Dec. 2,2001, at Baiumore. LAST WlfJX Ravens beat Browns 26-21; Colts beat Bengals 28-21 PASS (27), OVERALL (28) PASS (26), OVERALL (21) COLTS (17), PASS (11). OVLP.ALL (12) COLTS RUSH (29), PASS (4), OVERALL (12) KEY r.TCIIUP-Ravens RB Jamal Lewis vs. Cults defensive line.

Colts have been slow to grasp coach Tony Dungy's defense, which was so suc-; cessful Tampa. Colts allow 145 yards rushing per game, fourth worst in NFL lewis rushed for 187 yards fast week against Browns am) could ron wild against Cotts. STflL-UlS. STATS K0TES A matchup between' Baltimore's current and former team. Dungy (33-19, .635) and Ravens coach Brian (32-20, .61 5) are Na's third and fourth-winningest coaches since 1999.

Ravens R3 Jama! Lewis recorded NFL's longest run this season, 75 yards, test week. He leads team in receptions with 18. Cotts Edgerrin James has 1,319 yards rush-, ksg past 11 home g-uiit-s (10 103-yard games) and 1,734 total yards from scrimmage, with 10 TDs. Colts are NFL's best at covering kicks. Opponents average 3.0 yards per punt return and 17.1 on kickofts.

Ravens' Lewis is out OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Linebacker Ray Lewis will not play when the Baltimore Ravens face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. 1 Lewis, a five-time Pro Bowler, partially dislocated his shoulder in last Sunday's 26-21 win over Cleveland while trying to recover a loose balL He has not practiced all week and will break his string of 69 straight starts by missing the game. Lewis leads the Ravens with 69 tackles and has two Interception" and a forced fumble. "He's a great coach.

I respect him as much as any head coach J've had. He's done everything right since I've been here." Offensive tackle Jared Kimbro for the most wins by an EIU football coach. Spoo's team is ranked ninth in I-AA as he tries to break the record into today's Ohio Valley Conference showdown with No. 18 Eastern Kentucky at O'Brien Stadium. Of all his big wins, the 24-3 victory over Southern Illinois to complete the four-game streak for a job-saving 6-5 winning season is the favorite of this sports editor.

Guys in my position are not the new Greatest Show INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Forget the rebuilt left knees, the questions and the timeline. Baltimore's Jamal Lewis and Indianapolis' Edgerrin James are back. Four games into the season, James and Lewis have regained the form that turned them into two of the NFL's most productive runners in 2000. Both have shown they can cut hard, run well and have proven even serious knee injuries cannot slow them down. "I think you've got guys who are working harder, who were in great shape before they got hurt," said Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy, whose defense will try to stop Lewis on Sunday.

"But it is kind of unusual to see two backs come back this quickly from this kind of injury." Lewis and James certainly were atypical before both tore anterior cruciate ligaments last season. James, of the gold teeth and dreadlocks, won rushing titles in his first two seasons and was challenging for a third straight crown when he injured the knee in the Colts' sixth game." This season, he's already had two 100-yard games and has helped lead the Colts (3-1) to a share of first in the AFC South. Lewis, a stockier runner, became only the second rookie to rush for 1,000 yards with a Super Bowl champion in 2000 and was primed for another big year when he injured the knee in the 2001 training camp. All he's done is become the offensive catalyst on the NFL's youngest team, leading the Ravens (2-2) to the AFC North lead. "It takes a tremendous amount of work and character to come back as fast as these two have," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.

"I would think Jamal is maybe a little ahead of Edgerrin because Jamal has had a 13- or 14-month run at thisthing." supposed to get emotionally involved in these things but I will always remember leaving O'Brien Stadium that day and getting a lump in my throat seeing the coach's daughter Katie, then just a grade schooler, roller-skating with a friend in the parking lot. At the time at least, she probably did not how close she had been to having to move elsewhere for junior high. I knew and was thrilled with the outcome. Coach Mike Mart said Pickett's play was one of tew bright spots In last week's -j loss. He'S need herculean effort to stop Raiders.

Gannon has thrown for more than 350 yards in each of past three games. His 104 QB rating is best 4 league and Raiders have NFL's most pro- Wic offense, averaging over 450 yards per game. STATS Alia Kales Raiders are NFL's only unbeaten team. Raiders' plus-7 turnover differential is NFL'S best 2 Rams' minus-9 turnover differential is tied for second worst Raiders RB Charlie Garner is averaging 8.4 yards per rush on 40 carries, leading all RBs. I Closest average among RBs Is 5.B.

Rams RB Marshall Faulk has 114 TDs and needs three to pass John Rigglnj (116) for seventh all-time. I -f when he guided the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. Although questionable for Sunday's game, Raiders running back Charlie Garner is averaging a league-best 8.4 yards per carry. Marshall Faulk has never finished a season averaging more than 5.5 yards. SrrSRrD-Rcders lead 7-2.

UCT KLr.7;;:3 Racers beat Rams 35-17 on Scot. 23,1937, at Oakland. -Raiders beat Bills 4M1; Rams lost to 40ers 37-13. rush (1). pass R.rs (28), pass (6), OVERALL (13) 3 (15).

OV. "ALL (13) Gannon vs. Rams DT Ryan Pickett. puts Oakland on pace to score 648 points this year and obliterate the Rams' high of 540 points set in 2000. Through four games, Rich Gannon leads the NFL with a passer rating of 104.

Only once has Kurt Warner finished a regular season with a higher rating. 109.2 in 1999..