What is clear is Eastern junior quarterback Mike Donato has played his last game with the Panthers. Everything in between is still up in the air.

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo dismissed Donato from the team last Monday for conduct detrimental to the team but the team nor the athletic department will not specify the details.

The Panthers starting quarterback through the first four weeks of the season has a different story.

Donato stated Saturday he is foregoing his final year of eligibility after being benched for the final eight games in favor of Cole Stinson, along with a constant conflict between himself and quarterbacks coach Jorge Munoz.

“There was a conflict and it was a tough situation all year to be honest,” Donato said.

Repeated attempts to contact members of the Eastern coaching staff were unsuccessful.

Donato ended the 2006 season with 689 yards with eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

The four-year letter winner pointed to the 2006 first round playoff loss against Illinois State as “the hardest game I’ve ever had to watch in my entire career.” Stinson was 15 of 30 for only 79 yards and three interceptions in Eastern’s 24-13 loss.

“They said they felt more comfortable with (Stinson) in situations where we had to throw the ball and sure enough we had to throw it and you saw what happened,” Donato said. “I think if they’d given me the opportunity, we would be in the second round and playing Youngstown (Saturday).”

The Broadview native is set to graduate this May.

Donato refuted the rumors that the relationship between him and the coaching staff is what led to him getting benched or not returning next fall.

“After the Hawaii game they told me that they felt more comfortable with Cole,” Donato said. “I don’t understand why they made the move. I thought I was doing OK.”

After transferring from Ball State, Stinson was brought in to compete with Donato this spring for the position, which Donato won coming out of fall camp.

“He was recruited by Munoz and eventually they made the move to the guy they felt more comfortable about to begin with,” Donato said. “I guess it’s their team and they can do whatever they want.”