What do you mean no spring football game?

Because of the lengthy search for an offensive line coach/offensive coordinator/combo of both, Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said the Panthers might have to forgo the annual spring intra-squad football game.

The Eastern athletic department’s indecision in deciding which one of Mark Hutson’s two positions would be filled by a new hire has forced spring practices to start a week later than normal.

The Eastern brass decided they would only hire one coach and they decided they would start the hiring process after national signing day.

But they did not decide which position the new coach would fill.

It is important to have the hole in the coaching staff filled before spring practices begin, but that hole should have been plugged a week ago – and Eastern should have decided on hiring a new offensive line coach.

Just an offensive line coach.

Not an offensive coordinator or even a co-offensive coordinator like last year’s set-up with Hutson and Jorge Munoz sharing the role.

No additional titles or responsibilities are needed because this year coaching the offensive line will be a demanding role.

Eastern’s offensive line will have three new starters this spring with Jon Rueter, Eric Johnson and Steve Sobolewski all graduating.

The Panthers will also have to replace second all-time leading rusher Vincent Webb Jr. at running back.

While there are more than a few capable players waiting to get their chances to start, having a coach set – with a full practice schedule – is important to get the new group to play with the same cohesiveness and understanding that last year’s line displayed.

The last interview took place Wednesday with former Buffalo offensive coordinator Roy Istvan, who also coached the offensive line there, visiting campus and making his presentation to Spoo and his staff.

A decision should be made by this weekend and all three outside candidates will be anxiously waiting to get the phone call that tells them they got the job, whichever job that may be.

But the most anxious has to be the one candidate who is still a part of Eastern’s staff – Munoz.

Munoz should be the next offensive coordinator for the Panthers but the administration is making him sweat out the week because if he is not chosen, he will actually be demoted. While officially titled a co-offensive coordinator last season, Munoz called the plays and led a balanced Panther offense in addition to maintaining his duties as the quarterbacks coach.

If a new offensive coordinator is brought in, that means a new system for quarterback Cole Stinson to digest.

Hardly an ideal situation for a senior quarterback, who would have to learn his second offensive scheme in as many years.

Munoz was effective last year and deserves to be full-time offensive coordinator and bring the same offense back this season, but I have already sung his praises on that issue.

Eastern’s athletic department got greedy.

They wanted to wait and see if they could get someone better than Munoz but all the process has done is push back spring practices and potentially piss off a coach that did not flee for a better position like Hutson.

The Panthers, with two consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championships and another solid recruiting class, are on their way to becoming an elite in I-AA football.

An unorganized team and slighted staff is not what will help the Panthers take the next step.