CHARLESTON — Bob Spoo left a lasting impression on the Eastern Illinois football team and EIU community at large. Easy to do considering the Hall of Famer's 25 seasons on the sidelines in Charleston.
Spoo, 80, died Monday in Rockford after a recent bout of illness. The outpouring of stories remembering the longtime coach only served to cement his influence beyond his school-record 144 career wins with the Panthers.
"I was there 11 years with the guy," former EIU defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said. He's now the defensive end coach and special teams coordinator at Buffalo. "Words can't even begin to describe that guy to me.