By Bill Ruthhart

Sports editor

The NCAA announced Wednesday that it will postpone the Division IAA playoffs to allow teams to reschedule last weekend’s games that were postponed in wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.

With the beginning of the I-AA playoffs delayed until December 1, Eastern would have the opportunity to schedule a game Nov. 24 to make up for last weekend’s canceled game against Illinois State. But that’s a decision that head coach Bob Spoo, athletic director Rich McDuffie and associate athletic director John Smith won’t make immediately.

“Bob, I and John Smith will talk and see if we need to play a game and if we do who that team will be,” McDuffie said. “We’re probably at least a week or so away before we’ll know any of that.”

The outcome of this weekend’s game at Eastern Kentucky and next week’s home game against Tennessee Tech will likely have a major influence on whether McDuffie and company schedule an 11th game.

“Those two teams were second and third in the conference pre-season,” McDuffie said. “If we can, we’d like to wait and see after those two games, but if we get an offer that’s so attractive we can’t wait, then we may take it.”

An attractive offer could come in the form of money to play a Division I-A opponent.

“There’s the question of whether to play a I-AA opponent or a I-A team that could make us some money,” McDuffie said. “The question we have to ask is whether there is a compelling reason for us to play another game.

“If we need it to make the playoffs or if we decide we need another payday, then we’d likely go ahead and schedule a game.”

With making the playoffs as the team and athletic department’s No. 1 priority, Spoo offered three possible scenarios that may would be considered when this important scheduling decision is made.

“If we’re in the driver’s seat and know we’re going to make the playoffs, it may not be beneficial for us to play another game,” he said. “But if we need a game because we’re on the bubble, it may not hurt for us to play another game to ensure a bid from the selection committee.

” If we’re not in it, it might be beneficial for the athletic department to see if we can get another money game.”

McDuffie said it’s crucial the decision is made hastily and that all parties carefully consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of scheduling the additional game.

“We’ll try and see who is open that week and see what other schools will be looking to play us as well,” he said. “We’re not going to be in a rush to do this.”

If Eastern loses either or both of it’s next two games, an additional game against a top-ranked I-AA team could be crucial, giving the NCAA selection committee an extra chance to see what the Panthers can do.

“If we do it, it will probably be a IAA team,” Spoo said of adding an extra game. “If we’re in a scenario where we’re on the bubble, beating a good IAA program could help our chances with the selection committee.

However, if Eastern does well in the conference, scheduling a top-notch I-AA could hurt the Panthers’ postseason seeding.

“I’m not sure playing a team like that would be an advantage for us,” McDuffie said. “If we do well in the conference, or win the conference and get the automatic bid, playing someone in a tough I-AA game would not be necessary.

“If you lose to another Top 25 opponent, you weaken yourself for the selection committee.”

Regardless, McDuffie assured a lot of careful consideration will go into the decision.

“We’ll get more serious about this next week, and certainly after the Tech game we’d have some direction,” he said. “But there would have to be a very compelling reason this early in the season for us to go ahead and have a game at that date.”

National championship game changed

With the I-AA playoffs beginning on December 1 instead of Nov. 24 as originally scheduled, the championship game has been pushed back to Friday, December 21. The game will still be televised live on ESPN

Panthers to be televised on WEIU

This weekend’s football game at Eastern Kentucky will be televised live on WEIU-TV at 11 a.m. central time. WEIU’s programming is carried on channel 9 o the Charleston and Mattoon cable systems, and channel 51 over the air. WEIU will pickup the broadcast from Fox Sports South, which telecasts in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Dave Weekley, a former broadcaster for Marshall University, will be the play-by-play announcer while former NFL tight end, Ethan Norton providing the color commentary.

Eastern’s Sept. 29 and Nov. 17 home games against Tennessee Tech and Murray State will also be broadcast by Fox Sports South. Dave Kidwell, Eastern’s assistant athletic director for sports information and marketing, said it’s very likely those games will also be carried by WEIU.

Game time change

The kickoff time for Eastern’s football game at San Diego State on Oct. 6 has been changed to 10 p.m. central time. The game was originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m. central time but was switched becasue the San Diego Padres now have a game scheduled that afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium. The Padres schedule was changed after Major League Baseball canceled games last week.