By Bill Ruthhart

Sports editor

Eastern’s football team shook off the last effects of jet lag Tuesday as the team returned to its first full-team practice since Saturday’s 40-7 loss at San Diego State.

The Panthers (3-1, 2-0) normally have a light Sunday workout before taking Monday off, but differing flight schedules didn’t allow the entire team to do that.

“We split the team up again, coming back on separate planes,” head coach Bob Spoo said. “My group got back at 1 a.m. (Sunday), so we didn’t get to work out.

“The first group got back in time, and I understand they got a good workout in.”

Returning to practice has helped refocus the team to the task at hand – Saturday’s Ohio Valley Conference Homecoming game against Southeast Missouri State.

“We need to put that game out of our minds and look at the big picture which is the OVC,” Spoo said. “We’re at home and we’re thankful not to have to worry about planes and being separated. We’ll be together now and we’ll get back to what we’ve been doing.”

And Spoo’s players are ready to rebound.

“We’ve got an OVC game coming up and we have to get right back after it,” senior linebacker Antoine Livingston said. “Everyone is still going after us and we’re ready to show everyone that the OVC still goes through Eastern Illinois.

“We know what’s at stake, and we’ve got to prepare. But we’re still a championship team, regardless (of Saturday’s loss).”

The Panthers aren’t in unchartered territory as I-AA teams across the country have been faced with coming back after a devastating blow to a I-A school.

“The good news is that this has happened to teams before,” junior quarterback Tony Romo said. “Georgia Southern, who won the national championship last year, losta a game 45-9 to a I-A school and came back to win everything, so that’s a plus.”

Romo is looking to getting back on track after being sacked five times and throwing two interceptions Saturday. So are his offensive counterparts Andre Raymond and J.R Taylor. The two backs combined for just 26 yards rushing against the Aztecs.

“We’re back to conference games and we have to get everybody back and focused. As a team we really have to make a good comeback,” Taylor said. “For us running backs, we’re really disappointed. We only had 26 yards rushing and we’re ready to bounce back and show what we can do.”

Spoo said he wouldn’t know game time status on the three players that were injured in Saturday’s game until today or Thursday. As of Tuesday, last year’s I-AA All-American cornerback Kourtney Young was listed doubtful with an ankle sprain. Defensive back John Williams was also listed as doubtful for Saturday with a dislocated shoulder. Freshman offensive lineman Marcus Loric was listed as probable with an ankle injury.

The good news is that linebacker Jacob Maurer and wide receiver Devin O’Neal are both listed as probable after being out for an extended time. Maurer was nursing a hamstring injury and O’Neal has been out for the entire season thus far with a broken collarbone.

Spoo said the priority this week remains on getting those who are questionable for this weekend’s game healthy while jumping back into the conference race.

“We need to focus on what is most important, the OVC,” Spoo said. “We need to get guys healed up and go out and play one hell of a football game.”