He doesn’t have to go on recruiting trips, sit in uncomfortable buses or run football practices anymore, but former head coach Bob Spoo does have to watch his daughter’s two Chihuahuas, Lydie and Newt.

While his wife, Susan, and daughter, Katie, are in Jackson Hole, Wyo., this week, Spoo is at his home in Charleston trying to drown out the sounds of the dogs’ constant yipping and yapping.

But the dogs really aren’t that bad — they’re friendly. They cuddle next to him on his pillow at night, he said.

Even with the dogs on his pillows, Spoo will sleep well at night because he’s comfortable knowing he doesn’t have anything to do the next day.

“It’s been a great relief to know that you wake up and face the day without any serious problems and don’t have to be anywhere at any particular time watching this or doing that,” Spoo said.

Spoo retired from coaching at the end of last season, after 50 years in the game and 25 as Eastern’s head coach.

He tries to keep busy and active with so much free time on his hands, exercising at the Rec Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning and taking a cardiac recovery class every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Otherwise, Spoo reads Time magazine and newspapers like USA Today, Chicago Tribune and Mattoon Journal Gazette and Charleston Times-Courier every day.

He’s an active member of Rotary International and the St. Charles Borromeo Church choir, and loves to travel.

Spoo and his wife went to England this summer to meet their daughter for five days, traveling from London to Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff, Wales.

Spoo said he has traveled more overseas than in the United States, minus the trips with the Eastern football team in his career.

Spoo said he does not miss the long bus trips with the football team, but said he and his wife will probably explore more of the U.S. with the more time they have.

Meanwhile, Spoo remains a loyal fan of Eastern football, while having little relations and involvement with the university. He’s gone to all of the home games, except the opening game against Southern Illinois-Carbondale because he and his wife were returning from England that day.

Spoo said being at the games keeps him involved in the sport, but does not come with the same pressure as being a head coach.

“The relief is knowing that you didn’t win or lose,” Spoo said, smiling. “You don’t have to worry about that part.”

He’s been relieved of all the pressures of being a college football coach and said “it was time” when he finally retired.

“I’m less grumpy, maybe, less on edge,” Spoo said. “I’m more relaxed — enjoying life a little bit. Coaching can get to you after 50 years.”

Spoo doesn’t miss the pressure, expectations, recruiting trips or the hassle of having to worry about every little thing involving the team, but he does miss some things.

“I don’t miss a lot of the off the field type things,” Spoo said. “I miss the camaraderie and a lot of the players, but I’m over the recruiting part of it.”

He gets some of the companionship by talking with head coach Dino Babers once a week and eating McDonald’s breakfast every Friday morning with Roy Wittke, a friend who was on Spoo’s coaching staff. Babers was on Spoo’s first coaching staff at Eastern.

He sees and talks to some of the coaches he’s known the longest, but said he hasn’t gotten any sudden urges or feelings that he is supposed to be on the football field… yet.

“I’m not sure how it will all turn out,” Spoo said. “I’m much more at ease and feeling good about the way things are going.”

He is at ease with the way the Eastern football team is playing right now, too, saying Babers has done a great job of putting the players in positions to succeed.

But he does not want to give Babers all the credit for the talent on the roster.

“He’s got some players,” Spoo said. “I like to think the cupboard wasn’t entirely bare.”

When his wife and daughter return from their trip Saturday, Katie will take the dogs home with her to Rockford and the house will be a little quieter.

But there is an “outdoor cat” that will be around that he is getting friendlier with, Spoo said.

The cat has been more comfortable sleeping in the house at night, Spoo said. He has had to make sure the dogs and cats are not fighting each other this week, though.

“(Lydie) chases (the cat), so I can’t let her in. I feel bad,” Spoo said.

Spoo has attended the two of the three Eastern home games and the game against Illinois State this season.

This weekend, as on any other Saturday in the Fall, Spoo will be near a football field. Only for the third time in 50 years, Spoo will be a fan, not a coach.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].