Much has been made of the newly-refurbished Rayen Stadium returning this season to the list of venues for high school football in the area. All but absent from the scene since the early 1980s, the facility is the home of the East High Panthers, who open the season Saturday afternoon against Ursuline.

Not only does the Panthers’ playing field rate the “New-Old” label, but so does their first-year coach. Veteran mentor Jim Vivo has coached at Lowellville, Ursuline, Westerville North and Chaney, and led the Irish to a state championship in 2000

He inherits a 3-7 team from a year ago when the Panthers were brand-new themselves. The 2011 season was the first following the merger of the Chaney and East athletic programs. Though most point to the stadium making the 2012 season opener unique, for Vivo there is something a little more personal.

“It’s the first time I’ve faced Ursuline in a season opener,” he said before shifting focus to the new facility. “The kids are excited about the new stadium as is the community and school district. Hopefully we can go out and play a good game.”

Vivo and the Panthers have four home games scheduled at the new stadium this season.

Q. Have you been able to scrimmage at the new stadium?

A. We were scheduled to scrimmage Akron North there on Friday but it rained and we moved the scrimmage to Chaney. We will get at least one workout at the stadium this week before Saturday’s game.

Q. You probably have had other seasons in which you’ve faced a very difficult opponent in the opener. Do you prepare differently than those seasons in which your first opponent is a more ordinary team?

A. It can be a Catch-22. I opened with St. Ignatius one year and everyone gets excited for the opener. But you are going to have a Game 2 and a Game 3 and a Game 4. You can’t put so much emphasis on Game 1. We know Ursuline is very good but, win or lose, when Monday morning comes around we’ve got another opponent. That’s going to be our challenge. Ten weeks is a long season and every week is the most important game of the season. That’s what we’ve been telling the kids.

Q. Talk about the makeup of your team and the style of play fans will see from the Panthers.

A. We have a lot of seniors, we are very senior-oriented. We will run a spread offense and try to get our talented skill players in space and give them opportunities to make plays.

Q. When you applied for the East coaching position, what were some of the factors that drew you to the job and what were some of your concerns going in?

A. Being a City Series guy myself I like that we’re one school now. I know that Ursuline, Mooney, Youngstown Christian and some of the suburban schools with open enrollment get some city kids, but being one school we have an opportunity to build a pretty decent program just because of the sheer number of talented athletes in the city. Now we have to teach them how to play football and all the things that go into being successful like classwork, offseason work, conditioning. But we could be a really good program if we get those things established.

It’s not always about talent in the city. You’ve got to focus on the other things like hard work, discipline, team, family. Those things are important as well.

Q. How have the players responded throughout preseason to the new coaching staff and opportunity to play some home games?

A. Our attendance at practices has been great. We’ve lost a couple of kids, but that’s normal. Football is a rough sport and is not for everybody. For the most part the kids have been working hard and trying their best to adjust to changes.

They have high expectations and that’s why we like playing Ursuline first. The kids can find out how they stand. We have a lot of respect for Ursuline and hope to be at their level one day. That’s why we scrimmaged Cardinal Mooney and Boardman in the preseason to get us ready.

Interviewed by Vindicator sports reporter Doug Chapin