Ready to hatch a new name

The biggest crowd of the season for a basketball game is expected at the Show Me Center today as fans will be a part of history when Southeast Missouri State University unveils its new Redhawk mascot.

That occasion, set for 4:45 p.m, will officially mark the end of Southeast's athletic teams being known as Indians and Otahkians. Beginning today, the university's sports squads will all be nicknamed Redhawks.

Doors to the Show Me Center will open at 4 p.m. The men's basketball game between Southeast and Austin Peay will start at 5 p.m., followed by the women's contest between Southeast and Austin Peay at 7:30 p.m. The men's game will be televised locally by UPN-The Beat (channel 33).

"It's hard to tell how many people will be there, but I expect it to be better than we've had," Southeast ticket manager Joyce Penny said. "We've been real busy this week, and everybody seems to be excited."

The previous high announced crowd for a basketball game this season was 4,636 against Southern Illinois on Dec. 18. The Show Me Center seats approximately 7,000.

"We're hoping to have over 5,000," Penny said. "With season tickets and everything, we've probably already sold about 3,500, and we're preparing for a good walkup crowd.

"A lot of it depends on how many students show up. But we've had people who have given up their season tickets over the years, old season ticket holders, and they've called for tickets for this game."

The public will get its first chance to see the new Redhawk mascot at 4:45 p.m., when its name will also be revealed. The name was chosen from five suggested names: Rally, Ricky, Rocky, Rowdy and Rudy. School officials are keeping the mascot costume and name secret until the 4:45 p.m. ceremony.

"It's going to be a historic occasion, not just for Southeast athletics but for the entire university," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "We're really looking forward to it. There's a lot of interest, and from people who don't usually come to the games."

While Southeast's men's basketball team has not purchased new uniforms with the Redhawk logo -- the squad does have new shooting shirts for pregame warmups -- Southeast women's coach B.J. Smith said his team will unveil new white home uniforms today, which were donated by Soskin Cape Toyota. The women's squad will also have new shooting shirts.

Smith, who is part Native American who all along liked the idea of the new mascot and nickname, said, "I'm really excited, just to be able to have a mascot. We're probably going to have a lot more things you can do with it at games, and I think the fans will be excited about it."

Men's basketball coach Gary Garner said he is also excited about the new chapter in Southeast history but is trying to keep his players as focused on the actual game as possible.

"It will be special to me," Garner said. "When I came here it was Indians, but it's time to look forward. I'm excited about us being Redhawks.

"Needless to say, a possible distraction is something I've thought about. I have brought that up to our players. We just have to be focused on one thing and that's Austin Peay."

Kaverman said most Southeast teams probably will switch to new uniforms on a sport-by-sport basis over the next year.

As part of today's festivities, more than 1,500 T-shirts depicting the new mascot character will be distributed to fans. Five hundred of the shirts will be distributed at the pregame party for students. The rest will be given away at the basketball games.

Tickets can still be purchased at the Show Me Center beginning at 3 p.m. today. Ticket prices are $9 for the upper level, and $11 and $13 for the lower level, depending on the location. Ages 18 and under can purchase upper level tickets for $5, and they receive $2 off the lower level tickets.

Southeast students are admitted free, although they must have a ticket that the university distributes. Students who do not yet have tickets can get them during today's pregame party at the Student Recreation Center. The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is open only to Southeast students.