LETTERS: THANKS FOR SUPPORTING SEMO TEAMS

To the editor:

I cannot let the week pass without conveying the thanks of Southeast Missouri State University to the many hundreds of sports fans among your readers who so enthusiastically supported the Indian and Otahkian basketball teams during this extraordinary season.

The Southeast fans were loyal throughout the season, even at the start, when our teams were not predicted to do very well in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. But the support evidenced toward the end of the season was truly spectacular, and the large Southeast contingent in the stands contributed to our teams' performance during the Final Four in Nashville last weekend.

Although we did not bring home any championship trophies, our coaches were recognized as the best in the business, one of our players was the conference player of the year, and the final standings showed that both our men's and women's programs have matured into legitimate conference contenders. We can all be proud of our association with programs such as these.

Fan support is at the heart of collegiate athletics, and all of us at Southeast are grateful for the level of assistance given to our teams by the folks in the audience.

DALE F. NITZSCHKE, President

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau