Show Me Center a step in Southeast's move to Divison I

The Southeast Missouri State University athletic program took two major steps in a four-year period from 1987 to 1991.

First, the Show Me Center was built and opened in August of 1987. Second, the school's sports programs made the jump up to the NCAA Division I level.

The Show Me Center, a 7,000-seat multipurpose building that has served as the home for Southeast men's and women's basketball since 1987, was built at a cost of $13.5 million in a joint venture of the city of Cape Girardeau and the university.

Southeast's first game at the building -- which replaced Houck Field House as the home for Southeast basketball -- was an 84-66 victory against Southern Arkansas on Nov. 27, 1987.

Since beginning play in the Show Me Center, the Indians have benefited from the home-court advantage and compiled a 185-70 record while averaging nearly 5,000 fans per game.

Around the time the buiding was completed, university officials began exploring the possibility of leaving Division II for Division I. In 1990, they decided to go ahead with the major undertaking, citing the potential for increased enrollments and more media coverage, particularly in the St. Louis area. At the time, Southeast had one of the nation's more accomplished Division II athletic programs, including several national championships in various sports.

Southeast athletics officially moved into Division I in the 1991-92 school year, leaving the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association and joining the Ohio Valley Conference.

While there were obvious growing pains in Division I, the school's teams capturing numerous OVC championships and advanced to NCAA competition in a variety of sports.