After failing to meet expectations in 2004, Redhawks hope to exceed them this time around

It's virtually back to square one for Southeast Missouri State football and coach Tim Billings.

Billings was hired to turn around a floundering program in 2000. The first two years were understandably tough, followed by an 8-4 season in 2002 that represented the Redhawks' best record since 1969.

But, much to Billings' disappointment, Southeast has failed to capitalize on that apparent breakthrough performance.

Although the Redhawks had an overall losing record in 2003 -- 5-7 -- they were 5-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference, with only a loss in the regular-season finale preventing them from gaining a share of their first OVC title and the program's first playoff berth.

Then the bottom fell out last year as Southeast went 3-8, including a 3-5, sixth-place tie in the nine-team OVC.

"We're 8-4 {in 2002] and we felt like we had things going for us," Billings said. "Two years ago, we started out 0-5, but we bounced back and played for the conference championship. That was still a good year in my opinion.

"Then last year was very disappointing, I think for a lot of reasons. We had all the injuries early, and that really tough schedule. But this is a new year. We're looking ahead, and I'm excited about the future of the program."

Billings is confident he can get things back on track primarily because of what he believes has been an upgrade in speed and overall athleticism, thanks to an increased budget that has aided the recruiting effort.

"Things were kind of tough [financially] at the university for a couple of years, and I think our recruiting suffered because of it," Billings said. "I think in two years, you'll see us back again. We spent more money on recruiting, which I appreciate the administration for, and it really paid off.

"We've got more speed, and we're more athletic than since I've been here. This is our best collection of skill people. We've also got more depth, where last year we just couldn't overcome the injuries. The only thing is, we're not very experienced. We're young with a lot of new players, but at least having athletes gives us a chance to be good."

Billings realizes why not many people outside the program are expecting much from the Redhawks, who were picked to finish eighth in the OVC based on voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Most of last year's key players were seniors, and except for All-American punter David Simonhoff, Southeast will enter 2005 with a virtual cast of unknowns. In fact, Simonhoff was the only Redhawk voted to the preseason all-OVC team.

"I understand it. We're picked about where I expected," Billings said. "We don't have a lot of name guys. People don't know us. Last year most of our top players were seniors."

But Billings, whose squad returns seven starters on both offense and defense although a host of newcomers should figure to be key contributors , doesn't believe a low preseason ranking means the Redhawks have to end up that way.

"I think we have a lot of talented new players other people don't know about," he said. "I think we can surprise people. It isn't where you are in the preseason, but at the end of the season."

Once again, a rugged nonconference schedule awaits. It starts with tonight's opener at home against Southern Illinois -- ranked No. 5 nationally in Division I-AA -- and continues with road games at Division I-A Kent State and Division I-AA Missouri State.

The eight-game OVC slate follows, beginning with a home date against two-time defending champion Jacksonville State.

"It's another really tough schedule that will challenge us early. We play some excellent football teams the first few weeks," Billings said. "We start out with one of the best teams in the nation. Right away, we'll learn a lot about our football team."

Offensively, the Redhawks moved the ball respectably last year but struggled to score points at times. Completing their eligibility from that unit, among others, were record-setting quarterback Andrew Goodenough, All-American tight end and leading receiver Ray Goodson, leading rusher David Taufoou, and line stalwarts Dan Connolly and Dan Bieg, along with four-year placekicker Derek Kutz.

But Billings believes more big-play weapons at the skill positions and the second year in the wide-open passing system of offensive coordinator Rob Likens will soften the blow of those losses, although the line remains a question mark.

"If our offensive line develops, we have the skill people to be very good offensively," Billings said. "I think we'll be able to score some points. I'll be shocked if we're not better on offense than last year."

Defensively, Southeast had improved each season since Billings took over the program -- until last year, when the Redhawks were hit hard by injuries and statistically ranked as one of the nation's worst defensive units.

Although some important defenders used up their eligibility, including leading tackler O.J. Turner at linebacker, most of the walking wounded are now healthy and some key players have been added.

"We have to eliminate the big plays that killed us last season," Billings said. "Potentially, we can be good on defense, but we won't know until we start playing."

Jacksonville State, which has lost just one OVC game each of the past two years, is the heavy favorite to win its third straight league title, having received 15 of 18 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Eastern Kentucky and Murray State are expected to be the Gamecocks' primary challengers, followed in the preseason voting by Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Samford, Tennessee State, Southeast and Tennessee-Martin.

"That's probably about the way things should have been picked, based on what happened last year," Billings said.

But he's not about to concede that things will wind up that way.

"We have enough talented skill players to give us a chance to surprise some teams," Billings said. "I think we have a chance to have a good football team."