Arkansas St., Ohio add D-I obstacles to SE schedule

For the second straight season, a 12-game schedule featuring two Division I-A opponents awaits Southeast Missouri State University's football team.

Although times have not yet been set, the Indians' 2003 schedule will include road games against I-A squads Ohio and Arkansas State in addition to six home contests.

Other non-conference opponents for the Indians are regional rival Southern Illinois and state rival Southwest Missouri, both at home.

The remaining eight games are Ohio Valley Conference affairs, up from six in previous years since Alabama schools Samford and Jacksonsville State join the league this season. The Indians play at Samford and host Jacksonville State.

Other OVC home opponents for the Indians are defending co-champions Eastern Illinois and Murray State -- the only two conference teams to beast Southeast last year -- along with Tennessee State. Southeast visits Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee Tech.

Southeast had its best season since 1969 last year, going 8-4 and tying for third in the OVC at 4-2. With only a few key players completing their eligibility, hopes will again be high for the Indians -- even though coach Tim Billings considers the schedule to be rugged.

"Any time you have two Division I-A schools on the schedule, that's tough," he said. "And we play a tough schedule anyway."

Ohio, from the Mid-American Conference, went 4-8 last season but had impressive showings, including losing by 13 points to Pittsburgh and by just three points to perennial MAC power Marshall.

Arkansas State, from the Sun Belt Conference, was one of the nation's most improved teams last year when it went 6-7.

"Ohio is a good team, and Arkansas State got a lot better," Billings said. "To be considered for the Division I-AA playoffs as an at-large team, the magic number is usually nine wins, and Division I-A games are basically automatic losses, even though you might get lucky and win one, so that really makes it tough."

Billings won't say the Indians got lucky last season, but they did post their first-ever win over a Division I-A team by stunning Middle Tennessee State of the Sun Belt Conference. Southeast also nearly beat Eastern Michigan of the MAC before losing a late lead.

"We're not scared of either one of them," Billings said of the Division I-A opponents. "We're excited about the season. We feel like we can compete, and definitely compete in the conference."

The Indians open the season Aug. 28 with a Thursday night contest at Ohio before returning home to face Southern Illinois Sept. 6. Southeast will never have more than one consecutive home or road game in a schedule that features one open date Oct. 11.

"It's a really tough schedule, but we're looking forward to the challenge," Billings said.

Southeast begins spring practice March 6.