'BACKERS TOGETHER AGAIN; OLD OKLAHOMA FRIENDS REUNITE AT SOUTHEAST

Donovan LaViness was looking for a fresh start.

Jeremy Atwell was looking to get his old friend back on his side.

Both players have had their wishes satisfied, which should greatly benefit Southeast Missouri State University's football team in 1999.

LaViness and Atwell, a pair of senior linebackers from Oklahoma, have been reunited at Southeast and they showed their pleasure by sporting big smiles during the Indians' media day activities Wednesday afternoon at Houck Stadium.

"I love it here," said a grinning LaViness, a transfer from Tulsa in his first season at Southeast. "I get to play with Jeremy, I've met so many good people and I love the coaches."

Said Atwell, entering his second season with the Indians and grinning as well, "Here we are back together. I told Donovan coming here was the best decision I could make and it would be for him, too. I'm happy to have him here."

LaViness and Atwell, along with returning senior David Bowling, figure to form a solid linebacking trio for the Indians this season. All are in the 220-pound range.

"I think we're the best in the OVC, but I'm biased," said Atwell with a laugh.

Although LaViness and Atwell grew up in different parts of Oklahoma, they have known each other for almost 10 years.

Their relationship dates back to their junior high school days, when both were standout wrestlers in that wrestling-crazy state and became teammates on the Oklahoma National Cadet Team for junior high-age grapplers.

Despite attending high school a few hours apart -- LaViness near Oklahoma City and Atwell near Tulsa -- they were able to pretty much keep up with each other through various newspapers.

"We've pretty much been friends ever since (wrestling together)," said LaViness. "I kept up with Jeremy through the papers but I don't know if he kept up with me."

Chimed in a chuckling Atwell, "Not really," but then he quickly added, "Yeah, I knew what he was doing. And we'd see each other every once in a while."

Both enjoyed standout prep careers in both football and wrestling.

Atwell earned all-state honors in football at Catoosa High School and he was also a two-time state champion wrestler.

LaViness was all-state in football at Midwest City High School and led the state's Class 6A schools -- the largest classification -- in tackles as a senior. He also finished second in the state wrestling meet.

Upon graduating from high school the same year, neither of them knew what kind of college plans the other had.

But, as fate would have it, both wound up attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a perennial junior-college football powerhouse.

"We had no idea the other would be there," said LaViness. "I thought Jeremy might go some place and wrestle. Once I got there and saw him, it was a shock."

But a pleasant shock.

"It was good to see him there and it worked out well for us," Atwell said.

The pair started together at linebacker for two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma, LaViness having the more celebrated career as he was named second-team junior-college All-American as a sophomore, when he was ranked among the nation's top 75 juco prospects.

Atwell wound up signing with Southeast and became a starter during his rookie season with the Indians last year, making 31 tackles and leading the Ohio Valley Conference with four fumble recoveries.

LaViness signed with Tulsa and saw action in all 11 games last year, making 23 tackles. But he wasn't happy in that Division I-A program.

"I just didn't get along with my position coach," he said. "We just clashed."

Atwell attended a Tulsa game last year after Southeast's season had ended and that's when he found out LaViness was looking to transfer.

"We got to talking, I told him all about SEMO and he wanted to come here," said Atwell. "And here we are back together."

Southeast head coach John Mumford, already enamored with Atwell's big-play ability last season, is looking forward to having another Oklahoman in the Indians' linebacking corps.

"Those two guys come from football powers in Oklahoma, from big-time programs," said Mumford. "They're both great competitors and they make big plays. They both bring a refuse-to-lose attitude to our team."

LaViness and Atwell are hoping that attitude pays off in a big season for the team. The Indians went 3-8 last year but both are looking for much better things in 1999.

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people," said Atwell.

Added LaViness with a smile, "I can't wait to get started. It's going to be fun."

With the two Oklahoma buddies reunited, how can it be anything but?