Southeast Missouri State University's football game at Eastern Illinois last season featured a wild finish. The Indians rallied to take a late lead, the Panthers kicked a field goal in the final seconds to surge back ahead and then Southeast missed a last-second field goal as Eastern Illinois hung on for a 35-33 victory.
But a story surrounding that game which surfaced earlier this week is even wilder.
Prosecutors in Charleston, Ill., said Wednesday that a former coach and elementary school teacher secretly videotaped Southeast players dressing and undressing in a locker room during the game last October.
Lance Schneiderman, 27, of Shumway, Ill., allegedly set up the camera in a locker room being used by members of the Southeast team on Oct. 3, said Coles County Assistant State's Attorney Roy Dent.
"He set up the camera and then got in front of it to check out the sight line," said Dent, who would not say where the camera was located. A number of people are naked on the tape, he said.
Southeast head coach John Mumford and several of his players expressed shock, bewilderment -- and even a bit of humor -- after learning of the report.
"You never know. There are some crazy people out there," said Mumford, who said he knew nothing of the allegations until the reports surfaced Wednesday. "It's embarrassing to my guys, but there's not a lot you can do. You don't search a locker room before a game for something like that.
Tight end Mitch Fryer, who caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Bobby Brune in the closing moments of the game to cap a big second-half rally by the Indians, said he learned of the allegations Thursday when speaking with Mumford.
"Coach told me you won't believe what happened," said Fryer. "I think it's crazy. The first thing that crossed my mind was maybe the guy was trying to put it on the Internet."
Like Fryer, linebacker Gabe Jenkins said he got wind of the story Thursday.
"One of the other players told me," said Jenkins, a Cape Girardeau native. "My mother was kind of upset when she heard.
"It's off the wall. I never thought somebody would want to tape record some naked football players."
Said tailback Riki Smith, "It's weird. I heard about it today (Thursday) and I was shocked. It surprised me. Nobody has really seen the tapes, so you can't say too much. There's just some crazy people out there."
Added Smith with a laugh, "When I heard about it, I thought we might get on SportsCenter."
It is unclear how Schneiderman gained access to the locker room. Dent said Schneiderman has no affiliation with Eastern Illinois but may have used university facilities, which are open to the public.
A misdemeanor charge of unauthorized videotaping was filed Wednesday in Coles County Circuit Court. If convicted, Schneiderman faces up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Schneiderman resigned last month as a sixth-grade teacher and athletic coach from Beecher City Unit 20 School District, located west of Effingham, Ill.
He is being investigated for allegedly providing alcohol and pornographic material to junior high school students, said Effingham County State's Attorney Kevin Parker. Parker would not elaborate, other than to say that the pornographic material was not the videotape Schneiderman is accused of making in the college locker room.
"From what I understand, the guy had nothing to do with the school," Mumford said. "I hope they prosecute him to the full extent of the law."
(The Associated Press provided some information for this story)
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