Bieg gets thumbs up to return

Southeast Missouri State University offensive lineman Dan Bieg received exactly the news he was hoping for Wednesday.

Bieg, the Indians' second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference right guard, was cleared to return to full-contact work and he figures to see action during next Thursday's season opener at Ohio University.

"I'm excited," Bieg said. "It's great news."

Bieg, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound junior, feared that he would be forced to miss at least several games because of a thumb that had been slow to fully heal following January surgery. He originally broke the thumb during the middle of last season.

But Bieg was examined by a hand specialist in St. Louis Wednesday and got the good news. He said he'll wear a brace to protect the thumb.

"I'm fine to play, unless it bothers me quite a bit," Bieg said.

Bieg figures it won't take him very long to get back up to speed because he has been participating in most of Southeast's practices, except for scrimmages and other full-contact work.

"It's been tough sitting out the contact stuff, but I've been doing everything except that," Bieg said. "I expect to play some in the first game."

Southeast coach Tim Billings was nearly as elated as Bieg when the lineman returned from St. Louis and showed up for Wednesday's afternoon practice.

"It's wonderful news," Billings said. "He should be able to play some Thursday."

Bieg is part of a Southeast offensive line that averages more than 300 pounds per man, returns all five starters and is regarded as arguably the OVC's best units. The rest of the group is senior left tackle Justen Meyer, junior left guard Taurean Robinson, senior center Eugene Amano and junior right tackle Dan Connolly.Two-a-days over

Southeast concluded two-a-days Wednesday. The Indians will practice once per day the rest of the week and weekend. School begins Monday.

The Indians are in their third week of workouts and Billings said he is pleased with the way things have gone. Southeast has suffered no significant injuries, with only the usual bumps and bruises. Even the extreme heat and humidity of the past several days have not adversely affected the squad.

"We're in so much better shape than we've ever been. Even with all this heat, nobody needed an IV. My first year here, we had a bunch of guys who needed them," said Billings, referring to intravenous fluids that are often used in hot weather when athletes become dehydrated.