BRUNE MAY START FOR INJURED WEST

Even though Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings says his team has no quarterback controversy, the Indians are almost certain to have a new starter behind center when they open their home schedule Saturday night.

Bobby Brune, who came off the bench and directed last Saturday's miraculous 34-33 comeback win at Southern Illinois, will probably be on the field to begin Saturday's 6 p.m. contest against nationally-ranked Illinois State at Houck Stadium.

But Billings emphasized that Rashad West, who has started the first two games of the season, will likely be held back solely because he just returned to practice Thursday after injuring an ankle in the second quarter against SIU.

"Bobby will probably start," said Billings. "He's practiced all week, and I feel like if a kid doesn't practice Wednesday, he probably shouldn't start."

Billings, who earlier in the week said emphatically that West is his starter when healthy, indicated that West could also play against Illinois State, depending on how much his ankle continues to improve and also on how things are going in the game.

"Rashad looked good (Thursday) and by Saturday he could be 100 percent," Billings said. "We'll just see what happens in the game and how things are going."

West isn't the only quarterback involved with Saturday's matchup who is hurting. Kevin Glenn, Illinois State's career passing leader, suffered an injury to his throwing hand during last Saturday's 52-0 loss at Northern Illinois. Although Glenn is expected to start against Southeast, just how much the injury will affect him remains to be seen.

Even if Glenn is hampered, Illinois State -- like Southeast -- appears to be in good shape in the quarterback department. Glenn suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the 1999 campaign but Dusty Burk stepped in as a freshman and led the Redbirds to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals.

Also on the injury front, defensive tackle James Jennette -- Southeast's top returning defensive lineman from last season -- is expected to see his first action of the campaign Saturday. Jennette missed the first two games with a broken hand suffered during preseason practice.

In addition, three players who missed the SIU game after being injured in the season opener at Marshall -- offensive lineman Mike Green, linebacker Asim Thomas and punter Jason Witczak -- have all been cleared to play Saturday.

* The new FieldTurf playing surface at Houck Stadium will be dedicated just prior to Saturday's game.

The 5:50 p.m. ceremony will involve Southeast president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, members of the Southeast Board of Regents and selected members of the Southeast football and soccer teams.

Private contributors to the project will be honored earlier Saturday at Wildwood on the Southeast campus.

The new FieldTurf surface, completed in June at a cost of $885,000, was funded by private donations, athletic revenue and the university.