COACH'S CORNER: A DIFFICULT SEASON ENDS WITH LOSS TO CARBONDALE

After a difficult season we went to Carbondale to play our final game against Southern Illinois. The Salukis are a team whose season has mirrored ours. They played several teams down to the wire only to come up on the short end of the score.

We lost to SIU 34-7 in simply ugly fashion. Our execution was at times extremely sharp and at times non-existent. It appears that a few people jumped on the bus to finish the season and not to win the game.

Some plays in Saturday's game were freakish in nature. Our field goal snap and hold operation were shaky. Fred Hambrick and Isaac Powell broke on a Saluki pass, collided with each other and the ball fell into the hands of the wide receiver in the endzone.

After SIU pinned us down on the 1-inch line, we drove the ball 97 yards to the SIU 3. On the next play our offensive line exploded, drove the defenders off the ball and we fumbled the quarterback-fullback exchange. Again, playing to win means making the plays to win.

As our season has ended at 3-8, we must wish the best to 19 seniors who worked hard, came close and deserved more. Two in particular deserve mention.

Mike Cunniff played wide receiver. He walked on, paid his way and served mostly as a scout team and travel squad member. Mike is simply blessed with a great attitude and unselfish work ethic, and his role on our team was crucial.

Troy Baglio played tremendous football from his defensive line position. His dedication to training and preparation is the perfect example for young players to follow. He trained hurt, he played hurt and was the best in his position. Troy's love for the game will be sorely missed but hopefully passed on to future leaders on the team.

In the end, this football team, as young men, were a pleasure to coach. They worked hard, played together, came from behind and were 12 plays from being 8-3 or better. Football is a fickle game. It gives back what young men and coaches put into it. The minute details of position technique or mentally processing a play is all the difference in making those 12 plays that result in victory or defeat.

To those who supported this team and were astute enough to see how close they came to a hell of a season, our sincere thanks.

Finally, to answer the speculation surrounding our football staff's future. I will not say. It is in the hands of our administration to evaluate our program and make the decisions they deem appropriate.

I will say that any decision regarding our staff goes well beyond the coaches into their families, friends, players and respective futures. I will say that whatever decision that is rendered needs to take place quickly for our staff, the recruiting process and future of the program.

I will say that there are several talented young players, many from the area that indicate a bright future. And I will finally say, that through it all, this coach, the staff and their families want to be here, a part of the future with a reciprocal commitment to the success of that future.

John Mumford is the head football coach at Southeast Missouri State University.