COACH'S CORNER: SEMO BRINGS UNITED FRONT INTO SEASON

Every fall brings about the beginning of a new school year and the subsequent changes and improvements. Southeast Missouri State University is no different as there are exciting improvements everywhere on and within our campus.

The fall will always produce one constant and that is football. Southeast football began on Aug. 7 with two weeks of two-a-day practices and, to date, one and a half weeks of single practices. As with our campus, we have worked diligently toward improvements in our performance.

Our goal for the two-a-day camp was very simple -- come together as a team on one heartbeat by changing any habits that have been detrimental to our success.

Through the efforts of our coaching staff and especially our seniors, we have taken the appropriate strides to meet the goal.

The senior class is one of the few that have taken their leadership role and set the appropriate example for our younger players. They are hungry and determined to succeed and instill winning habits as their legacy to the program. There is no apparent selfishness in this group. They just want to win and know their chances are better by doing it together.

As far as expectations for this team goes, from the outside, there are none. We earned it, and now have the opportunity to do something about it. On the other side of that coin, we have only one direction to go -- up!

We are young in many positions, especially in the second 22 of our depth. However, many of these players are in their second year as redshirt freshmen who are long on talent, but short on experience. I will say that, through the early-season practice, they don't play like freshmen, but much older. Only game conditions will provide the true test.

The schedule is indeed tough. But if one were to study the teams, there are several in much the same boat as we are. The first four games will provide enough of a challenge for many seasoned teams. Our opener Thursday night against Southern Illinois at Houck Stadium is no exception.

The Salukis were much improved at the end of last season. The staff has done a great job of instilling physical toughness in their players and have recruited several players who are performing exceptionally well.

I know that SIU has had many distractions during their fall camp, particularly with their standout tailback Karlton Carpenter having legal problems. That can only bring the Salukis closer together as a unit, as adversity often does.

SIU has plenty of experience up front and enough speed on both sides of the ball to be a dangerous and explosive team.

We look forward to starting the 1999 season. Our players have worked hard and are ready to test themselves against SIU.

It is our intent that we can keep the past in the past and look forward to a successful start against the Salukis. We ask that you all do the same. Give this group of Indians a fighting chance by coming out and supporting their effort Thursday night.

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