COLLEGE: INDIANS PUT FANS IN STANDS AT HOUCK

Ever since he was hired in December, Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings has emphasized just how important it was for the community to get behind the program as Billings and his new staff try to turn the Indians' fortunes around.

Well, so far the Indians have struggled in Billings' first season, just as they have done for most of the past decade. After Saturday's 38-28 loss to visiting Murray State, Southeast is 2-5 and has lost four straight games.

But the community has squarely gotten behind the Indians this year, as evidenced by the large crowds that have been showing up at Houck Stadium to watch them play.

The Indians are averaging 9,458 fans for their three home games so far this season and they have attracted two of the three largest recorded gatherings in Houck Stadium history. The Murray State game drew 10,028 fans to rank third while the Sept. 23 contest against Western Kentucky drew 10,222 fans to rank second.

Southeast, which plays its fourth and final home game of the campaign this Saturday when Tennessee-Martin visits for a 6 p.m. kickoff, figures to set a new record for average attendance in a season.

Speaking at his weekly media conference Monday, Billings said he has been extremely impressed by the kind of support his first Southeast team has received.

"The crowds have been fantastic and exciting," he said. "Talking to a lot of people after the games, they tell me they know we're not winning, but they like the style we're playing.

"From what I had been told in the past (about attendance for Southeast football), I've been very impressed by the support. It would be great to have another good crowd (this Saturday). It really looks good to recruits when they see fans behind us and the support from the community."

No time to breathe

Billings said that, while many people might look at a contest against lowly UT-Martin as a breather, he is approaching it as being the Indians' biggest game of the season.

"It's a big, key game for both of us because whoever loses is at the bottom of the conference," he said. "We have to win the football game."

Southeast, which is 0-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, and UT-Martin (1-7, 0-6) are currently the bottom two squads in the eight-team OVC. But while the Indians are struggling this year, it's nothing compared to what the Skyhawks have experienced not only this season but over the past few years.

The Skyhawks have not won an OVC game since 1996. So far this season, they have scored just 22 points and allowed 267 in six league contests. But Billings said there is no way his squad can afford to take UT-Martin lightly.

"A lot of other teams might feel like it's a week off, but not for us. We need to win," he said.

* Billings rotated his quarterbacks against Murray State, with Bobby Brune and Rashad West both seeing considerable action. West played for the first time since Sept. 23 after being sidelined with a variety of injuries.

But Billings said that he will go with just one quarterback for the bulk of the UT-Martin game as long as that player remains healthy and fares reasonably well.

Billings said he will make his decision on the starter late, perhaps not even until close to game time Saturday.

"We'll let them both practice (this week) and then decide on one quarterback," he said. "We have two quality quarterbacks and I do not mind playing either one of them."

* On the injury front, running back Iven Brown suffered a leg contusion early in the Murray State game and he is questionable for this week. True freshman Marcus Patton, who rushed for 59 yards on 10 carries against the Racers, will start Saturday.

Defensive tackle James Jennette, who twisted a knee against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 7, played only briefly against Murray State but is probable for UT-Martin.

Billings said that running back K.D. Koleosho, last year's leading rusher who has not played yet this season because of knee problems, continues to improve and could see action this week.

* Safety Joe Williams leads the OVC in tackles with 102 for an average of 14.6 per game. Fellow safety Isaac Powell is fourth in tackles with 79 for an average of 11.3 per contest.

Linebacker Corey Mathis is third in the league in tackles for loss, with 14. And he is sixth in overall tackles with 77 for an average of 11 per game.

Punter Jason Witczak continues to lead the conference in punting and he ranks 11th nationally with an average of 42 yards per boot.

Curtis Cooper is third in the OVC in kickoff and punt returns, with averages of 21.1 and 12.1 yards, respectively. He is 21st nationally in punt returns.

Offensively, Brune is fourth in the league in passing and total offense, with 954 yards and 968 yards, respectively. The junior also now has 3,006 career passing yards.

Three wide receivers rank in the OVC's top 10 in receptions per game. Leslie Weaver has caught 23 passes to rank fifth, Corey Chester has 21 receptions for sixth and Tarik Simpson has 19 receptions for eighth.

* A huge OVC game will take place Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky., as Western Kentucky hosts Eastern Illinois. Those squads are 6-0 and 4-0 in league play, respectively. The Hilltoppers, who will be playing their final conference game, will win the title with a victory.