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SportsOctober 26, 1997

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's football team was a bit shorthanded Saturday -- not that it likely had all that much to do with the Indians' embarrassing 55-6 loss at Middle Tennessee State. Linebacker Zuri Buchanan and wide receiver Marcus McKinley did not make the trip to MTSU after being suspended indefinitely for violation of team policy...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's football team was a bit shorthanded Saturday -- not that it likely had all that much to do with the Indians' embarrassing 55-6 loss at Middle Tennessee State.

Linebacker Zuri Buchanan and wide receiver Marcus McKinley did not make the trip to MTSU after being suspended indefinitely for violation of team policy.

"It's something that had to be done," said Southeast head coach John Mumford. "I'm not going to get specific, but they violated team rules."

Asked if either Buchanan or McKinley could be reinstated at some point before the season is over, Mumford said, "Right now it's indefinite. That's all I can say."

Buchanan, a transfer from Florida, is the Indians' second-leading tackler from his middle linebacker spot. He has 59 tackles, including three for losses of nine yards.

McKinley, a junior-college transfer from California, has six catches for 94 yards as a backup receiver. He also leads the Indians in punt returns with 17 for 100 yards.

Sophomore walkon David Bowling started in place of Buchanan while Alan Byrd, another sophomore walkon, took McKinley's place as Southeast's primary punt returner.

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Also not with the Indians Saturday was reserve defensive lineman Jason Justice, a transfer from Texas A&M who quit the team during the week because of a family illness in Austin, Texas.

Justice's brother Chris, an Oklahoma transfer who starts at linebacker for the Indians, has remained with the squad.

* The 55 points allowed Saturday marked the most points Southeast has given up since moving to the Division I-AA level in 1991.

Ironically, the previous high for points allowed also came against MTSU in a 52-0 loss in 1991.

* With the loss that dropped them to 2-5, the Indians must now win their final four games in order to finish with a winning record.

Southeast will close out its road schedule next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. game at Austin Peay.

The Governors, no longer an Ohio Valley Conference member for football after dropping down to non-scholarship status, are 0-7.

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