Fall practice arrives for Southeast Missouri State football team

~ Southeast offically began preparations for its Aug. 29 opener

Southeast Missouri State's first football practice of fall camp was simple, by design.

Players ran around in shorts, shirts and helmets. No pads were in sight, per NCAA rules.

An ordinary workout, to be sure -- but the Redhawks hope Monday's session helps set the tone for a season more like 2010 than the past two years.

"Everyone is just excited to be out here," junior linebacker Daniel Siehndel said. "The tempo was high. ... I see us doing some big things."

Quarterback Kyle Snyder throws during Monday’s practice. Snyder was sidelined the entire 2012 campaign with a knee injury.

Said junior fullback Ron Coleman: "It's a great feeling being back out here with your guys. We have a lot of positive energy."

The Redhawks are coming off consecutive 3-8 overall records and 2-6 Ohio Valley Conference marks that saw them place seventh in the nine-team OVC both seasons.

That's a far cry from the Redhawks' historic 2010 season, when they captured the program's first OVC title and gained the program's first playoff berth on any level.

Those outside the program don't expect the Redhawks to bounce back. They were recently picked to finish eighth in the OVC based on voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Southeast players emphasize that games are won on the field and not on paper.

"Being an underdog is always good," junior wide receiver/return man Spencer Davis said. "We're not worried about any preseason poll."

Siehndel said a strong summer of voluntary workouts provided the Redhawks a nice boost entering fall camp and can serve as a springboard for the season.

"We had a lot of guys stay here over the summer, more than last year," Siehndel said. "Really creating that bond ... everybody is really cohesive."

Southeast's first practice was an afternoon session at Houck Stadium -- it was originally scheduled for the Rosengarten Athletic Complex before heavy rain early in the day altered those plans -- that lasted a little more than two hours.

"It feels good to get back out here," Davis said. "There's a lot of excitement."

Southeast coach Tony Samuel gave the opening practice a thumbs up, although he said the heavy lifting will come soon.

"No pads, helmets only ... we're just introducing things," Samuel said. "It's orientation. We've got a fair amount of young guys. The first day, we just want to get the kids acclimated to what we're trying to do. We will be going a lot harder as the week progresses."

One thing noticeably absent from the opening practice was the extreme heat and humidity that normally greet the Redhawks during the early portion of fall camp.

Monday's weather was so mild and cool, it could have been mistaken for something experienced in late September or early October. Certainly not during early August.

"It's unusual," Davis said.

Southeast players likely will have to deal with the heat and humidity at some point. Samuel eagerly anticipates that because he knows some of the early-season games will feature that type of weather.

"We don't want this. You've got to get the heat on you," Samuel said with a smile.

Football camps generally take on a greater intensity when the pads come on and two-a-days start.

Southeast won't have to wait long for that. The Redhawks' initial full-pad workout will be Friday, and their first two-a-day session will be Saturday.

The Redhawks open the season Aug. 29 at Southeastern Louisiana.

Their first home game and first OVC contest is Sept. 28 against Tennessee-Martin.

Noteworthy

* For the first time in program history, Southeast will wear black helmets this season. The Redhawks sported the new headgear, along with new Nike practice jerseys, during Monday's practice.

* Southeast will be included in the the OVC's "Game of the Week" package announced Monday. The nine contests will be carried exclusively on ESPN3, which is available online.

The Redhawks' homecoming game against Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 26 is part of the lineup.