FIRST-YEAR RECEIVERS WILL PLAY KEY ROLES

It is no doubt a sign of how well they have fit in that first-year Southeast Missouri State University wide receivers Willie Ponder and Adrian Sanders were voted by their teammates as two of the six captains for the Indians this season.

Southeast coach Tim Billings has been raving for a while about the talents of Ponder and Sanders, a pair of junior-college transfers who joined the Indians in time for spring practice earlier this year. Both will start and be counted on for plenty of production in the 2001 campaign that begins Sept. 1 at Eastern Michigan.

"I feel like if we can get them the ball, they can make things happen," said Billings. "A big plus is that they're big and strong besides being able to catch the football and run with it."

Ponder is listed as 6-feet-2 and 195 pounds while Sanders is 6-3, 200. Compare that to last year's leading receiver Leslie Weaver, who completed his eligibility. Weaver, while highly productive, was 5-7 and 160 pounds.

"Leslie could make things happen with his speed, but he was small," said Billings. "The good thing about Willie and Adrian is that I think they're going to be able to go up and outmuscle defensive backs for the ball, and they've also got the speed to run with it after they catch it."

Ponder and Sanders, a pair of juniors, both transferred to Southeast from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, but they took different paths to Cape Girardeau.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., Ponder originally signed with Division I-A Tulsa and started some games as a true freshman, catching eight passes. But he ran into academic problems and headed to Coffeyville in order to get his grades in order, although he did not play football there last year.

Sanders, who hails from Wichita, Kan., was a two-year standout at traditional juco power Coffeyville.

"We didn't play football together (at Coffeyville), but we knew each other and were friends," said Ponder.

Both said they were somewhat surprised yet proud to be voted two of Southeast's captains even though they have not yet seen a down of game action for the Indians.

"It made me feel real good," Ponder said.

Added Sanders, "It's a nice honor and it means you have to take on more responsibility."

Although Ponder and Sanders both had their choices of schools to attend after leaving the juco ranks, they settled on Southeast for simple reasons.

"It's real comfortable here, a nice environment," said Sanders as Ponder nodded in agreement.

Sanders has some interesting football bloodlines. He is a nephew of former NFL running back great Barry Sanders, who abruptly retired a few years ago while still in his prime.

Adrian Sanders said his uncle has been a valuable asset to his football career and he normally comes to one of his games each year, which means he will likely show up in Cape Girardeau some time this season.

"He said he'd come to a game here," Sanders said.

If Barry Sanders does visit Houck Stadium this year, Southeast's new wide receivers hope to give him something to cheer about. Never mind that the Indians, 3-8 in each of the last three seasons, are not picked by the so-called experts to do much better this year.

"It doesn't matter what people say," said Ponder. "We're looking for rings, championships."

Ladies Football Clinic

Southeast's coaching staff will hold its annual Ladies Football Clinic Tuesday at the Show Me Center. There will be a happy hour at 6 p.m. and the clinic will run from 7-9 p.m. The event is free.

Billings and his assistant will teach the basics of football in a fun environment. There will also be refreshments and prizes.

"We had a real good turnout last year for our first clinic, with about 80 women," said Billings. "We're hoping to get at least 150 this year."

For more information or to RSVP, call assistant coach Tony Joe White at 986-6165.