FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: TIGERS BREAK OUT CARE PACKAGE IN 2000 FOOTBALL SEASON

Cape Central cares more this year.

The Tigers care more when they practice, they care more when they win and they care more when they lose.

And that, as much as anything, is why Cape Central is so much better than it was last year.

Central coach Lawrence Brookins said the Tigers took their 20-7 loss to Poplar Bluff hard this week. The Tigers believed they could beat Poplar Bluff, a team that Central hasn't been able to solve in recent years.

But that disappointment is a good sign.

It's a sign that the Tigers aren't accepting losing.

They believe in themselves and their abilities.

That's a credit to Brookins and his coaching staff.

Every coach I've talked to that has played Cape Central or has seen the Tigers on film, is impressed with the dramatic change from last year's squad.

At this point last year, Central was 0-4. And not a "if-we-had-a-play-here-or-there-we'd-be-3-1" 0-4. The Tigers were overmatched in each of their first four games.

This year, the Tigers are 2-2 with two blowout wins and their two losses came to two of the best teams in Southeast Missouri. Central was competitive in both those games and is literally about five or six plays from being 4-0.

I expect the Tigers to improve to 3-2 this week and, get this, I expect Cape Central to go to the playoffs.

If you look at who is in Central's district, the Tigers would have to be a slight favorite at this point in the season.

Yes, Farmington is ranked ninth in 4A and was at one time ranked second. How in the name of Lou Muegge the Knights were ranked second is still beyond me.

They're not a top 10 team.

You may have noticed that Farmington lost to New Madrid 35-0. Cape Central lost to the Eagles 20-7 and, had it not been for two long pass plays, could have won. The Tiger defense held that speedy running game in check and played right with NMCC, the sixth-ranked team in 3A. New Madrid absolutely dominated Farmington.

Central's other two district foes -- Sikeston and Perryville are both having down years. Sikeston allowed a sophomore Kennett running back to rush for more than 300 yards last week in a stunning 41-21 loss. The Bulldogs have a big line on both sides of the ball, but are weak at the skill positions.

Perryville is a better team than its 0-4 record indicates, but the Pirates' confidence will be shattered by the end of the season if they can't put a couple wins together. And by looking at their schedule, that will be tough.

So that leaves Cape Central.

The team that went 1-9 last year. The team that had internal squabbles, the team that couldn't do anything right.

Right now, the Tigers are looking a district championship and a winning season right in the face and they're disappointed that they lost to Poplar Bluff.

That's definitely a good sign.

Just wondering:

* Does anyone besides me think that a Scott City-St. Vincent game would be a natural matchup? *** Does anyone besides me think that Scott City (SEMO South) and Charleston (SEMO Central) should consider swapping conferences?

* Jackson has by far the largest following of any team in Southeast Missouri. Why then, are their games broadcast on a radio station that you can barely pick up 10 miles outside of Jackson?

* Jackson junior RB Mario Whitney has big-time speed (4.43 in the 40) and makes more moves than Bill Clinton. He's received attention from schools such as Michigan, Alabama and Georgia. But is he big enough physically (6-0, 170) to play running back at that level?

* By the way, how fast would Whitney look in WHITE shoes?

Bob Miller is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian