Garner has earned more time

Now that Southeast Missouri State University's third consecutive losing basketball season is in the books, it won't be long before some fans call for a coaching change.

Gary Garner still has two years left on his contract and appears to be on solid ground with Southeast's administration, so it's not likely that he's going anywhere.

I don't think Garner should be shown the door.

Not only is Garner a class act who has never come close to running into problems with NCAA rules violations wherever he's been, I firmly believe the program is on the verge of getting back on track, and to start over right now with a new regime would be foolish.

Plus, I don't think three losing seasons (particularly not at a program like Southeast's, which is so far down the big-time food chain) should automatically cancel out the previous four winning records --including a three-year mark of 62-28 that included the Indians' first Ohio Valley Conference title and NCAA Division I tournament berth -- and the overall job Garner did in stabilizing the program after it had been placed on NCAA probation.

Not to disparage former coach Ron Shumate, for whom I had the utmost respect, but he was allowed to compile four straight losing seasons before finally being dismissed after the NCAA determined he had committed rules violations. Sure, the circumstances were a bit different, because Shumate was handicapped by the tough task of moving the program from Division II into Division I, but the principle is the same.

This season -- which began with realistic high hopes for basically the first time in three years -- turned out disappointing, and there are no excuses, which is the way Garner wants it.

But this year's situation can in no way be compared to the last two seasons, when for various reasons that have previously been well documented the Indians were caught significantly short of talent.

The Indians had a solid squad this season -- they just didn't end up with the wins to show for it. They were in virtually every OVC contest, but you can never predict the outcome of close games. Southeast just happened to wind up on the short end of way too many.

But with most of this year's key players scheduled to return -- including a rejuvenated Reggie Golson, whose late-season surge has really fueled some optimism -- if the Indians can find a solid replacement for highly productive center Brandon Griffin, they should be able to put quite a talented lineup on the court, particularly since most of the OVC's top teams will suffer major personnel losses.

All that being said, however, the bottom line in college athletics -- whether right or wrong -- is wins and losses. And there's no question the Indians have to start turning around their record next season or Garner's future in Cape Girardeau could be in serious jeopardy.

Here's wishing Southeast football coach Tim Billings all the best as he recovers from recent knee replacement surgery -- on both of his knees.

Billings has long been bothered by horrible knee problems and he even had to sit in the coaches' box at times last season because standing on the sidelines caused too much pain.

Hopefully the surgery will help Billings get back to a more normal lifestyle.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.

It's only one game, and by the end of the season most people probably won't even remember it.

But what an amazing comeback Southeast's baseball team put on Wednesday as it rallied from a 9-3, eighth-inning deficit to beat host Arkansas State 12-9.

After dropping all three games during an opening series at Oklahoma, it was no doubt just the shot in the arm Mark Hogan's inexperienced squad needed as it heads to nationally ranked Mississippi for games Tuesday and Wednesday.

And don't forget the Indians home opener Saturday, a 1 p.m. doubleheader against NAIA Brescia.