GRASS GETS GREENER FOR SOUTHEAST FOOTBALL

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings and athletic director Don Kaverman agree that the planned renovations to Houck Stadium would be a huge step toward helping the Indians return to respectability on the gridiron.

The addition of a new FieldTurf playing surface this year is just the first of a five-phase improvement program for the stadium that was constructed in 1930. The plan will also include a new press box, new home and visiting dressing rooms, enhancement of the stadium and fieldhouse exterior facades and expansion of landscaping and parking around the stadium.

"Something like that will definitely have a major impact on the program," said Billings, the Indians' first-year head coach who was hired in December. "It's a tremendous boost."

Said Kaverman, "We've made a real commitment to upgrading our football program and giving it a real chance to be competitive, not only in the Ohio Valley Conference but in I-AA. I think this would be the last big variable in terms of providing what we really need to be competitive."

For a variety of reasons and lagging facilities have been suggested as major factors the football Indians have struggled mightily in recent seasons.

Southeast has compiled back-to-back 3-8 records and is just 13-31 over the last four seasons. The Indians' last winning record was a 7-5 mark in 1994, which was also their only winning season since 1991.

Billings was hired away from Division I-A power Marshall to turn things around. In order for that to happen, he realizes strong recruiting is vital. And he knows that recruiting to a renovated Houck Stadium would be a boon for the program.

"It will definitely help recruiting," Billings said. "With better facilities, you have a better chance to recruit. Players want to play in a nice facility. Look at the Show Me Center and what they've done with the basketball program. It all goes hand in hand."

Billings emphasized that the actual playing facility at Houck Stadium is now first-rate with the installation of Field Turf, an artificial surface that resembles grass and has met with rave reviews by just about everybody. The new surface has allowed the Indians to practice at Houck Stadium on a regular basis, something that was not possible in the past.

"It's everything and more we thought it would be," Billings said. "It's by far the best turf I've ever been on. It's better than real grass."

Added Billings, "I think the stadium itself is fine. It's a beautiful stadium. But cosmetically, it can use an upgrade."

Kaverman believes that renovations to Houck Stadium would turn it into the beautiful facility that it once was.

"I think it's a gorgeous setting, there are just some things that have to be done to it, but it can be absolutely stunning," Kaverman said. "Houck Stadium has been around 70 years and nothing has basically been done to it in that time. It sits on a very visible corner and it really makes a statement. It's important it presents the university in a very positive light; that's why we have to clean it up.

"Once we do that, I think it will be a major boost not just for our football program but for our entire athletic program and the entire community. I think once we start to win and create a more pleasing venue for fans to watch football, it will all come together for us."

Kaverman, like Billings, could not be more pleased with the Field Turf surface that is currently riding a wave of popularity at colleges and high schools across the country.

"We're elated with it," said Kaverman. "I think it looks wonderful and the responses of our football and soccer teams has been great. It's a very popular surface. We were one of the first (colleges) to have it and now everybody is jumping on the bandwagon."