How 'bout those Indians? Good question

By Marty Mishow

I've been to both of Southeast Missouri State University's football scrimmages so far, along with many of the Indians' practices.

But don't ask me how the team looks. I'm far from an expert when it comes to gauging scrimmages and practices. Heck, even Southeast coach Tim Billings told me he never knows what to think, because if one unis does well, then that means the other didn't.

Two things, however, stick out so far regarding the Indians' first couple of weeks of workouts.

First, the defense looks way better than the offense right now. In both scrimmages, the defense -- which has been shaky at best during Billings' first two seasons at Southeast -- got by far the better of the offense and that has also pretty much been the case during practice.

Second, even though everybody in the program claims quarterback Jeromy McDowell's ailing right shoulder is structurally sound and will be fine soon, it's not a good sign when one of the keys to your offense has hardly been able to throw for more than a week and has been held out of both scrimmages -- all with the start of the season less than two weeks away.

Nobody ever accused big-time professional athletes of being overly intelligent as a group, although I'm sure individually many are quite smart.

But if major league baseball players do go on strike in a couple of weeks -- and I don't care what their reasons might be -- then you'll have to say they are about the dumbest of the dumb.

Even though Kerry Robinson is not getting many opportunities these days since the Cardinals acquired third baseman Scott Rolen and moved Albert Pujols to the outfield full time, the former Southeast baseball star continues to take advantage of the chances he does receive.

Robinson, a reserve outfielder, had hits in three consecutive at-bats over a three-game period recently as his average is a highly respectable .282.

He may or may not be in the Cardinals' long-range plans, but the speedy Robinson has proven to be quite a valuable bench player who should be able to have a job some place in the major leagues for quite a few more years.

Two more quick thoughts on the Cardinals.

First, even though there's no guarantee he will re-sign with St. Louis, you have got to love the Rolen trade. The Cardinals acquired one of baseball's top third baseman and an impressive power hitter without giving up much. And you have to believe that, given the baseball atmosphere in St. Louis, Rolen will want to remain a Cardinal for some time.

Second, how do you explain the sudden resurgence of pitcher Andy Benes, who appeared to be totally washed up at the start of the season? He couldn't get anybody out, then he goes on the injured list, gets some minor league rehabilitation work, comes back -- and all of a sudden he's virtually unhittable.

It's going to be difficult for Southeast product Jason Witczak to earn a roster spot with the Tennessee Titans -- who have one of the NFL's better kickers in Joe Nedney -- but Witczak is at least getting a chance to make an impression during the preseason.

Witczak, an All-American punter for the Indians in 2000, kicked two extra points two weeks ago against the Rams and he booted a 22-yard field goal Thursday against the Raiders.

Witczak, who was also with the Titans last preseason but failed to make the team, always seems to be positive about his chances when I see him in Cape Girardeau during offseasons. He's encouraged by that most of the NFL's top kickers and punters bounced around for a few years before sticking with a team.

Former Southeast pitcher Brad Purcell was having a strong rookie season for Evansville (Ind.) Otters of the independent Frontier League, going 5-2 with a 2.50 earned-run average.

But when I tried to look up Purcell's statistics a few days ago, I learned that he was no longer with the Otters, which seemed a bit strange.

I called the organization to get a little more information and the guy I spoke to wouldn't say a whole lot, other than telling me there were some behind-the-scenes problems Purcell had, although it never became a legal matter.

Former Southeast football coach Bill Maskill has resurfaced as the head coach at Division II Midwestern (Texas) State.

Maskill has bounced around in a number of assistant coaching jobs after going 13-8 during his two seasons at Southeast, in 1988 and 1989.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian