INDIANS AGAIN FITTED FOR 7TH IN OVC POLL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford is hoping this season's Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll doesn't turn out to be as accurate for his team as last year's was.

A year ago, the Indians were picked to finish seventh in the eight-team league -- and that's exactly where they wound up after a disappointing 1-6 conference record and 4-7 overall mark.

Friday morning, during the annual OVC Media Day at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Indians were again tabbed for a seventh-place finish in voting by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors.

Mumford said that seventh-place prediction was no big surprise to him.

But he also said that he sure would hate for the so-called experts to be on the money once again.

"You never like being picked in the bottom half of the conference standings, but based on last year, I can understand why we were picked to finish seventh," he said. "But it doesn't really mean a whole lot. The preseason (poll) is all based on last year's performance.

"We really don't want to look back too much on last year. We want to look to this year. The only way to go is straight up. We certainly expect to finish much higher (than seventh)."

Mumford's hopes for a bounce-back season are based on a variety of things.

While the Indians struggled last year, they did play fairly well over their last four games, going 2-2.

"I think we came on toward the end of last year and were a pretty good football team," Mumford said. "Hopefully that will carry over into this season."

Mumford also hopes improved chemistry will go a long way toward an improved season.

"I think chemistry counts tremendously and our chemistry is so much better," he said. "I like the attitude of our players. Everything I've seen out of them is positive."

The Indians lost some key seniors off last year's team, including Division I-AA All-American defensive lineman Angel Rubio, the 1997 OVC Defensive Player of the Year who is battling for a roster spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But Southeast does return 14 starters, nine on offense.

Offensively, the Indians appear to be fairly well equipped at most positions, including the offensive line, running back, wide receiver and tight end. The major question is at quarterback, where several players will be battling for the starting spot and Jeff Shaw enters practice as the starter.

"We're starting to get some continuity with our offense," said Mumford. "I think we're going to be a good offensive team."

Defensively, the Indians must replace several key players, but Mumford is confident they can do that.

"We've got a great defensive tradition that (defensive coordinator Charles Sabbatini) coach Sab has started," Mumford said. "We don't have an Angel Rubio, but I'll go to war with guys like Troy Baglio, Marcus McClellan, Freddie Hambrick and others."

As Southeast prepares for the start of preseason workouts -- newcomers report today, with veterans coming in Monday and full-squad practices beginning Wednesday -- Mumford believes the Indians will have ample opportunity to prove the pollsters wrong.

"I think we have a good team coming back," he said. "If they work hard, play together and execute, then we can reach our potential. And I don't think there's anybody on our schedule that is not beatable."

Speaking of the schedule, it's certainly a challenging one, having been considerably upgraded from last year.

In addition to the seven OVC games, Division II Truman State, Indiana State and Southwest Missouri replace Lambuth, Austin Peay and Illinois State as non-conference opponents. Southern Illinois remains as the fourth non-league foe.

"The conference will be really strong and our four non-conference opponents will all be excellent tests for us," said Mumford. "It's an extremely challenging schedule for us, but it's also one that could be a great schedule for the fact we have four home games in September. We'll have a chance to create some early momentum."

Southeast's first four games of the season will all be night contests at Houck Stadium, beginning with a Sept. 3, Thursday matchup against Truman State.

The Indians will then face Indiana State Sept. 12, Murray State Sept. 19 and Tennessee-Martin Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

After that, only two of the remaining seven games will be at home.

"I think it's a real attractive schedule for our fans," Mumford said. "We're looking to get some early success at home and really get our fans excited."

* Three Southeast players were selected Friday to the preseason all-OVC team while three more Indians received honorable mention.

Gaining first-team preseason all-OVC honors were junior center Chris Kiefer out of Perryville High, senior defensive lineman Troy Baglio and senior defensive back Fred Hambrick.

Hambrick was a first-team all-OVC selection last year while Kiefer and Baglio made the second team.

Wide receiver Dante Bryant, tight end Mitch Fryer and offensive lineman Jessie Eaton were named honorable mention on the preseason team.

* A total of 25 newcomers, including freshmen and junior-college transfers, are scheduled to report today.

Sixty-five returnees are slated to report Monday.

"The practices with the newcomers before the veterans report will be important," said Mumford. "It gives us a chance to do a lot of teaching and we can assess where they can fit into our program."