INDIANS ANXIOUS FOR '97 OPENER

Southeast Missouri State University's football team has spent the past few weeks focusing primarily on itself during fall workouts.

This week, the Indians will finally get to direct their attention toward an opponent. It's game week at Southeast as the Indians gear up for Saturday's 7 p.m. season opener against Lambuth at Houck Stadium.

"We're tired of looking at each other and beating on each other," said Southeast coach John Mumford during Monday morning's first weekly media conference of the season. "We need to beat on some other people. The defense is chomping at the bit and the offense is probably tired of looking at the defense."

Mumford wanted to make it clear that, when he said the Indians need to beat on other people, he didn't mean that they will necessarily be able to beat up on Lambuth.

The Eagles from Jackson, Tenn., have one of the nation's top NAIA programs. They went 9-2 last season and advanced to the NAIA playoffs for the third straight year. Lambuth, which is 35-10-1 in five years under veteran coach Vic Wallace, is ranked fifth in the 1997 NAIA preseason poll.

"Lambuth is an awfully good football team," Mumford said. "People need to forget about the division. They will give us a good test. They have a good group coming back and they have just as many I-A transfers as we do."

Lambuth lost many of its key players from last year but returns six starters and did pick up several key transfers, including quarterback Billy Joe Spann from Tennessee-Martin and 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive tackle Steve Thompson from Alabama.

Spann directed UTM's Skyhawks to a 7-6 win over Southeast last season at Houck Stadium as he completed 16 of 28 passes, including a 52-yard touchdown.

"They (Lambuth) have a new offensive coordinator so we don't know what to expect," said Mumford. "But coach Wallace does a tremendous job. They'll be well prepared."

Mumford firmly believes that the Indians -- 3-8 a year ago -- have a lot more talent now than they've had in the past few seasons. But how that will translate as far as the final record remains to be seen.

"How good are we going to be? I have no idea," he said. "I know we have a lot more talent. We have more bullets this year. Potentially we can be a very good team. But ask me at the end of the season."

In addition to the obvious goal of winning the first game, Mumford said he will be looking for several things Saturday night.

"I'm looking for execution, focus and how we handle adversity during the course of the game," he said. "You're going to face adversity during a game and during the season. How we handle it is a big factor."

Mumford addressed the Indians' quarterback situation. Southern Mississippi transfer Heath Graham missed much of the early practices with a sore arm but now seems to be healthy. Returning starter Justin Martini has handled most of the load in workouts and he's now come up with somewhat of a sore arm.

Asked who Saturday's starter will be, Mumford said, "Whoever can take control of the offense and lead the team. By the end of the week, we should know (who will start)."

* Virginia Tech transfer Aaron Layne has been moved to tailback after working with the defensive secondary during two-a-days.

Layne, listed behind David Koleosho and Riki Smith for the opening game, rushed for nearly 1,400 yards as a senior in high school in Orlando, Fla.

"He gives us more depth at running back," said Mumford. "I think we'll pretty much have a backfield by committee, with several guys playing."

* Linebacker John Capriola, a junior-college transfer from California, has left the team and will not return. Capriola had not been listed on any of Southeast's two-deep charts.

* Several events are planned leading up to and surrounding Saturday's opener.

The annual Booster Barbecue for all boosters and Southeast athletes will be held at the Show Me Center Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

A football kickoff rally for Southeast students and fans will be held at Houck Stadium Thursday at 7 p.m. There will be free hot dogs and soda for the first 500 in attendance. There will also be games and an opportunity to win prizes.

On all game days, the new parking lot just south of Houck Field House will be a designated tailgate area. Fans can come early to tailgate and get ready for the games.

Also Saturday, members of Southeast football teams in the 1940s and 1950s will be honored.