INDIANS EAGER TO JUMP BACK INTO ACTION

It's back to business as usual this week for Southeast Missouri State University's football team.

The Indians, after kicking off the 1997 season with a 24-6 win over Lambuth on Aug. 30, had an open date over the weekend. They'll return to action Saturday when Illinois State visits Houck Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup.

"I thought having the week off was good," said Southeast head coach John Mumford during Monday's weekly media conference. "We were able to make corrections from the Lambuth game and get a jump on Illinois State.

"Health-wise we're in good shape and that's one of the reasons I really like having that week off."

This week the Indians will turn their full attentions to Illinois State, which has had two vastly differing performances during a 1-1 start.

The Redbirds got off to a shaky start on the road when Southern Utah's wishbone offense produced a 44-13 romp on Aug. 30. But ISU bounced back Saturday to stun nationally-ranked Buffalo 40-28 at home.

"Illinois State is extremely talented at every skill position on the football field," said Mumford, whose squad lost to the Redbirds 29-0 last year in Normal, Ill. "They are very young, but they're very talented."

ISU, coached by former Southeast assistant Todd Berry, got a big boost against Buffalo from freshman quarterback Kevin Glenn, who came off the bench early and wound up completing 18 of 28 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown.

The Redbirds also possess one of Division I-AA's most explosive receivers and kick returners in Marquis Mosely. The Illinois transfer compiled 250 all-purpose yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return, against Buffalo. He is the national leader in kickoff returns, averaging 60 yards per return.

"Their quarterback really made things happen against Buffalo and Moseley is something to contend with as a wide receiver and kick returner," Mumford said. "We need to try and keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible."

While the Indians pretty much had their way with NAIA foe Lambuth in the season opener, Mumford said fans attending Saturday's game should expect a thriller.

"It should be a great night, with two good I-AA football teams," he said. "It should be exciting to watch with that caliber of athlete on the football field. We need the home field advantage and we need good student support."

* The Indians have added yet another Division I-A transfer, bringing their school record of transfers from the NCAA's highest division to eight.

Joining Southeast for practice late last week was offensive tackle Cornelius Jackson, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound sophomore who was at Oklahoma last season.

"He gives us more depth on the line," said Mumford. "He's a very good athlete. I wish he was about 290 or 300 pounds, which is one of the reasons he might have left Oklahoma. But he should help us."

* Southeast came out of the Lambuth game virtually injury-free.

Reserve defensive lineman Eric David suffered an injured thumb and freshman defensive back Isaac Powell, who is listed as a second-team cornerback, had a bruised achilles heel. Both are back at full speed this week.

* New this season, Mumford has a radio call-in show on KGIR-1220 each Tuesday from 7-8 p.m.

The show, at Cedar Street Restaurant at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau, is hosted by Southeast play-by-play announcer Mike Legg.