Indians poised to crash bash for retiring EKU coach

Eastern Kentucky football legend Roy Kidd admitted he will feel a few butterflies today when he coaches his final home game at the stadium that bears his name.

But Kidd said his main focus will be on getting past an improved Southeast Missouri State University team -- and keeping the Colonels in the hunt for an NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth.

The 16th-ranked Colonels (7-3, 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference) and Indians (6-4, 3-2) square off at 5 p.m. in Richmond, Ky.

Kidd, who will retire after the season, has a 314-122-8 record in his 39th season at EKU. He is the nation's third-winningest active Division I coach, trailing only Penn State's Joe Paterno and Florida State's Bobby Bowden.

"I haven't thought about it that much, but now that it's mentioned, it just seems funny," Kidd said. "Probably toward the end of the game, I'm sure I'll really think about it.

"Our school is really trying to fill the stadium to make it a big thing. We have a lot of ex-players coming back for the game. I hope it's a nice night and we do have a great crowd. It would mean a lot."

But, added Kidd, "The important thing is not that it's my last game, but that we win and stay in the playoff picture. It won't be a nice night if we don't come out of it with a win."

Although the Colonels figure to be solid favorites, they'll have to get past a Southeast team having its best season since 1994.

"SEMO has really improved," Kidd said. "They've got three big ingredients, a quarterback who can throw the ball, a tailback who can run the ball and Willie Ponder is a great receiver, probably one of the best -- if not the best -- receiver in our league.

"And where I've seen the most improvement is in the offensive line. You take those things, no doubt, looking at their video and their scores, they're going to put points on the board. So we're going to have to do a really good job on defense."

If any team appears capable of slowing down Southeast's high-flying offense that averages 425.7 yards per game, it's EKU, which has the OVC's premier defense.

The Colonels lead the conference in every major statistical defensive category by a wide margin. They allow an average of 16.5 points and 261.7 yards per game, which rank among the top 20 nationally.

"They're no doubt the premier defense in the conference," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "They have a great defense, one of the best in the country."

The Colonels also have a solid if not spectacular offense, keyed by their traditional power running game.

Sophomore tailback C.J. Hudson led the OVC in rushing last year with 1,221 yards and is among the league's best this season with 963 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averages 4.8 yards per carry. Another Colonel, Terry Ennis, has gained 802 yards and averages 5.9 yards per attempt.

"They have great running backs," Billings said. "They run the ball well, like they always have. They've basically run over us the last two years, but I think we're stronger up front now and hopefully that won't happen."

EKU has won all 12 meetings with Southeast, many of them by lopsided margins. But Billings said the Indians match up well and could be poised to pull off an upset if they are able to protect quarterback Jack Tomco and defend the run.

"They get to the quarterback so quick, protection will be a big key, and so will us being able to control their running game some and make them throw the ball," Billings said. "If we can do those things, I think we'll be right in the game."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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