INDIANS READY FOR ANYTHING

There is exactly one week to go before Southeast Missouri State University's opening game of the 1999 football season.

And the Indians have absolutely no idea what Southern Illinois offense to prepare for.

"I guess we'll have to be ready for everything and anything," said Southeast coach John Mumford with a laugh.

When SIU makes the trip from Carbondale for next Thursday's 6 p.m. opener at Houck Stadium, it's anybody's guess what type of offense the Salukis will utilize.

The mystery stems from recent developments that will almost certainly cause the Salukis to be without their top two running backs for the game against the Indians.

Karlton Carpenter, SIU's all-time leading rusher who was named Gateway Conference MVP last year after gaining 1,892 yards, faces a felony burglary charge and has not yet practiced nor even joined the team. He's still reportedly in his home town of Chicago.

Paul Davis, a former transfer from Kansas State who is also regarded as a fine runner, was slated to fill in for Carpenter -- but Davis recently suffered a serious knee injury that might keep him out for the season and will definitely force him to miss the opener.

Without either of his top two runners, SIU coach Jan Quarless said during one of his recent news conferences that the Salukis might just throw the ball 80 times a game.

Mumford doubts that, but he knows the Indians must be prepared for a variety of things.

"First of all, we have to plan that Carpenter will play, because you never know. But my gut tells me that, with those type of charges, we won't have to worry about him," Mumford said. "I've heard talk about them throwing the ball all over the place and I've heard talk about the option.

"We just have to be ready for it all. In a lot of ways, it's harder to prepare when you don't know what's coming. Carpenter is a great back but, when they had him, you knew who was going to get the ball most of the time."

Carpenter ripped the Indians for 206 yards during last year's season finale, a 34-7 SIU romp in Carbondale.

Listed third on the original SIU depth chart at running back behind Carpenter and Davis was former Poplar Bluff standout Rodney Kennedy, a senior who gained 165 yards during his freshman season but only 63 yards since, mainly because Carpenter has been the go-to guy.

* Mumford, whose squad began preparations for SIU Monday, said he has been pleased with the Indians' progress with a week to go before the first game.

"I've been pleased overall," he said. "Our first goal was to come together during two-a-days, to learn to play for each other and respect each other. I think we've done that. We've had great leadership to date with the seniors."

As for injuries, Mumford said the Indians have been relatively fortunate in that department, save for the usual assorted bumps and bruises.