It's still early, but Indians could use a victory

Starting out with three losses is certainly not how anybody associated with Southeast Missouri State University's football program -- fans included -- envisioned the 2003 season.

And there's no dancing around the fact that not only are the Indians 0-3, they've generally -- except for a few spots -- looked pretty shaky doing it, which has no doubt caused the most alarm.

But before people start getting into a full panic mode, they need to put a few things into perspective.

First of all, except for Southeast's players and coaches --and perhaps maybe the program's most die-hard supporters -- nobody really expected the Indians to be anything better than 1-2 at this point.

The Indians entered their two Division I-A games -- Aug. 28 at Ohio and Saturday at Arkansas State -- as solid underdogs, and it would have been a major surprise if they beat either opponent no matter how highly regarded a Division I-AA team they were entering the season.

So the Indians are really just one victory behind their anticipated pace entering the season -- although that unexpected blemish came courtesy of last Saturday's home loss to Southern Illinois that had to be depressing for all Southeast supporters.

It wasn't just that the Salukis defeated Southeast, because they have improved a lot and the game figured to be close. But the way SIU dominated the Indians on both sides of the ball raised numerous red flags around Cape Girardeau.

Which brings us to Southeast's final nonconference game against visiting Southwest Missouri State next Saturday night. To simply say it's big is an understatement, even though the contest will have no bearing on the all-important Ohio Valley Conference race that determines a Division I-AA playoff berth.

But league game or not, this is definitely one that Southeast needs to -- and should -- win. SMS struggled last year and is picked to finish near the bottom of the Gateway Conference. Even though the Bears have a host of transfers that could improve them -- and even though they beat Southeast early last year in Springfield -- if the Indians truly were talented enough to be ranked 20th nationally in the preseason, they should have enough to prevail.

If the Indians can be 1-3 by late next Saturday, that record would be just one victory off what was realistic when the season began and also just one win off last year's 2-2 start through four games. And it would no doubt give them sufficient momentum and confidence as they begin OVC play Sept. 27 at Samford.

A victory over SMS would also give the fans who have jumped on Southeast's bandwagon every reason to believe that last season's sudden success was no aberration and the Indians are not headed toward the same type of futility they experienced on a regular basis before 2002.

For quite a few reasons, it's time for the Indians to step into the win column.

One game does not make a season, but the Buccaneers looked every bit the part of defending Super Bowl champions during Monday night's 17-0 win in Philadelphia.

If ever a team appears primed for a repeat, it's former Southeast assistant coach Jon Gruden's Bucs -- but remember, it's a long season and much can change between now and the playoffs.

On the other hand, one team that definitely did not look the part of Super Bowl contender during its opener was the Rams, who blundered and stumbled through a 23-13 loss to the Giants in New York last Sunday.

I feel bad that Kurt Warner got a concussion in that game -- I've had a few, and they're not pleasant -- but you're almost half glad it happened because at least there maybe was a reason for him looking so awful much of the game. If he had been that bad on his own, then you really would have wondered about him.

But concussion or not, Marc Bulger will start today at quarterback when the 49ers visit St. Louis. It'll be interesting to see if the Rams fare any better than they did against the Giants with Bulger leading the offense.

Former Southeast All-American Willie Ponder did not get into the game against the Rams after the Giants made him inactive for his NFL regular-season opener.

NFL teams are allowed to suit up only 45 of their 53 players for each game, meaning eight must be inactive every week.

The Giants play the Cowboys Monday night, and we'll have to wait and see if Ponder dresses out for that one.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.