Local ties add a twist to NFC final

Anybody who got to know Jon Gruden during his brief stint as a Southeast Missouri State University assistant football coach in the late 1980s would no doubt love to see him finally reach the Super Bowl.

I say finally because, although Gruden is only 39 and is in only his fifth season as an NFL head coach, he came ever so close with the Raiders two years ago before losing in the AFC championship game.

Now Gruden receives another crack at getting to professional football's ultimate game as he leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into Philadelphia to face the Eagles in today's NFC title contest.

As most people who follow local sports probably know, Gruden -- then 24 -- was Southeast's quarterbacks coach in 1988. I was already working at the Southeast Missourian then and got to know Gruden fairly well. He was personable and likable, traits that seem to still come across whenever I hear one of his interviews.

Gruden left Cape Girardeau after that 1988 season, and by 1990 he was an NFL assistant coach.

Southeast probably can't take much credit for Gruden's fast rise up the NFL coaching ladder. His father has an extensive NFL background and no doubt played a role in helping him break into the professional ranks, although he would never have become a head coach if he hadn't made his mark as one of the sport's brilliant young assistants.

In any event, it's neat to see somebody with local ties reach the top of his profession.

And it would be great for Gruden's Bucs to take that final step to the Super Bowl, although it will be tough to succeed today in a place where Tampa Bay has been routed during its previous two playoff appearances. But here's hoping the Bucs upset the Eagles.

Gruden is not Southeast's only former football assistant who became an NFL head coach.

Marty Mornhinweg, the Indians' offensively coordinator in 1989 and 1990, recently completed his second season in charge of the Detroit Lions.

Mornhinweg, who also came across as extremely likable during his stay in Cape Girardeau, has not experienced nearly the success of Gruden. Detroit was one of the NFL's worst teams the past two years, and there was talk that Mornhinweg might be fired, but he survived and will lead the Lions again next season.

Southeast as an NFL cradle of coaches? Who would have thunk it.

One of the key components to what looks like a strong recruiting class for Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team -- it's not yet complete, but it's a group that Southeast fans and coaches are counting on to help the Tribe get back in the Ohio Valley Conference title hunt next season -- should begin practicing with the Indians soon.

Dainmon Gonner, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College who has signed with Southeast, arrived in Cape Girardeau this weekend and was on the Southeast bench in street clothes Saturday. He will start classes when the spring semester begins Tuesday.

Gonner, who will be eligible next season and have two years of eligibility remaining, is scheduled to start practicing with the Indians this week after they return from a road trip.

It's not too early to start talking about Southeast baseball -- and coach Mark Hogan welcomed his players back to town this past week as they began workouts in anticipation for the start of a season that, believe it or not, is only a few weeks away.

Of course, until the weather breaks, the only working out the Indians will be doing is inside.

But inside or outside, they've got to get ready for their opening three-game series at Oklahoma Feb. 7, 8 and 9. That's just the start of an unbelievably tough and exciting schedule that the Indians hope will help them secure their second straight NCAA Tournament berth.

Much more on Southeast baseball in the weeks to come.

Former Southeast assistant basketball coach Anthony Beane, who was part of the Indians' NCAA Tournament team in 2000, recently got a taste of what it's like to move a seat down the bench.

Beane, in his first year as an assistant at St. Louis University, served as the Billikens' acting coach for Wednesday night's nationally televised Conference USA game against Cincinnati, and he again filled that role during Saturday's league contest at Houston.

Beane filled in for head coach Brad Soderberg, who missed the games with a severe case of the flu.

While Beane, a good guy who is well thought of in coaching circles, will return to his former role of assistant as soon as Soderberg is well, he figures to get a real shot at running his own program somewhere down the line.

Scott Chestnutt, Central's outstanding 6-foot-8 sophomore who scored 32 points against New Madrid County Central Friday night, looks like he could turn into a big-time recruit. He's definitely a player to watch for in the future.

Former Central High School boys' basketball coach Rod Gorman has his Logan-Rogersville team undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.