Matukewicz conducts his first football practice at Southeast Missouri State

Following the Southeast Missouri State football team's first spring practice on Tuesday, first-year coach Tom Matukewicz asked his players, who were huddled around him on the field at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex, "Was that a little fun?"

The overwhelming consensus from the players was that it was. But by no means was it an easy first day for the Redhawks under the new regime.

"Whoo ... it's a lot more intense," wide receiver Paul McRoberts said after he'd finished jogging a lap around the field. "But it's fun. I mean, it ain't like it's overwhelming and we hate it; it's fun. I think it's way better."

The practice was the first on-field experience for the players with the new coaching staff, and there was no shortness of enthusiasm from players or coaches.

"You know, it was fun to get out here," said quarterback Scott Lathrop, who will be a junior next season. "We were excited to get out here with these new coaches leading us, and there was just a lot of good energy. Everybody's just fired up to be out here, and it's good to finally get out here and get the balls in our hands instead of just working out and running and stuff like that."

It's been a pretty busy winter for the football program.

Matukewicz was introduced as the new coach Dec. 18, quickly went to work hiring a coaching staff, then hit the road recruiting.

He even said during a signing-day news conference that he felt like he'd "cheated our team" because he had to focus on recruiting.

Since then he's been able to focus more on getting to know his current players.

"Mostly it's just been in offseason training stuff," Lathrop said about the growing rapport. "They've just been firing us up, sparking us up, just getting us excited to come out here and play. I've only been meeting with my position coach for about a month now, and he's just a good guy. He's excited to be out here with us and he's excited to make us better football players. We're just glad to be out here and meeting new people, and we just need something new, and that's what they're bringing."

Tuesday was the first time any of the players commented publicly about Matukewicz and the rest of the coaching staff.

"The way they're coming in ... they're changing a lot of things," Lathrop said. "They're changing what we know, and honestly, that's what we needed. We're adjusting to them, they're adjusting to us, and I feel like every day we're getting closer. And the closer we get, the better we're going to be. We're getting into it and we're rolling."

When asked about how the players have had to adjust, Lathrop, said: "They just expect more out of us. They want us to be as good as we can be, on and off the field, and that's just something we weren't used to. They feel that if we improve off the field, then that'll help us improve on the field as well, just with that whole overall attitude. They're just doing a lot more discipline and they're getting us better all around."

One player that doesn't know the staff quite as well as the rest of his teammates is McRoberts, who also is a member of the Southeast basketball team.

"I feel like I really don't know them, like everybody, but me and Coach Tuke's relationship is wonderful, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all the other coaches personally, by their families, everything," said McRoberts, who will be a junior next season. "You know, because anyone can just come out here and discipline somebody, but these coaches show love, support and everything -- since Day 1. ... They didn't even know me. They just came in and showed support, so there's just love, and it means a lot."

One of the reasons McRoberts feels that way is because Matukewicz required the football team to attend the basketball team's final two home games. The players wore their football jerseys and helped pack the student section for the Redhawks' games against Austin Peay and Murray State.

"I thought that was big because that never happened [before]," McRoberts said. "Most football players don't usually come and support, so that was big. That meant a lot."

McRoberts didn't play during those two games because of a fractured rib, and he was limited to a no-contact practice Tuesday.

He's supposed to have an X-ray done today and is hopeful he'll be cleared to rejoin his team in full capacity.

Even though McRoberts has had limited opportunities to get to know Matukewicz's assistants, that hasn't kept him from feeling a connection.

"They believe in our team; I believe in my team," McRoberts said. "My team is looking really good right now, and it's early, so that's a good thing about it. We've still got to make adjustments, but it's going to be nice."

One adjustment stressed by Matukewicz is his idea of attitude, effort, discipline and growth -- his four foundation pillars for the program. McRoberts, Lathrop and linebacker Austin Black all said the team understands the importance of that culture change.

"Everyone's trying to go out there and give it all they got, and we're switching up some things on defense, but I think we're out there and trying to buy into Coach Tuke's program," Black said. "He asked us just to give him a chance. If we give him a chance and it doesn't work, then we can take our leave, but if we give him a chance, he's pretty sure it'll work out for us."