MUMFORD TO WORRY ABOUT FUTURE AFTER SEASON

Southeast Missouri State University head football coach John Mumford insists he's not going to worry about what his future in Cape Girardeau holds until after the Nov. 20 season finale against Tennessee State.

Right now, Mumford says he'd rather focus on the fact the Indians have put together a three-game winning streak, and he and his staff want to do everything in their power to make it four straight a week from Saturday."I'm going to leave that up to (Southeast athletic director) Don Kaverman and (Southeast president) Dr. (Ken) Dobbins," said Mumford during his weekly media conference Monday. "That's something we'll address in three weeks."Added Mumford with a smile, "I don't think about it until you or my wife bring it up."The issue is whether Mumford will have his contract extended following the season.

After last year's 3-8 record which gave Mumford a 10-23 mark over the past three seasons there was also considerable speculation about whether Mumford's contract would be extended.

It ultimately was, for one more year, with the new contract running from Feb. 1 of 1999 through Jan. 31 of 2,000.

When the contract extension was announced, on Dec. 18 of 1998, then-Southeast president Dale Nitzschke said in a press release, "This year's football season was not as successful as we had hoped, but because some steps in our football program are in place, it seems appropriate to allow Coach Mumford one more year to turn the program around."It was also stated in the release that, under the new contract, specific goals concerning the team's performance level both on and off the field were mutually agreed upon between Mumford and the administration for the 1999 season. The actual specifics of those goals were not revealed to the public.

Added Nitzschke in the release, "These parameters have been outlined to ensure that our football program progresses and will become competitive in the future."What happened over the first seven games of this season the Indians lost them all and were blown out several times appeared to definitely seal the fate of Mumford and his coaching staff.

But since turning to dynamic sophomore quarterback Rashad West to run the offense, Southeast has won three straight games to at least make the Southeast administration's decision a bit less automatic. Still, unless the Indians can upset second-ranked Tennessee State in the finale, their record will be the same as last year 3-8.

Kaverman, in his first year as Southeast's athletic director, said Monday, "Well evaluate things when the season is over. That's the appropriate time. Right now we're just concentrating on letting the staff win football games, and lately they've been doing a good job of it."Mumford, who has a 40-69 record in his 10th season as the Indians' head coach including a 13-30 mark over the past four years did say about the situation for both he and his staff, "It's hard to put it out of your mind. But I think we've done a good job with it."If we had said the heck with it, let somebody else take it (after the Indians lost their first seven games), it would have been totally contrary to what we teach our players. I'm proud of the coaches for hanging in there because it's not an easy situation. And I'm really proud of the players. I've said all along this is a very good group of young men, even when things weren't going good."

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While he hasn't been the sole reason the Indians have won their last three games, there is no doubt the performance of West has been a huge key.

West has accounted for 923 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns during the winning streak. And even when he's not personally making a play with his arm or feet, he's making the defense totally respect his talents, which has opened up the rest of the offense.

Asked if he ever thinks about how different the season might have been if West had been running the offense earlier the Indians lost three close games among their first seven setbacks Mumford said, "Myself and everybody probably think that. Everybody together won't second-guess myself more than me."But we've taken the mentality that we're not going to look back, just look forward. We've taken the approach that we're 3-0 right now."

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Two Southeast defenders lead the Ohio Valley Conference in a pair of individual statistical categories, cornerback Brian Hinton in interceptions with five and linebacker Jeremy Atwell in tackles with 99.

Atwell is also tied for first in tackles for loss with 18 while Hinton is second in the OVC and 13th nationally in kickoff returns with a 25.9-yard average.

Three other Southeast defenders rank among the league's top 10 tacklers. Linebacker Donovan LaViness is fourth with 94, linebacker David Bowling is eighth with 82 and safety Isaac Powell is ninth with 77.

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On the injury front, tailback K.D. Koleosho and cornerback Andre Clarke both hurt their knee during Saturday's 45-38 win over Eastern Illinois. Koleosho is probable for Tennessee State while Clarke is questionable.

Wide receiver and return specialist Corey Chester missed the Eastern Illinois game with a shoulder injury suffered in practice. He is questionable for the season finale.

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With no game this week, Mumford said the Indians will do conditioning and weights through the early part of the week before getting back to practice Thursday.

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The OVC title will likely be decided Saturday when 5-0 Tennessee State entertains 5-1 Murray State.