NEW DIRECTION: QB WEST EXCITED ABOUT OPERATING NEW OFFENSE

Anybody who saw Rashad West work his magic during the latter stages of Southeast Missouri State University's 1999 football season probably couldn't help but wonder why the exciting quarterback wasn't on the field from game one.

They shouldn't have to wonder this year. West has solidly established himself as the Indians' No. 1 quarterback entering full-squad workouts that begin today. And it's obvious from the big grin he wore during Tuesday's media day activities at Houck Stadium that he relishes the role of being `The Man' behind center.

"I wouldn't say I'm the man," said a laughing West. "But it feels good knowing it's your job to lose. It's exciting. It gives me a chance to prepare, to get ready for the teams we're playing."

West was nothing short of sensational last year when he finally took over as Southeast's starting signal caller during the season's eighth game. At the time, the Indians were 0-7 and had scored just 108 points.

In West's first full-time gig behind center, he directed a 28-23 upset of Southwest Missouri. That was followed by a 36-7 rout of Tennessee-Martin, a 45-38 win over Eastern Illinois and a 35-28 near-upset of Tennessee State, at the time the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division I-AA team.

Just like that, West had ignited a previously futile offense, directing it to 137 points in four games. He completed 56 of 98 passes for 917 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 364 yards on 64 carries and scoring six TDs.

But perhaps even more than the results West produced, he created genuine excitement about Southeast football with his incredible escape acts in the backfield. Virtually every time it looked like he was about to be crushed by several onrushing linemen, he found a way to get out of trouble and make something happen.

Asked to describe some of his amazing plays from last season, a smiling West said, "It was more just reacting, ad lib. I really don't even know how I did some of that stuff myself."

An extremely athletic 5-foot-11, 220-pound junior from Bradenton, Fla., West figures to be well suited to the Indians' new offense that is being described as basketball on grass. The offense, which will often feature no-back and one-back looks, is designed to spread out the defense and create mismatches all over the field.

"We're going to try and put a lot of pressure on the defense because we're always going to do something different," West said. "We're going to stress moving the ball and scoring points, which is what I want. It's going to be exciting."

Southeast offensive coordinator Russ Martin, part of a virtually brand-new coaching staff under first-year head coach Tim Billings, believes West will operate smoothly in the new offense.

"Rashad is a very good athlete to run this because he's a threat to run and pass," said Martin. "Our quarterbacks have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Basically every play, at the line of scrimmage, he'll have the responsibility to either change the play or stay with it."

West said everybody has adjusted well to the changes brought in by the new coaching staff and he hopes to help usher in a new era for Southeast football.

"It's like starting over again, like in high school. Football is fun," he said. "We've put last year behind us and we're ready to start a new era."

But with the same quarterback.