Passion, tempers peak in Southeast Missouri State football practice

The Southeast Missouri State football players and coaches circled up for a drill with pairs of linemen rotating into the center about 20 minutes into the team's third practice at Houck Stadium on Saturday morning.

There were hoops and hollers from the offensive and defensive sides as their respective representative in the middle tried to overpower the other.

After a few minutes of the drill, tensions became high between one pair, and the circle suddenly became tighter as a fight broke out briefly.

Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz slammed his megaphone to the ground in anger, damaging it, and loudly directed his players to the end zone where he reprimanded them before prompting them to begin running.

After a couple of trips down the field and back, practice continued as normal and without further incident.

Matukewicz was able to laugh about his reaction after Saturday's session with his taped-up, but working, megaphone in hand, but didn't discount the situation.

"There's a fine line between having the passion it takes to be successful, but you can't lose that discipline," Matukewicz said. "You see it all the time -- someone's out in a bar and all of a sudden it gets heated up, and like that your life can change. You make a poor decision and you're going to be held accountable for those decisions. That was my teachable moment there was the fact that you can't let passion overcome you and you can't control yourself."

Senior wide receiver Paul McRoberts brought up the team's "little mess up" when speaking generally about how he thought practice had gone.

"We're on the same team at the end of the day, so we've got to take care of each other," McRoberts said. "It was some crazy stuff going on today, so I feel like we've really got to pull it together, and that comes to the leadership, too. I feel like as seniors and leadership council, we need to crack down on our team more so we can really be disciplined and respected."

One of Matukewicz's biggest concerns entering his second season at Southeast was uniting the group and his efforts to do so continue.

"I've got a philosophy, 'With war comes peace,' and we're going to be so hard on them that they've got no choice but to hang onto each other," Matukewicz said. "I think that's how you get somebody to come together. You've got to be at a spot where you need someone else, and so I'm trying to get them to that spot, so we're pushing hard."

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Peter Lloyd is still trying to work out all the kinks after the Redhawks' third practice of fall camp.

But the senior receiver probably has a little leeway to catch up with most other returners.

Saturday's practice took place exactly nine months from the day that Lloyd, a Caruthersville graduate, severely broke his leg during Southeast's game at Tennessee Tech on Nov. 8.

Lloyd's thrilled to have been fully cleared to participate with his team for the preseason after surgery that included a rod being inserted into his leg.

Pain hasn't been an issue for the 5-foot-7 Lloyd, who said once the injury healed his rehabilitation came together "piece by piece."

"I've got to get used to it, get more plays down," Lloyd said. "I haven't been in for awhile."

Lloyd was limited throughout spring drills but was able to focus on his conditioning and fundamentals then. He also tried to help the younger receivers.

"To see him out here and to be able to do what he's doing is almost a miracle," Matukewicz said. "I've seen guys never be the same, and he's right where we need him to be and just really proud of his effort since that injury up until today."

Lloyd entered preseason practices as one of the Redhawks' top four receivers and also will serve as a kick returner. He finished his breakout junior season with 633 yards and three touchdowns on 48 catches.

"Jumping has been easier than I thought it would be because about a week ago when I would jump during [workouts], after that it'd get real sore," Lloyd said. "Now there's no soreness. I could jump all day if I wanted to."

He insisted that he's completely comfortable returning to the field after the injury and continues to improve as the Redhawks approach their season opener at Missouri on Sept. 5.

"It's not a big injury to me, just a bone that's going to heal back. That's just how I see it," Lloyd said with a smile. "I seriously see it that way, though. It's just if you break a bone it heals back."

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After the Redhawks wrapped up their mid-morning practice that lasted about 2 1/2 hours, Matukewicz made his players take off their helmets and shoulder pads and go for one more short jog.

Matukewicz's leisurely run led the players to a post-practice surprise treat of watermelon.

"Today I believe was a little harder on them because they had the [shoulder] pads on so they keep a little heat in," Matukewicz said. "I think that was about all we could get out of them today. I mean, they were hurting."

A couple of players were sidelined for heat-related illnesses Saturday, and freshman defensive back Cameron Sanders did not practice due to a fractured finger.

Sophomore cornerback JJ Flye remained limited to strength and conditioning exercises on the sideline. Flye is sporting a pink cast after suffering an injury when a firecracker went off in his right hand July 4. He had skin and nerve damage and also had to have pins inserted into his wrist. There is no timeline for his return.

The Redhawks will take today off and have one more practice Monday before they're in full pads during their practice from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday.

The second-year coach is pleased with the team's progress thus far.

"I'm still obviously waiting for full pads to come on just to see how we do, but I'm excited everything's clean and we're not having to coach a bunch of attitude and effort," Matukewicz said. "That's pleasant, obviously, that we can just coach scheme and coach them getting better."

The Redhawks won't hold their first official scrimmage until Saturday, but will begin some scrimmaging and live-situation drills Tuesday.