Questions will abound when Rams take the field

Today's opener against the Giants in New York should be interesting for Rams fans -- especially local ones -- from several angles.

There are plenty of question marks surrounding the Rams as they enter the season, and although one game won't answer all of them, it should at least give an indication regarding some of them.

Front and center is how well quarterback Kurt Warner bounces back from last year's injury-plagued disaster that saw him go 0-6 as a starter. He looked healthy and sharp in the preseason. Will that continue today?

Not far behind is the health of running back Marshall Faulk, who seemed to be banged up much of last season and, despite playing well, didn't come close to matching his numbers from the previous few years.

Then there is the matter of how well the Rams in general bounce back from last year's bummer of a season that saw them start 0-5 and never recover. They don't necessarily have to win today to prove they're back -- the Giants will be tough -- but a strong performance would be nice.

And with a host of young players filling either starting or key backup roles on defense -- not to mention a whopping 13 rookies making the roster -- are the Rams too green to make another Super Bowl run?

Now, for today's local angle. Former Southeast Missouri State University All-American wide receiver Willie Ponder will suit up for the Giants. Ponder, a sixth-round draft pick this year, might not see action as a receiver but he figures to hit the field on some special teams. For fans wanting to follow him on TV, he's No. 87.

Getting back to the 2003 Rams. Most experts seem to think they're headed for at least a strong playoff run if not a Super Bowl appearance.

Today, we begin to find out if that's in their cards.

Speaking of Ponder, I couldn't be happier for him as he begins his NFL career. In the two years he played for Southeast, not only was he a brilliant athlete on the field but also a class act off the field.

And even though Ponder was a late draft choice and far from a lock to stick with the Giants, after watching him play the last two years, I actually would have been surprised if he didn't make the team.

Ponder's job status certainly is not secure because players toward the bottom of the roster are constantly subject to a team trying to upgrade various positions, but here's hoping he goes on to have a long and prosperous NFL career.

Another local angle this season is Jon Gruden -- the former Southeast assistant -- trying to lead Tampa Bay to consecutive Super Bowl titles.

A repeat doesn't happen often, but the Bucs kept virtually all of their key players from last season and a lot of folks are picking them to pull off the tough task.

Turning to college football, Missouri's 22-15 season-opening win over Illinois was huge because, barring a big upset, the Tigers should be 5-0 when they host Nebraska on Oct. 11.

The Tigers, who won Saturday at Ball State, will be prohibitive favorites the next two weeks when Eastern Illinois and Middle Tennessee State visit Columbia. And they'll be solid favorites when they travel to Kansas the following week.

Even though MU's offense sputtered much of the way against Illinois, that unit should be fine with quarterback phenom Brad Smith running the show. And if the defense can improve considerably from last year's porous group, then this could indeed be a breakout season for the Tigers -- as many predict.

I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family of Carl Gross, a longtime area football supporter who passed away this week. Mr. Gross was the father of Jackson High School football coach Carl Gross and former area coach David Gross, who were star athletes at Central High School and Southeast.

I got to know Mr. Gross well over the years as he was a fixture at Southeast practices, many of which I would also attend. We spent many a day talking about area college and high school football, along with numerous other subjects.

I've long admired his two sons, and I can say the same thing about their father. He was a heck of a good guy, and I'll miss the countless conversations we used to have at those steamy-hot Southeast practices.

And what a treat Jackson's coach gave his late father Friday night as the Indians opened the area high school football season with a somewhat surprising 12-7 win at Sikeston.

The Indians, after going 2-8 last season, were perhaps thought to be even more down this year. But if Friday's performance is any indication, maybe that won't be the case.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.