Roth turns inspiration of former teammate into new number

Ryan Roth, one of Southeast Missouri State University's defensive leaders, has changed numbers this year -- and it wasn't simply some random switch based on a whim.

For Roth, a senior defensive end who now wears No. 32 instead of the No. 95 he sported last season, the change comes with a heavy heart as he honors the memory of a high school teammate who was killed in the collapse of a Chicago apartment deck in late June.

Rob Koranda was the senior captain of the Naperville (Ill.) North High School football team when Roth was a junior. Koranda wore No. 32.

"He was a friend who was a real inspiration to me," Roth said during Thursday's media day at Houck Stadium. "It means a lot to me to wear his number in honor of his memory."

Roth, a second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection last year, recently was selected to the all-OVC preseason squad.

Foreign connection

Southeast has two foreign players on the roster: second-year walk-on kicker Spasimir Bodurski from Bulgaria and freshman tight end Joseph Tuineau from New Zealand.

Bodurski was a high school exchange student in Minnesota who had a couple of Division II offers but decided to attend Southeast because a cousin in Michigan knew one of the Indians' former coaches.

The 6-foot-8, 255-pound Tuineau was recruited by Southeast after coaches learning of him through a high school coach in New Zealand. Tuineau thought about playing professional rugby before deciding to attend Southeast.

"I really like it over here so far," he said.

Local connection

Nine players from area high schools are on Southeast's roster, including four returning starters.

Returning regulars, all juniors, are linebacker O.J. Turner (Central), defensive tackle Caleb Daniel (Jackson), tight end Ray Goodson (Jackson) and placekicker Derek Kutz (St. Vincent).

Also returning are junior backup wide receiver Brandon Amick (Scott City) and redshirt freshman reserve tight end Seth McDowell (Jackson).

New to the program are three freshmen: defensive lineman Matt McComas (Jackson), walk-on safety Zac Fidler (Central) and walk-on wide receiver Ryan Brown (St. Vincent).

Fidler spent the past two years at Meramec Community College in St. Louis, where a shoulder injury curtailed his anticipated baseball career. Brown played baseball at Missouri-St. Louis in 2001 before transferring to Southeast last year. He participated in spring drills.

Another local player is freshman fullback Adam Casper from Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High School.

The short of it

Freshman tailback Elton Peterson from Florida is by far Southeast's shortest player. Listed at 5-foot-6 and 155 pounds, he said he is really about 5-4 or 5-5. But he has already made a big impression in practice and could see playing time this year.

"My height has always been motivation, to prove people wrong," a smiling Peterson said. "It hasn't held me back too much so far."

Peterson was the top back for last year's Class 4A state championship team at Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, Fla.

Pads come on

The Indians, who began practice Monday, will work out in full pads for the first time today. And Saturday, Southeast will have its first session of two-a-days, which this year are allowed only every other day under new NCAA regulations.

"You always get a little more excited when the pads come on," Southeast coach Tim Billings said.

Southeast will have its first scrimmage at 4 p.m. Sunday with another scrimmage set for 5 p.m. Aug. 16.

Noteworthy

Offensive guard Dan Bieg will be held out of contact drills while continuing to recover from offseason surgery on his right thumb. He will be evaluated again Aug. 20 but is questionable for the season opener.

Brock Teddleton, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound defensive tackle who planned to transfer to Southeast from Kansas, failed to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

Southeast has two sets of brothers. Senior center Eugene Amano is joined by freshman defensive lineman Fred Amano and junior wide receiver Chris NesSmith is joined by freshman wide out Scott NesSmith.

Billings will have a weekly television show for the first time. It will be at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday beginning Aug. 28 on UPN-The Beat. Steve Sotak will host.

Billings will continue to have a radio show each Wednesday during the season from 5-6 p.m. on KGIR-AM 1220. Erik Sean will host from Buffalo Wild Wings.