SE among few I-AA schools to play today

Southeast Missouri State University will be involved in one of a very select few NCAA Division I college football games across the nation today.

According to The Associated Press, the Indians' 6 p.m. contest against Southwest Missouri State at Houck Stadium is one of just three Division I-AA games that were not either postponed or canceled today. All Division I-A games for the weekend were either postponed or canceled.

The other two I-AA games still on for today are Morehead State at Jacksonville and Wisconsin-Eau Claire at Valparaiso. Southeast is the only Ohio Valley Conference team that has not had its contest either postponed or canceled today. One other OVC school, Tennessee-Martin, played Thursday night and beat Kentucky Wesleyan 54-14.

"Following the advice of President Bush that our country should continue to function, we decided it is appropriate to go ahead with this game," said Southeast president Kenneth Dobbins.

Southeast announced Friday that today's game will be dedicated to those who are suffering and who have lost their lives as a result of this week's tragedies on the East Coast.

Greek student organizations at Southeast will be accepting donations for disaster relief at all of the gates into Houck Stadium. Funds collected will be donated to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the New York Firefighters Relief Fund.

In addition, a special ceremony will provide an opportunity for those in attendance to pay respect to the victims of the terrorist attacks and those who mourn their losses. Special selections will be performed by the Golden Eagles Marching Band and Lori Shaffer, vocal music instructor with the Southeast music faculty, will lead the audience in singing the National Anthem and "God Bless America."

Area military and reserve units, law enforcement officers and firefighters have been invited to attend the game, and those in uniform will be admitted with their families at no cost. Those who attend will be asked to participate in the pre-game ceremony on the field.

While Southeast's football team will play tonight, several other scheduled events involving the school's athletic squads were canceled Friday.

Southeast's soccer team had two games wiped out: today at Butler and Monday at Indiana State. A golf tournament at Illinois State this weekend, in which Southeast was supposed to compete, was also canceled.

Previously, a volleyball tournament at the University of Arkansas that Southeast was entered in this weekend had also been canceled.