SE BOASTS NEW LOCKER ROOM

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians will enjoy the luxury of an impressive new locker room facility this season.

The Indians, who open the 1999 campaign Saturday at home against Creighton, recently moved into the Tiger Joe Uhls Locker Room, which is located in Houck Field House.

Named after Joe Uhls, Southeast's late, legendary baseball coach, the facility contains 30 pro-style lockers, new carpeting, new bathroom and shower facilities and a television/VCR area for the players and coaches.

In addition, a Joe Uhls display case will be constructed. The display case will contain trophies and photographs from various Southeast teams over the years, including the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship trophy from last season.

"This has been a dream come true for our program," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan during Wednesday's baseball media day activities that took place inside the new locker room. "This facility embodies the type of first-class individual Joe Uhls was.

"I've been looking forward to a way to recognize coach Uhls. He meant a lot to me as a player and he gave me my first coaching job."

The funding for the new facility was garnered through private donations from various sources, including the Uhls family, area businesses and former Southeast players.

"It's just great to see all the support this project received," Hogan said. "So many people contributed."

Uhls was Southeast's head baseball coach from 1960 until his retirement in 1984, compiling a 373-257-5 career record. He led the Indians to five Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and a third-place finish in the 1976 NCAA Division II World Series. Uhls died in 1987.