SE BOOSTERS ADDRESS SHUMATE'S DISMISSAL

The Southeast Missouri State University Booster Club Board praised the efforts of former Southeast basketball Coach Ron Shumate in its first official statement since his firing last week.

The statement lauded the work Shumate and his staffs did over the years in building one of the nation's best Division II programs and for turning on the region to his style of basketball.

The statement also said that Shumate's efforts contributed to the Show Me Center becoming a reality and to the marked growth of the Southeast Booster Club.

Also, the statement encouraged Southeast Booster Club members to continue their contributions to Southeast's athletic programs regardless of the opinions they may hold concerning the termination of Shumate and his staff.

The Southeast Booster Club provides the primary funding for all athletic scholarships at Southeast.

The following is the official statement of the Southeast Missouri State University Booster Board concerning last week's firing of Shumate:

"Coach Ron Shumate and his staffs, over the past 16 years, resurrected a struggling basketball program, transforming it into a national Division II power and a promising and exciting Division I team.

"Throughout Coach Shumate's efforts, he has brought tremendous recognition to Southeast Missouri State University, the City of Cape Girardeau, the Southeast Missouri region, his student-athletes and ignited an area craving Coach Shumate's style of basketball.

"Coach Shumate's efforts and success and the tremendous following he generated in fan support significantly contributed to the Show Me Center becoming a reality and a show piece for Southeast Missouri.

"A part of the tremendous growth of the Southeast Missouri Booster Club can be attributed directly to the success of Coach Shumate's basketball program.

"Coach Shumate was not only a winning basketball coach, his athletes were also winners, reflected by the large number of players who have gone on to graduate and become successful off the basketball court.

"The Southeast Missouri State University Booster Club provides the primary funding for all athletic scholarships at Southeast Missouri State University. It is certainly a sad and unfortunate day that the University has had to endure as a result of the termination of Coach Shumate and his staff.

"The Booster Board had no knowledge of, was not involved with or participated in any of the proceedings regarding the investigation, internally or externally, of the basketball program, nor did it have any involvement or input into the actions taken by the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.

"As the Booster Club is the main funding source for all athletic scholarships at the University, the Booster Board continues to encourage all Boosters to please continue their contributions to Southeast Missouri State University's athletic programs irrespective of their opinions they may hold concerning the termination of Coach Shumate and his staff.

"The Booster Board, like all interested persons, readily awaits the results of the NCAA investigation so that all of the facts may be shared which led up to the events involving the SEMO Basketball Program."