SE ROUNDS OUT ITS SCHEDULE

Southeast Missouri State University's football team has exchanged one Mid-American Conference squad for another, added a Division II opponent and kept three non-conference Division I-AA foes.

That, along with six Ohio Valley Conference games, sums up the Indians' 2001 schedule that was finalized earlier this week. Southeast will play six of its 11 contests at Houck Stadium.

The Indians open the campaign on Sept. 1 on the road against Division I-A Eastern Michigan of the MAC.

Last year, Tim Billings' first as Southeast's coach, the Indians opened the season at MAC powerhouse Marshall.

While Eastern Michigan, which went 3-8 in 2000, is not nearly the caliber of program as Marshall, the Eagles still figure to be quite an early test for the I-AA Indians.

"Their program is not what Marshall's has been, but any time you play a I-A team, it's a big challenge," said Billings.

The Indians' three non-league games will be rematches with Southern Illinois (home, Sept. 8), Southwest Missouri State (home, Sept. 15) and Illinois State (road, Sept. 22).

Rounding out Southeast's non-conference schedule will be a season-ending home matchup Nov. 10 against Division II Quincy (Ill.).

The Indians will play one less OVC game than last year because Western Kentucky is no longer in the league.

OVC home games will be with Tennessee-Martin (Oct. 6, family weekend), Murray State (Oct. 20, homecoming) and Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 3) while the Indians will travel to Tennessee State (Sept. 29), Eastern Illinois (Oct. 13) and Tennessee Tech (Oct. 27).

Two new coaches

Two new coaches recently joined the Southeast staff, Cody Vardeman (defensive ends) and Matt Webb (linebackers).

Other assistants coaches are all returning from last year, although some assignments have been changed.

Rounding out the staff are Kip Shaw (assistant head coach, wide receivers); Russ Martin (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks); Mike Chavez (offensive line); Rory Segrest (tight ends); Tony Joe White (running backs, special teams);

Shannon Morrison (defensive coordinator, defensive backs); Craig Knaak (defensive tackles); and Jeremy Atwell (defensive backs).

Several injuries

In addition to quarterback Rashad West, who had surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle on March 14, three other players are somewhat hobbled entering spring practice that began Friday.

Starting defensive end Ryan Roth broke his foot in late April and will be limited in spring drills; starting cornerback Demar Winston has a shoulder injury that will keep him out of early contact drills; and reserve linebacker Mike Irvin is recovering from a broken wrist that will limit him to non-contact drills.

West, who split time at quarterback with Bobby Brune last year, will participate in spring workouts but he may be limited during some of the early sessions.