SEMO football game is still on

Even though all of this weekend's Division I-A college football games will not be played because of Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the East Coast, Southeast Missouri State University's home contest against Southwest Missouri State Saturday night is still on.

The decision to play the game came after the Ohio Valley Conference announced that member institutions intend to participate in their scheduled athletic contests unless further developments regarding the terrorist acts dictate otherwise.

"This type of decision is difficult and one upon which opinions around the country may vary," said OVC commissioner Dan Beebe. "Our membership is determined to follow the direction President Bush stated Wednesday that 'we will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms.' In that regard, our institutions are continuing classes and activities, including athletics, while mourning for the victims of this horrific event."

Said Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman, "It's always a tough call. We're trying to follow the lead of our nation's leaders, from the president on down, who have essentially urged us to get back to as normal a life as possible.

"Obviously we weren't going to compete on the day of the tragedy and we canceled soccer and volleyball competitions that day."

Billings supportive

Southeast football coach Tim Billings said he supports the decision to play, but he acknowledged that it's not an easy one.

"I feel for the people involved, but at some point in time you have to get back to your life. When that is appropriate, you just don't know," he said. "But playing the game doesn't change the fact that everybody is in mourning."

There will be special music and a moment of silence observed prior to the start of Saturday's game at Houck Stadium.

One OVC school, Murray State, has canceled its football game Saturday against North Alabama, but all other league football contests are still on.

Other athletic teams at Southeast have had weekend schedules altered.

The volleyball squad was scheduled to play in a two-day, four-team tournament at the University of Arkansas, but that event has been canceled. The Otahkians will play their first home match Tuesday night against Austin Peay.

The women's soccer team was scheduled to play at Indiana State tonight and at Indiana Sunday, but Indians has canceled all home events through the weekend. As a result, Southeast will play at Butler Saturday and at Indiana State Monday.

The golf team will compete Saturday and Sunday, as scheduled, at a tournament hosted by Illinois State.