Southeast AD Alnutt declares first game at Busch a success

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State director of athletics Mark Alnutt surveyed the groups of tailgaters converging under bright sunshine near Busch Stadium.

Alnutt, mingling with Southeast supporters before Saturday's College Classic -- the first-ever football game at the eight-year-old Busch Stadium III in St. Louis -- declared the event a success even though it was still a good 90 minutes away from kickoff between Southeast and SIU.

"The weather is perfect and we've got a lot of Southeast fans out here," Alnutt said. "It's a great day."

Alnutt said later that he was happy with the announced crowd of 14,618, which appeared to be split fairly evenly between Southeast supporters and SIU fans.

"I told people that I wanted 12,000. That was our goal. I'm very pleased," Alnutt said.

Southeast Missouri State coach Tony Samuel and his players watch the final moments of the game with Southern Illinois Saturday, Sept. 21 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Fred Lynch)

Alnutt, who originally approached Busch Stadium officials with the idea of holding the game in St. Louis, thought it was a good idea to give up a Southeast home contest in order to make history at the St. Louis Cardinals' venue.

"I thought it was a great experience for our players, even though we lost," said Alnutt after the Redhawks' highly competitive 36-19 setback. "I thought we played well. I'm very pleased overall."

But it's uncertain whether Saturday's game was simply a one-time event or something that will continue in the future.

The Salukis are scheduled to host Southeast next season in the final year of the series under the current contract, although Alnutt said "we're working on a long-term deal" to extend the series.

Alnutt doesn't know if SIU officials would be interested in having the 2014 game at Busch Stadium, or even if Cardinals officials would be interested in having the contest at their home.

What Alnutt does know is that he's not likely to give up a Southeast home game against SIU two years from now unless the Salukis are willing to do the same in 2014.

"It's something we'll have to get together to talk about," Alnutt said. "I don't know if they'd be interested in doing it. We'll see."