SOUTHEAST FOOTBALL SPRINGS INTO PRACTICE

As Southeast Missouri State University's football team prepares for spring practice, coach John Mumford doesn't really care to think about last year's dismal 3-8 record.

"We're looking forward, not looking back," declared Mumford.

The Indians will begin spring drills Tuesday afternoon. NCAA regulations allow for 15 total spring practices, with 10 being full contact, 11-on-11 type scrimmages and five being non-contact workouts.

Spring drills will culminate with the annual intrasquad game on April 26.

"We're looking forward to getting things going," said Mumford. "The kids have worked hard. They're a little stronger and a little quicker. They've got a good attitude. There's a lot of sparkle in their eyes."

Several things have changed for the Indians since the end of the 1996 season.

For one, there is a new offensive coordinator on board in Steve Schottel, who brings in 18 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stints as an assistant at Michigan State, Missouri and Louisville.

Along with the arrival of Schottel comes a new offensive philosophy.

"We'll be using a new multiple offense and it's like learning another language really," Mumford said. "It involves a lot of different personnel groups and formations. We still want to run the football, but we we'll spread it out."

There will also be plenty of new players on hand for the 1997 season and five of them -- who are all being counted on greatly -- are already enrolled in school and will participate in spring workouts.

Three of the five are big offensive linemen from the junior-college ranks who will be looked upon to help improve one of the team's weak links from last season.

The large trio consists of Jesse Eaton (6-feet-2, 320 pounds), Carlos DeJesus (6-4, 305) and Patrick Sullivan (6-4, 275).

Also in this spring from the juco ranks is wide receiver Marcus McKinley while the fifth new face really isn't a new face at all.

Tony McDonald, who was impressive as a freshman backup tailback in 1995 and then had a dazzling performance in last year's spring game before being ruled academically ineligible for the '96 season, is back with the team after spending some time at a junior college to get his grades in order.

"We've got five new faces for the spring and they're all being counted on as key people," said Mumford. "The three linemen should help what was a sore spot last year, McKinley gives us a deep threat at wide receiver and everybody saw McDonald run when he was here before. Tony has a lot of talent."

Also welcomed back will be running back Corey Williams, who was being counted on heavily last season before he suffered a serious knee injury and never played in a game.

"Corey has had a tremendous recovery," said Mumford. "He looks real good."

Mumford considers the offensive line and linebacker to be some of the key points of emphasis for the Indians. Although Southeast lost just eight seniors from last year's squad, three of them comprised the starting linebacker group.

"No question, linebacker and offensive line are key positions for us," Mumford said. "We're thin at linebacker right now with Terrance Sterling and Steve Ledbetter both nursing injuries. We moved Gabe Jenkins there (from fullback) and we signed three jucos who will be here in the fall. They should really help us out."

Quarterback should also be an interesting position during spring as well as fall drills.

Returning starter Justin Martini figures to get quite a challenge from promising freshman David Edgerton, who was redshirted last season.

"I don't know how good Justin is because he got sacked four or five times a game," said Mumford. "He came on and did some good things last year.

"I think we'll have a good competition at quarterback with Martini and Edgerton. Physically, they're both extremely equal. It will boil down to who picks up the new offense the quickest. I think it will be a wide-open battle."