Southeast football team will fare better than predicted in poll

Shows you what I know about the minds of the Ohio Valley Conference's head football coaches and sports information directors.

Heading to Nashville, Tenn., for Tuesday's annual OVC media day, I was certain Southeast Missouri State would be predicted to finish toward the bottom of the nine-team league.

Considering the way the Redhawks have struggled the past couple of years, that was a no-brainer.

But I did not expect the Redhawks to be picked dead last.

That, however, is exactly what happened, as the conference's coaches and SID's combined to vote Southeast in the basement.

I knew it was a lock that the Redhawks would be ranked below OVC heavyweights Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State.

I also was fairly certain the Redhawks would be rated below up-and-coming teams like Samford and Tennessee-Martin.

That leaves only three other squads besides Southeast. Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Murray State certainly did not strike fear into the opposition last season.

I didn't think the Redhawks would be voted ahead of the entire trio, but I thought they might slip past Tennessee State or Murray State -- or perhaps both -- since those were the two teams Southeast beat in going 2-9 a year ago.

But it didn't happen. Nope, the Redhawks were placed in the cellar.

Not that it really matters. As first-year Southeast coach Tony Samuel was quick to point out Tuesday, the poll is simply speculation and pretty much falls in line with what teams have done in the recent past.

Since the Redhawks' recent past has not been impressive, Samuel didn't think they would be regarded highly by the rest of the OVC -- even if he seems confident they'll be able to compete with everybody in the league.

Whether that turns out to be an accurate assessment remains to be seen, but I've got one early prediction following Tuesday's media day.

I don't think the Redhawks will finish last.

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Two more thoughts on what took place in Nashville during what unofficially served as a kickoff to the 2006 OVC campaign.

First, I was surprised Eastern Illinois is not regarded as the preseason favorite. The Panthers were nosed out in that department by Eastern Kentucky.

Sure, the Colonels should be stout as they return many of their key players from a team that lost just one conference game last year, although that was a drubbing at the hands of the Panthers.

But Eastern Illinois also welcomes back the majority of its key performers from a squad that won the league title without a loss.

I'm not saying I definitely think the Panthers will prevail this season -- it's probably too close to call between them and the Colonels, with everybody else ranking at least a notch or two below -- I'm just saying they should at least have been voted to the top spot.

Second, I was stunned that Murray State was picked to finish fifth. The Racers went winless in OVC play last season and might have more question marks than any squad in the conference. I really thought they would be ticketed for the basement instead of Southeast.

But the voters might have figured that 2005 was simply an aberration, since the Racers are generally among the league's better teams.

We'll ultimately find out if that was the case.

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It seems like every organization has a fundraising golf tournament these days -- and B.J. Smith's Southeast women's basketball program is about to join the mix.

A four-person scramble to benefit the Redhawks will take place Aug. 7 at Dalhousie Golf Club. The cost is $100 per person, and opportunities are available for hole sponsorships.

The morning session for 25 teams begins with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start, while the afternoon session for 30 teams begins with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. There are only a few slots available for each session.

The entry fee includes lunch, beverages, range balls, live music, raffles and giveaways. Also, that evening there will be dinner and auction at the Show Me Center, with Cardinals and Southeast memorabilia up for auction.

Smith said he promises everybody will have a good time, and for those who don't golf but still want to be a part of the event, they can attend the dinner and auction for $15.

To enter, call either Smith (651-2643), Bob Phillips (225-2466) or Mark Matthews (335-0788, 275-5240).

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Speaking of Smith's program, while the Redhawks' schedule has not yet been finalized -- it should be out soon --he said they have some attractive nonconference games on tap.

The Redhawks will host Florida State, an NCAA tournament team from last season out of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and visit 2004-05 national champion Baylor from the Big 12 Conference, with Baylor returning that contest the following season at the Show Me Center in what will no doubt be quite an attraction for Southeast fans.

I hope to have much more on the Redhawks' 2006-07 schedule soon.

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I recently learned that the jury trial date for former Southeast men's basketball player Andrais Thornton has been scheduled for the week of Nov. 13 in Colby, Kan.

Thornton is charged with rape and aggravated sexual battery for an alleged incident that took place in 2003 in Colby. No charges were filed until early this year.

Thornton, the Redhawks' leading rebounder as a junior last season, did not have his scholarship renewed by first-year Southeast coach Scott Edgar earlier this month.

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Here's wishing Jay Pacelli and his wife, Katy, all the best as they begin the next phase of their life in Jackson, Miss., where both recently accepted new jobs.

Pacelli was Southeast's women's tennis coach the past three seasons and he did an amazing job in helping turn around the program. This year the Redhawks went 12-11 for their first winning record since 1997.

Even though Pacelli said he hates to leave Southeast, he really had no choice when his wife could not land a fulltime job in this area after receiving her master's degree at Southeast. She accepted a position as associate director of admissions at Millsaps College.

Pacelli said he didn't think living apart from his wife was the way to go -- who can blame him? -- so he quickly found work as a teaching professional at a fitness facility in Jackson, Miss.

Pacelli is a good coach and a classy guy. I got to know him well -- not only through covering the Redhawks but also because we played plenty of tennis together -- and he will be missed in the area.

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Good luck to Drew Church as he takes over the Central High School boys basketball program following two years as an assistant at Jackson.

Church, despite being only 27, has quite a background in the sport. He not only played at Evansville and participated in the NCAA tournament, he also spent two seasons as a student assistant at Southeast under Gary Garner. In addition, his father, Mike, was a longtime assistant coach at Eastern Illinois, so he definitely grew up around the game.

I became friends with Drew during his time at Southeast. He's a personable, likable young man and I think people who follow the Tigers will be happy with him running the program.

By the way, he also married into a pretty athletic family. His wife, Lindsey, is a former track star at Southeast and her father -- Dutch Meyr -- played and coached football at Southeast.

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Even though he no doubt lived a full life, I was saddened to hear about the recent death of Kenneth Vangilder, who passed away at 83.

Speaking of athletic families, the Vangilders certainly fit the bill.

Kenneth Vangilder spent five seasons pitching in the New York Giants' minor league system -- reaching as high as Class AAA -- his father, Elam, was a star hurler for the St. Louis Browns who spent 11 seasons in the major leagues. Kenneth's son, Clay, pitched at Murray State.

I primarily knew about the exploits of Kenneth and Elam through my association with Clay, a former longtime high school coach at Kelly who is now an administrator in Jackson.

I've also been told over the years all about Kenneth's and Elam's accomplishments by local baseball legend Doc Yallaly, who regards the elder Vangilders as two of the best pitchers in area history.

I met Kenneth several years ago while doing research for an article about Elam and he seemed like a really good man.

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How about that Tiger Woods. Every time you think his domination might be over, he does something like win the British Open.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.