Southeast Missouri State football team takes field for first spring practice

For Southeast Missouri State junior safety Eriq Moore returning to Houck Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for the Redhawks' first spring practice felt like a homecoming.

"When the coaches go out recruiting it's like we're kind of separated from our coaches for a while, and we really don't get to have any time where we can go in there and really talk to them or talk football, really," Moore said. "And we're away from the field, so it feels like you're kind of away from home."

His coach, Tom Matukewicz, was just as enthusiastic about being back on the field with his players.

"I told myself this morning there's no way I'm not having a phenomenal day," Matukewicz said, a big smile across his face. "We worked really hard, we're only limited to so many practices, so I was going to make sure no one was going to steal my joy. They tried hard, but I stayed disciplined and had a great day. I'm just excited to see what this team will turn into."

It was the first of 15 practices for the Redhawks. They'll practice from 3:30-5:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks as well as some Friday and Saturdays. The annual spring game will be at 1 p.m. April 18 at Houck Stadium with a youth camp from 10 a.m.-noon.

"No negative energy, everybody getting used to it being the first day, but everybody was moving around and running," Paul McRoberts said, explaining why it was a great day to him. "Guys are a little bit tired, but they were fighting through, and that just shows the dedication to this game and to the team, so I think it went great."

One of the focuses of Tuesday's practice, which will continue to be a priority throughout the five-week spring practice schedule, was ball security in hopes of improving the team's turnover margin come next season.

"We were No. 8 in the OVC [in turnover margin], and that makes me want to vomit, so that is a major program emphasis," Matukewicz said. "We're really harping on ball security and taking the ball away. I was really wanting to see that translate from the meeting room out onto the field, and I thought they did a good job."

The secondary, which was depleted by players that exhausted their eligibility and has a new cornerbacks coach in Melvin Rice, is also a group that Matukewicz is interested to see work this spring.

"We'll be fine. At the end of the day it comes down to players, and Coach Tuke and I talked, and they're not all here yet, but in summer session and in August when we roll our two-deep out there it's going to look like an FBS two-deep," defensive coordinator Bryce Saia said. "It's going to look how it's supposed to look and we've got Melvin Rice, who's played in this system and coached in this system, so it's going to be a smooth transition. We're really, really, really happy, and we feel good about it."

Saia said the coaches have spent several hours between Signing Day on Feb. 4 and Tuesday analyzing last year's film to get a better idea of what the defense's focuses will be.

"My eyes are ready to fall out," Saia said with a laugh. "We threw out some of the things that we don't think were good enough, and we built on the positives, so we're really trying to streamline everything. The better your talent level gets you can throw out some of the packages and let the kids play, so that's where we're at."

The Redhawks will try to get a two-deep depth chart completed by the end of spring practices, including at the quarterback position where they'll have to replace last year's starter Kyle Snyder.

Senior transfer Alex Niznak wore the No. 1 quarterback jersey and took reps with the first string while redshirt freshman Anthony Cooper wore the No. 2 jersey and transfer Tay Bender was No. 3.

"We want to try to get a lot of the kids repped, so we understand who they are, and then just work to perfect your craft without getting injured," Matukewicz said.