Southeast, Murray St. football programs in building mode

The football teams at Southeast Missouri State and Murray State share one major theme entering today's game in Murray, Ky.

Both squads feature third-year coaches trying to build up floundering programs.

While progress appears to have been made in each camp, wins have not come as frequently as either coach would like.

"Absolutely," MSU's Matt Griffin said when asked if it's frustrating to not see more tangible results in the building process. "But you don't put yourself in a time frame. You just go to work every day."

Southeast's Tony Samuel, who echoed similar thoughts, laughed when it was suggested that building a football program that has little tradition is difficult.

"It's not easy," Samuel said. "That's why you get a handful of crazy coaches who think they can."

Southeast has struggled since moving up to Division I-AA in 1991, compiling just two winning seasons, the most recent in 2002.

Southeast has never won an Ohio Valley Conference title or made the playoffs in any division, and the program's facilities lag in comparison to most in the OVC.

MSU, on the other hand, has experienced success over the years. Since 1995, the Racers have eight winning seasons, three OVC titles and three Division I-AA playoff berths.

In addition, MSU's facilities are considered among the best in the conference.

Hard times for Racers

But the Racers have not had a winning season since going 7-4 in 2004.

The Racers went 2-9 in 2005, including a last-place 0-7 OVC record.

In stepped Griffin, who during just three years revived a Tennessee-Martin program that had ranked among the nation's worst.

Griffin's first two MSU teams went 3-19, including 1-15 in the OVC, with the lone win coming at Southeast last season.

But the Racers (3-6, 2-3) appear to be on the upswing. They have their most wins since 2004 and more OVC victories than in the previous three seasons combined.

"He's doing a great job," Samuel said of Griffin. "They're much improved."

If MSU, with a strong tradition and impressive facilities, can experience such a down period, imagine the obstacles programs like Southeast face.

"It's not [easy] at all," Griffin said. "He [Samuel] knows it. He's an outstanding coach, a good man."

Southeast fared better in Samuel's first two seasons than MSU did in Griffin's initial two years, as the Redhawks went 7-15, including 3-12 in the OVC.

The Redhawks (3-6, 1-4) have the same overall record as MSU this year, although they trail the fifth-place Racers by a game in the nine-team OVC.

But Griffin noted how close Southeast is to being toward the top of the league standings. Two of the Redhawks' OVC losses were by a combined five points, and last week they led OVC co-leader Eastern Kentucky 16-7 in the third quarter before the Colonels rallied to win 29-16.

"I give him [Samuel] a lot of credit. They have really improved," Griffin said. "We're getting ready for, I think, the most improved team in our conference week to week. SEMO is doing a great job."

Both teams are young as far as their starting lineups, which could lend promise for the future. MSU lists three senior starters for today's game, while Southeast lists seven senior starters.

"I think both of us are making progress," Samuel said.

Samuel and Griffin hope that progress continues through the final three games and into next year.

"If you're not in the playoff hunt, everybody wants a strong finish," Griffin said. "To go into the offseason with wins ... it's important for everybody."

The Redhawks' last OVC road win -- and their only OVC road triumph under Samuel -- came at MSU in 2006 when Timmy Holloman rushed for a career-high 212 yards during a 24-17 victory.

Holloman, a senior tailback, is No. 4 on Southeast's career rushing list with 2,284 yards.

MSU beat Southeast 31-17 last year in Cape Girardeau.