Southeast puts optimism to test Thursday

Considering how bad things went for Southeast Missouri State football last year, the Redhawks' players and coaches no doubt couldn't wait to get the 2005 season started -- and hopefully begin to make amends.

Well, the wait is just about over.

Thursday night, the Redhawks have their first crack at erasing the memory of last year's 3-8 disaster that included a 3-5, sixth-place tie in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference.

But if the 6 p.m. opener at Houck Stadium against Southern Illinois goes the way most people expect, the misery will only continue for the Redhawks -- at least for another week.

That's because the Salukis from Carbondale enter the year ranked No. 5 nationally in Division I-AA. Conversely, The Sports Network rates Southeast among the nation's worst Division I-AA squads.

But at least the nice thing about the first game of any season is that, no matter the expectations -- good or bad -- there is hope. Southeast players and coaches expressed plenty of hope during the preseason. Thursday night, Redhawks' fans will begin to learn if that optimism is legitimate.

The Redhawks certainly appear improved athletically, with apparent upgrades at the skill positions. But they are young, and on paper there are still many major question marks, primarily at quarterback, along the offensive line and all over a defense that statistically ranked as one of the nation's worst in 2004.

This is no doubt an important season for sixth-year coach Tim Billings, who appeared to have a previously struggling program turned around before the bottom fell out last year.

Billings seems to genuinely believe that things are headed back in the right direction. If that's true, then even if this doesn't result in a big year -- and Southeast faces an uphill climb, with three tough nonconference games to begin the season; the SIU contest will be followed by road dates at Kent State and Missouri State -- fans should at least expect considerable improvement.

It all starts Thursday against a team that figures to be considerably better than any squad in the OVC, and just might rank as Southeast's overall top opponent despite the presence on the schedule of Division I-A Kent State.

The so-called experts are anticipating an SIU romp, much like its 42-3 breeze in last season's opener.

Will the Redhawks be able to spoil the Salukis' season-opening party and make a strong early statement that this year is indeed going to be different than last? Or at the least, will they make SIU sweat quite a bit?

We won't have to wait very long to find out the answers.

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I'm sure some people will criticize the decision by Southeast officials to allow a convicted felon to join the Redhawks' basketball program, but I've got absolutely no problem with giving Brandon Foust a chance to continue not only his athletic career but, more importantly, his education.

It might be easy to sit back and say Southeast should not have messed with Foust, a former University of Oklahoma player who in July pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony burglary in his native Columbus, Ohio, and was placed on two years of probation.

But would it be right for no university or basketball program to give this young man a second chance? Should Foust, who had no prior criminal background, simply be banished for life from getting an education?

Not in my book. All people deserve second chances. I'm sure hundreds of schools across the country would have welcomed the talented Foust with open arms, so why not Southeast?

Who knows just how good the 6-foot-6, 210-pound Foust -- a consensus top-75 player nationally in high school who will have to sit out the coming season under NCAA transfer rules and will then have two years of eligibility remaining -- will be at Southeast, but there is no question he has the potential to be one of the best to ever suit up for the Redhawks.

I'm not going to say I know what kind of a person Foust is, but speaking with him for the first time a few days ago, he seemed like a good kid who is legitimately sorry for his actions and determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Let's hope Foust continues with that attitude over the next few years. Southeast took a chance on him -- one that he deserves --and now it's up to him to prove that the university made the right decision.

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Former Central High School football star Mitch Craft is apparently on the verge of making a name for himself at Southern Mississippi, one of the nation's more successful mid-major Division I-A programs the past several years.

Craft, who came to Southern Mississippi last year as a walk-on quarterback, was quickly moved to linebacker. He redshirted and practiced with the Golden Eagles.

Now, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Craft is running No. 2 at middle linebacker. Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower recently told the Clarion-Ledger newspaper of Jackson, Miss., "He's got the chance to help us."

Craft received a New Orleans Bowl ring last season as the Golden Eagles hammered North Texas, but now he's looking to get in on some of the game action.

Southern Mississippi opens the season Sept. 4 at home against Tulane.

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Several Central products are slated to be key players at Division I-AA Southeast, while still more former Tigers players are competing on various small-school levels.

Among those in the latter category are J.P. Limbaugh and Kenny Lowe at Division II Quincy (Ill.) University, and Marcus Klund at NAIA Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

Limbaugh, a fifth-year senior who has already graduated from Quincy and is now in the school's MBA program, is a co-captain for the Hawks. He was their third-leading receiver last year, catching 29 passes, and the three-year starter has more than 50 career receptions.

Lowe, a junior safety, had 31 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in a part-time starting role last season. He's expected to be a full-time starter this year for the Hawks, who open the season Saturday at McKendree (Ill.).

Klund, a junior safety, will be entering his third season as a starter at Lindenwood, which went 11-1 in 2004 and enters this year ranked No. 7 nationally.

Klund was a second-team all-league performer in the Heart of America Conference last season, when he had 73.5 tackles, a team-high five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.