Southeast shows off study area

Southeast Missouri State athletic director Don Kaverman beamed with pride as he conducted an informal tour of the university's new Redhawks Success Center during Friday's football media day.

"It's a real upgrade, and something that will do a lot for our athletic program," Kaverman said.

Located in the Student Recreation Center South across from Houck Stadium, the Redhawks Success Center is utilized by all Southeast athletes.

The facility offers a computer lab with 20 computers, study areas and conference areas for group meetings. The area is supervised by assistant athletic director Alicia Scott, with assistance from athletic academic coordinator Sharon Burgard, compliance assistant Marti Strickland and several advisors.

"Our previous academic center was one room in the basement of the library with two computers," Kaverman said, smiling. "This is so much better."

Kaverman believes the new facility will not only further enhance the academic success of Southeast athletes -- better than 51 percent maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average -- but also aid in recruiting.

"This will really help our student-athletes," Kaverman said, "and it's something we can recruit to."

Improvements at Houck

Greg Brune, Southeast's director of athletic development, also had something to rave about at media day.

Brune showed off the newly-paved Booster Club parking area just beyond the east end zone of Houck Stadium. The work, which Brune estimated would have cost about $50,000, was donated by Delta Concrete and Nip Kelley Construction.

"This is where the boosters gather, and when it rained, it would just be nothing but mud," Brune said. "I can't say enough about Paul Ebaugh of Delta Concrete and Vince Kelley of Kelley Construction for what their companies did to help us out."

Also, the new parking lot just south of Houck Field House is scheduled to be completed prior to the Sept. 1 home and season opener against Southern Illinois.

Noteworthy

• When Southeast coach Tim Billings says the Redhawks will be young and inexperienced, he's not kidding.

Just 13 seniors are listed on the 90-man roster, and there are approximately 40 rookies, including freshmen who redshirted last year.

* Jackson High School graduate Matt James, a freshman offensive lineman, did not meet NCAA eligibility standards. He will attend Southeast but won't be able to practice with the Redhawks this year.

* Reserve running back Adam Schwent, a Ste. Genevieve High School product, is recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery and is being held out of most practice drills.