Southeast's 0-3 start is no surprise

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Southeast Missouri State University's football team concluded its nonconference schedule here Saturday with an 0-3 record after falling to Central Michigan 44-27.

And that should surprise absolutely nobody except perhaps the most die-hard -- but unrealistic -- Southeast fans.

Before the season I wrote, although I hoped I was wrong, it would be a major surprise if the Indians did not start off with three straight losses.

Not that I had come up with any kind of great revelation. But facing Division I-AA power Southern Illinois and Division I-A programs Bowling Green and Central Michigan in the first three weeks -- all on the road -- certainly did not figure to lend itself to much success.

It didn't. After being hammered by SIU 42-3 and Bowling Green 49-10, Southeast was -- as expected -- much more competitive against Central Michigan. Yet the end result was another lopsided defeat.

But all is certainly not lost for the Indians and their supporters. Now the "real" season is about to begin, as Southeast jumps into its eight-game Ohio Valley Conference slate that will determine just how successful a year it will be.

Entering Saturday's OVC opener at home against Samford, we still really haven't learned much about the Indians, other than the fact they faced one of the nation's toughest nonconference schedules and didn't come away with much to show for it -- except for the roughly $250,000 they made the school's athletic department for playing the two I-A opponents.

Starting Saturday night at Houck Stadium, we'll begin to learn a whole lot more about the Indians and their chances of being a major player in the OVC race.

The Indians and their fans aren't the only ones elated that Southeast is finally going to get to play a home game.

After spending much of the past two weekends in airports, on airplanes and in rental cars, I can't wait to finally cover a football game at Houck Stadium for the first time in 2004.

Four of Southeast's last eight contests -- all OVC affairs -- are at home, and one of the road games is a short driving distance to Murray State, so there won't be all that much travel involved to follow the Indians the rest of the way. That certainly can't be said for these past two weeks.

And kudos to the small but loyal group of Indians supporters -- mostly players' relatives -- who made the trip to both Bowling Green and Central Michigan.

One unexpected treat resulting from being in the St. Louis airport Friday morning was running into St. Louis University women's basketball coach Jill Pizzotti.

Jill played at Southeast under Ed Arnzen, and she later was an assistant coach on Arnzen's Otahkians staff. I've known Jill for about 20 years -- we both arrived in Cape Girardeau in 1984 -- and consider her a good friend.

Jill, who was on her way to Michigan on a recruiting trip, is friends with several Southeast football coaches and follows the progress of the team closely. Even though the Indians are off to a rough start, she seemed confident they would make a strong run at the OVC title.

We'll see if Jill turns out to be right. Either way, it was great to see her.

Southeast's two products playing in the NFL got their seasons under way last weekend.

Willie Ponder, a wide receiver/return man in his second year with the Giants, did not catch a pass but he returned five kickoffs for a 23.8-yard average, with a long of 33 yards, during a loss to the Eagles.

Eugene Amano, a center in his rookie campaign with the Titans, saw action in a reserve role during a win over the Dolphins.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.