Southeast's decision on Foust was the correct one

There have been some differences of public opinion on various Web sites regarding the Brandon Foust situation, but I think it's only fair he was allowed back in school by Southeast Missouri State's judicial process.

From what I was told by reliable sources, the recent altercation in a campus dorm elevator that led to Foust being prohibited from campus and school-related activities was minor, basically a little pushing incident, and I was told it was something that Foust did not instigate.

It was probably the type of thing that happens on a weekly basis on any college campus, including Southeast, but you only hear about it if it involves a key player on a high-profile team.

As for Foust's status with the Southeast men's basketball team, coach Scott Edgar was kind of vague in his original statement issued through the university Wednesday.

But Edgar said the following day that Foust is still a member of the squad.

That's no doubt good news to Southeast fans who are hoping for a breakout season by the Redhawks in Edgar's second year.

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I attended the recent Ohio Valley Conference basketball media day in Nashville, Tenn., and there were really no major surprises.

I think just about everybody expected Southeast's women, who return four starters from last year's team that won its second straight OVC title, to be the preseason favorite.

The Redhawks were awarded that label, in near-unanimous fashion, as they shoot for a three-peat of both the conference's regular-season and tournament championships.

Southeast's men were slated for fifth out of 11 teams, which is probably where the Redhawks should be after they ended up sixth a year ago.

Austin Peay's men, like Southeast's women, received 19 of 22 first-place votes (coaches and sports information directors were not allowed to vote for their own squads) in a near-unanimous pick as the favorite.

The Govs return all five starters from a team that won the regular-season title by three games, although they lost to Eastern Kentucky in the conference tournament finals.

But just remember that the preseason polls really mean nothing once the actual games start.

As proof of that, look no further than last year. Austin Peay's men were picked sixth and Southeast's women fifth -- yet both captured titles.

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One more Southeast men's basketball note:

With all the injuries and the absence of Foust for the first several days of practice, Edgar needed all the bodies he could get.

Because of that, five walk-ons have been working out with the team, including three local products (Notre Dame's Xavier Delph, Kelly's Kendal Deason and Cape Central's Anthony Harris).

Delph, who was on the squad last year, is ineligible for the first semester but is still allowed to practice, which he is doing on somewhat of a limited basis.

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Despite not having much success since moving up to the Division I-AA level in 1991, the Southeast football team has never gone winless in OVC play.

The 2007 Redhawks only have three more chances to avoid such a claim after they suffered a 31-17 homecoming loss Saturday to a Murray State squad that had dropped 18 straight OVC games.

Southeast (2-5, 0-4) has OVC home games remaining against Austin Peay and Jacksonville State, along with a road contest at Tennessee-Martin this Saturday.

This is certainly not the type of season Southeast fans were looking for, but I'll remind people that they should reserve judgment on the kind of job coach Tony Samuel is doing until he and his staff have been in place for three or four years.

Right now Samuel is in his second season with the Redhawks, who have lost four straight games.

In general, it's never easy to rebuild any program that has been struggling.

And I've said this before and I'll say it again: I'm not sure anybody will be able to revive the Southeast program, given its limitations regarding facilities and finances, along with its lack of tradition on the Division I-AA level.

But at least wait and see how the Samuel tenure plays out before jumping to conclusions.

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Best wishes to Central tennis coach Annette Slattery on her retirement after a brilliant 25-year coaching career.

Slattery compiled a dazzling 317-47-19 record and won 19 district titles.

But her coaching accomplishments were matched, if not surpassed, by her class as a person, which is saying a lot.

I've known the Slattery family for quite a while and they are wonderful people.

And, for those of you who are going to miss her around the Central tennis courts, I'm sure she'll be spending plenty of time at Capaha Field watching son Blake, who is a freshman baseball player at Southeast.

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That was a huge win for the Jackson football team, which knocked off Eureka 21-20 on Friday night in a district opener that featured a pair of state-ranked squads.

And kudos to Chaffee, which beat St. Vincent 13-10 to clinch at least its first non-losing season since 1990.

I had the pleasure of watching that contest, and I came away impressed with the Red Devils, who have made remarkable progress under the astute direction of veteran coach Charlie Vickery.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.