Southeast's QB position keeps getting richer

When Southeast Missouri State University's football program announced its recruiting class a couple of weeks ago, one of the first things that struck me was why a former Arizona State quarterback would transfer into what appears to be a crowded and stacked position.

Then I recalled a somewhat similar situation at Southeast last year, and it didn't seem so out of whack that Andrew Goodenough, who redshirted at Arizona State last year following two all-star seasons at a California junior college, would cast his lot with the Indians.

On the surface, you figure Goodenough might struggle to receive much playing time because senior-to-be Jack Tomco is coming off a record-setting season and was one of the major reasons the Indians' went 8-4 last year -- their best since 1969.

And behind Tomco is Jeromy McDowell, who set freshman passing records two years ago before missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.

Ah, but there's the rub. You see, when Tomco transferred to Southeast last year following a standout junior-college career, I also wondered about the wisdom of Tomco's move considering McDowell's presence.

But then McDowell went down, Tomco stepped in -- and the rest, as they say, is history. Tomco went on to turn in the best season by a quarterback in Southeast history.

Not that Goodenough is going to hope bad things happen to Tomco. I haven't met the young man, who enrolled at Southeast this semester and will participate in spring drills that begin March 6, but I'm sure he's not that kind of guy.

The point is, it was proven last year by Southeast that you can never have enough good quarterbacks. And it was proven by Tomco that if you work hard and stay prepared, you never know when you're going to get a chance to shine.

Hopefully every Southeast quarterback will remain healthy next season. But just in case that doesn't happen, it's nice to know the Indians will have plenty of options.

One more quick note on Southeast's football recruiting: All coaches are going to say they signed excellent prospects. What do you think, a coach is going to tell you that, no, we didn't get the players we wanted so we had to sign some real marginal guys? I don't think so.

However, you've got to believe Southeast coach Tim Billings when he tells you he thinks the Indians signed some real talent. Coming off the season the Indians had, and seeing how so many of their previous recruits have come up big the last few years, there's every reason to think Billings is shooting straight.

Former Southeast men's basketball coach Ron Shumate saw the Indians play in person for the first time since his coaching days when he attended last Saturday's game at Murray State.

Shumate was let go as the Indians' coach following the 1996-97 season because of NCAA violations, but the impact he had on the program in building it into one of the nation's best on the Division II level cannot be understated.

I've written it many times before, but the Division II success the Indians had under Shumate was as responsible as anything for school officials first considering the jump to Division I.

It figures to be another exciting year for Southeast's baseball team, which is battling bad weather this weekend while trying to get in a three-game, season-opening series at national power Alabama.

Despite losing some top talent from last year's squad that posted the program's first NCAA Division I regional victory, the Indians are expected to be as strong as ever and are picked to win their second straight Ohio Valley Conference title.

Southeast's first home game will be Friday when Memphis visits Capaha Field for the start of a three-game series.

Friday's high school basketball game between Poplar Bluff and Charleston for the SEMO Conference title sounded like a dandy.

The host Blue Jays won in overtime, giving both squads 22-3 records, which is somewhat fitting because they have proven hands-down to be the two premier teams in the area this season.

Don't be surprised if the Blue Jays and Mules both make deep playoff runs.

This has been one of the more wide-open college basketball seasons in some time, which makes for consistently great games to watch on television.

It's hard to pick out many favorites to reach the Final Four, let alone win it all, although Kentucky and Arizona are two teams that look really good right now.

Of course, that could change at any time -- which is what makes college hoops so much fun.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.