Tedium meets excitement as Southeast Missouri State football holds media day

When the Southeast Missouri State football team gathered for its annual media day on Sunday at the Show Me Center, it wasn't just a chance to take a team picture. It also marked the looming end of preseason practice and the midway point between the start of preseason camp and the Redhawks' season opener on Sept. 3 at Memphis.

"I'm excited for September 3. It's going to be a fun day," senior defensive back Eriq Moore said. "Really, I'm just excited to play against someone different. We've been in camp for a few days now, close to practice 10, so I'm ready to hit someone else."

Southeast Missouri State strong safety Eriq Moore answers questions during football media day Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Trent Singer

He'll have to wait a little bit longer, but in the meantime, the team is focused on what it can improve in the two weeks between now and game No. 1. Moore believes that comes down to ironing out a few wrinkles but feels good about how a defensive unit with a ton of returning experience is poised to perform.

"For me, I think it's consistency," Moore said. "We've got about nine returning starters on defense, so the biggest thing is when we've got players like that, they've been with the defense. ... There's a lot of things we're used to, so the biggest thing is consistency -- showing up and being the same Redhawk defense from Game 1 all the way to Game 11. If we can be a consistent defense, we'll be a great defense."

Fresh off a scrimmage in Kirkwood, Missouri, coach Tom Matukewicz believes the defense is on track, praising its performance in the scrimmage and its progress on a day-to-day basis in practice. If consistency is what the unit is striving for, so far so good.

"They're playing great in situations -- third down, red zone -- they're killing it," Matukewicz said. "I think we're still a little banged up, but as long as we stay healthy and continue to grow, I feel good about it."

The offense has been more of a work in progress. Returning quarterback Dante Vandeven, a Jackson graduate who stepped into the starting role last year as a freshman, has a year under his belt, which means he knows what he's getting into. In this case, it's a quarterback battle. Still, he says this preseason camp has been easier.

"It's definitely [easier]," Vandeven said. "I trust the guys on the team, and they trust me, too. And I earned respect from them for what I did last year, but it's not last year anymore."

Just like Moore on defense, Vandeven cited consistency as the most critical aspect in getting the offense where it needs to be by the time it travels to Memphis. He believes communication and individual responsibility can take the Redhawks where they need to go.

"At the scrimmage yesterday, we had some falling outs and some falling ins, and I think that's the whole communication part and knowing your job and doing it right," Vandeven said. "Stay consistent and get some explosive plays going -- that's what I'd like to see happen over the next couple of weeks."

Southeast Missouri State football media day Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Trent Singer

Matukewicz said this upcoming week -- the final of preseason camp -- will be critical in hashing out the two-deep on the offensive side of the football.

"Our short-yardage run game needs to improve. That's an emphasis we're really going to make this week," Matukewicz said. "Offensively, I think we're still kind of growing. When you're still having a quarterback battle, I think it's hard to have everything in place and still be rolling."

Preseason camp will conclude with a 10:30 a.m. scrimmage on Saturday at Houck Stadium. Then the focus will begin to turn toward Memphis and the end of a long slog toward playing a game that matters.

"When you're playing any college sport, you've got to learn to embrace the grind," Moore said. "I'm going to say I like the grind. That's when you're really starting to get better and separate yourself from the mediocre players.

"The closer you get to the game, the more exciting it gets. I think the excitement is at its peak when we get on that bus and we're headed down 55 to Memphis. ... But I'm going to be all geeked up from now until kickoff, to be honest."

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Dante Vandeven answers questions during football media day Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Trent Singer

What will Moore be most excited about when he walks up the steps onto the team bus?

"I'm going to be honest, I like the hotel. I like sleeping in a bed and just relaxing away from everything. ... It's just football," he said. "I like being with your team -- you're with your brothers -- and you're with them for about 24 hours or however long you're in the hotel. And I like that."