THE LATEST LINE: SEMO FANS AT MURRAY GAME DESERVE PAT ON BACK

Even though his team lost to powerful Murray State last Saturday night, it was no surprise that Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner came away feeling like the entire Indians' program was a winner.

That's because the atmosphere and excitement created by a frenzied, season-high crowd of 6,593 at the Show Me Center was something to behold.

I've criticized SEMO's fans in the past for being too passive and sitting on their hands instead of getting loud for most of the game in order to create a true home-court advantage.

Well, I'll also be the first to tip my hat to those same fans who, over the last half of the season -- and particularly during the Murray State game -- have really stepped to the front with plenty of enthusiasm and noise.

Garner was quick to point that out following the thrilling 82-71 loss in which SEMO wiped out a 15-point second-half deficit and actually grabbed several one-point leads before the ultra-talented Racers pulled away down the stretch.

The nearly 6,600 fans on hand accounted for the biggest crowd at a SEMO home game since 1994 and marked the 11th biggest crowd since the Show Me Center opened for basketball in 1987.

Garner lauded the fans for being so into the game and helping the Indians to come back after they fell behind by such a big margin against the Racers.

And SEMO's first-year head coach also said that's the kind of crowd he envisions eventually being able to attract on a regular basis once he and his staff get the Indians' program to a level of being a consistent Ohio Valley Conference contender, which he is certain will happen some time down the road.

* Like most baseball fans -- or just sports fans in general -- I was saddened by the death of broadcasting legend Harry Caray.

I grew up in St. Louis listening to Caray broadcast Cardinals games and loved the old guy -- who never met a drink he didn't like -- even through the latter stages of his career when he butchered most names and many calls.

It didn't matter. Listening to Caray brought a smile to my face, as I'm sure it did to most fans.

* Former SEMO basketball coach Ron Shumate has apparently moved from Chattanooga, Tenn., to his cabin on Kentucky Lake.

Shumate, fired by SEMO in May amid allegations of NCAA rules violations, moved to Chattanooga a short time later. He initially worked for a private marketing firm that helped promote Tennessee-Chattanooga athletic events and then also did some work for the school itself.

When contacted a few days ago, Tennessee-Chattanooga officials gave no reason as why Shumate was no longer working for the school or in the area, saying simply that Shumate had moved back to Kentucky.

* SEMO football standout Angel Rubio reportedly did well at the recent NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and could be in line to be selected in the NFL draft on April 18.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian