THE LATEST LINE: SHUMATE'S IMPACT ON SE HOPPS A HUGE ONE

True, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball program has not exactly thrived since moving to Division I six years ago, although the Indians are making some early noise in the Ohio Valley Conference this season.

Then again, how many teams do find immediate success when making the rugged jump from Division II? Very few.

But in these times of instant gratification, the focus is always on what have you done for me lately.

With all of the above in mind, it's time to reflect for a while on last weekend's milestone in SEMO hoops history.

When the Indians beat Eastern Kentucky at the Show Me Center, Ron Shumate chalked up his 300th victory as Southeast's coach.

Entering a key two-game OVC road trip this weekend, Shumate had a 301-161 record in his 16th season at SEMO. And counting his success in seven seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga, he was 440-223 overall as a collegiate head coach.

Some mighty impressive numbers, to say the least. And, as Shumate proudly points out, it's not like he's done it at two of the real big-time programs in the country.

Not even close. When Shumate arrived on the scene in Cape Girardeau in 1981, SEMO's basketball program was in a major free fall. The Indians had recorded just five winning records in the previous 14 seasons and they were coming off a last-place finish in the old MIAA.

But it didn't take Shumate long to right the ship. The Indians went 21-10 in his first season, winning the MIAA title and reaching the Division II quarterfinals.

And that was only the beginning. In 10 years on the Division II level, Shumate guided the Indians to nine 20-win seasons, eight NCAA Tournament appearances and two national runnerup finishes.

And Shumate, in addition to all that success on the hardwood, has been the primary cog behind two other major changes on the local scene.

No. 1, whether people want to admit it or not, Cape probably wouldn't have the sparkling Show Me Center today if not for the tremendous success Shumate enjoyed with SEMO basketball.

What originally started the idea for a new multipurpose arena was the fact old Houck Field House had simply gotten too small to accommodate all the fans who wanted to follow Shumate's Indians.

And No. 2, SEMO administrators would have probably never even considered making the Division I plunge if basketball -- which produces by far the most revenue of any sport on campus -- had not been so successful on the Division II level.

When the Indians beat Eastern Kentucky, Shumate was given a plaque in honor of his 300th victory as SEMO's coach.

Asked what it all meant to him, he humbly said that it's not so much a reflection of what he's done, but more a reflection of the outstanding players he's had over the years.

Well, even though that's a big part of it, he's selling himself short.

That milestone is a major reflection of what Shumate has done for SEMO hoops.

And basketball fans in this area shouldn't lose sight of that.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian