TOUGH SCHEDULE AWAITS INDIANS

Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians certainly won't receive a break from the schedule as they attempt to turn things around in 1999.

The Indians will be facing what has been deemed the toughest schedule in school history.

In addition to the seven Ohio Valley Conference opponents Southeast will face -- five of them combined to go 35-21 last year -- the Indians will take on four teams from the Gateway Conference, which is regarded as one of the nation's premier Division I-AA leagues.

At least four of the Indians' opponents have been ranked in various preseason national polls: Illinois State, Tennessee State, Murray State and Eastern Kentucky.

And eight teams on Southeast's schedule received votes in The Sports Network preseason top 25. According to The Sports Network, Illinois State is ranked eighth, Tennessee State 13th and Murray State 24th. Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State and Tennessee Tech also received votes.

"Our schedule is a bear," said Southeast head coach John Mumford. "We're facing some of the top teams in the nation and we'll be facing a major challenge just about every week."

It all begins with a Thursday night game at Houck Stadium as regional rival Southern Illinois of the Gateway Conference comes to Cape Girardeau on Sept. 2.

The big question surrounding that opening contest is whether Karlton Carpenter will be in uniform.

Carpenter, SIU's star running back who gained nearly 1,900 yards last season, has been in all kinds of legal trouble. He hasn't practiced yet and it's highly doubtful that Carpenter will be in Cape Girardeau for the opener.

Then comes three road games against highly-touted opponents: Illinois State of the Gateway on Sept. 11, followed by matchups with OVC foes Murray State on Sept. 18 and Western Kentucky on Sept. 25.

"It's a very tough way to start the season. We play SIU, then we have three straight road games against some exceptional teams," Mumford said. "Of course you want to win every game, but if we could somehow be 2-2 after those first four games, I think that would be a great accomplishment and we would be in very good shape."

Following that rugged stretch, the Indians will have two OVC home games, against perennial power Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 2 and Tennessee Tech on Oct. 9.

Southeast will then have its final two non-league games of the season, taking on two more Gateway squads. The Indians play at Indiana State on Oct. 16 and host Southwest Missouri on Oct. 23.

The season will conclude with three OVC contests: at Tennessee-Martin on Oct. 30, at home against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 6 and, after an open date, at home against defending league champion Tennessee State on Nov. 20.

SEMO Football

1999 Schedule

(Home games in capital letters)

Sept. 2 -- SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 -- at Illinois State, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18 -- at Murray State, 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 -- at Western Kentucky, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 -- EASTERN KENTUCKY, 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 -- TENNESSEE TECH, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 -- at Indiana State, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 -- SOUTHWEST MISSOURI, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 -- at Tennessee-Martin, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 -- EASTERN ILLINOIS, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 -- TENNESSEE STATE, 1 p.m.