TOUGHER SCHEDULE AWAITS INDIANS

If Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians are able to turn in a successful season this year, then they will have certainly earned it.

That's because the 1998 Indians are facing what appears to be one of the most challenging schedules in school history.

As the Indians compiled their 4-7 record in 1997, two of the wins came over Lambuth and Austin Peay -- a pair of teams that were less-than-impressive last year.

But Lambuth and Austin Peay are not among the non-conference foes on this year's schedule, which features the usual seven Ohio Valley Conference games along with four non-league contests.

The overall non-league slate has certainly been upgraded considerably, with Division II Truman State, Indiana State and Southwest Missouri State replacing Lambuth, Austin Peay and Illinois State. Southern Illinois remains as the fourth non-conference foe.

"Our three new non-conference opponents will all be excellent tests for us," said Southeast coach John Mumford Wednesday during the Indians' media day. "Truman State has a very good Division II program. Indiana State and Southwest Missouri are both Gateway Conference teams and that's one of the toughest I-AA leagues in the country. SIU is always a great rivalry game.

"It's an extremely challenging schedule for us, but it's also one that could be a great schedule for the fact we start out with four home games in September. That's great for our fans, because the weather should still be really nice in September, and it'll give us a chance to create some early momentum."

Southeast's first four games of the season will all be night contests at Houck Stadium, beginning with a Sept. 3, Thursday matchup against Truman State (formerly Northeast Missouri State).

The Indians will then face Indiana State Sept. 12, open OVC play against Murray State Sept. 19 and play league foe Tennessee-Martin Sept. 26.

After that, only two of the remaining seven games will be at home and the schedule stiffens up considerably, so it's important that the Indians get off to a good start.

* Every player looks forward to the start of a new season but that is particularly true for two former Cape Girardeau Central High stars, long-time friends -- and first cousins -- Gabe Jenkins and Terrance Sterling.

Jenkins and Sterling say they have been playing together for as long as they can remember. At Cape Central, they were a double terror playing both running back and linebacker.

Jenkins began his Southeast career as a fullback, becoming a starter in 1996, while Sterling played linebacker, also becoming a starter in 1996.

They had hoped to play side-by-side at linebacker last year -- just like in the old days -- after Jenkins was moved to that position. Jenkins quickly became a starter, but Sterling missed the entire season with a leg injury.

Sterling is now healthy -- and he and Jenkins hope to wreak havoc together once again this year.

"It will be like the old days," said a smiling Jenkins. "We've been playing together since little league."

Said a grinning Sterling, "It's about time I'll be back out there. I don't feel 100 percent, but I'm close. I'm looking forward to playing with Gabe again. It's been a while."

Although Sterling graduated from Cape Central a year ahead of Jenkins, they are both seniors in eligibility this season.

* There is certainly a strong local flavor on the 1998 Indians, with upwards of 20 players from Southeast Missouri high schools on the roster.

Cape Central alone boasts of nine players:

Jenkins, Sterling, junior receiver Diandrai Webb, redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Brune, redshirt freshman receiver Andy Dunaway, freshman linebacker Tatum Kitchen, freshmen defensive end Ben Lowrance, freshman receiver Ryan Juden and freshman defensive back Mike Seaton.

Dunaway was a walkon who joined the team last season while Lowrance, Juden and Seaton are all walkons who joined the program this year.

Jackson has five products on the roster:

Junior safety John Smith, redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Gross, freshman quarterback Justin Keen, freshman running back Devree Flint and freshman defensive end Kent Langston.

Gross is a walkon who joined the squad last season.

Among the more notable local products are senior fullback Britt Mirgaux, the Indians' leading rusher the past two seasons, and junior center Chris Kiefer, named to the preseason all-OVC team.

* Mumford is extremely high on his freshmen recruits, although he's not sure how many of them will see action.

But Mumford did say it will be hard to keep Steve Nance off the field.

The Hazelwood Central product was one of the St. Louis area's top linebackers last year, but at 5-feet-10 and 185 pounds he was undersized as far as big-time college recruiters go.

Nance is playing in the secondary for the Indians.

"He makes plays all over the field," Mumford said. "He's a freshman to watch among others."

* A lingering shoulder injury has ended the playing career of Jonathan Robinson, who had been counted on to add depth at linebacker this season.

A two-year lettermen on the defensive line, Robinson will remain with the team as a student assistant coach.

* The Southeast football program is honoring former player and coach Jim Lohr by introducing the Jim Lohr Football Video Office, which will have state of the art video and editing equipment.

The equipment is being purchased from funds donated by former Southeast football players.

1998 SEMO Football

(Home games in capital letters)

Sept. 3 -- TRUMAN STATE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 -- INDIANA STATE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 -- MURRAY STATE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 -- TENNESSEE-MARTIN, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 -- Eastern Illinois, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 -- Tennessee Tech, 1 p.m.

Oct. 17 -- TENNESSEE STATE, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 -- Southwest Missouri, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 -- MIDDLE TENNESSEE, 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 -- Eastern Kentucky, 12:30 p.m.

Nov. 14 -- Southern Illinois, 12:30 p.m.