TSU climbs back into rankings

When the 2001 college football season began, Tennessee State was not regarded as one of the nation's better teams -- or even as an upper echelon squad in the Ohio Valley Conference.

But all that changed last Saturday when the Tigers stunned Florida A&M -- ranked ninth nationally in Division I-AA at the time -- 27-7.

Now the Tigers (2-0) are considered one of the best teams in I-AA as they moved into the No. 25 spot in the rankings. Southeast Missouri State University (2-2) will get an up-close look at TSU today when the teams kick off their OVC schedules with a 1:30 p.m. contest at Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn.

"They are a very talented team and we have our work cut out for us," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "We will have to play a mistake-free game and execute flawlessly."

That being said, Billings fully expects his improving squad to have a chance at knocking off the Tigers.

"Our kids are excited about the game," he said. "We all feel that if we play well we can win this game."

When Billings looks at the Tigers, he sees more of the team that won back-to-back OVC championship in 1998-99 and less of the squad that slumped to a 3-8 record in 2000.

"They're back," he said. "They were the dominant team in the OVC for two years. They were a little down last year, but they're back now. They have some great football players."

TSU coach James Reese, a former player and assistant coach for the Tigers who had a rough first season in charge of the program last year, fully expected the Tigers to be back in 2001.

"We were disappointed with last season, but we will definitely be back in the hunt this year," said Reese during the OVC Media Day in August. "We expect a lot of things out of this year's team."

Through two games, the Tigers have certainly been impressive, scoring 54 points and allowing just 13, the latter figure leading the OVC. The Tigers are second in the conference in both total offense and passing offense and they rank third in the league in total defense.

Quarterback Shannon Harris has completed 35 of 68 passes for 443 yards, with five touchdowns and just one interception. He has plenty of talented targets, including C.J. Johnson (9 receptions) and Patrick Jenkins (8).

If the Tigers choose to keep the ball on the ground, they have freshman Charles Anthony, who has rushed for 205 yards already.

Defensively, the Tigers appear to have shored up a unit that allowed more than 33 points per game in 2000. Linebackers Walter Reese and Jermaine Beale, along with safety Marquis Stephens, are the headliners.

"Offensively, they've got two real good running backs, their quarterback can throw and they've got good receivers," said Billings. "Defensively, their linemen can rush the passer, their linebackers can run and their secondary can cover."

Added Billings with a laugh, "Other than that, they don't have much."

Of course, the Indians have some weapons of their own, particularly offensively as they lead the OVC in total offense and passing offense, ranking just ahead of TSU in both categories.

And Southeast's defense also appears to be considerably improved over the unit that gave up more than 440 yards and 36 points per game last year.

"I think we're getting better as a team every week and if we keep doing that I'll be happy," Billings said.

Billings figures the Indians were tested quite a bit during their non-conference schedule but another major exam lies ahead of them today.

"This is a great test for us, another one," he said. "We'll find out where we're at."

Quarterback Jeromy McDowell, who suffered a sprained knee late in the first quarter last Saturday against Illinois State and missed the rest of the contest, is not expected to play today.

Bobby Brune, who directed the 38-33 comeback victory, will get the starting nod today.