My prediction: SEMO will be improved — 5-7

Maybe some Redhawks Kool-Aid was slipped into my water Monday during the football media day but I predict 2008 will be better for Southeast football than 2007.

OK, I don’t think that’s saying a lot.

Even though Southeast coach Tony Samuel said the Redhawks were close to breaking through last year, they also were about to wrap up a winless campaign through the Ohio Valley Conference and a two-win season before they rallied to beat Jacksonville State in the finale.

Before that, they had lost seven straight Division I-AA games and had beaten only Division II Southwest Baptist and an Indiana State program that currently is among the worst in I-AA.

So, it won’t take a whole lot to be better. Southwest Baptist is the opener and Indiana State is on the schedule again.

I’ll pencil the Redhawks for three OVC wins and a 5-7 finish. Tennessee Tech comes to Southeast for the Redhawks’ OVC opener. They may also be able to knock off Murray State and Austin Peay — both road games for a team that didn’t win a game on the road last year.

Those tests against a coach at Murray State who also is rebuilding and a program in Austin Peay that will be in scholarship mode for just the second year are the real barometers of how Southeast is progressing.

Last year, the Redhawks had a lot of newcomers; this year, they have a lot of returning starters.

If the Redhawks can somehow exceed five wins — and post a .500 or better season — I think it would show Samuel’s crew is making progress; if this is another struggle through the OVC, the best news for Samuel may be a second chance to prove his direction is the right one if administrative changes come next summer.