Win over TSU showed team's growing confidence

Our football team has turned the corner but we still have to go down the street. Our win over Tennessee State was a convincing win that shows our players have learned how to win. Now they have to learn how to handle winning.

We have to work our way down the street one game at a time beginning with our game at Tennessee-Martin at 2 p.m. Saturday. I want our team to remain humble and realize how they got to this point -- it's a lot of hard work with emphasis on improving as a football team every week.

We really handled Tennessee State during the first half but TSU came up with big plays in the third quarter to pull within 10 points, 28-18. In the past we might have folded at that point, but winning creates confidence and our players battled back to put 21 points on the board for a 49-25 win.

Our defense played its best half of football in the first half when we held an explosive Tennessee State offense to just 72 yards in total offense. In the third quarter, Tennessee State made plays and converted three big down plays to jump-start their offense.

Our players have learned that in most big games momentum will change. Bad things happen, but you have to handle them and on Saturday we did.

The game at Tennessee-Martin is our biggest game of the season because it is our next game. The Skyhawks have played us tough the last two years and I know they will be ready for us on Saturday. It is their homecoming and they will dedicate a new $2-million football building that they are very proud of.

The 17,000 square-foot facility has office space for all UTM football personnel, meeting rooms, a locker room, a training room and a multi-purpose room with a glass wall overlooking the football field. The building shows UTM's commitment to the football program.

Tennessee-Martin is an option team that can really control the football and keep our offense off the field. We have to stop the run and force them to pass because they really aren't comfortable in a passing game. Our offense is explosive but can't score when standing on the sideline.

Our practices this week have been good upbeat practices. Our players have a spring in their step that comes with winning. They have to be able to accept the plaudits from the campus and community. There is a fine line between confidence and being over confident.

Winning is great -- I enjoy going into the community and finding people excited about football. I want the university and community to be proud of their football team because it is their football team.

We are on the road this week, but it is a short drive to Martin, Tenn. I hope many of you will make the drive on a beautiful fall day to watch us play the Skyhawks. The game begins at 2 p.m. and the community will be energized with homecoming activities.

Don't forget our homecoming game with Eastern Illinois at Houck Stadium on Oct. 19. We were all very happy with the turnout for the Tennessee State game, but with homecoming on Oct. 19 we need to fill the stadium. Thank you for your support.

Tim Billings is the football coach at Southeast Missouri State University.