Time for Indians to forget hype, get down to business

Just about everyone -- from national experts to local fans -- expects Southeast Missouri State University to experience plenty of success in football this season. That much we know.

But after nearly a full year's worth of hype -- plenty of it generated this summer as all the preseason publications steadily hit the racks -- it's just about time for the Indians to put all the expectations behind them and get down to some serious business.

Preseason practice officially begins Monday. And before you know it, the Aug. 28 season opener at Division I-A Ohio will be here.

The reasons for all the optimism are obvious. The Indians return 19 starters, including several All-American candidates, from last year's 8-4 team that produced the program's first winning season since 1994 and most victories since 1969.

But coach Tim Billings is quick and correct to point out that all the hype -- Southeast is the preseason favorite to win its first Ohio Valley Conference title and has been ranked 16th nationally -- will mean nothing if the Indians don't back it up on the field.

Billings is also quick -- and correct -- to point out that it's important for the Indians to have another successful season to show that they were not simply one-hit wonders last year. Opponents will be gunning for Southeast this year, meaning the Indians won't be able to sneak up on anybody, as might have been the case last season.

And it's not like the Indians, for all of their strengths, don't begin practice without a few question marks.

Wide receiver is one after losing All-American Willie Ponder and Tarik Simpson. Billings said he is also concerned about depth on both lines, particularly since Dan Bieg -- one of five returning starters from Southeast's stellar offensive front -- is injured and his status for practice and even the season is up in the air.

And Southeast's defense, while improved last year, still allowed an average of nearly 400 yards per game. Billings knows that statistic has got to improve considerably if the Indians are to reach their lofty goals that include winning their first OVC title and earning their first Division I-AA playoff berth.

It should be an interesting and exciting three-plus weeks of practice. But the real interest and excitement will start once the scoreboard lights up and people begin to keep score.

Let the countdown begin.

On the major-college football scene, it looks like this could be a banner season for the Big 12 Conference.

Three Big 12 teams were ranked in the top five in the USA Today/ESPN preseason poll released Thursday, with Oklahoma No. 1, Texas No. 4 and Kansas State No. 5.

Oklahoma, with its sensational defense, barely nosed out defending national champion Ohio State for the top spot.

While it doesn't quite rank up there with college basketball, the college football season is still one of my favorite times of the year. And it won't be long before the games begin.

Color me dumb, but I never have understood all this sports nickname controversy business. I never have been able to figure out why calling teams Indians or using an Indian-type mascot -- or a variation of that -- is disrespectful to Native Americans.

My old high school, University City in St. Louis, dropped its Indians nickname several years ago for the sake of political correctness and I didn't much like it.

For my money, let's keep calling Southeast's teams Indians and Otahkians. But if I was betting, I'd say change -- or political correctness -- will eventually win out.

Now that the Craftsman Union Capahas and Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball teams are finished playing at home for the summer, it's time once again to give out major props to George Renick for all the volunteer work he does with both programs.

George has served as the Capaha Field public address announcer for both teams for the past several summers and he once again did an incredible job this year.

George has no relatives involved with either program, which makes all the time he puts in that much more impressive. But he loves baseball and likes helping out the local game.

I'm at most of the games George works, so I've gotten to know him well over the last few years and consider him a good friend. A funnier person you'll never meet and we always have a blast in the booth.

Also, how about kudos for Matt Kruszynski, a Southeast student who joined the Capaha Field press box crew this summer and did a tremendous job not only announcing but also running the scoreboard. Matt has also become a friend and, like George, his sense of humor and fun-loving personality are second to none.

Hopefully we'll all do it all again next summer. How about it, guys?

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.