Faithful follow Redhawks to distant Roos Field

CHENEY, Wash. -- The logistics of Southeast Missouri State's first playoff football game in program history prevented many staunch Redhawks fans from making the trip.

There still were approximately 100 Southeast fans at Roos Field to cheer on the Redhawks, whose season ended with Saturday's 37-17 loss to top-ranked Eastern Washington.

"That's what we were just talking about in the locker room," junior quarterback Matt Scheible said following the contest. "It was awesome to see that support. We've had it all year."

The Southeast fans were seated directly behind their team's bench in a small section of bleachers. Senior defensive tackle Maurice Lyles said the Redhawks could hear the support.

"You could tell they were here," Lyles said.

Bill Gosche and Kim Hope, two ardent Southeast supporters, were among those in attendance Saturday. They said they weren't about to miss out on such a historic occasion.

Gosche and Hope, both heavily involved with the Southeast Booster Club, joined the university's official travel party of about 120 people, including the team, in flying via a charter airplane from St. Louis to Spokane, Wash., late Thursday. They were scheduled to make the return trip a few hours after the contest.

"I absolutely not would have missed this. I really wanted to be here," Gosche said Friday.

Gosche is a longtime Southeast booster who serves as vice president of the Southeast Executive Booster Board.

Despite being an enthusiastic supporter of Southeast athletics for more than 20 years, Gosche said he never before had attended any of the university's playoff contests, not even when the men's and women's basketball teams made NCAA tournaments over the past decade.

"This is my first NCAA experience in a playoff situation. It's just fantastic," Gosche said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for the players, not only to be in the playoffs but to be facing the No. 1 team in the nation.

"I'd like to get used to this. And who knows, maybe we'll be able to."

Hope, like Gosche, also was enjoying her first Southeast playoff experience even though she said Friday she has been a season-ticket holder "off and on" since 1987.

"I never got to go when the basketball teams went," said Hope, a member of the Southeast Booster Board. "It's my first NCAA playoff deal and it's unbelievable. Oh my gosh, this is dynamite."

While Gosche, also a longtime Southeast season-ticket holder, missed one Southeast football game this year -- at Eastern Illinois due to a family member's wedding -- Hope has attended every Redhawks contest.

"This is just great for the kids," Hope said. "We're so proud of all the players and coaches."

While many of the other Southeast fans at the game were players' family members -- especially those from the West Coast -- Joe Dandridge likely was the only former Southeast track and cross country athlete on hand.

Dandridge, a 1993 Southeast graduate, has lived in the Seattle area since 2008. He said he drove about 4 1/2 hours for the contest, leaving his home about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

"When I saw that SEMO was playing Eastern Washington, I said I've got to be here," Dandridge said. "SEMO means a lot to me. It was a special place for me, and I wanted to be here to support the team on their great season."