THE LATEST LINE: OPTIMISM ABOUNDS AT MEDIA DAY

The preseason is an exciting time of the year for all teams in all sports on every level.

The reason is simple: nobody has played a game yet, so every squad is undefeated -- which means every team has high hopes.

It matters little that, once the season actually begins, the high hopes of so many teams will quickly start getting dashed.

One of the things that makes sports so great is the element of the unknown. Until games actually start being played, we really don't know what's going to happen.

And another of the things that makes sports so great is that they allow every team -- and every player and coach -- to dream. Hey, why can't WE have a great season?

So it was for Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians at their annual media day activities Wednesday afternoon, an event that allowed players and coaches to talk about their optimism regarding the upcoming campaign.

Right now, it matters little that the Indians are coming off a 4-7 season that saw them finish seventh in the eight-team Ohio Valley Conference.

It matters little that the Indians lost some of their top players from last season's squad and don't appear to be nearly as talented as they were a year ago.

It matters little that the 1998 schedule appears to be significantly more difficult than the 1997 slate.

And it matters little that SEMO is picked to again finish seventh in the OVC.

No, all that matters at this time of the year is that the Indians are undefeated -- and the players and coaches seem to be genuinely excited regarding their chances of turning around last season's record.

Once the games actually begin -- the opener is set for Sept. 3 at home against Truman State -- we'll start to learn more about just how realistic that optimism is.

But in the meantime, it's all right to dream.

Every team does it.

* One team that apparently doesn't have to dream about a big season -- it's generally a given -- is SEMO's volleyball Otahkians.

The Otahks were recently picked first in the OVC preseason poll, meaning they'll be favored to capture a sixth consecutive league title.

SEMO will open the season Sept. 1.

* The high school football season is just around the corner, with openers set for Sept. 4.

But this coming Friday night, area teams will participate in jamborees, which are basically controlled scrimmages against other squads.

The biggest area jamboree will take place in Jackson when Cape Central, Perryville and St. Vincent join the Indians for an evening of preseason football.

* Some other area fall high school squads open their seasons this week, with softball and girls tennis both getting under way.

* Former SEMO football coach Abe Stuber has been selected for induction in the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

Stuber, who is deceased, had a 72-42-6 record while coaching the Indians from 1932-46. He played at Mizzou from 1924-26.

This year's new class of inductees will be honored Nov. 6 at a dinner in Columbia and at halftime of the Nov. 7 game vs. Colorado.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian