Difficult losses take toll on SE

Confidence plays a major role in any sport -- and right now Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians simply aren't a very confident bunch.

So said Southeast coach Tim Billings at his weekly media conference Monday, two days after his Indians suffered their third straight loss, a 41-21 setback to Tennessee Tech.

"The confidence factor right now is a big key for us," said Billings. "Those tough losses, it takes a toll on you, especially with a young, inexperienced football team.

"At some point in time, you have to get over the hump and win those close games."

Southeast (3-6 overall, 1-4 Ohio Valley Conference) won three of its first six games and could have very easily won the other three as those defeats were by a combined 13 points.

However, Southeast's most recent three straight losses have been by a combined 42 points. Not that the Indians weren't competitive for much of those contests, but they still fell by at least 10 points in every one.

Billings cited problems on both sides of the ball for the Indians' recent slide.

"Defensively, we're playing good at times. We're just not consistent enough," he said. "Depthwise, we're a little beat up and they (Tennessee Tech) just ran over us.

"Offensively, we've got some good skill guys, we just don't make enough plays. We have to be more consistent and score more points."

Billings acknowledged that it generally takes time to turn around a struggling football program, which he certainly inherited when he came to Southeast two years ago. He knows that, even though the Indians have unquestionably upgraded their talent level under the current coaching staff, much of that talent is young and plenty more talent needs to be brought in.

The problem from a personal standpoint, said a laughing Billings, is that he is a very impatient person and he was so used to winning big after spending 10 seasons as an assistant at Marshall before taking his first head coaching job with the Indians.

"I'm not a patient person. I want to win now. It's been killing me. I've been totally depressed," he said, smiling. "But I know we're going in the right direction and I appreciate all the fans that tell me that. They tell me we've got players they've never seen here before.

"We just need to grow up and get a few more players. I really think we're going to be pretty dang good one of these days. The problem is, I want it to be two weeks ago."

The current problem facing the Indians is an upcoming date with nationally ranked Eastern Kentucky (5-2, 3-1 OVC), which will visit Houck Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff this Saturday in the Indians' next-to-last game of the season.

But instead of that being a problem, Billings -- while praising the Colonels -- looks at it as another big opportunity for his growing program.

"They're as good as any team in this league," he said. "It'll be a tough game for us, but it's exciting for us. I feel if we play well, with our fan support, we'll have an opportunity to be in the football game."

OVC leaders

Several Southeast players continue to lead the OVC in various statistical categories.

Tailback Curtis Cooper is first -- and also fifth nationally -- in all-purpose running with 197.9 yards per game. He also needs just six more yards to become the third Indian to ever rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Wide receiver Willie Ponder tops the conference in every receiving department and he is ninth nationally in receptions per game with 6.8. Ponder, who has caught 61 passes for 913 yards and 10 touchdowns, needs just 87 more receiving yards to become the second Southeast player to ever have 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

Ponder needs 12 catches and 194 yards to set single-season school records. He has already tied the school single-season touchdown reception mark (10) and earlier this year he also tied the school record for TD receptions in a game with three.

Safety Prince Anderson continues to solidify his hold on the league lead in tackles as he has 110 for an average of 12.2 per game.

Punter Kyle East, after a strong performance against Tennessee Tech, has moved up to No. 2 in the OVC with a 37.6-yard average.