FanSpeak 9/8/02

Why the delay?

WHY SO long to put scores of local high school football games on the Internet? We live 400 miles away and want to get scores of our grandson's football games. In Iowa we go to the paper site and it is on instantly. I expected your paper to be the same.

Editor's note:Friday's high school football scores will be online before midnight each week.

Sign up Elizabeth Dole

AS A traditionalist I believe Augusta National Golf Club should decide who members should and should not be. But if Augusta chairman Hootie Johnson really wanted to throw a coup and admit a woman into Augusta, he should invite Elizabeth Dole to be that person. A woman with southern class who is elegant and holds conservative values. I bet that would make these left wing women's groups even more angry.

Tired of being left out

THE PAST several years I have sent notes to different members of the Southeast Missourian staff trying to find out why we get such meager coverage of cross country in the sports section. It is not as if the cross country teams don't excel. They at least deserve the recognition of having their meets announced the day before in the paper. For the area the Missourian covers, one would think we were 200 souls surrounded by cow pasture. I hope we don't only "bleed orange" for football.

We play here, too

I WAS wondering about the recruiting of Southeast's football program. I notice that they don't have many kids from Southeast Missouri and as a local coach that bothers me. A couple of friends who are coaches in the area said they have never met coach Billings or his staff and neither have I, yet SIU coaches have visited us numerous times even when we don't have any prospects. Are these athletes not good enough, and are we willing to let SIU take over our ground? Isn't it about time we expect the coaches at Southeast to talk to our kids and started talking about Southeast?

No respect for Jackson

REGARDING THE preseason high school football poll, I understand the Central Tigers are a very good team and probably deserve their No. 1 ranking. But it is absolutely ridiculous that the Jackson Indians are no higher than No. 5. Jackson, without argument, has been the most dominant program in the area since 1994. To be the man you've got to beat the man. Until somebody beats the Jackson Indians, they deserve a little more respect.

Central in the right spot

I SEE the local sports writers picked the correct team in the preseason football poll. Take it to heart: Central will start the season No. 1 and finish No. 1.

Look out for 'Jays

CHARLESTON IS taking it all the way. Orrice Stanback is just as good as Jordy Mixon or better. He's one of the fastest running backs in Southeast Missouri. They have all-state bound Dadrian Jones as linebacker who had 152 tackles on the season. Their line averages over 240 pounds and a quick but inexperienced quarterback that can throw and run.

Super sick and tired

WHEN IS it going to stop? I am tired of hearing about "super" Mario. He is a thing of the past. Once he shows that he's super at the college level, then you may keep bragging about him being super. But to compare these high school seniors with Mario, this needs to stop.

Just like high school

SOUTHEAST NEEDS to do some serious work to create a better atmosphere for its football games. The most common comment from fans is that it seems like a high school atmosphere instead of college. Southeast's athletic personnel need to visit programs with good atmosphere and see how it's done. C'mon, Southeast, turn it loose.

A-Rod part of the solution

I WISH people would know what they are talking about when they comment on the strike situation. Somebody said he thinks it is wrong that A-Rod makes so much money but wants to strike. A-Rod said MLB could cut his salary to help prevent a strike. So please don't say something unless you know it's the truth.

So what happened?

I WOULD appreciate an update of this illness outbreak at Southeast. I have a step son who attends the university and am concerned bout his health. Thank you.

Editor's note:After the initial outbreak, there have been no further widespread problems reported.

Nice football coverage

I LIKE your new college football page -- Top 25 results and capsules, MU boxscore, day at a glance, Southeast opponents ... good job!

Standing by Southeast

I don't care if they won in two overtimes, I still think Southeast can have a decent football season. SIU and Eastern Michigan certainly aren't anything special, and neither is Southwest Missouri State. The Indians could be 4-0 when they play Middle Tennessee, which will be their toughest game to win out of the first five. It can be done.Have faith in the team and give them support when they need it the most.