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Opener not encouraging -- but remember 2002Posted Friday, August 29, 2008, at 12:51 AM
Probably about the only good thing you can say about SEMO's season-opening football game against Southwest Baptist Thursday night is that the Redhawks won.
But if you're a SEMO fan looking for positive signs that this might finally be the year the Redhawks break through, you probably didn't see any. Only a late rally by the Redhawks -- they trailed 28-12 early in the fourth quarter before prevailing 35-28 in overtime -- avoided what would have no doubt been one of the most embarrassing losses in school history, and certainly the most embarrassing since moving up to Division I-AA in 1991. SEMO scored the game's final 23 points and led only once all night -- in overtime. Those struggles came against a Division II program that went 0-11 last year and was outscored 494-240. And this was no fluke near-upset by the Bearcats, who save for some critical mistakes might very well have won going away. SBU outgained SEMO 541 to 451 in total yardage and had seven sacks, while SEMO had two sacks. SEMO quarterback Houston Lillard did look good, which is no surprise to me. Lillard, who threw for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, is a smart, accurate QB who should have a big year. There were some other individual highlights, including the career-high 10 receptions for 204 yards and two TDs by sophomore wide out Miles Edwards. And the three interceptions by junior cornerback Eddie Calvin. It's hard, however, to dish out praise after a team needs to sweat that much to beat what should have been an overmatched foe. But I've always been a big believer that you can't read too much -- good or bad -- into one game. For evidence of that, and for at least a little pick-me-up for Redhawks' fans who are already writing off the season as another bad one, I use the 2002 SEMO team as an example. SEMO went 7-15 in Tim Billings first two years as coach -- exactly current coach Tony Samuel's record through his first two seasons -- entering 2002. Most SEMO followers expected more of the same going into that 2002 campaign. Things appeared headed that way when SEMO needed a late rally to force overtime and beat Arkansas-Monticello -- a Division II squad with a losing record from the year before -- 42-41 in the season opener. I'm sure SEMO followers left Houck Stadium that night thinking "here we go again." Instead, that 2002 SEMO squad went on to go 8-4 for the program's most wins since 1969. Along the way the then-Indians stunned Division I-A Middle Tennessee State. I'm not about to predict another 2002. Not after what I saw Thursday night. Of course, I remember feeling the same way leaving Houck that opening night in 2002. We'll see. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Not a good start last night. Embarassing???? I'll say. SEMO shouldn't even be plying a D II team. Mizzou will beat us 75-0. Let's go to Columbia, get smeared, pick up your big check, and come home. It's going to be a long year everyone.
I hope for Semo's sake Mizzou beats Illinois. All we need is a team that is going to beat us 75-0 to have a reason to be ****** off!!!!
This will be a long, long year. So, how long until Samuel is out?
Good grief. I'm a Sophomore here at SEMO. I go to just about all the sporting events and as far as I can tell I don't think i've ever come across a more pessimistic fanbase then SEMO's. Good god you guys act like a bunch of Cubs fans. Yes I am aware that our football and basketball teams have had issues since going D1 so I can understand the pessimism.
However everyone who has commented on last night's game should be ashamed to not give any credit to the players on coming back from a game that even I was ready to give up on. Hats off to them.
Should SEMO have won easier? Yes. Is Mizzou going to smash us next week? Probably so. However my main point is that Marty gives a very good point to still be hopeful for this season and everyone here just decides to shun his advice instead.
Hey showstopper-
It's called Realism!!!
I would like to see less show-boating and more hard nose football. Make a play and act like you have done it before.
A win is a win! I think they will rebound and do OK. I saw some good thinks in the comeback and some good play from some underclassmen that is encouraging.
Too bad they have to play Missouri next week. It will be fun for them to see that atmosphere, but not fun on the field.
No it's not. Believe me I know what realism is. Realism is that we will get smoked Mizzou. Realism is that we will beat Southwest Baptist.
Pesimism is when you get down on a team after one game, a game that yes they played, but they still won. To completely write the team off after one win is very short sighted and very pessimistic. If SEMO gets blown out at home in 2 WEEKS against Tennessee Tech then I will join in the writing off club.
To base a season off of two stupid money games against SBU and Mizzou is dumb. Yeah we are suppose to smash SBU and get smashed by Mizzou but some times things don't go as planned. Exs. Michigan losing to Appy State and Minnesota losing to North Dakota State last year. And again I bring this one up since it's right above you. 2002 when SEMO went 7-5 they won by one point against Arkansas Monticello. And until I read that I thought Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's mansion. Yes it's not a good sign to struggle against SBU but it's not the sinking of the Titanic yet.
Bottom line is don't hit that panic button until the Redhawks play some real games of importance and start to struggle. Then I might join you. Until then please support the players. They deserve it after coming back last night.
Lastly I don't think we are that far off. The offense looks good. The Defense was bad last night but to me they were simply unprepared for the spread offense. So while Mizzou will probably chew them up and spit them back out next week they should be better once OVC play starts. The O-Line is where i'm worried. If the O-Line continues to struggle then Lillard might find himself back on the injured list. But if they give him time like they did in the 4th Quarter this offense has enough weapons to take off.
I am realistic. We beat SBU, we will lose to Mizzou. Past that this team is capable of going 7-5. I don't expect them to win the OVC but this team is still going to be remarkably improved so long as they stay healthy and play as a team.
I agree with Showstopper. I am a SEMO alum who was a student in 2002 and was at the UA-M game when we had to battle back and ended up winning in OT. I was with a buddy of mine that night and we were both amazed that we pulled out the win. I never have given up on SEMO athletics. Yeah, it's hard to watch at times but hey, it's ok...I'm still an Indi...I mean Redhawk!
For all of you pessimistic people out there, read the book "Win or Win" by Robert Hamblin. It's about Ron Shumate and how he took the SEMO basketball team to D-1. In the book, it tells of how SEMO fans were pessimistic about the move and how Coach Shumate kept his "game-face on" and he went on with what he thought was right. What I'm getting at is it doesn't pay to be pessimistic, SEMO is going do what SEMO wants...suck it up and either support the school or cheer for someone else like Murray...they need more jerks over there!
Well said bizteacher. I had the joy of having Robert Hamblin as a professor last year. Certainly a great and knowledgeable man to be around. I also agree on the Murray front. Either that or some of these pessimists could go root for Austin ****.
Does "Win or Win" give tips on breaking NCAA violations, and how to cash student loan refund checks without getting caught?
There's realism and then there's cubs fan hard-headedness. I think we may win some games this year. Can't we all just give optimism a chance? hehe
interesting insight on Ryan Perrilloux...
http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/news/20...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...
Coach Billings did a very good job given the circumstances. His budget was much lower than all other OVC schools, Houck was in terrible shape, NCAA compliance was in shambles, and the AD did a poor job overall. If fans really want the football and basketball programs to do well the administration needs to be changed not the coaches.