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Losing OVC opener doesn't bode well for SEMO
Posted Friday, September 12, 2008, at 1:03 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
SEMO didn't play a bad game Thursday night against Tennessee Tech in its OVC football opener.
It's just that the talent level for the Redhawks doesn't appear good enough even by OVC standards to allow the team much margin for error. The Redhawks did not turn the ball over while forcing three turnovers, yet still lost 29-27 at Houck Stadium. Obviously by the score, the game could have gone either way. The Redhawks caught a bad break in the fourth quarter on a facemask penalty that led to Tech's go-ahead touchdown -- I couldn't see it but most people seem to think it was the correct call -- but they had more than enough chances to make up for that in various parts of the contest. SEMO's defense was improved, allowing a season-low 411 yards, but the Redhawks' offense gained a season-low 306 yards. If I were betting, I'd say Tech will finish in the lower half of the OVC -- that's where it was picked -- so losing at home to the Eagles doesn't bode well for the Redhawks' chances of putting together a solid season. Now 1-2 overall, SEMO will have two straight nonconference games before resuming OVC play and finishing the season with seven consecutive conference matchups. So what do you think about Thursday's game, and about SEMO's hopes for this year in general?
Granted, it was a relatively slow night on the national sports scene. But the SEMO-Tech game, which was nationally televised by ESPNU, provided ESPN with the No. 1 play on the top 10 plays highlights segment of its late-night SportsCenter. Tech tailback Henry Sailes' nifty 63-yard touchdown run on a reverse -- he looked to be hemmed in by several SEMO defenders before reversing field and going the distance -- was deemed the night's top play.
One more quick note about Thursday's game: I don't fault SEMO for not electing to squib the kickoff with 18 seconds left in the first half, after the Redhawks had just tied the contest 17-17. If you squib, Tech probably gets the ball at around its 40-yard line or even better, with still about 15 seconds left. One completion and you're in field-goal range. As it turned out, the deep kickoff was returned 63 yards, and Tech boomed a 51-yard field goal on the next play, with two seconds left in the half. Easy to second-guess now, but I didn't question it at the time and I'm not going to do it after the fact. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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i said i would wait till after the game to post comments...with that being said...
"stick a fork in SEMO...they're done"
Very poor crowd for a national TV game. It was great to see a SEMO home football game on ESPNU, but the half empty stadium looked bad.
I realize we're not going to get people to actually PAY for tickets since the team isn't worth a damn, but for a nationally televised game on a Thursday night, they should have just gave away 10,000 tickets.
That was a rough loss! A really rough loss. SEMO for my money was the better team but it just appears like we either don't have the athletes or aren't playing up to the full potential yet.
The facemask penalty was the right call, uh...sort off. The part where the QB grabbed Vaivao's facemask first went unnoticed though. But in that situation I guess the refs are going to side with the QB every time.
The facemask penalty took all the wind out of the Redhawk sails but what about the play earlier in the drive with Eddie Calvin missing an easy interception. Calvin was ready to run with it before he had it. That would have put the game away for certain.
Then there is the slow start. If this team could play a full 4 quarters SEMO would be an extremely dangerous team. But once again they start out slow and fall behind. Then you have the offense not cashing in on Tech's mistakes. Lillard's a good QB but he is just not consistent enough. What doesn't help him is that his receivers continue to drop passes. Come on help your quarterback out!
The achille's heel for this team is clearly the secondary. Two players in particular don't play up to their potential and aren't as good as they think. I won't name names but, i'll give you a clue, they are both identical.
This really does hurt SEMO in the OVC. They still have a decent chance to salvage a bit of this season but that requires beating Missouri State next week. They don't do that and i'm worried SEMO won't win a game the rest of the year.
The announcers were very good for ESPU..the game could have gone either way...my only critical thought is GET RID OF THOSE BLACK UNIFORMS..SEMO always wore red and white in the glory days of football and basketball...it is embarrasing to see black uniforms on bad teams...red white in the 1960's...70's and 80's..GET RID OF THOSE BLACK UNIFORMS..take it from a former basketball player and a fan from the late 1950's...
SEMO needs to get rid of this "I" Formation offensive. Stop handing it off to the running back on 1st and 2nd down and then trying to throw it to our best WR on third down. Our offense last night was as simple as this.. create turnovers on Defense to set up good field position and then go 3 and out and take a field goal. We Stink as an Offense.. SWITCH TO THE SPREAD! At least this way the games are entertaining to watch and we might be able to do more stuff on Offensive.
Dr. Dobbins, do us all a favor and get rid of the football program. They are an embarrassment to the university and the city of Cape. Use the money spent on football and build up the other athletic teams. The negativity brought on by the news media will cease.
Most everyone watching the SEMO/Mizzou game at Buffalo Wild Wings were routing for Mizzou. That is sad. It is also sad when you see more Mizzou t-shirts worn in Cape than you see Redhawks (and that is by SEMO students)
Having football to please the old ex SEMO football players booster members, is not a good enough reason to keep the sport. The board of regents must get rid of the current administration and get SEMO back to the glory days of the 1960's or simply cut football.
Not a very good game to watch. I agree our offense isn't that good but looking at that 4th Q drive that won the game for Tech our defense isn't that good either.
Also, how many times do we hear Samuel harp on special teams, "lets not forget special teams, the are just as important as the offense and defense", and we give them a hell of a kick off return right B4 the half. I think it is safe to say that none of the 3 phases of the game Semo is going to excel at. Semo can't keep making big plays and then go right ahead and give up a big play.
I agree about the black uniforms...they look bush league...but then again so does their play on the field. This team is pathetic as was the crowd for a nationally televised game...but hey can you blame them for not showing up??? Fraid not.
I often believe that when a team is struggling is when they need the fans to get behind them the most. The lack of support from the citizens of Cape is just another reason why this football program is just spinning its tires.
Why Lillard throw to the corners most of the time?
We threw once over the middle to our TE and got a score.
Doesn't look like we do any end arounds either.
Black on black uniforms suck . . . hate them on Mizzou also. I liked it when they wore the red tops with the black pants. Again, we have a hard row to plow. I really want them to when but I guess that is selfish of me. So . . . which team is going to win more games this year? The FB team or the BB team. It will be close.
the lack of support has nothing to do with it. It's being overmatched in every aspect of the game is why the games are so difficult for semo. The marlins had 600 fans in the stands the other day yet they're competitive. The rays are going to win the al east yet their fan support is still awful. Sure having fan support is great and if that is a recipe for sucess...why doesn't the university just give tix away for a year just to get people there and build the program that way. Because ultimately it comes down to talent and matching up helmet on helmet and we simply don't have the talent. I don't know why that is so difficult to understand?????
Houston L. Lillard, 22, 1710 N. Sprigg St., Apt. 701C, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear for indecent exposure.
are you talking about his exposure on the football field??? cause by all means that has been indecent...actually non-existent..