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Familiar result for SEMO football

Posted Sunday, September 21, 2008, at 10:25 AM
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It seems like no matter what type of game the SEMO football team plays, the Redhawks can't get over the hump.

But that's basically been the story of the program since it moved up to the Division I-AA level in 1991.

Take Saturday's home game against Missouri State for instance.

For the first time this season the Redhawks outgained an opponent, holding a decisive 445 to 314 edge in total yards.

But what's that old saying about statistics being for losers?

Despite their statistical advantage, the Redhawks were beaten decisively by the Bears 45-28.

SEMO was never really in the game during the second half, thanks to a 21-0 halftime deficit that the Redhawks could cut no closer than 38-28 in the late going.

In the decisive first half, MSU had a 202 to 127 total yardage advantage, returned one interception for a touchdown and needed to drive only 24 yards for a TD after an interception.

The Redhawks suffered four interceptions in the game, with three of them basically handing MSU 21 points.

Contrast that to SEMO's previous contest, when the Redhawks did not turn the ball over -- yet still suffered a 29-27 home loss to Tennessee-Tech in their OVC opener.

This season for the 1-3 Redhawks, who have lost three straight, is fast beginning to look like so many of SEMO's previously futile Division I-AA campaigns.

Any hope the Redhawks have of giving themselves a realistic chance to salvage some respectability out of the season would appear to hinge greatly on Saturday's final nonconference contest, at Indiana State.

The Sycamores (0-3) have the nation's longest Division I-AA losing streak, having dropped their last 17 games. They have won just one of their last 42 games.

ISU no doubt ranks among the nation's worst Division I-AA squads -- but SEMO only beat the Sycamores 13-10 last year at Houck Stadium, part of an 0-11 campaign for ISU.

Beat ISU and at least you've got some confidence heading into the final seven games, all OVC matchups, starting with monstrous road challenges against preseason favorite Jacksonville State and perennial power Eastern Illinois.

Add in that star tailback Timmy Holloman will finally be eligible for the last seven games and maybe there would be cause for optimism after all.

Lose to the woeful Sycamores and it might be hard to imagine the Redhawks winning more than another game or two -- if even that.

The OVC recently announced its slate of basketball games that will appear on an ESPN network during the 2008-09 season.

There will be 14 games that will air, with 12 on ESPNU and two on ESPN2, including the OVC tournament.

SEMO's men are slated for one ESPNU telecast, Feb. 12 at Eastern Kentucky.

Comments
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Ugh, just not very good. I think it was Marty that said that the Redhawks don't have the talent to bounce back from many mistakes and that showed last night.

I blame the playcalling more then anything. The int by Scheible that led to the 21-0 lead before halftime had to be some of the worse playcalling i've ever seen. 3rd down, 9 seconds left in the 1st half and you are fairly deep in your own territory. Just chuck it long down the sidelines if it does get picked atleast there is less of a chance of it getting returned for a touchdown. Instead we run an outroute and that's just asking for trouble in that situation.

I know there is more then one player for SEMO that disagrees with the playcalling of our offensive coordinator. Time to switch to a spread offense NOW!

-- Posted by Showstopper on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 12:52 PM

Pin the Bears down with a punt then take penalty that costs you 35 yards and field position..just stupid..refusal to throw the ball long at the end of the first half..just stupid..short pass after short pass...just stupid..playing two quarterbacks..just stupid...wearing the same old black uniforms when the school colors are red..just stupid..it is time that you and other columnists confront the ones responsible for this mess..coaches and athletic director...just stupid...

-- Posted by semograd71 on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 4:23 PM

I agree with you semograd71. The playcalling is bad. Dumb penalties hurt this team. The switching of the QB's has some merit and I do like seeing Scheible get some playing time. But the way they are going about it is all wrong. I honestly have nothing wrong with the black uniforms though. Have to disagree with you there.

In the end though Kaverman and even Dobbins need to start taking some responsibility for the failings of both the football team and men's basketball as well. I don't think the coaching staffs for those teams are the problem but rather the men in charge of the sports program, meaning Kaverman.

-- Posted by Showstopper on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 5:14 PM

The sad thing is that probably NOTHING is going to change. To be honest, and I hate to admit this, but it may not matter who the coach is, who the players are, who the AD is, who the President is, or how much money we sink into the program, football may NEVER be any good at SEMO. There's some reason that no coach has been able to win here since we've moved to D-1(AA..or FCS). It may just be the deepest black hole in the world.

However, that's what the SIU people thought about their program in the 1990's, when the Salukis couldn't win and only drew about 3,000 per game.

I still think we should have went with the coach at Washburn (D-2), Craig Schurig, instead of Samuel. He knows how to win with a D-2 budget. Now I haven't did any research, but maybe Schurig has better funds at Washburn than Samuel has at SEMO. Heck, Washburn's average attendance (5,300) was only 900 fans per game LESS than SEMO (6,200). Both teams played 6 home games last in 2007. But attendance is for another thread.

And while I absolutely hate the all-black uniforms, it probably doesn't matter what color we wear. The results may not change. But if so, let's at least look good. The all-BLACK looks dumb for a school named the REDhawks. One might think we've even changed our school colors.

For what it's worth, the changes that NEED to be made go beyond the AD. Trust me, Kaverman's hands are tied on many issues.

-- Posted by semo316 on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 6:51 PM

Washburn beat Missouri State earlier this year at Missouri State..absolutely beat them up..played more physical than Missouri State..overcame bad penalties answered all of Missouri State's efforts to catch up...it is stupid to have black uniforms on a REDHAWK team..stupid now..stupid when they first did it whoever was stupid enough to start it..I played basketball at SEMO in 60's and 70's and have followed football since the early 60's and we never wore black, saw black, or thought of black uniforms...

-- Posted by semograd71 on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 8:23 PM

Evidently the coaching staff has allowed the players to choose what they kits they wear. I have no clue who started with the black jersey years ago.

But like I said, I don't think it matters if we wear red, black, white, green or blue.

It might take a complete overhaul in the department before we see some changes.

Back to the uniforms - you know our women's soccer team has ditched the BLACK adidas uniforms and went with an all-RED kit. They look extremely sharp, but now the team is winless and hasn't even scored a goal. Fortunately these non-conference games are really meaningless when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. As long as we win the OVC Tourney, we're fine. But I'll cut the soccer team a little slack because they've a damn good program over the years.

Football - not so much. They get NO slack and someone needs to be held accountable.

-- Posted by semo316 on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 9:03 PM

I will say it again! This team lacks disipline and winning attitude. Why can we not stop anybody on defense. We can not defend against the pass. We keep giving up the 10-15 yard pass over the middle. Where is our safty and lineback?

Yes, the play calling is has no imagination and takes for ever to call a play.

Who cares about the uniform! If they were winning, do you think anyone would care!

-- Posted by Harley on Sun, Sep 21, 2008, at 9:16 PM

How much does everyone think upgrading facilities will help things? Also, does anyone know when the facilities are going to be done?

-- Posted by RCIR on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 8:43 AM

i think better facilities will definitely help with recruiting better athletes. however, i don't think they are a must to win in the ovc. have you ever been to a game at martin?

-- Posted by myershallred on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 9:25 AM

No, I have never been to a game at Martin. I still hold out a little (and I do mean a little) hope that better facilities will help us recruit better athletes and win more games.

-- Posted by RCIR on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 10:44 AM

Better facilities would be a helper in my opinion. Its hard to recruit top athletes when your football stadium screams "High School"!

-- Posted by Showstopper on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 11:43 AM

yes, they'll definitely help, but we have better facilities than martin and we know what they did a couple of years ago. plus, we've got the best basketball facilities in the ovc but that hasn't exactly translated into a lot of success the last several years. of course that's probably another discussion or two for another time.

-- Posted by myershallred on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 1:36 PM

So what if we get a new locker room at the stadium?? Big deal.

Look at SIU's state-of-the-art McAndrew Stadium. Plus, the Salukis have to walk farther that SEMO does to get to their locker room at the SIU Arena. Granted, they're building a brand new stadium, but the current McAndrew is a dump and has been for years.

Even EIU's stadium isn't great, but they've built a hell of football program, at least for OVC standards.

So how much do facilities really have to do with success?? A lot has to do with the coach and finding the RIGHT players.

-- Posted by semo316 on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 8:21 PM

I just can't believe as poorly funded as AP is with their athletic programs, that they can come off of non-scholly fb, and field a better OVC program then SEMO. That's crazy really, if you think about it.

-- Posted by semoredhawk on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 10:30 PM

I started following last yr.I am no expert but I sat there and called what were going to do 9 out of 12 plays. so what happens if Iam the opp.and take time to study film dont you think that they can figure it out.get inside the 20 and here comes the fade.maybe samuels should take over play calling at that point.the plays are being called not to lose instead of calling to win. On def its called the prevent(prevents you from winning.Off cord needs to go. are your athletes really any different than anyone else.By then why didnt Lillard get the boot, forget to show up to court? come on... He must have known that there would be disipline from the coaching staff

-- Posted by footballcoach on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 11:11 PM

Pick a fan out of the stands once we get inside the red zone to call plays they will do just the same or maybe better. Maybe let the QB call um cant do any worse

-- Posted by footballcoach on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, at 11:31 PM

Craig Schurig WAS the best man for the job....but another reason, other than better credentials, Dobbins/Kaverman chose Samuel. It may not have had anything to do with who was the best choice. They had another reason....if you can figure it out.

But here we are 3 years later and NOTHING has changed. Our program has NOT improved.

IF we lose at Indiana State, we might the WORST team in the FCS (1-AA) and we might not win another game this season.

We need a win to build some momentum. Do that, and we still have toss-up game with AP and Murray. Even EKU doesn't look all that good early on. That's a home game so you never know.

But a win this Saturday is a MUST.

-- Posted by semo316 on Tue, Sep 23, 2008, at 12:18 AM

316,

I've heard that Schurig wanted more $$$ then what we were going to pay for that job. Don't know if that is true or not, and probably really doesn't matter.

-- Posted by semoredhawk on Tue, Sep 23, 2008, at 9:08 AM

If SEMO was wise, they would have offered more money. I also heard that it was another reason, other than money.

-- Posted by redhawks07 on Tue, Sep 23, 2008, at 2:33 PM

Scientific proof that the team should drop the black unis and go with red ones....

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...

-- Posted by boomerang on Wed, Sep 24, 2008, at 12:09 PM

Ahh, all this talk about the uniforms. I wonder if they would have more success if they played naked.

-- Posted by Counter Top on Wed, Sep 24, 2008, at 2:02 PM