April 5, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Spring football drills at Southeast Missouri State University will conclude with the annual spring football game at Houck Stadium on Friday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.

A pre-game tailgate party before the game is planned in a large tent just south of Houck Stadium. There will be free food including hot dogs, popcorn and soda and free admission to the game. Indian players and coaches will assist in cooking for the fans and a live remote by the Zimmer Radio Group will begin when the pre-game tailgate gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

The final spring scrimmage will feature honorary coaches from the Zimmer Radio Group and KFVS-12. Erik Sean, voice of the Indians, will be the head coach of the Zimmer team while Steve Sotak, sports director at KFVS-12, will be head coach of the KFVS team.

"Sean and Sotak are calling plays on the air all the time, so they might as well get some game experience," mused Southeast head coach Tim Billings. "The game should be a lot of fun and will give us a gauge on where we are as a football team. I hope a lot of fans come out, enjoy the free food, and get a chance to see what we think is an improved football team."

Billings said he has been pleased with the spring drills. "We played a lot of young players last season and they gained valuable experience that has really shown up this spring," he said. "We have the nucleus of both our offense and defense back from last season and we have continued to improve and mature as a football team this spring."

Players will distribute 2002 schedule cards prior to the game. The schedule includes 12 games including games against I-A opponents Eastern Michigan and Middle Tennessee.

Southeast will open the 2002 schedule on Thursday, August 29, hosting Arkansas-Monticello. Other home games at Houck Stadium will include Tennessee State on Oct. 5, Eastern Illinois on Oct. 19, Tennessee Tech on Nov. 2 and Samford on Nov. 16. All home games except the homecoming game with Eastern Illinois on Oct. 19, will begin at 6 p.m. The homecoming tilt will be at 1 p.m.