Aug. 4, 2006

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - The 2006 Southeast Missouri State University football team will report to campus on Sunday with fall drills slated to begin on Monday.

There will be 87 players in camp as preparations begin for the 2006 season that begins on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Austin Peay. "Fall camps are always important, but for this team and our new coaching staff, this year's camp is a real key to our season," said Tony Samuel, first year Southeast head coach. "We have to find out which players can help us win football games. We had a chance to check out the returning players in spring practice, but our fall camp is crucial for not only the newcomers but the veterans."

Samuel said there should be competition at every position. "Based on spring practice, we have a depth chart going into fall drills, but all positions are open," he said. "We look for some of the newcomers to really push the players who have already been here. We will be looking for toughness."

The Redhawks will face a challenging schedule with five games at home and six on the road including a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 14.

The opening home game will be Saturday, Sept. 9, against Missouri-Rolla with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Houck Stadium. The other home contests include Samford on Sept. 30, Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 21, Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 4 and Tennessee Tech on Nov. 18.

"We will treat our first two non-conference games like exhibition games," Samuel said. "We want to win the games, but we also need to look at a lot of players as we get prepared for the Ohio Valley Conference season."

The OVC opener will be Sept. 16 at Jacksonville State.

Samuel invites fans to attend Southeast practices. "All our practices are open, we don't have any secrets," he said. "Fans and members of the media are always welcome at our practices."