Game Information
Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011
Kickoff Time: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Weather Forecast: 87 degrees, Clear
Site: Houck Stadium (10,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
The Series: Southeast leads, 37-31-8
Coaches: Tony Samuel (56-92 overall, 22-35 at Southeast, 13-26 OVC). Dale Lennon (127-43 overall, 25-11 at SIU, 19-5 MVFC).

Game Notes | Weekly Press Conference | Roster | Depth Chart




Media Coverage
Redhawks Radio Network: K103 FM (KEZS), flagship; 1440 AM (KSIM); 903 AM (KWOC); 1470 AM (KMAL). Erik Sean, Play-by-Play, Rick Wieser, Color Analyst; Todd Bonacki, Sideline Reporter.
Television: Heartland CW (WQWQ)
Video WebCast: KFVS12.com (Todd Richards, Play-by-Play); OVCSports.tv
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com

Quick Hits

Southeast Opens 2011 Season vs. No. 17 Southern Illinois
The highly-anticipated rematch between regional-rivals Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois kicks off the 2011 season at Houck Stadium Saturday. Game time is set for 6 p.m., CT.

This is Our Turf
Southeast will play its first game on the extraordinary new FieldTurf surface at Houck Stadium Saturday. Houck Stadium, which is in its 81st year as the home of the Redhawks, received a big makeover this offseason. Renovations included FieldTurf, a state-of-the-art Daktronics video scoreboard and new lighting.

We Meet Again
This year marks the 77th meeting between Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. The Redhawks own a 37-31-8 advantage in the overall series, which began in 1913. Southeast is 18-16-4 all-time against the Salukis at Houck Stadium.

Southeast in Season-Openers
Southeast is 3-2 in season-openers under head coach Tony Samuel. Those wins came at Austin Peay (Sept. 2) in 2006, vs. Southwest Baptist (Aug. 28) in 2008 and Quincy (Sept. 3) in 2009. The Redhawks are 8-12 all-time in season-opening games since moving to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) level. Southeast is undefeated (2-0) in season-openers at home with Samuel at the helm.

Breaking it In
Southern Illinois is the first visiting team to take the new FieldTurf surface against the Redhawks at Houck Stadium. Last year, Southeast was the first opposing Division I team to face SIU in its new Saluki Stadium.

Last Meeting Between Southeast and Southern Illinois
Southeast scored 14 fourth-quarter points to overcome an 11-point deficit and stun then-No. 5 Southern Illinois, 24-21, in Carbondale, Ill., on Sept. 18, 2010. Henry Harris rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and scored the decisive TD on a 67-yard run with 3:41 left to play in the game. That win marked the Redhawks first over a top-five opponent since joining the NCAA Division I ranks.

Samuel vs. Southern Illinois
Redhawk head coach Tony Samuel owns a 1-1 record against Southern Illinois. Southeast lost to then-No. 1 SIU, 42-24, on Nov. 21, 2009, and defeated the then-No. 5 Salukis, 24-21, on Sept. 18, 2010 during Samuel's tutelage. 

Redhawks vs. Ranked FCS Opponents
Southeast is 2-11 vs. ranked FCS opponents since 2004. The Redhawks only win against a ranked FCS foe at Houck Stadium came vs. Tennessee State (27-20) on Oct. 25, 2008. Current Southeast QB Matt Scheible scored the decisive touchdown on a 3rd-and-Goal in overtime of that game.

Hot Ticket
Expect a big crowd for Saturday's season-opener between Southeast and Southern Illinois. Some of the Redhawks largest crowds have flocked to Houck Stadium for this matchup. This game has drawn more than 9,500 at Houck on four occasions, with two contests (11,100 in 2003; 10,100 in 2005) surpassing the home capacity (10,000). The official 11,100 attendance figure for the SIU game on Sept. 6, 2003 presently rates as the second-largest home crowd in school history.

Roster Breakdown
Southeast enters the 2011 season with 100 players on its roster. Sixteen seniors (nine fifth-year), 26 juniors, 23 sophomores and 35 freshmen form this year's team.