When: September 2, 2000 Where: Durant, OK @ Paul Laird Field

The Series (SAU 17-14-3)

This will be the 35th meeting between the Muleriders and Savages. SAU won the first game of the series 27-14 in 1952 and made it 2-0 the following year with a 6-0 decision. After a 7-7 tie in 1954, SAU trimmed the Savages 13-12 the following year. SOSU won for the first time in the series 19-7 in 1956 and a 10-7 win in 1957 closed the margin to 3-2-1. The series between the two was suspended in `58 and not resumed until 1964 where the Savages tied the series with a 7-6 victory over the Muleriders. In 1965, the Savages took the lead with a 20-8 win. After two years, they met again with SAU winning 26-20 and a 7-6 `Rider decision in'69 again put SAU ahead. The two did not meet in 1970 but SAU won four in a row before the Savages would win in 1975. SAU bounced back with a win in `76 and after a break in 1977, won again in 1978. The Savages ended the 1970's with a 21-14 win over SAU in `79. The `Riders romped to easy wins in the first three years of the 1980's before a swap of wins in `83 and `84. SOSU then went on a streak of wins the next four years before back-to-back years of 13-13 deadlocks. The Savages again won in `91 and `92 before Don Tumey's final SAU team won in 1993, 21-7. The Savages posted a 24-17 victory over first-year head coach Steve Roberts in 1999 before SAU won last year 34-27 in their first meeting since `94.

The Coaches

This will be the first game for Southern Arkansas University first-year head coach John Bland (U. of Ark. `89). Southeastern Oklahoma State University head coach Morris Sloan (SOSU `73) is 64-44-4, starting his 12th year with the Savages.

The Rankings

The `Riders are ranked in five of the six national polls, leading the Gulf South Conference. SAU is ranked fifth in Preview Sports, 11th by D2 football.com, 18th by Street and Smith's, 23rd by Football Gazette and 28th by USA Football. The Savages shared the Lone Star Conference championship last year but are unranked nationally going into the 2000 season. While SAU is a pre-season favorite to win the GSC, SOSU is picked for third in the LSC pre-season rankings.

Media Coverage

KVMA 107.9 FM in Magnolia, AR with Dan Gregory and Jay Adcox; KLBC 107.1 FM in Durant, OK with Tim Perkins and Matthew Wells.

Last Season

The `Riders won 34-27 over the Savages in Magnolia. SAU scored first with a 12-yard run by halfback Santario Morris with 5:01 left in the first quarter. Jason Williams added a 49-yard field goal with :48 remaining in the quarter. In the second quarter, SOSU's Milan Smado hit a 42-yard field goal at 12:47, which was followed by a 20-yard run by tailback Johnny McHenry. SAU fullback Jeremy Scruggs then broke a 58-yard touchdown run, giving the `Riders the lead 17-10. In the last minute of the half, Williams and Smado exchanged field goals, making the halftime score 20-13. SOSU quarterback Chris Enloe got the only score in the third quarter with a 20-yard run, which tied the score 20-20. With 11:42 left in the game, McHenry made a one-yard run, giving the lead to the Savages. The `Riders were able to use big play-maker Drew Cone to tie the score once again with a 33-yard pass reception from quarterback Tim Barrington. SAU's defense held the Savages and Cone hauled in a 37-yard pass from Barrington with 1:33 left in the game to make the final score 34-27.

SAU Leaders:

QB Tim Barrington is the offensive catalyst. He was 2nd-Team All-GSC last year while sharing duties with senior Adam Pendergrass in directing SAU's Wishbone. HB Kevin Wilcott was a 2nd-Team All-GSC choice. TE Adam Creek was 1st-Team All-GSC, OT Michael Boster was 1st-Team All-GSC in `98 but was sidelined last year with a shoulder surgery and C Trey LaValle was 2nd-Team All-GSC and 2nd-Team Sophomore All-American.

LB Marcoles Board was 1st-Team All-GSC for the second time and kicker Jason Williams and Garron Spickard have All-GSC honors, Williams was 1st-Team in `98 and 2nd-Team in `99 and Spickard was 2nd-Team in `97. Williams was a consensus All-American in `98.

SOSU Leaders:

TB's Johnny McHenry and Scott Martin give the Savages a solid one-two punch. McHenry rushed for an average of 111.8 yards a game last year for 1,006 yards in nine games. Martin ran for 1,179 yards in 11 games for an average of 101.7 yards per game. McHenry, who collected 99 yards vs. SAU last year, is a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate.

Transfer QB John Holmes will be the key to SOSU's offense. C Joe Jones, the Lone Star Conference-North Offensive Lineman of the Year, heads a huge forward wall.

LB's Chris Jones and Tommell Hopkins and SS Chad Ashby are the leaders on defense. K Milan Smado was 17 of 19 on FG's last year and is a projected All-American selection.

GSC This Week

University of Central Arkansas at Nicholls State University, 6:30 (Thursday), Thibodeaux, LA; Arkansas Tech University vs. Carson-Newman University, 6, Rome, GA (neutral site); Tarleton State University at Harding University, 7, Searcy, AR; University of North Alabama at Pittsburg State University, 7, Pittsburg, KS; Fort Valley State University at Valdosta State University, 6, Valdosta, GA; Presbyterian College at State University of West Georgia, 6, Carrollton, GA; University of Arkansas-Monticello at Tusculum College, 12:30, Greenville, TN; Delta State University at Belhaven College, 3, Jackson, MS; Ouachita Baptist University at Henderson State University, 7, Arkadelphia, AR; University of West Alabama at Stillman College, 4, Tuscaloosa, AL; and SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 7, Durant, OK.

GSC Last Week

Valdosta State University 42-Albany State University 10 (only game scheduled).

GSC NEXT Week

UAM @ UNA; Southwest Baptist @ UCA; DSU @ Mississippi Valley State; HU @ Tennessee Tech; HSU @ Alabama A&M; UWA @ Miles College; SUWG @ Albany State (SAU open date).

From the Coach

"I feel real good about our team. We are improving every day. We still need to fine-tune our basic offense and defense and work on special adjustment situations. Some young players will have to step up and contribute as they always have. I think we have strong senior leadership. It is critical to stay healthy. We are in good condition. It has been hot and our players have responded. The attitude has been good with the coaching change. There has been a new attitude that leads to a better focus and desire than we have seen in the past and it boils down to our defense learning something new every day because of a new coordinator and different coaching style. With a new head coach, the offense is responding better to my new role. They have the desire to win. They have seen in the past two years how bad it hurts to lose the close games. They can point to a day of practice, preparation, and say `I'm not letting that happen again. I'm giving 100 percent on every play.'

Southeastern has several good running backs...a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate with a good supporting cast. They have several returning starters on defense who have been beaten out by transfers. They should be better than last year. We were fortunate (to win) last year.

We have several (returning players) we knew could play. We also have several newcomers who have been a pleasant surprise such as (Larnelle) Sinegal at fullback, (Rodney) Evans at halfback, Ted Williams at quarterback, Kenny Pettway at outside linebacker and Brian Davis at strong safety."

SAU coaches have time and again stressed the importance of the Muleriders to remain injury-free. Instead, starting DT Chad James reported with a broken jaw and will be sidelined at least until the Valdosta State game. Aaron Goodman, projected to start at NG in preseason '99 practice, broke a leg at the beginning of last year and sat out last season. He came back this year to fill in for James at DT but complications from the injury has forced him to face surgery again and he has been lost for the season. Promising freshmen DT Cedric Brooks is out with a knee injury and is uncertain when and if he will be available. In the secondary where SAU was short on experience, letterman Charles Rollins has been lost for the season with an ACL knee injury. SOSU, on the other hand, reports only one injury. Wide Receiver Romar Crenshaw has a broken collar bone.

Facts on SAU

Location Magnolia, Arkansas

Conference Gulf South

Affiliation NCAA Division II

President Dr. Steven G. Gamble

Athletics Director Jay Adcox

Head Coach John Bland

Asst. Coaches Tommy Laurendine, Carey Baker, Clay Jennings and Jason Sanders

Sports Information Dir. Landon Stevens

Nickname Muleriders

Colors Royal Blue & Old Gold

Enrollment 2,870

Founded 1909 (SAU `76)

Stadium Wilkins (6,000)

Pressbox Phone (870) 235-4117

Facts on SOSU

Location Durant, Oklahoma

Conference Lone Star

Affiliation NCAA Division II

President Dr. Glen D. Johnson

Athletics Director Dr. Don Parham

Head Coach Morris Sloan

Asst. Coaches Keith Baxter, Rick Haasl, Lanny Pettit, Tom Turner and John Sullenger

Sports Information Dir. Dave Wester

Nickname Savages

Colors Blue and Gold

Enrollment 4,000

Founded 1909

Stadium Paul Laird Field (4,100)

Pressbox Phone (580) 745-2807/2811