It was supposed to be a feel-good game, and the taste of victory was supposed to be sweet.

But the taste left in Ohio's mouth following last season's 31-0 loss in Ohio's home opener to Division 1-AA Northeastern was anything but sugary. In fact, even though the Bobcats rallied for a close-but-no-cigar finish in the MAC East standings, the early autumn defeat to the lower-division opponent is the game some Ohio fans recall as the most vivid?and acrid ?memory from the 2002 season.

The 2003 opener promises yet another dangerous opponent for Ohio, as nationally-ranked Southeast Missouri stomps their way into Peden Stadium this Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the opener for both teams. The Indians, ranked 16th in a recent 1-AA poll, are coached by former longtime Marshall assistant Tim Billings.

If SEMO beats Ohio, it won't be because of the surprise factor.

"We've been talking about Southeast Missouri ever since last Spring," said Ohio coach Brian Knorr. "Our guys are focused on this game, but I don't think last year is a too distant memory."

Looking at game film of the 2002 Indians from should provide the Ohio team a good preview of what they can expect Thursday. The veteran SEMO squad runs a Marshall-esque pass-first offense, and brings back 19 starters from an 8-4 team. The Indians are picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference.

Behind the center of last year's SEMO squad was school-record-setting Jack Tomco (3,132 yards and 29 touchdowns), but he faces competition in this year's camp from 2001 starter Jeromy McDowell and former Arizona State Sun Devil Andrew Goodenough, who was good enough (sorry for the irresistible pun!) to start ASU's 2002 home opener against Nebraska before being injured. Billings has the enviable task of choosing among those three.

Tomco is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the best player in 1-AA, but he hasn't been named the starter on his own team. No matter which QB takes snaps on Thursday, said Knorr, he will guide a veteran team with talented backs and wideouts.

"This will be an experienced team that has had some success," said Knorr. "They've put a lot of points on the board."

Given the pass-oriented offenses Ohio will see this season in the MAC, it should be a good preview of things to come in the pass-happy MAC for the Bobcats, which see their defense as one of their strengths heading into the 2003 season.

Notes: Knorr said he has been pleased with the way the offensive line has healed since last year. After resting the injured players during spurts of summer practice, Ohio plans to rotate 9-10 linemen early in the year.. Injuries slowed or stopped current O-line starters Dennis Thompson, Shane Yates, Brian Brown and Steve Lawrence a year ago. "For them to get together and start gelling will be important," he said... Knorr singled out Brown and redshirt freshman receiver Scott Mayle as standouts this summer. Mayle, who ran a 10.51 in the 100 meters final at the MAC track championships in addition to qualifying for the national long jump championships, is one of the fastest players in the league. He moved ahead of Ahmona Maxwell and Keyon Ingram on the depth chart and is out to prove he's not a track guy playing football... freshmen John Taylor (RB) and Ma'tron Church (OLB) are expected to lose their red shirts against SEMO... the Cats are deep at LB and may play up to 10 against the Indians... Still no final word on the place kicker as late addition frosh Eric Lohbeck from LaSalle High in Cincinnati challenged junior Greg DiMarino and recruit Craig Donahue for the job... sophomore Matt Miller is the starting punter... A fixture on special teams is long snapper Brandon Swiger, a fifth-year senior. Donahue's high school teammate, Bill Keaney, is being looked at as the long-snapper of the future... Bobcat starting FS Andre Bradford, a Pattonville, Mo., native via a California junior college, was a high school teammate of several members of the SEMO team.