The college football team at Southeast Missouri State, better known as just SEMO, began its spring practice period on March 15. Head coach Tom Matukewicz put his players at risk of injury with a drill that asks players to, essentially, dive at their teammates’ knees.
He is lucky they did not get injured. (Yet!)
Although it is important for college football teams to practice at full speed, this specific drill is subject to widespread criticism. Surely there must be another way to teach these same principles.
SEMO is under .500 in the Tom Matukewicz era.
Matukewicz was hired at Southeast Missouri State in 2014 after climbing his way up the coaching ladder at Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois and Toledo, among other stops. He currently sits one game below .500 at 67-68 during his 12 years as the head football coach in Cape Girardeau.
The Redhawks, which compete in the Big South-OVC Football Association after a lengthy run in the Ohio Valley Conference, made the FCS playoffs with nine wins in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024. Tom Matukewicz was named as the OVC Coach of the Year in 2018.
However, those are the only four winning seasons of his entire tenure. SEMO has finished with more losses than wins in eight of the last 12 years, including a 4-8 record in 2025.
This year is going to look completely different.
Not only did Matukewicz add five new coaches to his staff, including new offensive coordinator Brendan Boylan, he completely overhauled his roster. The Redhawks added 52 total players during the February signing period, including 23 summer signees and 29 mid-year signees.
Matukewicz may not be on the hot seat, per say, but he needs to record a winning season. His first opportunity to teach his new roster got underway with the spring practice period on March 16. SEMO will practice three times a week with the spring game scheduled for April 18.
A scrimmage on Monday set the tone for the new season.
“Today is what I call an identity scrimmage,” said Matukewicz. “We have 50 new players. We have five new coaches. They just got here and we need to understand who we are as a program. When you wear our jersey, you put on our helmet, there’s a standard and about what that standard looks like.”
We’ll see what happens in the fall.
A college football spring practice drill puts players at risk of injury.
Luke Randle of KFVS12 News shared a glimpse at the spring practice period earlier this week. His video, which has since been deleted, showed the Redhawks running a drill that I have never seen before.
Three defensive players line up in the end zone. One offensive player (presumably a running back or wide receiver) runs toward the end zone from the 10-yard-line. The three defensive players are tasked with tackling the offensive player before he crosses the goal line. It is a three-on-one drill that puts the ball-carrier in an extremely vulnerable position where his teammates are essentially diving at his knees.
— – (@Spicoli_____) March 31, 2026
Coach Jason Brown, of Last Chance U fame (infamy?), loved what he saw.
“Great coach and still coaches the right way at SEMO! This is football when full speed equals zero injury! Go half pussy speed and wear helmet condoms and get hurt!”
Others disagreed. Rather, most people disagreed.
“I refuse to believe a coach would do this. It’s nonsensical and dangerous,” said Ryan Clark.
“Top 5 dumbest and most neglectful drill I’ve ever seen,” said Torrey Smith.
“Yikes man. Hope no one gets hurt doing this drill,” said Geoff Schwartz.
“😂😂 this drill is insane man,” said Gehrig Dieter.
“Don’t know this Coach or their Staff but this might be one of the most egregious drills I’ve seen. If they are trying to teach toughness this isn’t it! 👀🤦♂️,” said Northeastern State head coach Darrin Chiaverini.
“WTF is this 🐂💩?? Tell me this is AI please!! Transfer portal for all these kids!! Get away from these coaches now!!,” said Brandon Jacobs.
“Follow us today to learn how to tear your ACL, PCL, and LCL for no reason,” said William Cockerill.
“Why? And if you’re going to do the “just score drill” like back in the day you can’t be going low diving at legs on defense at least sheesh 😳,” said AJ Dillon.
John Anthony Jr. transferred from Lindenwood to SEMO during the offseason. He does not agree with the criticism.
“Some say it’s stupid.. I say, if I got the ball on the ten and I see a safety and a corner on the 2 yard line.. I’m running thru face and scoring 🤌🏽 mentality drill 🐶”
He also wants everybody to know that nobody has been injured during this drill… yet. You can be physical in practice without being reckless!