Southern Illinois Salukis football

Southern Illinois Salukis football
2024 Southern Illinois Salukis football team
First season1913; 111 years ago (1913)
Head coachNick Hill
8th season, 44–48 (.478)
StadiumSaluki Stadium
(capacity: 15,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationCarbondale, Illinois
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMissouri Valley
All-time record412–477–32 (.465)
Claimed national titles1 (1983)
Conference titles8
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
WebsiteSIU Salukis Football

The Southern Illinois Salukis football program represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in college football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level (formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA). The Salukis are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and play in Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois, which has a seating capacity of 15,000.

The Salukis are coached by Nick Hill,[2] who was the starting quarterback for the Salukis in 2006 and 2007.

History

The first official season of Southern Illinois football took place in 1913. Their first game was a win against Anna High School.[3][4]

In 2006, the Salukis defeated Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, 35–28,[5] becoming the first Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) school to win against a Big Ten Conference member.[citation needed] In 2007, the Salukis were victorious against Northern Illinois University. This marked the second consecutive year that SIU had beaten an FBS program.[6]

In the 2000s, SIU set then-MVFC records with 99 consecutive weeks ranked in the top-25 and 14-straight MVFC wins.[7]

Conference affiliations

Postseason games

The Salukis have appeared in two bowl games, compiling a 2–0 record.

Bowl games

Season Bowl Opponent Result
1947 Corn Bowl North Central W 21–0
1949 Shrine Bowl Indiana State W 21–0

Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

The Salukis have appeared in 17 playoff games in I-AA/FCS tournaments, compiling a record of 11–10. They won the I-AA national championship in 1983.

Year Round Opponent Result
1983 Quarterfinals Indiana State W 23–7
Semifinals Nevada W 23–7
National Championship Game Western Carolina W 43–7
2003 First Round Delaware L 7–48
2004 First Round Eastern Washington L 31–35
2005 First Round Eastern Illinois W 21–6
Quarterfinals Appalachian State L 24–38
2006 First Round UT Martin W 36–30
Quarterfinals Montana L 3–20
2007 First Round Eastern Illinois W 30–11
Quarterfinals UMass W 34–27
Semifinals Delaware L 17–20
2008 First Round New Hampshire L 20–29
2009 First Round Eastern Illinois W 48–7
Quarterfinals William & Mary L 3–24
2020 First Round Weber State W 34–31
Quarterfinals #1 South Dakota State L 26–31
2021 First Round South Dakota W 22-10
Second Round #2 North Dakota State L 7–38
2023 First Round Nicholls W 35–0
Second Round #4 Idaho L 17–20 OT

Championships

Conference championships

National championships

Players

Salukis in the NFL

SIU has had 28 players drafted in the NFL Draft, including four since 2010. In total, 36 Saluki football players have gone on to play in the NFL. Some notable Salukis in the NFL are listed below.

All-Americans

Cornell Craig is the school's all-time leading receiver and first receiver in school history to earn consensus All-American honors (1999). His senior season he led the nation in receiving with 77 receptions for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a senior. His career numbers (all Saluki records) are 207 receptions, 3,508 yards, and 37 touchdowns. He was inducted into the SIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and is also honored on Missouri Valley Conference's 25th anniversary team along with three other Salukis.[8]

Assistant Coaches Who became D1 or Pro Head Coach

Don Cross assistant OL 1960-1965 under HC Carmen Piccone & Don Shroyer Missouri State HC

Bob Ledbetter assistant 1968-1971 under HC Dick Towers Norfolk State HC

Jim Caldwell assistant WR 1978-1980 under Rey Dempsey HC Wake Forest, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions

Alex Wood assistant DB 1981 under Rey Dempsey HC James Madison, Buffalo,Florida A&M

Shawn Watson assistant GA 1982 under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois, Wofford

Charlie Strong assistant WR 1986-1987 under Ray Dorr HC Florida, Louisville, Texas, South Florida

Jeff McInerney assistant LB 1988 under Rick Rhoades HC Centeal Connecticut State

Bill Callahan assistant OC 1989 under Bob Smith HC Oakland Raiders, Nebraska, Washington Redskins

Kirby Wilson assistant LB 1991 DC 1992 under Bob Smith HC Pittsburgh Maulers

David Elson assistant GA 1994-1995 under Shawn Watson HC Western Kentucky

Dan Enos assistant QB/WR 1997-1998 under Jan Quarless HC Central Michigan

Tracy Claeys assistant DC 2001-2007 under Jerry Kill HC Minnesota

Tom Matukewicz assistant LB 2001-2007 under Jerry Kill HC Southeast Missouri State

Jay Sawvel assistant DB/ST 2001-2007 under Jerry Kill HC Wyoming

Kyle Schweigert assistant DC 2008-2013 under Dale Lennon HC North Dakota

Kenni Burns Assistant TE 2008-2009 under Dale Lennon HC Kent State

Kalen DeBoer assistant OC/WR 2010-2013 under Dale Lennon HC Fresno State, Washington, Alabama

Nick Hill assistant QB/OC 2014-2015 under Dale Lennon HC Southern Illinois

Jan Quarless assistant 1976-1982 DL/OL/OC under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois

Home venue

Main article: Saluki Stadium

SIU Football plays at the 15,000-seat Saluki Stadium, which replaced McAndrew Stadium, the home of Saluki Football since 1938.[9] Saluki Stadium opened on September 2, 2010 when a sellout crowd of 15,200 watched the Salukis defeat Quincy 70–7.[10]

The Saluki Stadium is part of the university's larger athletic facilities plan, known as "Saluki Way,"[11] a comprehensive plan to renovate and restructure the campus athletic facilities.[12]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of September 11, 2024.[13]

2024 2025 2026 2027
at BYU at Purdue at Illinois at Wisconsin
at Austin Peay at UT Martin
Incarnate Word at Southeast Missouri State
Southeast Missouri State

See also

References

  1. ^ Missouri Valley Conference Style Guide (PDF). August 29, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Hefferman, Todd (December 23, 2015). "Hill to succeed Lennon as SIU's next football coach". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  3. ^ "2022 Record Book" (PDF). Southern Illinois University Athletics. p. 72. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Remember the time..." The Southern Illinoisan. August 29, 2010. p. 16. Retrieved September 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Hill tosses 4 TDs as I-AA Salukis shock Indiana". ESPN. Associated Press. September 16, 2006. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  6. ^ "S. Illinois 34, N. Illinois 31". ESPN. Associated Press. September 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "SIU becoming powerhouse at I-AA level". daily-chronicle.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "13 SIU football players honored in MVFC 25th anniversary celebration | WPSD Local 6 - News, Sports, Weather - Paducah KY | Local Sports". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  9. ^ Nelson, Kathleen (August 23, 2010). "SIUC's long-awaited new stadium is ready". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  10. ^ "Saluki Stadium opens in grand fashion - Southern Illinois University". Southern Illinois University. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  11. ^ Norris, D.W. (July 24, 2010). "How 'Suite' it is: New Saluki football stadium scores with premium seating level". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  12. ^ Saluki Way Archived 2010-02-28 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Southern Illinois Salukis Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 6, 2024.