Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Football Begins Preparation for 2001 Season
08/10/2001 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 10, 2001
In the midst of the heat and humidity, the Southern Illinois University Carbondale football team officially opened its two-a-day practices in preparation for the 2001 season today as the freshmen and transfers reported for duty.
After arriving to campus Thursday for a full day of testing, SIU's group of 53 freshmen/transfers then took to the field early this morning for a two-hour session. Among the host of newcomers was Syracuse transfer quarterback Madei Williams who took his first snap as a Saluki. In addition to numerous drills and repetitions, today's practice also gave this year's recruiting class an opportunity to get acclamated with the new SIU coaching staff.
"If you look at our schedule poster motto (A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step), we took about a baby step today," said head coach Jerry Kill. "However, everybody did a solid job and normally on the first day of practice, you can't even get a snap off, but that wasn't the case. I was really impressed with the freshmen and how well they did."
SIU will continue its summer camp Saturday when the Saluki newcomers set to join forces with the upper classmen as the entire team is expected to report. The Dawgs will then spend both Saturday and Sunday in team meetings before returning to the gridiron for its first full squad practice early Monday morning.
