Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Team Wraps Up Spring Season with Scrimmage
04/22/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Post-Scrimmage Press Conference
April 22, 2002
The Southern Illinois football team wrapped up its spring season with a 90-minute scrimmage at McAndrew Stadium Saturday in front of approximately 150 fans.
Redshirt freshman Joel Sambursky started the scrimmage at quarterback, however he alternated series with fellow redshirt freshman Stanley Bryant. Head coach Jerry Kill said afterward that he will not name a starter at the position until just before SIU's opener next fall against Kentucky Wesleyan on August 31.
"It motivates what they do during the summer and motivates the commitment they make," Kill said. "We're definitely very talented there, and I'm excited about that."
Highlights of the scrimmage included a long touchdown pass from Bryant to junior college transfer Courtney Abbot, and the power running of Tom Koutsos, the school's career rushing leader, who broke off numerous gains of at least 10 yards.
"Offensively, we've been really sharp and played pretty well (this spring)," Kill said. "Today, I thought the defense picked it up and dominated most of the time. I feel a little bit better about our football team, because I didn't know if we were going to be real strong on defense, and they played much better today."
Notes:
Fullback Brandon Robinson, who led the team with a 5.9 rushing average last year, was held out of the scrimmage with an ankle injury...Wide receiver Kellen Allen, a walk-on who runs track at SIU, was praised by Kill for his performance this spring...Mark Phillips and Brandon Walker took every snap at defensive tackle...Every player who dressed participated in the scrimmage...Former linebacker Bart Scott talked to the team after the scrimmage and thanked the coaches for what they did to help his career.
Kill on the freshmen quarterbacks:
"Joel is a young man who runs a 4.4 in the 40 and has great athletic skills. He's a playmaker and a competitor. He was a wrestler in high school. He's won everywhere he's been. He's a winner. Stanley comes from a high school that wins all the time. Both are involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both of them don't smoke or drink. Both are good people and good leaders. Stanley's got good footspeed, maybe a stronger arm. Each of them have a little bit of everything."
