Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Has First Practice In Full Pads
08/06/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 6, 2003
By Seth Whitehead
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE - It looked for all the world like the Southern Illinois University football team had just won the I-AA national championship.
The situation: third and goal from the Dawgs own three-yard line with four seconds remaining.
The outcome: the much-maligned SIU defense steps up to snuff out a do-or-die run for the endzone on the last play of the game.
Bedlam ensues, as the entire defensive unit -- coaches and players alike -- rejoice in a wild celebration on the middle of the field.
"Everybody was hyped,'' linebacker Royal Whitaker said. "That's what you need to do in a third down situation like that. I thought we responded well.''
"It was like beating Western (Illinois),'' defensive end Chris Sutherlin said.
In reality, it was just a mock play on the first day of practice in full pads Wednesday afternoon.
But don't dismiss the moment as irrelevant.
The hope: that situations such as this carry over into the upcoming season. SIU struggled mightily in similar spots a year ago, ranking last in the Gateway Conference in red-zone defense.
So, head coach Jerry Kill has issued his defense a challenge. Every practice will end with a make-or-break situation. The defense met the challenge on Wednesday.
"I think that it's important for our young players to know how competitive you have to be to play in this league,'' Kill said. "That's the kind of intensity we've got to have all the time. If we can play with that kind of intensity on defense, we'll be all right.''
"We're going to emphasize the goal line stuff,'' defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said of preseason practice. "The kids were excited that we got them stopped.''
Making the goal-line stand even more impressive is who the Salukis stopped.
"Everybody knows we have two All-American running backs, a (Gateway Conference) Newcomer of the Year at quarterback and all-conference picks at wide receiver,'' Moreland said. "It's good to know we can play with our offense.
"We've always had problems the past couple years with finishing a team. Today, I thought we finished real good as a team and I think everybody was excited about that.''
Confidence on defense certainly is not lacking. And it showed Wednesday as SIU was able to back up some ambitious preseason talk.
Moreland has predicted that SIU will go from worst to first in the Gateway Conference in defense this year. Sutherlin echoed that kind of confidence after Wednesday's practice.
"We're trying to prove a point this year, that we've changed,'' Sutherlin said. "We're a young defense, but we're still going to dominate.
"Everybody used the excuse that we were young last year,'' Whitaker said. "That cannot be an excuse this year because we have everybody back and everyone should know what they are doing.''
SIU returns eight starters on defense, but has just one senior returning in linebacker Eric Egan.
Despite that youth, Egan is encouraged by the early returns.
"The whole atmosphere out here and the attitude of the players has been great,'' Egan said. "It was real encouraging today.
"Coach is pretty much challenging the defense because he really wants us to step up this year. He feels we have the talent to be better so he's demanding more of us.''
It wasn't all roses however.
"We missed some tackles, which was a problem a year ago, and that's one thing we've got to get corrected,'' Claeys said. "But as far as chasing the football and being more physical overall, I thought we looked good.''
Despite the heat and humidity of an average August day, seeing the Salukis in full pads for the first time in 2003 made it official: Football season is officially on the horizon.
"It gets you in the game atmosphere,'' Sutherlin said of wearing full pads. "It gets you ready to play, to get after it.
"We're ready to win this year.''
