Southern Illinoise University Athletics
The Wait Is Almost Over For Saluki Football
08/31/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 31, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The wait is almost over. In arguably the most anticipated season opener in Southern Illinois University football history, the second-ranked Salukis will host Southeast Missouri State Thursday at 7 p.m. at McAndrew Stadium. SIU, ranked No. 2 in both the ESPN/USA Today I-AA poll and The Sports Network poll, will be participating in a little bit of role reversal this time around against SEMO. The Indians were the nationally ranked team favored to win last season's game in Cape Girardeau, Mo. This year the Salukis have top billing. "We remember what we did to them last year," said Saluki quarterback Joel Sambursky. "We don't want them to do the same thing to us." The Dawgs dominated the Indians a year ago, and stole the contest 28-7. SIU racked up 279 yards rushing, to SEMO's 59. Saluki head coach Jerry Kill - who is 15-20 in three seasons as head coach - expects the contest to be typical of any team playing its first game of the season. "Nobody is ever going to play a great first game," Kill said. "We didn't play very good against Quincy last year. "I always tell people that you improve from the first game to the next game more than you will the whole season." Kill and his coaching staff will be trying to get a feel for which players can take their performance on the practice field and transfer it to the actual game. "Overall, I'm just excited about the opportunity to see how they play," Kill said. SIU returns eight defensive starters from a year ago. One of the new first stringers is junior inside linebacker Tony Rinella, who starts opposite Royal Whitaker, a second team All-Gateway Conference selection. "These players are good," Rinella said. "I have been here a few years, and I haven't seen players like we have this year." One of those new faces is starting cornerback Brandon Bruner, a Northeast Oklahoma A&M transfer, who was selected first team All-Southwest Conference last season. "I have never really been a part of a team like this," Rinella said. "Everyone just seems to be coming together. I'm excited to see how it is going to turn out." Juniors Frank Johnson and Jamarquis Jordan are back at safety, while all-everything standout Alexis Moreland returns at free safety. Yemi Akisanya and Bruner, both juniors, will cover the receivers at the cornerback position. Whitaker and Rinella will make up the linebackers. The front four will consist of senior defensive ends Billy Beard and Andrew Franklin; juniors Linton Brown and Jeff Jones will be at defensive tackle. Just in case the defense does not hold SEMO scoreless for 60 minutes, SIU has quite the offense ready to suit up for the 2004 campaign. Sambursky returns at quarterback, and he'll have plenty of weapons coming out of the backfield once again. Senior transfers Brandon Jacobs (Auburn) and Terry Jackson (Minnesota) are the 2004 version of thunder and lightning. Jacobs (6-4, 260), who resembles a linebacker carrying the football, averaged 6.2 yards-per-carry at Auburn last season. Jackson (5-11, 195) rushed for more than 1,300 yards in the Big Ten Conference in 2002. Junior running back Antione Jackson will also be in the mix. Sophomore transfer Arkee Whitlock, a speedy runner from Coffeyville Community College, will line up at superback. The new position is for a running back that can do a little bit of everything, including running and blocking. Sophomore J.T. Wise will look for playing time at the position as well. Whitlock wants to stay sharp while not being caught up in all the Saluki hype of the off-season. "We are ready to get the season going," Whitlock said. "Our main thing is we are trying to stay focused." Juniors Brent Little (WR), Kellen Allen (WR) and Micah Turner (TE) will be the primary receiving core for the Salukis. Wide receiver Courtney Abbott graduated, but Allen should fill that hole nicely. Senior Jason Hollingshed and junior Quorey Payne will also compete for playing time at wide out, along with impressive freshman Phil Goforth. Junior Chris Kupec will back up Turner at tight end. The offensive line brings experience, with four seniors including: Brian Akins (6-4, 310) at left tackle, Justin Rich (6-5, 295) at left guard, Elmer McDaniel (5-11, 315) at center and Matt Miller (6-4, 295) at right tackle. Sophomore Will Justice (6-5, 295) completes the quintet at right guard. Sophomores Craig Coffin and Zach Kettelkamp return at kicker and punter respectively. Odds are favorable that many fans will show up at McAndrew Stadium for this season's home games. The team's quarterback said fan support has been overwhelming in the off-season. "It warms the heart of everyone on the team," Sambursky said. "They (the fans) are going to play a huge role in the game." Sambursky would love to see an electric atmosphere on Thursday, which would give SIU a bigger advantage than it already has. "They (SEMO) are playing at our house," Sambursky said. "The fans have just got to be crazy, and do all they can to suck the life out of SEMO." The Salukis and Indians have met 72 times with SEMO winning 36 of those games. SIU has 28 wins over SEMO, and the teams have tied eight times. Tim Billings begins his fifth season as head coach at SEMO, where he has compiled a 20-26 record. Senior quarterback Andrew Goodenough completed 71 of 116 passes last season in only seven games. The Arizona State transfer threw three touchdowns and four interceptions, including 407 yards passing in a loss to Jacksonville State in last year's Ohio Valley Conference championship game. Junior running back Jamel Oliver rushed for more than 600 yards and nine touchdowns in 2003. Oliver added 41 catches for 520 yards to the Indians' offensive attack as well. Ray Goodson, a senior at tight end, returns for SEMO after leading the team in receiving with 66 receptions for 623 yards. Goodson is a preseason All-American selection by The Sports Network. Kill - beginning his fourth season as Saluki head coach -- does not feel any added pressure due to all the accolades his team has received over the past year. The head coach has not changed his coaching philosophy very much since he's been at SIU. "I think every coach expects to win," Kill said. "I expected that when I came here, it just didn't work out that way." FSN-Chicago, Midwest and South will televise the game. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
