Southern Illinois University
5-2 , 3-1
Indiana St.
0-8 , 0-4
Football beats Indiana State, 42-20
10/22/2005 | 12:00:00 | Football
Oct. 22, 2005
by Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Saluki football coach Jerry Kill wasn't expected to attend Saturday's game at Indiana State, one day after he was released from the hospital.
Yet there he was on the sidelines, coaching and helping inspire Southern Illinois to a 42-20 victory over the Sycamores.
SIU's fifth-year head coach suffered a seizure on the sidelines of last week's game and spent all week in the hospital. Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said he wasn't surprised Kill made it.
"He loves those kids, and he loves us, and if he felt good enough to be here, he wasn't going to let them down," Claeys said. "It just says how much the players mean to him."
His presence gave Southern Illinois (5-2, 3-1) an emotional boost as it jumped out to a 28-14 halftime lead.
Although he wasn't wearing his trademark headset, Kill could be seen and heard encouraging his players.
Senior quarterback Joel Sambursky responded with a day of crisp passing. In the first half alone, Sambursky completed 14-of-17 passes, including touchdown throws to Brent Little, J.T. Wise and Alan Turner.
"All of the veterans knew that Coach Kill was going to be there, even if all the doctors told him not to," Sambursky said.
Saluki RB Arkee Whitlock, who carried 23 times for 140 yards and two TDs, said having Kill on the sidelines demonstrated a point the head coach frequently makes to the players.
"Coach talks about being mentally tough," Whitlock said. "And he is one of the mentally toughest guys I've ever seen."
The game was closer than the final score indicated. Using a no-huddle, spread offense, the Sycamores moved the ball efficiently through the air against SIU's defense. Southern was held scoreless in the third quarter, and the Sycamores (0-8, 0-4) closed to within 28-20 early in the fourth on a pair of Kyle Hooper field goals.
"I've been in Indiana State's position, going on a losing streak," said Sambursky. "But we have been watching film all week, and they are not bad. They are not an 0-7 team."
The key drive came early in the fourth quarter when Southern marched 84 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a Whitlock two-yard touchdown run, to take a 35-20 lead with 4:08 remaining. The possession chewed up more than six minutes on the game clock.
"When we had to have a score, (the offense) came back and did it," Claeys said. "We just kind of survived on defense and hung in there."
Although Kill was vocal on the sidelines during the crucial drive, he resisted the temptation to grab the head set and start calling plays.
"He said things when he needed to," Whitlock remarked. "But he really let the assistant coaches take over, and they did a good job."
Claeys said it was the hardest week of his coaching career.
"(Kill) means so much to us," he said. "We had one goal, and that was to get on that bus with a smile, and that's what we are going to do."
After the game, Kill gathered his team on the 50-yardline and made an emotional speech, telling them how proud he was of the way they've held together during a difficult week.
"That man means the world to us," Claeys said. "It was a special moment. I am glad he came here."
Team Stats
SIU 7, INS 0
SIU - Jackson,Antione 1 yd run (Coffin,Craig kick), 13 plays, 81 yards, TOP 5:49
SIU 7, INS 7
INS - Berman, Carl 10 yd pass from Baggett, Blayne (Hooper, Kyle kick) 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:57
SIU 14, INS 7
SIU - Little,Brent 21 yd pass from Sambursky,Joel (Coffin,Craig kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:10
SIU 21, INS 7
SIU - Wise, J.T. 7 yd pass from Sambursky,Joel (Coffin,Craig kick) 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:17
SIU 21, INS 14
INS - Berman, Carl 42 yd pass from Baggett, Blayne (Hooper, Kyle kick) 5 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:45
SIU 28, INS 14
SIU - Turner,Alan 10 yd pass from Sambursky,Joel (Coffin,Craig kick) 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:53
SIU 28, INS 17
INS - Hooper, Kyle 27 yd field goal 12 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:13
SIU 28, INS 20
INS - Hooper, Kyle 47 yd field goal 18 plays, 62 yards, TOP 5:20
SIU 35, INS 20
SIU - Whitlock,Arkee 2 yd run (Coffin,Craig kick), 13 plays, 84 yards, TOP 6:05
SIU 42, INS 20
SIU - Whitlock,Arkee 19 yd run (Coffin,Craig kick), 6 plays, 36 yards, TOP 2:29