Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Announces 2005 Schedule
03/29/2005 | 12:00:00 | Football
March 29, 2005
Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill unveiled the team's 2005 11-game schedule on Tuesday. In addition to its traditional Gateway Conference rivals, the Salukis have added a pair of unfamiliar, yet challenging opponents in Western Michigan and North Dakota State.
The season begins on Thursday, Sept. 1, when SIU travels to Southeast Missouri State to renew the oldest rivalry in school history. The two teams have met annually since 1994 and 73 times since the series began in 1913.
After a Sept. 10 home opener against Division II opponent Union College (Ky.), the Salukis will travel to Western Michigan to play the I-A Broncos on Sept. 17. Western is a member of the Mid-American Conference and posted a 1-10 record in 2004. The Salukis and Broncos have never met. Southern is 1-19 overall against I-A teams, including a 23-22 loss last year to MAC foe Northern Illinois.
Southern Illinois begins conference play on Oct. 1, when it hosts Missouri State (formerly SMS) in a 1:30 p.m. Homecoming match up. The remaining home conference slate include Illinois State (Oct. 15) and Youngstown State (Nov. 5). Road conference dates are at Western Illinois (Oct. 8), at Indiana State (Oct. 22), at Western Kentucky (Oct. 29) and at Northern Iowa (Nov. 12).
The Salukis wrap up the regular season with a home game against North Dakota State. The Bison finished the 2004 season, their first as a member of the I-AA ranks, ranked #23 in both the coaches and media polls. A member of the Great West Football Conference, the North Dakota State posted an 8-3 record a year ago. The two teams have met just once before, with the Salukis claiming a 20-15 win at McAndrew Stadium in 1963.
"It was a challenge to put together our schedule this year" Kill said. "The process was time-consuming, but we're thrilled with how it turned out. We've added a I-A team in Western Michigan that has a very strong football tradition and a great fan base. And North Dakota State is a program on the rise that was nationally ranked a year ago."
The Salukis will begin spring practice sessions on March 30, and will practice four times per week through April 24.
