Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football unveils 2006 schedule; delivers assist to Men's Basketball
02/24/2006 | 12:00:00 | Football
Feb. 24, 2006
In the process of building its 2006 football schedule, the Saluki football team delivered an assist to the men's basketball squad.
Southern Illinois had a contract to play a football game next fall at Indiana on Sept. 2. The Hoosiers asked to switch the date to Sept. 16, and offered to sweeten the deal financially. After more negotiation, IU decided to throw in a home-and-home men's basketball series to further entice the Salukis.
The package was too good to pass up, said SIU football coach Jerry Kill.
"We preferred the original date, but it became an opportunity for us to help out our athletic department and specifically, the basketball team," Kill said. "This is good for everyone."
Saluki basketball coach Chris Lowery said he was thrilled to start a series with the Big Ten power. Indiana will host Southern on Dec. 17, 2006, and SIU will welcome the Hoosiers on Dec. 1, 2007. That game will mark the six-year anniversary of the Salukis' 72-60 home win over Indiana, which played a big part in Southern's march to the Sweet 16 in 2002.
"It's a tremendous series for us," said Lowery, who insists on scheduling home-and-home series. "That's how we want to build our progam --not two-for-ones, not one-and-dones."
In addition to Indiana, the rest of the 2006 football slate features three, new non-conference opponents.
The three-time defending Gateway Conference champions open the season at home against Division II Lock Haven on Thursday, August 31. After playing at Indiana on the 16th, SIU travels to I-AA foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 23.
The conference home schedule features Indiana State (Sept. 30), Western Illinois (Oct. 7-Homecoming), Western Kentucky (Oct. 21) and Northern Iowa (Nov. 11). The Salukis play three Gateway Conference opponents on the road -- Illinois State (Oct. 14), Missouri State (Oct. 28) and Youngstown State (Nov. 4).
SIU finishes the regular season at home with a non-conference game against Southern Utah (Nov. 18) of the Great West Conference.
