Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Announces 2007 Schedule
03/07/2007 | 12:00:00 | Football
March 7, 2007
By Ryan Shaw
www.SIUSalukis.com
Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill announced the 2007 schedule on Wednesday. The 11-game schedule features SIU's traditional Gateway Conference rivals along with two return trips from last season and two new opponents.
While Kill is looking forward to the season, he expects a tough road for his team, including strong competition and demanding travel.
"I think it's very competitive and we are going to have to step up so to speak, just like we're going to have to do the rest of the years I'm here," said Kill. "I wish we didn't have to travel as far as we have to travel, going to Southern Utah and going Hampton."
The 2007 season begins on Thursday, Aug. 30, when Quincy visits McAndrew Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The two teams have played only once when the Salukis trounced the Hawks, 64-14, in 2003.
Following the season opener, the Salukis will hit the road to face division I-A opponent Northern Illinois on Sept. 8. SIU is 13-28-1 against the Huskies in a series dating back to 1931. SIU is 2-19 against I-A teams, including a 35-28 win over Indiana last year.
The Salukis will be back on the road on Sept. 15 when they travel to Southern Utah. The two teams met for the first time last season and SIU came away with a 59-0 victory.
SIU will be back at home on Sept. 22 to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Salukis defeated the Golden Lions last year, 48-16, in Pine Bluff. The game was the first between the two teams.
SIU will open conference play on the road at Indiana State on Sept. 29. The Salukis home conference schedule includes Youngstown State (Oct. 6), Missouri State (Oct. 20) and Illinois State (Nov. 10). Road conference games are at Northern Iowa (Oct. 13) and at Western Illinois (Nov. 3).
The Salukis wrap up the regular season with a road game at Hampton University. The Pirates finished the 2006 season with a 10-2 record and their third-straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. Last year Hampton lost in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in a heart breaker to New Hampshire, 41-38, to end their season. The Salukis and the Pirates have never played. "Hampton is going to be a top-10 team in the country and playing them the last week in the season it may very well come down to that game whether we get into the national playoffs or not," said Kill.
The Salukis will begin preparing for the 2007 season when spring practice gets under way on March 20.
