Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Photo by: Byron Hetzler, The Southern
Football vs. South Dakota State — SOLD OUT
03/15/2021 | 4:33:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois moved up five spots to No. 5 in the national rankings this week and will host No. 6 South Dakota State on Saturday at noon. Saturday's game versus the Jackrabbits (3-1, 3-1) is sold out.
The last time the Salukis (4-1, 3-1) were ranked in the Top 5 was on Sept. 13, 2010. SIU has already defeated No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 4 Northern Iowa. A Saluki win would mark the first time in program history that SIU has beaten three Top-10 teams in the same season.
Nick Hill – Head Saluki football coach 3/15/21
Opening Statement:
"It's exciting to be back at home this week, obviously coming off of an exciting win and tough game. It was all around a great football game, I'm glad we came out with a win. Our focus now is to turn to another great opponent, another really good football team that is coming here, it's nice to have back-to-back home games and we'll use that to our advantage. South Dakota State causes a lot of problems and I have a lot of respect for [head] coach John Stiegelmeier and what he's been able to accomplish up there, just a really tough, really good football team. The challenge will be there, we're confident in our group, but really our concentration and what our team is buying into is 'what can I do today to give me the best opportunity to play well on Saturday?', whether that's today on their day off, or that's showing up tomorrow and having a great Tuesday then Wednesday, really Saturdays take care of themselves."
On what stands out from UNI:
"It was a good football game. I felt like defensively, we played really hard, we played physical and gave up a few explosive plays but none of them resulted in touchdowns which we talk about all the time. I thought we were resilient, you saw Qua Brown punching the ball out twice which is huge for us, created some takeaways. I'm really just proud of the effort and the mentality that we're going to figure out a way to win this football game. It's not going to be pretty, there's going to be some ups and downs we are playing really good football teams with really good schemes and coaches. We're not going to go out there and things are going to be easy, you're going to figure it out and put yourself in position to win a football game in the fourth quarter and that's what we did."
On quarterbacks:
"First, it really starts with their approach – you preach that as a coach, that's what you want – but it's really up to them as individuals to buy into that. It's the toughest position on the team, only one person gets to play. I've mentioned this before, whether you are a backup linebacker, backup defensive lineman, backup in a lot of positions, you are going to get some reps. You are going to go into Saturday knowing that you are going to get reps, even if you are disappointed that you aren't starting. Quarterbacks are an entirely different position and mindset, you can feel like you had a great week of practice and doing all the things right and you don't get in. But, if you want to be ready when your number is called and you want to play well when your number is called, you have to approach each day like you are the starter. It takes a certain type of person to really buy into that and put your feelings aside and commit to being the best that you can be during the week.
I said that after the game about our quarterback room, I'm proud of them for doing that, they all have their different strengths and weaknesses. It's our jobs as coaches to understand that. It's been nice that we've all been together now for two years, same quarterbacks coach, same coordinator, myself, knowing these guys and them learning from their mistakes. I think its paid off and we are going to need them all."
On settling down after two top-five wins:
"I'm happy for Saluki Football, I'm happy for our guys, their families, and the fans that get to come – I wish there were more fans that can come. But our mindset is, Sundays are a grind of a day. I come in before church, then I go to church, then I blink and get the players in here to meet with the staff – offense, defense, special teams. We'll go out and practice on Sundays until 6 o'clock at night, break down the next opponent, you go to bed and come back here super early on Monday morning and you are going.
There's not much celebrating going on after the evening on Saturday, I really love these noon games because the coaches get to go be home with their families for an evening that we normally don't get to. I checked out a couple innings at the baseball game with my daughter after the game and got to do some things I normally don't get to do, so that's been nice and part of the celebrating. As far as the team goes, you show up on Sunday, you look at our schedule and you don't have time to really celebrate. You get your nose down and take each day at a time and know what we've been doing to give us a chance at Saturdays."
The last time the Salukis (4-1, 3-1) were ranked in the Top 5 was on Sept. 13, 2010. SIU has already defeated No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 4 Northern Iowa. A Saluki win would mark the first time in program history that SIU has beaten three Top-10 teams in the same season.
Nick Hill – Head Saluki football coach 3/15/21
Opening Statement:
"It's exciting to be back at home this week, obviously coming off of an exciting win and tough game. It was all around a great football game, I'm glad we came out with a win. Our focus now is to turn to another great opponent, another really good football team that is coming here, it's nice to have back-to-back home games and we'll use that to our advantage. South Dakota State causes a lot of problems and I have a lot of respect for [head] coach John Stiegelmeier and what he's been able to accomplish up there, just a really tough, really good football team. The challenge will be there, we're confident in our group, but really our concentration and what our team is buying into is 'what can I do today to give me the best opportunity to play well on Saturday?', whether that's today on their day off, or that's showing up tomorrow and having a great Tuesday then Wednesday, really Saturdays take care of themselves."
On what stands out from UNI:
"It was a good football game. I felt like defensively, we played really hard, we played physical and gave up a few explosive plays but none of them resulted in touchdowns which we talk about all the time. I thought we were resilient, you saw Qua Brown punching the ball out twice which is huge for us, created some takeaways. I'm really just proud of the effort and the mentality that we're going to figure out a way to win this football game. It's not going to be pretty, there's going to be some ups and downs we are playing really good football teams with really good schemes and coaches. We're not going to go out there and things are going to be easy, you're going to figure it out and put yourself in position to win a football game in the fourth quarter and that's what we did."
On quarterbacks:
"First, it really starts with their approach – you preach that as a coach, that's what you want – but it's really up to them as individuals to buy into that. It's the toughest position on the team, only one person gets to play. I've mentioned this before, whether you are a backup linebacker, backup defensive lineman, backup in a lot of positions, you are going to get some reps. You are going to go into Saturday knowing that you are going to get reps, even if you are disappointed that you aren't starting. Quarterbacks are an entirely different position and mindset, you can feel like you had a great week of practice and doing all the things right and you don't get in. But, if you want to be ready when your number is called and you want to play well when your number is called, you have to approach each day like you are the starter. It takes a certain type of person to really buy into that and put your feelings aside and commit to being the best that you can be during the week.
I said that after the game about our quarterback room, I'm proud of them for doing that, they all have their different strengths and weaknesses. It's our jobs as coaches to understand that. It's been nice that we've all been together now for two years, same quarterbacks coach, same coordinator, myself, knowing these guys and them learning from their mistakes. I think its paid off and we are going to need them all."
On settling down after two top-five wins:
"I'm happy for Saluki Football, I'm happy for our guys, their families, and the fans that get to come – I wish there were more fans that can come. But our mindset is, Sundays are a grind of a day. I come in before church, then I go to church, then I blink and get the players in here to meet with the staff – offense, defense, special teams. We'll go out and practice on Sundays until 6 o'clock at night, break down the next opponent, you go to bed and come back here super early on Monday morning and you are going.
There's not much celebrating going on after the evening on Saturday, I really love these noon games because the coaches get to go be home with their families for an evening that we normally don't get to. I checked out a couple innings at the baseball game with my daughter after the game and got to do some things I normally don't get to do, so that's been nice and part of the celebrating. As far as the team goes, you show up on Sunday, you look at our schedule and you don't have time to really celebrate. You get your nose down and take each day at a time and know what we've been doing to give us a chance at Saturdays."
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