2003 FCS Playoffs
 |  Running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir |
Nov. 29, 2003
NEWARK, Del. - It was a nightmarish end to a dream of a season.
And in painfully ironic fashion, the very things that got the Southern Illinois University football team to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years were the things that led to its quick exit Saturday against eventual National Champion Delaware.
After giving up just 28 first quarter points through 11 regular-season games, the Salukis gave up 27 unanswered points in the first quarter alone.
And after turning the ball over 11 times all year, the Salukis coughed up the ball four times in the first half -- three of which led to touchdowns.
The result was a stunning 34-0 deficit midway through the second quarter.
The Salukis never recovered, as second-seeded Delaware went on to drub SIU, 48-7, in the first round of the I-AA tournament. SIU wound up turning the ball over six times in the game and also had a punt blocked which resulted in a touchdown.
"The strength of our football team all year was that we didn't turn the ball over," said SIU head coach Jerry Kill. "That didn't happen today. We've always been good in the kicking game. Those two things we didn't do well today."
"All the credit to Delaware," senior tailback Tom Koutsos said. "We got our butts kicked today, but we didn't help ourselves. All year we didn't have turnovers, blocked punts, stuff like that. Today, the ball didn't bounce our way. We made a lot of mistakes and shot ourselves in the foot more than anything."
SIU ended a memorable season in forgetable fashion, but things could have been much worse.
Trailing 41-7 late in the third quarter, quarterback Joel Sambursky was literally leveled by Delaware linebacker Brian McDermond.
Sambursky lay motionless on the ground for about 10 minutes, while his teammates convened on the sidelines for a prayer and the training staff tended to the injured Saluki. Sambursky had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital.
"I love the kid like a son, just like a I love all these kids like sons," Kill said. "Your heart just sinks, and the whole football team's heart sunk. But I also think Delaware's (heart) sunk. Nobody wants to see that."
"It was a very emotional, scary moment," said wide receiver Brent Little. "He's the leader of the team. To see him down like that was very scary."
Fortunately, Sambursky was fine, though he did not return.
The stat sheet would indicate a close game: Delaware had 340 yards of total offense to SIU's 303.
"The more physical football team won today," Kill said. "I think they put a lot of pressure on us. They were very physical and I thought they caused a lot of those turnovers."
Muhammad Abdulqaadir led the Salukis with 87 yards rushing, passing the 1,000-yard barrier for the season. Koutsos had 27 yards rushing in the final game of his record-breaking career.
As disapointing as the Salukis final two games were, they still finished with a 10-2 record and a Gateway Conference title -- unthinkable accomplishments coming into the season.
"It was a good seaon," said senior linebacker Eric Egan, fighting back tears. "We've made huge strides in this program and it's going to continue to get better and continue to improve. "
"I look for us to be back and better in the future," Kill said. "We've come a long way. This is just part of our educational process.
"I guarantee you we'll learn a lot from this and we'll be back."